Uproar Over Netflix's New Instant Viewer 575
almechist writes "Many Netflix customers are up in arms over the new instant-watch player powered by Microsoft's Silverlight. The official Netflix blog is full of complaints from users who decry not only the new player's quality but also the way it's being distributed, with many claiming they were deceived into downloading it. Once you opt for the new player, the old Windows Media based player won't function, not on any computer associated with the account. The new player is supposedly still beta, but NF members are strongly encouraged (some say tricked) by NF into the so-called 'upgrade,' which is permanent — there is no way to opt out. The marked decrease in video quality seen by those who have switched is perhaps not surprising, since the old player could utilize bit streams up to twice as fast as the new one, but this information is nowhere given out by NF. So far NF has been answering all complaints with variations on 'tough luck pal, you're stuck with it,' but many customers are so disgusted they're ready to cancel their NF membership. This could be a public relations disaster in the making for Netflix."
Talk about buffering problem! (Score:1, Funny)
It only took five months for Slashdot to jump on this news! Faster than usual by at least a month or two...
PR disaster? (Score:5, Funny)
This could be a public relations disaster in the making for Netflix.
Nah, they'll be fine, as long as it doesn't make Slashdot.
Re:so just quit (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Bigger disaster for Microsoft? (Score:1, Funny)
A stupid summary on slashdot? God. Who would have thought? I bet the writer doesn't even subscribe to NF; they were very upfront that you could not go back.
Re:Secret reason for this change! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I see comments in the thread linked to... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Secret reason for this change! (Score:5, Funny)
The real reason for this change is that there are tools that rip the old Windows Media stream and let you save the instant movies on your computer. So far I haven't seen a similar tool for the Silverlight streams.
Check again in about 10 minutes...
Re:so just quit (Score:5, Funny)
There's a potential Donkey Kong kill screen coming up, if anyone is interested.
Re:You can't rent content (Score:3, Funny)
Think about how amazing that could be. You could keep watching the same epic show over and over and it would never get boring. You'd laugh and cry every single viewing!
In fact, that would probably kill their market as it would never be used as they intended and only so the viewer never has to buy any content again.
Re:Frog, pot, increased heat (Score:5, Funny)
I'm having trouble figuring out how you're using hulu without a flash plugin.
Re:Uninstall Reinstall? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:so just quit (Score:1, Funny)
1% is not exactly a controlling share.
OK, I'm getting so sick of people like you bringing facts into discussions.
Never bored with same show over and over? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Never bored with same show over and over? (Score:1, Funny)
Funny?
What sick fuckhead of a mod thinks Alzheimer's is funny?
I'll venture a guess the mods don't have anyone with Alzheimer's in their family.
Fucking bunch of fuckwits.
Re:Secret reason for this change! (Score:1, Funny)
If only there existed shiny circular disks which you could purchase which satisfy all your criteria. Yep.. its all about the "freedom"
You didn't pay the actors to act, it wasn't your camera that recorded the content, so who the fuck are you to tell people how they should distribute their content. We don't give a crap if you steal. Atleast man up and stop hiding behind excuses like a little bitch.
Re:You can't rent content (Score:3, Funny)
"How was your visit to Epcot?"
"I don't remember."