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Netflix has managed to annoy a good number of its users with an announcement about an upcoming update to its Windows 11 (and Windows 10) app: support for adverts and live events will be added, but the ability to download content is being taken away.

Netflix must realize that it's a huge frustration for people who relied on offline downloads to watch content without internet access: on planes, trains, and campsites, and anywhere else where Wi-Fi is unavailable or unreliable.

There's a small chance that Netflix will change its mind if it gets enough complaints, but the streaming service seems determined to add as many money-making features as possible, while taking away genuinely useful ones.

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[-] BaardFigur@lemmy.world 97 points 5 months ago

What's the point of the windows app if you can't download stuff with it? Might as well use the browser at that point

Well that’s mighty selfish of you isn’t it, won’t you think of the Microsoft shareholder who want to make more money from harvesting your data and Netflix for wanting to serve you ads to increase profits.

[-] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 19 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Microsoft doesn’t care if you use the app or the browser

You’re still on their OS

[-] ArtVandelay@lemmy.world 18 points 5 months ago

I'm certainly no desktop developer, but I would imagine a native application gives you access to more intrusive data than a browser, especially considering modern browser protections. Just a theory though

[-] helpme@sh.itjust.works 7 points 5 months ago

You mean you're not Edging?

[-] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 4 points 5 months ago

They could keylog everything or screenshot every x seconds and send it to them if they wanted

Log all network requests

The app is most likely electron which is just Chromium

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago

You'd never know it the way they try to make every Microsoft branded app the default

[-] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.de 23 points 5 months ago

Depending on the browser, you won't get 4k. IIRC only works with Edge cause of DRM.

[-] DudeImMacGyver@sh.itjust.works 21 points 5 months ago

You know what doesn't have shitty DRM? Torrents.

[-] Kethal@lemmy.world 14 points 5 months ago

I think the only way to get surround sound is in the desktop program. I don't know if that's a limitation of browsers or if the Netflix guys are just assholes.

[-] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 8 points 5 months ago

I could imagine a technical limitation if they use some proprietary audio codec to send compressed surround sound that the browser somehow doesn't support, but on the other hand why the fuck am I giving a big tech corporation any benefit of the doubt?

[-] subtext@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

In my limited understanding, they almost certainly do not because if they did client devices would struggle to decode some non-standard format.

It’s probably a DRM limitation.

[-] BaardFigur@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Makes sense, I don't think it's them being assholes, probably easier to interact with the hardware in a native app than through the browser.

I'm a desktop application programmer, and glad I don't have to deal with web browsers.

this post was submitted on 18 May 2024
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