Linux & Netflix - silverlight no longer needed

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sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#151188 16-Aug-2014 21:53

Using the latest dev/unstable version of Chrome (v38+), linux users can now watch netflix without the need to faff about installing silverlight/pipelight.

This is because Google, MS and Netflix have apparently been working on HTML5 extensions which satisfy content providers with respect to DRM.

If using linux, you still need a custom user-agent string, and you need to set your Netlfix prefs to use HTML5, rather than Silverlight

Details here & I can confirm it's working for me under Arch linux, using "chrome-chrome-dev" from AUR: https://plus.google.com/104912707432334684242/posts/1gnbmo63xVa

ps: now if we can just convince Lightbox to ditch Silverlight, or at least offer an HTML5 option....

Killerkiwi2005

374 posts

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#1109719 16-Aug-2014 23:02

Working on Mythbuntu 14.04

richms

28168 posts

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#1109727 16-Aug-2014 23:10

Wonder if this will make it into firefox. All the OSS zealots were so opposed to this being part of HTML5 for idealogical reasons...

Mind you, we finally did get h264 in firefox despite their complaints...

Richard rich.ms

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1109729 16-Aug-2014 23:29

richms: Wonder if this will make it into firefox. All the OSS zealots were so opposed to this being part of HTML5 for idealogical reasons...

Mind you, we finally did get h264 in firefox despite their complaints...

It's now in the Yosemite version of OSX's Safari browser, and Firefox have said that they will implement the required HTML5 features, so I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

richms

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#1109731 16-Aug-2014 23:41

Sweet. I have found the native HTML5 video playback to be smoother and less artifacty than either flash or silverlight, particularly when there are other user interface things overlayed ontop.

Richard rich.ms

Mattmannz

471 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1110371 18-Aug-2014 11:46

That's great news. Thanks for testing this guys and posting up for others benefit.

Cheers
Matt.

Lightbox

301 posts

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Lightbox

#1110397 18-Aug-2014 12:08

Just to confirm that we're naturally keeping up with all the options - and HTML5 bringing in actual media protection and browsers starting to support it widely is naturally an interesting state of affairs.

That being said, migrating between player formats probably isn't at the top of our list right now - we've got loads of other things we'd rather do first (resume functionality, better smarts around next episode lined up, additional devices etc.).

Lightbox - we are online TV.