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Netflix's public API is dead, but InstantWatcher is not
It's amazing how quickly five months fly by. Netflix announced in June that its public API would shut off and now we've reached the appointed day. As we mentioned then, several of the popular third-party tools built with access to Netflix's services have been chosen to continue on: InstantWatcher, FeedFliks, Can I Stream It?, NextGuide, Flixster, Fanhattan, Yidio and Instant Watch Browser for Netflix. These services matter -- once upon a time Netflix actually promoted them itself -- because they can often help you use Netflix in a more convenient way than its own website and apps do, with features like shareable lists, integration with popular ratings services and more. If you're not already using them, check out our breakdown of how to use Netflix better for more info on what they can add to your streaming experience.
Get the most out of Netflix with these tools -- while you still can
We've heard your complaint: you can't find anything to watch on Netflix. Despite all the A/B testing, app updates and data Netflix is measuring behind the scenes, the way it presents the library makes it nearly impossible to see everything that's available to watch, and sometimes you want to do the choosing instead of letting an algorithm or hired gun do the work. The good news is there are a ton of different ways to sort through the pile -- or ditch sorting for the bliss of random selection -- but the bad news is that some of them will be going away soon (more on that in a minute). If you're not already taking advantage of third party tools like InstantWatcher to dive deep into the catalog, we're here to explain why you should be.
Netflix is shutting down its API, but helpers like InstantWatcher aren't going away
Over a year ago, Netflix announced it was no longer issuing keys to its public API platform, cutting off any potential new developers from joining. That's the service that allowed third-party developers to build apps that gave you different ways to browse and access its library of movies. Today, Netflix's VP of Edge Engineering announced in a blog post that the API will go away entirely as of November 14th. Not all is lost however, as a "small set" of developers have been approved for private access, and the list includes helpful sites and apps like InstantWatcher, FeedFliks, Can I Stream It?, NextGuide, Flixster, Fanhattan, Yidio and Instant Watch Browser for Netflix. Not familiar with them? If you use Netflix, you should be, since they make it easy to browse movies by year, rating, or even what others have recently queued. Of course, some of our other favorite sites like AllFlicks aren't on the approved list, and we've contacted them to find out their fate. [Image credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Netflix removes streaming expiration dates from API after 'Streampocalypse' hysteria
The end of April suddenly became very stressful for Netflix subscribers, as it was widely reported that nearly 1,800 titles would be disappearing from its Watch Instantly service in the US. Unfortunately, it likely caused a lot of tension in Los Gatos as well and tonight the company revealed it's changing its policies. Quickly dubbed "Streampocalypse" or "Streamageddon," some blamed it on competition like Warner Archive Instant, despite many of the listed titles actually being related to Netflix's agreement with Epix. As we now know, on May 1st the sun rose once again and there are still some movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix streaming, but for just a few hours you might have thought that would not be the case. The list came from the third-party site InstantWatcher, which we've long recommended to help users sort selections in ways not supported by the official page and apps including by year, Rotten Tomatoes rating or New York Times Critics' Picks. Starting today however, that will not include the ability to list "expiring soon" titles. As Daniel Jacobson posted to Netflix's API developer blog, it will stop including expiration dates in the public API. While we're sad to see the amount of data available to the public reduced and are still peeved over the public API being shelved entirely, after last week's incident we can certainly understand why. Netflix did not directly reference the incident in its statement (available after the break), but one can certainly connect the dots -- read on for more information.
Netflix abruptly yanks unavailable streaming movies from 'saved' view
Netflix's website has suddenly changed (again), removing any queued Watch Instantly titles that aren't currently available from view. Previously they entered the saved section of the queue, keeping a slot full and occasionally indicating when the movie would be licensed for viewing again. A blog post published after the fact suggests inactive titles on the list made things complicated (but not too complicated for the DVD queue, where the saved list remains), and that while they're invisible, they're not deleted and will still reappear when (if) a title is available to stream again. Users hugging the 500-item limit in their queue still have those ghost titles taking up a slot, although we're told that will be fixed in the next few days. If you want to see the list again just to go over it or queue them on disc, Hacking Netflix indicates FeedFliks (one of our favorite alternative queue management sites along with InstantWatcher) is still able to show your expired titles -- for now. Just a bit of advice for Netflix: If you're trying to show some appreciation to the millions of customers you expect to stick around through Q3 despite higher prices and an uncertain content licensing future, making arbitrary and unannounced changes to the way we access our data is the wrong way to do it. As it is, we're forced to wonder if this move is less about streamlining and more about hiding the amount of titles that are going offline lately or in the near future.
Netflix launches "App Gallery" directory of related apps and websites
We know, lots of you use Netflix. Whether your flavor is streaming, Blu-ray or plain old DVD there's something helpful that's been built via the company's API, including queue managers for iPhone or other mobile device, or websites offering a different level of organization for the Watch Instantly directory like InstantWatcher or Flicks-Now and to organize all those bits and pieces it's launched the App Gallery to let users see them and rate which are the best. Take a sec and check it out, there's only a dozen or so items listed so far but we wouldn't be surprised if there's already one that makes your rental experience a little easier.[Via The Netflix Blog]
