Thanks a bunch, Netflix – its Windows app is about to lose downloads
www.techradar.com
But ad-supported plans will now be catered for

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.

    • @[email protected]English
      45•4 months ago

      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.

      • @[email protected]English
        19•4 months ago

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

        You’re still on their OS

        • @[email protected]English
          18•4 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

          • @[email protected]English
            4•4 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

    • 🦄🦄🦄English
      23•4 months ago

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

    • @[email protected]English
      14•4 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 AggravatedEnglish
        8•4 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?

        • @[email protected]English
          2•4 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.