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.

  • j4yt33@feddit.deEnglish
    33·
    5 months ago

    They’ve gone full circle at this point: it’s like paying for TV channels and piracy is looking really attractive again, even though Netflix was the reason many people stopped doing that initially (I assume)

    • pelerinli@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      5 months ago

      To be honest, I like watching SciFi and superhero movies yet cinemas are too expensive in my country. So, my fiance (Netflix) and I (Amazon Prime) bought thsse services and using together.

      But guess what:

      1. No HBO in my country, so no DC for me. Yet they are not selling DC to Turkey neither. So no DC movie for me after 2018(?)

      2. Both Netflix and Prime just puts their content, and forget the rest for Turkey. For example I couldn’t watch Mad Max: Fury Road one month ago

      3. They are doing some kind of censorship? You cannot watch too bloody, too sexual, too whatever content while there is no legal censorship on internet content. For example I can watch “Barda” (“at pub”) on Youtube but not on Prime.

      So yes, why I am paying for TV channels wtih ads?

    • Dicska@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      Back then, when I wanted to watch a film, I checked Netflix first, then amazon video. I only reached for other sources if it was unavailable at both. Now there are way too many platforms to pay for, and they are getting way too shitty to pay at all.

      There was a time when I was even feeling good going “clean”. Now everything is dirtier than I ever imagined.

      • kevincox@lemmy.mlEnglish
        2·
        5 months ago

        Yeah, not only are there a dozen platforms that you need to search but they all suck. I have seen so many instances where people download videos for a vacation and then they can’t be played. I can’t even share screenshots to advertise the shows that you are selling to my friends for free!

        Funny enough when I have a video file sitting on my computer it just works, all of the time, super fast. And instead of using services that tell me what streaming platform a given show is on it is easier to use a service that tell me the infohash of the file.

    • NutWrench@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      5 months ago

      Yup. Cable TV was amazing back in the 1980s. Almost no ads and great content (I loved “Night Flight” on USA, especially). But it didn’t take them more than 10 years to ruin it.

  • banana_lama@lemm.eeEnglish
    29·
    5 months ago

    Took me a minute to figure out why these 2 updates would be bundled together. Must be cause if you downloaded something you’d be able to bypass their ads

    • supermarkus@startrek.websiteEnglish
      2·
      5 months ago

      Must be cause if you downloaded something you’d be able to bypass their ads

      They could also download the ads. People on an ad-supported subscription tier would probably expect that those are there.

      • banana_lama@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        5 months ago

        The ad design could link to the products and out of Netflix. So they wouldn’t get clicks

        Idk I didn’t have expertise in this space

    • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      Plot twist! Now the pirate pay costs subscription fees, and is owned by Netflix!!! Ohhhhh, what a twist!

    • Darkard@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      5 months ago

      “millennials are killing the streaming industry”

      The next season of Bridgerton is cancelled because you selfish millennials wouldn’t drink your verification cans

      • Billiam@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        5 months ago

        Actually, that’s probably the one excuse that wouldn’t fly. The only company that cancels more stuff randomly and with no reason than Netflix is Google.

        • snooggums@midwest.socialEnglish
          1·
          5 months ago

          All of the major broadcast networks have always canceled stuff as fast as Netflix, maybe faster since they sometimes cancel shows before the first season has completed airing.

          • Billiam@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            5 months ago

            Yes, but they had the veneer of “low ratings” to hide behind. Netflix cancels their content with no warning and no explanation.

            • PlantObserver@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              5 months ago

              Netflix has a more accurate picture of their user ratings for shows than Nielsen ever provided cable companies…

    • deweydecibel@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      5 months ago

      People have been making this comment for so long, with every anti-consumer change, and it’s never been true.

      Killing VPN usages didn’t do it, canceling shows didn’t do it, the splintering of offerings across multiple platforms didn’t do it, killing password sharing didn’t do it, raising prices didn’t do it, including an advertising tier didn’t do.

      And this will not do it.

      Hell, this is barely going to tweak the dial. The overwhelming majority of people don’t watch Netflix on the desktop app, why should they fear kick back from the few that do? All they’ll say is the mobile versions will still let you download (because those file systems are sealed away from the user).

      Consumers will accept anything if there’s no where else to get what they want. It’s why the “free market” has no power in the tech space: consumers are so addicted to their chosen platforms, apps, devices, and services that they will accept literally anything before they entertain the idea of using anything else.

      That’s partially why enshitification is getting so bad: there’s no punishment for it. Users will not move.

      • T00l_shed@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        5 months ago

        Not enough uses for sure. I canceled all the shitty ones once they implemented these stupid as fuck changes.

      • Beetlejuice001@lemmy.wtfEnglish
        1·
        5 months ago

        It’s ads while I’m paying that would do it for sure for me. I think I pay $24 a month. About to go back to sailing the high seas regardless. Their content has been lacking for quite a while.

    • NutWrench@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      5 months ago

      Yup. Just surprised Pikachu faces all around at Netflix. “But we were assured by our marketing department that customers would just pay any amout we wanted!”

  • DestroyMegacorps@lemmy.mlEnglish
    11·
    5 months ago

    These companies are gonna complain about piracy being so rampant while making their service so awful that piracy becomes a better choice

    • _sideffect@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21·
      5 months ago

      As they always did and continue to do in all businesses.

      Look at food prices: Supermarket - We’re raising prices on 95% of items by 200-300%. People: Steal because they can’t afford basic food Supermarket: Shocked pikachu face

      • Gestrid@lemmy.caEnglish
        11·
        5 months ago

        Supermarket: Shocked pikachu face

        Actually, supermarkets typically factor theft and other types of damages (ex. product broke in transit, came open, etc.) into their projected sales.

        • _sideffect@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          5 months ago

          Oh yeah? I didn’t know that (not sure why you were downvoted for stating a fact, people are weird here)

  • unreasonabro@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    5 months ago

    the televisionification (good grief, what?) of the internet is truly one of the most monstrous and monumental failures of creativity the world has ever seen.

    Cramming this square peg into that round hole no matter the fucking consequences

    nothing matters but money, right? (kys pos)

  • InternetPerson@lemmings.worldEnglish
    111·
    5 months ago

    Install an android emulator. Problem solved.

    Start pirating again. Problem solved.

    Make your own movies and shows. Problem solved.

    Start a company, get rich, buy Netflix, problem solved.

    Stop watching stuff, do something else. Problem solved.

    Found a secret society, infiltrate politics worldwide, stir chaos and destruction, let the world burn and built a new Netflix from the world’s ashes where you still can download stuff. Problem solved.

    See? It’s not that hard!

    (In case it wasn’t clear, I am joking.)

  • Kekzkrieger@feddit.deEnglish
    8·
    5 months ago

    I got Netflix stock, and i can tell you guys that stock is just going up and up.

    People rly are fking stupid

    • yamanii@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      5 months ago

      Yep, it’s why everyone is raising prices, introducing ads and stopping password sharing, Netflix was the case that proved it works, there was a dip but now they have more users than before it.

  • henfredemars@infosec.pubEnglish
    7·
    5 months ago

    Pirated movies don’t have this problem.

    I’m just saying, ruin your own service, and lose to pirates who can provide a better one for free.