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Netflix Shutters Its Public API

Posted by timothy on from the seemed-so-promising dept.

esarjeant (100503) writes "I guess it shouldn't come as a total surprise, but Netflix has gone from not issuing new developer keys to announcing the entire [public API] program will be shut down. It's a real shame they are going to be taking this offline; it spurred quite a bit of innovation for the Netflix service. For major sites that have already gone live it sounds like Netflix will let them keep going, but if you're looking to build the next FeedFliks, then you better look elsewhere."

7 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. So long... by xeoron · · Score: 4, Funny

    Netflix Roulette, we barely had time to enjoy you.

    1. Re:So long... by SydShamino · · Score: 5, Informative

      The link is like ten lines long. This is most of it:

      Through the process of ending the program, we will be partnering more directly with a small set of developers whose applications have proven to be the most valuable for many of our members. Those applications will continue to operate beyond November 14, 2014. The following is a list of these applications:

              Instant Watcher
              Fanhattan
              Yidio
              NextGuide
              Flixster
              Can I Stream It?
              FeedFliks
              Instant Watch Browser for Netflix

      --
      It doesn't hurt to be nice.
    2. Re:So long... by thunderclap · · Score: 3, Interesting

      yay! best service ever. bet Google buys them within a year.

      And shuts them down in five years. (shall I list examples?)

  2. Re:I never heard of FeedFliks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I never heard of FeedFliks, so I went and looked at it. And then wondered why do I need someone else to tell me about how I use Netflix? Or to tell my friends what I like watching?

    Seriously, Is this what amounts to "innovation"?

    Welcome to Web 43.0

    We've adopted Chrome's versioning scheme.

  3. As a means to hide the crappy streaming selection? by swb · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've noticed that both Amazon and Netflix seem to make navigating streaming kind of murky, never wanting you to have a good grasp of what is or isn't available besides what they show you as featured titles. I've always suspected that this was done to mask the relatively thin and lame streaming titles that weren't on their short list of high-profile titles.

    I've also been surprised at how hard it is to browse the web site for DVDs on the iPad. The web site works, but its so Javascript laden that it makes it hard to use. Third party queue management apps were a salvation. Maybe they're trying to make finding DVDs annoying, too, so that all we'll do is watch the featured streams.

  4. Re:Never trust a corporation by mrmeval · · Score: 5, Funny

    The only good way to deal with corporations is to have orbital bombardment capability.

    Unfortunately you have to get them to build it for you.

    --
    I'd go on a Vegan diet but the delivery time from Vega is too long. --brownkitty
  5. Re:I never heard of FeedFliks by Noah+Haders · · Score: 4, Informative

    Canistream.it is super awesome. You can search netflix, amazon, hbo, iTunes, and others all at once. Also, you can see all the most popular movies on all services in one place. You should try it!