Slashdot Mirror
Netflix Now Lets You Download Videos Onto Your PC (pcworld.com)
Netflix now offers offline streaming via its Windows 10 PC application, meaning you'll have even more options wherever you're stuck without Internet access. From a report: Netflix added the offline viewing options as part of the most recent update to the Netflix app on Windows 10. Because the Windows Store doesn't show you what version of the Netflix app you're using, just make sure you check for updates using the large blue button in the upper-right corner of the Windows Store app to receive the latest version. You won't need the Creators Update to take advantage of the new feature, either. When you open the app, Netflix will show you a large splash screen that advertises the new "download and go" capability. Unfortunately, if you click the Find me something to download button, the Netflix app doesn't currently display a list of downloadable titles; you'll have to hunt them down yourself. Netflix introduced the same capability on iOS and Android late last year. It's a bold move by Netflix to bring this feature to desktop. There is always the risk of someone finding out a way to break the DRM and easily distribute the files.
It's a bold move by Netflix to bring this feature to desktop. There is always the risk of someone finding out a way to break the DRM and easily distribute the files.
I wouldn't think it terribly challenging to pull these same files off of a rooted android phone. Regardless, I would imagine other avenues of getting pirated material would still be easier.
My iTunes library is 350GB. I don't have space for another media library.
Apparently recently, I guess an update...but for no explainable reason I can find, the option to download to this tablet has been removed.
Anyone else see this recently?
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
The Pirate Bay has a better selection too.
Much easier than ripping a DVD, obviously.
If I can't download and watch on a tv easily I personally don't really care. I'd rather they remove the forced autoplay "feature" from the roku UI. I don't want to see distracting previews and trailers while I'm scrolling through the interface. I barely use Netflix on my roku because of this.
I don't think this is incredibly bold. It just makes sense. All movies are available for piracy already. No one needs to break Netflix's DRM for that. People pay for Netflix anyway because it is so convenient. Torrenting requires time to download, even on a fast connection. Netflix requires a few seconds to buffer. Netflix also provides convenient browsing while Torrenting requires knowing what to watch. It's a smart move to make things more convenient for their paying customers while adding nothing to movie piracy.
offline is offline. your talking about backup capabilities.
Aside from the fact that the video file itself is itself a stream, "Streaming" is when you watch it online. Don't you mean "playback" in this case? We are talking about locally viewing a stored copy, right?
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have backups to corrupt.
I am entitled to record and play back my recording that I made. Caching a DRM copy of Netflix's actual file is inferior in terms of my rights. Breaking the DRM will definitely be some kind of violation. No thanks.
Cloudiot: A person who does not see offsite storage as a way to lose control over access to his or her own data.
Both iTunes Store purchases (your solution) and Netflix caching (the present article) are useful for people whose Internet connectivity is highly location-dependent, such as having usable connectivity at home but harshly capped or nonexistent connectivity while a passenger on the commute or a long road trip. But Netflix caching is better for people who A. watch Netflix original programming, B. haven't already amassed much of an iTunes library, or C. carry a non-Apple device.
>There is always the risk of someone finding out a way to break the DRM and easily distribute the files.
Already happens.
Netflix knows this. They try to make it hard for J Casual User to do this, but they know the pirates will break the DRM.
Notice how Netflix exclusives are all up on the usual pirate channels the same day they air.
If I can't download and watch on a tv easily I personally don't really care.
Practically all PCs since the late 1980s have one or more of VGA, DVI, or HDMI output. Practically all TVs since 2007 have HDMI input, which can be used with DVI outputs with a sub-$10 adapter cable, and many have VGA input. So plug a cable from your computer to your TV.
A UWP application from the Windows Store can shit all over its sandbox. It can't shit outside the sandbox except for those files and folders that the user makes available to that particular application using secure OS-managed file choosers.
Or does "shit all over my PC" refer to running proprietary native code in the first place, sandboxed or not?
A much bigger risk someone figuring out a way to live capture it at original frame rate. A broken DRM can be changed. Live capture can happen without the application's knowledge. In fact, it's probably already happening for anyone willing to take the time to set it up and having any desire to do it. And if you can't stop live capture, then drm will only stop the truly law-abiding and the moderately lazy.
Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
I just like the name "Offline Streaming". Streaming is, by definition, online.
The exact moment I stopped carrying a surface book and an iPad when travelling.
A very good point. None of this affects BitTorrent, which already has everything.
It might affect piracy in another way though: if the obfuscation can be broken, it might open the gates to 'hoarding' Netflix content then cancelling your subscription.
We're not even allowed to look at TPB here in nanny state Australia, they've blocked it on us.