Technology

59578 readers

3015 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

Follow the lemmy.world rules.
Only tech related content.
Be excellent to each another!
Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
Politics threads may be removed.
No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

965

Netflix Windows app is set to remove its downloads feature, while introducing ads (www.techradar.com)

submitted 6 months ago by ForgottenFlux@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

220 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] OpenStars@discuss.online 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

A super-long time ago I got a Nexus, b/c they were awesome, and Google was still thought of as being somewhat awesome for offering those.

Nowadays I have been dreading the thought of a Pixel - I'd more likely get a Fairphone I think - but whatever I get, it's sad to think that a custom ROM is probably going to have to be the default for so many people:-(.

[–] morriscox@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The longer a business is around the more people that get replaced and the new people are going to be different and which leads to a change in culture and objectives. So basically the name is the same but everything else is different, including what the company produces (since products seldom don't change).

If the company goes public then there's definitely going to be a complete change since shareholders will demand as much profit as they can get, no matter how or what the consequences can be. They may complain about Prime Video showing ads when they pause a movie yet demand that Amazon give them a stronger return on their investment.

That's a bit long-winded. I have a Samsung Galaxy phone (and watch) and have been tempted to see about using a custom ROM (I jailbroke most of my phones) but it's my daily driver and I'm leery of messing up.

[–] OpenStars@discuss.online 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

True dat.

I also have a Samsung Galaxy, a S22, and kinda regret it. Somehow it's always hot, like just having the screen on is enough to make it hot, and it literally hurts my fingers after a few minutes. Maybe it's my fault somehow, but I definitely researched a lot before buying and all the text and video reviewers swore that the cooling was adequate. I'm so done with big expensive phones.:-( One day I may buy a cheapie and when I have an adequate daily driver play around to see what a custom ROM could do to improve the experience. Basically I miss my Nexus is what I guess I am saying:-).

[–] morriscox@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Have you tried Samsung Thermal Guardian?

[–] OpenStars@discuss.online 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Samsung Thermal Guardian

No - I never created a Samsung account, so I am much to blame for my phone's lack of performance, though at the same time I also blame it for not creating that right from out of the box, for such an expensive device:-).

[–] morriscox@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I agree. Whether they claim that it's to reduce bloat or to get people to create a Samsung account, they really should have included https://apps.samsung.com/appquery/appDetail.as?appId=com.android.samsung.utilityapp as core functionality. You should also look at https://apps.samsung.com/appquery/appDetail.as?appId=com.samsung.android.goodlock

[–] OpenStars@discuss.online 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

What bothers me the most about that is how they use double-speak to try to have it both ways - like Samsungs are both supposed to be "great", and also those features are claimed to be "optional", but when you try to go without an account... suddenly you find that much of the phone isn't "great" anymore:-(.

Also, why not allow downloading of such a 100% "free" app without needing an account?

Also, why need an app at all to stop the phone from getting hot just from holding it in your hands and trying to surf the F-ing web with it!? I mean, even if I had an account, that's still effort and more importantly attention I have to expend to make the phone minimally viable...

I'm more used to Apple product I suppose, which truly do "just work" right out of the box. Or replacing the OS on an Android phone, so trying to use it like the former when I clearly should do the latter I guess is my fault. But it also does not absolve them from gatekeeping their product behind a "store" concept, which they clearly are trying to suck me in with the promise of a few freebies and then hope that I stick around to purchase more and more products. The commercialization of it all just turns my stomach.:-(

In any case, thanks for the links! If I take the time to register in the store those sound helpful.