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Linux-Using Mates Gone AWOL? Netflix Just Added Linux Support

posted by CoolHand on Thursday March 23 2017, @04:26AM   
from the netflix-and-chilling-properly dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

If your Linux-using mates suddenly disappear for a day or two, we can explain why: Netflix has just revealed it's fully and formally available on the OS

As the streamer points out, Chrome's worked for in-browser playback since 2014. But not officially.

As of Tuesday, however, "users of Firefox can also enjoy Netflix on Linux."

Netflix reckons this is "a huge milestone for us and our partners, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Mozilla that helped make it possible."

HTML 5 had a lot to do with it, too, because by enabling plugin-free video playback it meant Linux users were spared the the recurring security nightmare that is Adobe Flash, which recently made a meaningful Penguin-land after ignoring Linux for years.

The reason you haven't switched to Linux is:

• 1. Games
• 2. Netflix

[editors note: the game situation isn't all that bad now, with over 3,000 games now available for Linux on Steam]

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Original Submission

• Re:The More Things Change (Score: 3, Insightful) by CoolHand on Friday March 24 2017, @12:31PM

  by CoolHand (438) on Friday March 24 2017, @12:31PM (#483609) Journal

  editors note: the game situation isn't all that bad now, with over 3,000 games now available for Linux on Steam

  First, thank you for taking the time to be an editor here.

  You're welcome..

  Second, I believe this statement is more propaganda than helpful, even though it's technically true.

  The "game situation" is, to some people, a genuine reason not to switch operating systems.

  I am not one of those people--I already switched. This was possible for me because every function in my workflow (and playflow as it were) works fine in GNU/Linux.

  [...]The Winehq folks toil and trudge and make game after game playable on Linux. Valve is making the situation better by embracing Linux and making more and more games work. These are all good things.

  But still, if you pick a random gamer's five or ten favorite games, half of them will still be unplayable in Penguin land. Even if 3000 lesser games work fine.

  Ars Technica [arstechnica.com] puts it this way:

  [We're] cautiously optimistic about the promise of a viable PC gaming market that doesn't rely on a Microsoft OS... Valve has already transformed gaming on Linux from "practically nothing" to "definitely something" and could be on the verge of making it much more than that.

  Like you, I hope it keeps getting better and better. But Netflix *works*. Every movie, every show you want to watch plays just the same as it would under another OS. That's not true for Steam.

  I just said things are getting better... To the point that if you WANT to switch (and don't have a particular game(s) that you are stuck on, it's entirely possible to go with Linux and have a great gaming experience. Personally I'd kept a console around for years so I didn't have to dual boot Windows for games. But finally two years ago I built myself a homemade Steam Machine, and I now have about a hundred games on there (out of a Linux Library of over 500), including many AAA, and have spent hundreds of hours on it. These are big commercial games, in all categories. I understand that not EVERYONE is willing/able to switch at this point, but it is becoming much more practicable for a large percentage of people. Plus, things are looking even brighter with the advent of Vulkan. If it takes off, as it looks like it will, it will make supporting multi-platforms much easier. The Ars link you posted was from over two years ago, and things have changed hugely since then, so I didn't even bother to click through on it to tell you the truth...

  --
  Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job-Douglas Adams

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