Offline Downloads removed???
Sigh... this was quite an annoying thing to discover. I have subscriptions to Netflix, Disney, and Prime... and I do use the download feature quite often on my Windows laptop to collect things to watch whilst I was travelling and had absent or patchy access to the internet for streaming. Generally, that was during plane flights or on interstate coach rides with really slow mobile internet that would keep dropping out.
And this last time, I went to load up some movies to watch... and I couldn't find the download option.... hmmm, that is weird... and so I started to poke around a bit.
Apparently, the streaming services have been moving away from Windows apps to lighter Electron "web apps"... and that means that there is no option to download for viewing later. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure why this decision was made... probably by people who have constant internet access. But it is a real pain in the bum, and it means that I'm not watching movies and TV while travelling, instead... it will be gaming and reading comic book on the e-reader instead... both of which are offline possible!
So, what is the rationale behind removing offline options? Is it a cost cutting measure, is it an attempt to cut piracy... because in the end, it sort of mostly affects people who are just using the feature to load up movies and TV on their legitimate account in preparation for travel.. and travel is going to be one of those times when you are most likely to be watching videos, that's when you have the time to do that sort of thing!
... but it is also the time when you are most likely to have pretty poor or non-existent internet access!
And to top it all off, all three of my subscribed services have all decided to do the same thing! ARGHGHGHGHGHGH... anyway, I hope that the powers that be will come to their senses and reinstate the download options. But I'm really not holding out hope for that....
So, if you are planning on travelling soon... bring a book.
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This is bullshit and would bring a huge backlash to them...
I know a few offline download sites if you're interested.
Although I don't know if they'll work in your side of the world😂
I'm also reconsidering the Plex server going up again...
That is awful! Well, I have always had my imagination and music, plus I have always resulted to books for travel.
Games and books for me... as long as it isn't on a bus!
I always found the download feature to be a bit hit or miss anyway. It seemed that some of the stuff they wouldn't allow you to download and other stuff they would. It was usually their in house productions that they allowed you to download. I kind of just gave up on it all after a while. If you travel a lot I can see the benefit.
I also foudn the same, but in a way it helped me "choose" to watch a few things that I wouldn't have otherwise chosen first!
One thing I've not been able to do is to watch a movie while travelling. I don't find it comfortable. So, on behalf of those that read books while traveling, I welcome you😂
Let those services see they've got nothing on you
Haha... I find books are much worse for me when travelling! At least, when I'm a bus or car. On a train or plane, I do prefer a book though!
Probably anti-piracy. I have a few electron apps and I guess they're smaller if using a system electron but if they have to bundle it (which will happen sometimes if the app vendor wants a highly specific version to ensure there's no unexpected bugs etc) then it's not very small. I attempted a messaging app (which ended up not working at all) which had a bundled electron so it could be "standalone" and it claimed to be a few Gb large. I was like wat.
Bet they'll be wringing their hands wondering how no one could have ever seen this coming and what could have possibly gone wrong it definitely wasn't their brilliant stroke of genius when piracy surges and people start switching off.
Yeah, I'm almost reconsidering getting the home Plex server up and running again. I'm sure that some corporate suit thought it would be a good way to eke out a few more dollars from subscribers. Perhaps the offline feature will be a premium perk?
It's almost like they are pushing us towards piracy again!
This meme is not directly related to what you are saying but it certainly is a part of it!
Oh yes... that is pretty true. So many disjointed subscriptions that only have a single thing that you want. It is starting to get really annoying!
I'm starting to feel like a lot of the major players that spend tons of money yet crank out flop after flop such as Amazon and Disney are using this as money laundering because they aren't making any money so what other reason could they possibly have?