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Firefox for Linux is Now Netflix Compatible (betanews.com)
Brian Fagioli, writing for BetaNews: For a while, Netflix was not available for traditional Linux-based operating systems, meaning users were unable to enjoy the popular streaming service without booting into Windows. This was due to the company's reliance on Microsoft Silverlight. Since then, Netflix adopted HTML5, and it made Google Chrome and Chromium for Linux capable of playing the videos. Unfortunately, Firefox -- the open source browser choice for many Linux users -- was not compatible. Today this changes, however, as Mozilla's offering is now compatible with Netflix!
That's utter bullshit. I am no longer a Netflix customer, but for several recent years I was able to view it just fine using Chromium + Widevine. A quick search on the subject will reveal that Windows is not needed. Who writes this shit?
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have backups to corrupt.
Anybody have any technical details on why it was not previously possible? My understanding is that it has been possible (at least for a while, possibly since FF49) with the Widevine plugin + spoofing a Chrome user agent.
There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
Here's a quick rewrite:
Until now, Netflix video could not be watched using Firefox on Linux without some monkeying around. Now it can. Enjoy!
#DeleteChrome
The new installer script for latest Firefox fixed this issue and that pesky having plugins problem: /usr/bin/google-chrome /usr/bin/mozilla-firefox
#!/bin/sh
ln -s
Would this work for an ARM version of Firefox (e.g. so it could be run on a Raspberry Pi) ?
No longer must i use google chrome on my linux laptop to watch netflix!!! Now using a linux OS for my home media server makes sense, now that it can download movies/tv shows and play them using the builtin free software bittorent client, and VLC, it can also play netflix and youtube on a television as well. Now the only thing i need windows for is my gaming machine.
until SteamOS finally catches on
Pshaw. Call me when it works on my Palm TX.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
Not everyone uses teh Goole Chrome. Iceweasel was the way to go. Now they got it working, I no longer have an account due to shrinking library of classics.
Let me know when it works in Aweb on my Amiga 4000.
It depends on the purpose of the application, performance requeriments, etc but I usually prefer websites to applications. On something like Netflix I certainly prefer a website. The greatest advantage is that it works everywhere there's a browser (a few pretty specific browsers in this case).
Anyway, what I really hate is things that could perfectly be delivered through the web to force you to access the content through an app only. I have to little free room on my phone I don't need an app for every website I could conceivably want to visit
It's certainty very uncivilised not doing this with a drone.
You can extract the wide-vine extension from something running chome os and then change your agent string...
it'll run but it's stupid slow even on the pi3
My TV's Netflix app simply wraps a customized browser loading a local web app which uses ajax to talk with netflix. Then they used some sort of browser plug in or modification to get to whatever video library the device supported.
Why wouldn't netflix use a similar approach for all it's apps from toaster to xbox??
You can make a local web app that would fool almost anybody with a properly customized browser (using local OS library means it wouldn't take much ram since it's likely loaded anyhow.)
Less development and support related issues; every device has some working browser library and video decoder if hardware support is available.
Democracy Now! - uncensored, anti-establishment news
I recall using Ubuntu 12.04 and had to do agent switchers, install a bunch of stuff just to watch Netflix videos.
I'm an admin and I don't have a problem tinkering around with Linux. But when I run into this kind of crap that has to be done because company X refuses to do things in a standard way, I tend to just go back to Windows 7 for awhile and wait until the issue is taken care of in a better way by someone.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
If netflix has been using html5 video rather than silverlight, why didn't this work on firefox earlier? Can you imagine I even read TFA to find out, to no avail.
I just tried Netflix in Chrome and Firefox on Ubuntu. It works but only in standard def for me. Amazon prime video was similar, it worked but only SD. I've cancelled both subscriptions. I dont get why they place these restrictions; theyre inconveniencing paying customers whilst not preventing the ripping of the content. Loose loose situation?!
This "BrianFagioli" character is associated with several of the recent submissions. Does he benefit in some way from this publicity that Slashdot is giving this "BetaNews" site?
This is Slashdot. No one actually reads the articles.
There's no place like
They call it "plugin free" but then what the fuck are Content Decryption Modules? I'll tell you what they are, they are the OS, platform and architecture dependent DRM plugins that Firefox uses. Try putting Firefox on your Raspberry Pi and you'll see it will not work.
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
HBO's GO service in Central Europe was similar: worked only in Chrome on Linux, but since about a month it's working with Firefox on Linux too (HTML5-based).
This is good news, no doubt, and long overdue.. I mean, cumon, really? Microsoft Silverlight required? What was up with that anyway? We still won't resubscribe after the "Dear White People" debacle though. We're getting our streaming stuff elsewhere.
You've made Mary Pickford very sad...
#DeleteChrome
99% still inhibited by ridiculous artificial restrictions
. .
And while they're at it, an officially supported Netflix addon for Kodi would be great too!
People still pay for that stuff? Why?
You do know there are streaming sites out there which remove all the commercials, offer closed captioning, and a selectable quality from 360p-1080p.
I would be totally cool with a working Netflix plugin for my linux-based Kodi installation. I have no problem handing Netflix a tenner every month just to get reliable access to the content they host.
Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.
If I understand correctly, it uses a binary-blob provided, architecture-dependant DRM called CDM
Would EME be an implemented standard, that restriction would be lifted. DRM in a W3C standard may have some good points, after all.
And while they're at it, an officially supported Netflix addon for Kodi would be great too!
It could not come soon enough.