Don't complain to Netflix. They would love nothing more than to be able to support OSX. Apple won't allow it. Apple won't license their FairPlay DRM to them. Movie studios require everyone to use DRM, especially for unlimited streaming services.
amazingly enough you don't need fairplay DRM to play on a Macintosh.
I'll cancel my subscription to netflix in a heart beat if I can get something similar from apple that works on my platform of choice and better yet doesn't have me waiting a few days between movies. Having time to watch them over christmas sucked because of the holidays meaning no mail delivery. A movie returned on the 23rd meant no movie back at the house until the 2nd when usually it's a 72 hour turnaround.
@Tom Please, enlighten us. How Netflix can provide DRM-protected service on OSX without Apple allowing them to use FairPlay? I'd love to hear all about it.
No, Netflix does not use Silverlight. They showed a concept demo of it back in May, but they don't use it. Silverlight uses a new DRM. Have movie studios even approved this yet? I have no idea. What I do know is that if Apple allowed Netflix to use FairPlay, I would have had the service on my Mac a year ago instead of maybe sometime in 2008 if and when they can switch to Silverlight.
Please don't keep propagating the myth that Fairplay somehow equals all Macintosh DRM.
Windows Media for OS X had its own DRM. Microsoft Silverlight has its own DRM. Macrovision licenses DRM for Macintosh as part of its core business. Hell, even Liquid Audio in the mid 90s had its own, custom DRM for Macintoshes.
Fairplay is *only* about DRM content support on iPods. Not Macs, iPods.
You miss the point. Name ONE single reasonable option Netflix had to provide their service on OSX without using FairPlay. One. And don't say Silverlight. I'm not talking about something that's 5 minutes old. I'm talking about 2006 when they developed their service. It was either develop their own DRM (year right, that's practical) or wait it out.
You are propagating the myth that Netflix is some arrogant company that cares nothing about Mac users.
My point is very, very simple. OSX users who are peeved about no Netflix on their Mac (like me) for the past year have only one company to blame. Apple, not Netflix.
I don't know, it seems to me that you're the one that missed the point. Now I don't know which of either the FairPlay requirement, or third-party OS X DRM option are true, but you seem to agree that third-party is an option, so long as it exists. Why would Netflix have to "wait it out" when there have been DRM options for OS X available since the 90's, as namtastic stated? Microsoft, Macrovision, and I'm sure tens of other companies are willing to supply or develop an OS X DRM and have it certified if the biggest online rental company in the world(?) is looking for one.
@dg You misunderstood namtastic's (misleading) post. He's talking about the old and defunct WMP DRM. Netflix uses the newest Windows Media 11 DRM (likley required to by the studios). WM11 DRM doesn't work on OSX.
Macrovision does not provide the kind of tools and service which Netflix required (codec, media player, plugin and DRM scheme). Even if it did, it would need the studios' stamp of approval. Only Microsoft, Apple, and RealNetworks provide the necessary components. That said, I don't even know if Real has the capability or permission to provide studio movie services.
Does anyone know what kind of DRM they are using. Once you answer that question then you will know who is at fault. Most often it is the developer. Apple's DRM works on both Macs and PCs. Should not the other guy's DRM do the same?
No, it's not that simple. First to answer your question, the DRM it uses is Windows Media 11. Microsoft is not responsible for providing DRM for OSX. They tried with their old DRM (PlayForSure). It was cracked and MS doesn't support it anymore.
Providing protected content on OSX is Apple's responsibility, not Microsoft's, not Netflix's. Apple provides their own DRM, and yes it works on PCs too. The problem is that nobody but Apple is allowed to use it.
Microsoft, not Apple, has just developed a Flash-video type technology with DRM support. It is called Silverlight. It is cross-platform (works on Mac or PC). Netflix demoed a concept version of their service using Silverlight. Hopefully we'll see it soon. There could be technological setbacks. There could be issues with the studios. There could be issues with deals they made with Microsoft last year. Who knows.
The bottom line is that Netflix service hasn't been on Macs for the past year because Apple won't license out FairPlay.
Please explain why Microsoft should not make it compatible. I can only think of 2 reasons. They lack skill as a software developer and are destine to be a follower, or there market is so large they just don't care about Mac user's as customers. This is what got them in trouble before with the DOJ. I think they are just stuck on stupid. With there size and cash reserves you can't tell me that can't develop the software.
Ahhh... makes sense now. Thanks. I forgot about the WM11 Windows only thing too.
@JohnQ
Although Microsoft isn't a Mac-user's best friend, they are still a capable software company. Maybe they favor things like money before a best product possible, but they can still do something if they really want to (and yes, I'm a devoted Mac user, I'll never touch windows again if I don't have to). My guess is that Microsoft, more or less, doesn't care about Macs; and with good reason. It's not their platform! I'm sure WM11 support may come around eventually, but they have more important things to do like keep Vista up and running, and making sure WM11 works great on Windows, before they go making a free product for OS X, plus I'm sure they don't mind NOT spending the money to support OS X, AND perhaps keep some marketshare from those people on the edge who might just really like watching Netflix online.
Class action lawsuit, please. Last time I checked I pay the same price as other users who can actually use the watch online feature. Give me my ball back, I'm going home.
Do you have any idea what a stupid, idiotic comment that is? You think Microsoft should be paying to make sure Netflix's video service can work on Apple OSX? You do realize that Netflix and MS are two different companies, right? So should Apple then in turn be providing Netflix the technology to provide their service on Windows?
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I wish they'd hurry up with the Mac support.
Second that.
Don't complain to Netflix. They would love nothing more than to be able to support OSX. Apple won't allow it. Apple won't license their FairPlay DRM to them. Movie studios require everyone to use DRM, especially for unlimited streaming services.
amazingly enough you don't need fairplay DRM to play on a Macintosh.
I'll cancel my subscription to netflix in a heart beat if I can get something similar from apple that works on my platform of choice and better yet doesn't have me waiting a few days between movies. Having time to watch them over christmas sucked because of the holidays meaning no mail delivery. A movie returned on the 23rd meant no movie back at the house until the 2nd when usually it's a 72 hour turnaround.
I thought the Netflix app used Silverlight, does it not? If so, then Silverlight works fine on Mac. (I'm using it on a G5 iMac.)
@Tom
Please, enlighten us. How Netflix can provide DRM-protected service on OSX without Apple allowing them to use FairPlay? I'd love to hear all about it.
No, Netflix does not use Silverlight. They showed a concept demo of it back in May, but they don't use it. Silverlight uses a new DRM. Have movie studios even approved this yet? I have no idea. What I do know is that if Apple allowed Netflix to use FairPlay, I would have had the service on my Mac a year ago instead of maybe sometime in 2008 if and when they can switch to Silverlight.
@Sean O,
Please don't keep propagating the myth that Fairplay somehow equals all Macintosh DRM.
Windows Media for OS X had its own DRM.
Microsoft Silverlight has its own DRM.
Macrovision licenses DRM for Macintosh as part of its core business.
Hell, even Liquid Audio in the mid 90s had its own, custom DRM for Macintoshes.
Fairplay is *only* about DRM content support on iPods. Not Macs, iPods.
@namtastic
You miss the point. Name ONE single reasonable option Netflix had to provide their service on OSX without using FairPlay. One. And don't say Silverlight. I'm not talking about something that's 5 minutes old. I'm talking about 2006 when they developed their service. It was either develop their own DRM (year right, that's practical) or wait it out.
You are propagating the myth that Netflix is some arrogant company that cares nothing about Mac users.
My point is very, very simple. OSX users who are peeved about no Netflix on their Mac (like me) for the past year have only one company to blame. Apple, not Netflix.
@sean o
I don't know, it seems to me that you're the one that missed the point. Now I don't know which of either the FairPlay requirement, or third-party OS X DRM option are true, but you seem to agree that third-party is an option, so long as it exists. Why would Netflix have to "wait it out" when there have been DRM options for OS X available since the 90's, as namtastic stated? Microsoft, Macrovision, and I'm sure tens of other companies are willing to supply or develop an OS X DRM and have it certified if the biggest online rental company in the world(?) is looking for one.
^ ^ ^ Edit: DRM options for the Mac available since the 90's*
@dg
You misunderstood namtastic's (misleading) post. He's talking about the old and defunct WMP DRM. Netflix uses the newest Windows Media 11 DRM (likley required to by the studios). WM11 DRM doesn't work on OSX.
Macrovision does not provide the kind of tools and service which Netflix required (codec, media player, plugin and DRM scheme). Even if it did, it would need the studios' stamp of approval. Only Microsoft, Apple, and RealNetworks provide the necessary components. That said, I don't even know if Real has the capability or permission to provide studio movie services.
Does anyone know what kind of DRM they are using. Once you answer that question then you will know who is at fault. Most often it is the developer. Apple's DRM works on both Macs and PCs. Should not the other guy's DRM do the same?
No, it's not that simple. First to answer your question, the DRM it uses is Windows Media 11. Microsoft is not responsible for providing DRM for OSX. They tried with their old DRM (PlayForSure). It was cracked and MS doesn't support it anymore.
Providing protected content on OSX is Apple's responsibility, not Microsoft's, not Netflix's. Apple provides their own DRM, and yes it works on PCs too. The problem is that nobody but Apple is allowed to use it.
Microsoft, not Apple, has just developed a Flash-video type technology with DRM support. It is called Silverlight. It is cross-platform (works on Mac or PC). Netflix demoed a concept version of their service using Silverlight. Hopefully we'll see it soon. There could be technological setbacks. There could be issues with the studios. There could be issues with deals they made with Microsoft last year. Who knows.
The bottom line is that Netflix service hasn't been on Macs for the past year because Apple won't license out FairPlay.
Sean O
Please explain why Microsoft should not make it compatible. I can only think of 2 reasons. They lack skill as a software developer and are destine to be a follower, or there market is so large they just don't care about Mac user's as customers. This is what got them in trouble before with the DOJ. I think they are just stuck on stupid. With there size and cash reserves you can't tell me that can't develop the software.
@sean
Ahhh... makes sense now. Thanks. I forgot about the WM11 Windows only thing too.
@JohnQ
Although Microsoft isn't a Mac-user's best friend, they are still a capable software company. Maybe they favor things like money before a best product possible, but they can still do something if they really want to (and yes, I'm a devoted Mac user, I'll never touch windows again if I don't have to). My guess is that Microsoft, more or less, doesn't care about Macs; and with good reason. It's not their platform! I'm sure WM11 support may come around eventually, but they have more important things to do like keep Vista up and running, and making sure WM11 works great on Windows, before they go making a free product for OS X, plus I'm sure they don't mind NOT spending the money to support OS X, AND perhaps keep some marketshare from those people on the edge who might just really like watching Netflix online.
It'll come, eventually.
Class action lawsuit, please. Last time I checked I pay the same price as other users who can actually use the watch online feature. Give me my ball back, I'm going home.
@JohnQ
Do you have any idea what a stupid, idiotic comment that is? You think Microsoft should be paying to make sure Netflix's video service can work on Apple OSX? You do realize that Netflix and MS are two different companies, right? So should Apple then in turn be providing Netflix the technology to provide their service on Windows?