Netflix changes its public API program by ending it, will no longer issue new dev keys

Once upon a time, Netflix was proud enough of its public API which enabled third-party services and apps to serve up its data and content in different ways that it opened a gallery to display them. Unfortunately, times have changed since 2009 — the old App Gallery is gone and now, so is public API access for new developers. A blog post indicates the API is now focused on supporting Netflix’s official clients on the many devices its customers use to stream movies, not hobbyist projects for managing ones queue or finding new movies to watch. While those already in place should still work since existing keys will remain active, the developer forums are being set to read-only, no new keys are being issued and new partners are no longer being accepted.

The move is reminiscent of recent changes by Twitter, where as each company has grown it’s decided having control over the user experience through its own official apps outweighs allowing the community to build and extend access as it sees fit. We’re sad to see the program go, as many of these tools assisted Netflix members in ways the official website and apps either never did, or no longer do after the features were removed. Even though Netflix relies on its own secret sauce for recommendations, we’ve always found it hard to beat InstantWatcher’s curated lists (by year, Rotten Tomatoes rating, critic’s picks, titles most recently added by other users and more) to find a video, and FeedFliks was indispensable for monitoring exactly how valuable the service is until its features were cut down by API changes. They provided an edge the competition like Amazon Prime and Redbox couldn’t match, but we’ll have to wait and see if this change is noticed by enough subscribers to matter — we’ve seen how that can go.

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Netflix Developer Blog

Netflix Gives Tattooed Fan One Year Of Free Service

Netflix Gives Tattooed Fan One Year Of Free Service

We think it’s safe to say the majority of people out there, especially if you own a video game console or any other device that offers the ability to watch streaming video online, have a Netflix account. $8 a month to be able to access a rather large library of videos at the drop of a hat is one many people can’t pass up, but would you consider saving $96 dollars by defacing your body with a corporate logo?

Twitter user @TheRealMyron decided he enjoyed Netflix so much, that he would get the company’s logo tattooed on his arm in one of the worst tattoos we’ve seen in the past couple of months. Fortunately, Netflix caught wind of his dedication to their service and went ahead and gave him a free year of the service.

In case you were wondering, Myron didn’t get his tattoo in order to receive a free year of service. He had the tattoo done because he was a devoted fan, which is actually more sad than we originally thought. I mean, I love a good Twinkie, but there’s no way I’d deface a piece of my favorite body to get a tattoo of one, especially if it turns into a devil Twinkie.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: RefCam Uses GoPro To Give Sports Fans An Unprecedented Look At Rugby, A Glimpse Into How Google Glass Will Be Used By Guys,

This Awful Netflix Tattoo Comes With a Free Year of Service and Lifetime of Shame

You think you love Netflix? You don’t, at least not compared to @TheRealMyron. He loves it so much he had (a horrendous interpretation of) its logo tattooed onto his arm. And as a reward for his fanboyism, he got a comparatively impermanent year of free Netflix. More »

BlackBerry 10 Netflix app: not any time soon

Sad news for both Blackberry 10 users and Blackberry alike. It turns out that Netflix has no intentions of releasing its mobile app for Blackberry 10 devices any time soon. This is bad for Blackberry 10, who needs a great app base in order to covert customers from iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. It was already bad enough when Instagram stated it had no intentions of developing its app for Blackberry 10 either.

BlackBerry 10 Netflix app not any time soon

Netflix didn’t say exactly why they weren’t planning on developing an app for Blackberry 10, but sources have told All Things D that its because Blackberry 10 doesn’t have a big enough user base. Without a huge user base like Android, iOS, or even Windows Phone, Netflix wouldn’t receive a lot of returned benefits from its app on Blackberry, so it decided to forgo the developing costs of creating the app.

Things may change in the future when Blackberry 10 starts attracting more and more users. Netflix didn’t say they were never going to work with Blackberry 10. It’s just following Instagram’s footsteps and is waiting the situation out. Though if those two companies partnered up with Blackberry 10, wouldn’t it be enticing enough to attract many users over to the developing platform? Perhaps developing their apps would prove to be a win-win situation.

Even without Netflix and Instagram, Blackberry 10 still has a decent amount of popular apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Skype to hold it over. It has a catalog of over 70,000 apps, 40% which is comprised of Android apps, and the list will keep growing. Sooner or later, Netflix and Instagram will join in on the fun. Alex Kinsella, a spokesman for Blackberry, is hoping for the former however. He says, “We hope they choose to bring a Blackberry 10 experience to their customers. We’d love to have them.”

[via All Things D]


BlackBerry 10 Netflix app: not any time soon is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Netflix for iOS updates with improved UI and zoom controls

Netflix pushed out a pretty significant update, which brings the streaming app up to an even version 3.0. The update includes an improved player user interface, where you can just tap to display the video titles if you’re using the app on the iPad. Netflix also brought the zoom control back, which allows you to watch shows in full screen.

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The app also has a slightly rearranged player as well, including better placement of the play/pause button, as well as the 10-second rewind button, both of which are on the left side at the bottom. We also want to say that the volume slider and playback slider are a little bigger, but that could just be our imagination playing mean tricks on us.

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The zoom control being brought back is certainly an interesting change that Netflix decided to change its mind on. They got rid of the feature in past updates, but brought it back this time around. While personally I never use the zoom button, some viewers enjoy switching between fullscreen mode and widescreen mode.

Netflix is a free download and the update is available now in the iTunes App Store. Of course, though, you’ll need a Netflix subscription to enjoy the app, which is $7.99 per month. Back in December, the PlayStation 3 was considered the number one device that Netflix users used, but it’s nice to see the streaming service give attention to other platforms as well with updates.


Netflix for iOS updates with improved UI and zoom controls is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Netflix for iOS 3.0 brings the zoom icon back, adds more UI improvements

Netflix for iOS v30 brings the zoom icon back, adds more UI improvements

Sony’s now obsolete PS3 may be the Netflix streaming device of choice, but that doesn’t mean the popular streaming service will ignore other platforms. The Netflix app on iOS, which saw its last big refresh back in September last year, has just been bumped up to v3.0 — bringing with it a slew of UI changes aimed towards improving your movie-watching experience. The zoom icon that was removed previously is now back for easier access to full-screen viewing, while a tap displays video titles if you’re using the app on the iPad. The three-point change log also includes a relocation of the playback controls. Nothing profound, but hey — could be worth your while if it keeps you away from reality just a little longer.

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Source: App Store

W3C to explore a proposal bringing DRM hooks to HTML

W3C open to a proposal bringing DRM hooks to HTML

The web is defined by the free, open exchange of information, right? Not necessarily. The W3C has decided that it’s “in scope” for its HTML Working Group to explore a specification for the Encrypted Media Extensions framework, which would allow companies to plug in their own copy protection for web content. In other words, the effort would add support for DRM extensions to the web itself, rather than leave it to content plugins like Flash. The W3C’s Philippe Le Hegaret is careful to note that this isn’t an explicit endorsement of EME as it’s suggested, or even the call for consensus on the proposal — there are already concerns that the spec would lead to an abundance of DRM plugins that wouldn’t work in certain browsers or operating systems. However, there’s a chance it may become reality when EME’s backers include content hosts or producers like the BBC, Google, Microsoft and Netflix.

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Via: Wired, Slashdot

Source: W3C

Netflix and DreamWorks to launch original show for kids in December

Netflix and DreamWorks launch original show for kids

While Netflix is trying to lure in the grown-ups with the launch of House of Cards, it’s not leaving kids without their own choice of original material. DreamWorks plans to follow up the July release of its animated movie Turbo with a Netflix-only series, Turbo FAST, in December. The episodes will arrive on the service roughly in line with DreamWorks’ 2013 slate of movies, including Turbo. Young viewers may well be happy, but Turbo FAST and the larger DreamWorks deal could be that much more satisfying for Netflix itself — they’re potential foils to Amazon’s multi-show plans that could keep some subscribing families from jumping ship.

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Netflix And DreamWorks To Create Turbo:F.A.S.T Show

Netflix And DreamWorks To Create Turbo:F.A.S.T ShowDreamWorks has announced a partnership with Netflix to create Turbo:F.A.S.T  ( Fast Action Stunt Team) based on the 3D movie “Turbo”.  Turbo features the story of a snail, who dreams of competing in a race and accidentally gains super powers due to a freak accident. The show is expected to pick up where the movie left and will showcase the exploits of Turbo in his adventures. The movie is to be released on July 19th, while the show itself is expected to debut in December, featuring the voices of Ryan Reynolds and Paul Giamatti.  (more…)

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Netflix and DreamWorks teaming up to create original kids series

Just a week-and-a-half after Netflix’s House of Cards original series debuted, the streaming service is at it again. The company announced a partnership with animated studio DreamWorks to begin working on another original series, but this time it’ll be for kids (and adults who like animated movies). This will be Netflix‘s first original cartoon series.

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The show will based off the upcoming animated DreamWorks film Turbo, which is about a snail who gains special superpowers after a freak accident that allow him to travel at high speeds, something we’re sure all snails would be thankful for. However, while the series will be based on the new movie, the title will have a slightly different name: Turbo: F.A.S.T. (Fast Action Stunt Team).

The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, and Michael Pena, and it is opening in theaters on July 19, while the original series on Netflix will debut sometime in December. Netflix’s House of Cards is currently a huge hit, and has officially put Netflix on the map of companies creating great original content. Plus, Netflix is currently after HBO, so we’ll definitely see more original shows from the streaming service in the future.

Netflix has started to cater more towards kids in recent years. Back in December, they announced that they will soon offer Disney movies, starting with new films released in 2016. Plus, the streaming service added a “Just for Kids” section to its interface not too long ago that features programming specifically catered towards kids.


Netflix and DreamWorks teaming up to create original kids series is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.