Items tagged with Netflix
Since 2020, Netflix has been able to serve up 200 gigabits per second (Gbps) of TLS-encrypted video traffic from each of its servers, but there is now a path to doubling that amount to 400Gb/s. Andrew Gallatin, a senior software engineer at Netflix, outlined how the streaming service has been able to achieve the feat using a combination of AMD's second-generation EPYC "Rome" processors and various software optimizations. That's a lot of bandwidth, and incidentally, it comes right as Netflix eyes an entry into video game streaming. Game streaming was not mentioned during the presentation, though it is an interesting aside to this latest effort. AMD's EPYC 7502P Rome processors provide the big...
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In a letter to shareholders, Netflix confirmed it is indeed in the "early stages of further expanding into games," and discussed a little bit what that will entail. The company did not go into great detail, but it did say that games added to the mix will be available at no extra cost to subscribers, likening the effort to adding new programming genres. "We view gaming as another new content category for us, similar to our expansion into original films, animation and unscripted TV. Games will be included in members’ Netflix subscription at no additional cost similar to films and series," Netflix stated. That is great news, if not a bit surprising when you consider that gaming is huge industry...
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Earlier this week, we learned that Netflix is planning to take on Microsoft xCloud, Amazon Luna, and Google Stadia with a game streaming service of its own. According to a credible report, Netflix plans to launch the service in 2022, and it would be available at no additional cost to subscribers (although last tidbit sounds a little hard to believe). Netflix added veteran gaming exec Mike Verdu from Electronic Art to its roster to advance its game streaming efforts. Today, we’re learning more about the service, thanks to some incredible datamining by Steve Moser. Moser dug into the source code for the Netflix app and found some clues for the upcoming gaming service, including artwork for...
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Don't look now (er, do look, actually), but Netflix apparently has aspirations of being the Netflix of games! That is to say, it is reported the company wants to expand into video games (as previously rumored) and has brought on some key talent to help lead the effort. Should Netflix pull this off, it could be a major disrupting force, just as it was (and still is) for streaming movies and TV shows. I have to say, Netflix's ability to pivot and evolve with the times is impressive (save for that short-lived Qwikster spin-off a decade ago). Navigating the online landscape is not easy, yet Netflix took its popular DVD-by-mail subscription service and adeptly expanded into streaming movies and TV...
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Traditional media, like TV and movies, have speed aside somewhat for video games becoming a popular way for people to spend time. According to new reports, typically traditional media company Netflix is eyeing a foray into the video games market. Today, The Information reports that Netflix has been looking to hire an executive to oversee an expansion to the video game market. The Los Gatos, California-based company has supposedly reached out to veteran game industry executives about joining the company or perhaps just to learn about the market. However, Netflix has already had some game content come out, like the Stranger Things games or interactive “choose your adventure” type content...
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When watching movies and television shows, bad audio can take viewers out of the moment in an epic battle scene or the final romantic moment between Romeo and Juliet. When it comes to TVs and sound systems, there is a certain level of hardware quality to be expected. However, when it comes to Android devices, your listening environment can change, or your listening hardware could change from high fidelity headphones to $5 earbuds from Five Below. To level out the listening experience on Android for all environments and hardware, Netflix is introducing Extended HE-AAC with MPEG-D dynamic range control (DRC) on Android devices. Generally, dialogue is prevalent throughout media no matter the content...
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Maybe you scored a Fire TV streaming device for Black Friday or purchased a discounted LG smart TV this deal season. Having the right hardware is only half of the equation. The other part is, of course, the content. To that end, there are deals to be had on various streaming services, so you can kick back with a tub of popcorn and binge watch to your heart's delight. Where should you start, though? That is up to you, but we have some suggestions. One of them is Amazon Prime. If you are already a Prime member, you can save up to 50% on movies and more. Amazon offers both outright purchases and rentals. For example, you can rent Bill & Ted Face the Music in HD for $3.99, which is a couple bucks...
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Netflix is one of the most popular video streaming services on the planet with hordes of users streaming through their TVs, computers, and mobile devices. Netflix is adding a new feature for users on Android devices that allow them to increase or decrease the streaming speed of the show they're watching. The new control allows 0.5x or 0.75x for slower motion viewing, which could be very beneficial to those with hearing issues or those watching content in non-native languages. Netflix is also allowing users to speed up content by 1.25x or 1.5x times for faster viewing. Faster speeds could certainly help users get through their binge-fest more quickly. Android users get these new playback speed...
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Many of us have lately found ourselves working more home and relying more on digital entertainment. However, this greater need for the Internet can also lead to network congestion. Several streaming services are currently looking for ways to ease this congestion. Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube have all recently announced that they plan to reduce bit rates in Europe. European Union Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton recently posted a tweet that stated, “To secure Internet access for all, let’s #SwitchToStandard definition when HD is not necessary.” Netflix was the first to jump on board. The company has promised to decrease bitrates in Europe and believe that...
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Netflix launched the original series called The Witcher last month, and the show has proven to be very popular for the streaming company. The Netflix original has also proven to be quite a boon for CD Projekt Red's video game as well. This week more people have played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt concurrently on Steam than when the game initially launched. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launched in 2015, and its previous all-time highest concurrent player count came when it launched on May 1, 2015. SteamCharts shows that on that day, 92,268 players were logged in. The new all-time high has now been reset, with 94,601 people playing the game in 24 hours recently. The game is also on the Steam top 10 charts...
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Streaming video is big business today with sites like Netflix and Hulu offering huge amounts of content that people can stream anywhere they have an internet connection. As many subscribers as Netflix and others have, two of the biggest streaming sites were illegal. Two programmers in Las Vegas recently admitted to running a pair of the largest illegal TV and movie streaming services in the country, according to federal authorities. One of the platforms reportedly had more paying subscribers than Netflix or any other legitimate streaming platform. FBI investigators arrested Darryl Polo and Luis Villarino in relation to the investigation, and both of the developers have pled guilty to copyright...
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Depending on what devices you have been using to stream Netflix, you may find that it is no longer accessible today. That's because Netflix has flipped the switch and stopped supporting its service on older hardware, including a handful of Roku streaming players, certain Vizio TVs, and some Samsung TV models. Netflix actually announced plans to stop supporting certain devices earlier this month, saying at the time that it would happen on December 1st. That day has come, and if you own an affected gadget, you will see a message saying, "Netflix will no longer be available on this device." Most of the affected devices are very old at this point—up to around 8-10 years old. As for which specific...
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Those who have been patiently awaiting for NVIDIA to refresh its SHIELD TV streaming lineup were rewarded this week with two new models, the 2019 SHIELD TV and SHIELD TV Pro. Both come with a revamped remote control that is one of the highlights of these newly updated models, though if you are not a Netflix user, the rather large Netflix button that sits at the bottom is a wasted feature. Or is it? Actually, you can do something about it. No, we're not talking about ripping the button out of the remote (please don't attempt that). Instead, you can remap the Netflix button to perform a function that is more useful to your operation of the SHIELD TV. This is not something NVIDIA includes in its...
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One of the most popular shows that Netflix has ever made, and it's made some good ones, is Stranger Things. The main bad guy in Season 1 was the Demogorgon, and Netflix has teamed up with the devs behind the video game Dead By Daylight to give gamers the chance to play as the monster. If you get tired of playing as the Demogorgon, you can also play as Nancy Wheeler or Steve Harrington. The update also comes with a new map that of the underground complex at the Hawking National Laboratory. This chapter for Dead by Daylight launches in September on console and the PC. This isn't the first big horror monster that Dead by Daylight has tied up with; the game offered Freddy Krueger and the Ghostface...
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We aren't sure the world needs another streaming service, but that isn't stopping WarnerMedia from launching one. The new streaming service will be called HBO Max, and it is a direct-to-consumer service that will include original programming along with old classic series and content from a variety of other sources. HBO Max does include HBO content as well, including its slate of originals. Netflix subscribers who are fans of the classic comedy "Friends" have wondered why it was leaving Netflix. HBO Max has announced that it will be the exclusive streaming location for all 236 episodes of the show. HBO Max also has the rights to all episodes of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and "Pretty Little...
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Early last week, Microsoft started to talk up the "all-new" Windows 1.0 with MS-DOS Executive, clock, and more. We all wondered at the time what exactly the deal was. Rumors suggested that Windows 1.0 was going to be a tie in with Netflix's third season of Stranger Things which landed on July 4. The Stranger Things Season 3 mashup has now been confirmed with the official launch of the Windows 1.11 app. The description for the app reads, "Experience 1985 nostalgia with a special edition Windows 10 PC app inspired by Windows 1.0—but one that's been taken over by the Upside Down from Stranger Things. Explore the mysteries and secrets plaguing Hawkins, unlock unique show content and easter...
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Strange things are happening inside Fortnite, the wildly popular, free-to-play battle royale. Scratch that—Stranger Things, as in the equally popular Netflix original. Portals are popping up in Fortnite in what is a clear Stranger Things tie-in, just ahead of the show's Season 3 premier tomorrow on the streaming video service. Image Source: Reddit (TAK_Blitz) As shown above in a screenshot shared to Reddit by user TAK_Blitz, these not-so-mysterious portals (or gates) have a distinct look to them, with sprawling roots and an eerily orange and red glow in the center. They have been popping up in Fortnite's Mega Mall POI. Interestingly, stepping through them transports your character to a...
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Buying a television can be a daunting experience with so many different models and options available. Sure, size matters, but so does a host of other factors, such as the type of screen, resolution and HDR support, and the implementation of smart features. As it mostly pertains to that latter point, Netflix has come out with its annual list of recommended TVs. Netflix's list is geared towards getting the most from its streaming service, and supposedly it has a "rigorous" testing program in place. The exact testing criteria is not laid out, though Netflix does offer some high-level details. To bear the "Netflix Recommended TV" badge, a qualifying smart TV must meet at least 5 of 7 criteria. They...
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Game streaming services are building up to be the next big race for the dollars of millennials in the future. Services like EA Access and Google Stadia are expected to be hugely popular with gamers around the world, and a new report claims that more American millennials now subscribe to a video game service than subscribe to paid television. The report claims that 53% of people born between 1983 and 1996 are now paying for gaming services compared to 51% who pay for television. The data comes from accounting and services firm Deloitte. The same firm ran the survey last year and found that 44% of that age group had paid for video game subscriptions compared to 52% having paid TV subscriptions....
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Back in January, Netflix announced that it would be raising prices across the board in an effort to help fund its original programming and other content costs. At the time, Netflix revealed that new subscribers to the service would see the price increases immediately, while existing customers would see their rates increase over the next few months. Well, that time has come, and starting with the May billing cycle, long-time Netflix customers will see an increase to their monthly bills. As previously reported, the basic streaming plan is increasing from $8/month to $9/month, while the HD streaming plan support up to two connections sees the biggest increase, going from $11/month to $13...
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It's no secret at this point that Apple is working on a new streaming service that is meant to rival Netflix and Amazon. Whether or not it will be a true competitor to either established streaming service remains to be seen as Apple has very different plans than either of the other major players in the industry. Apple specifically wants the content on its streaming service to be family friendly; that means no sex or violence on the network, and no shows in the realm of Netflix's canceled Marvel series "The Punisher" or Amazon's show "Man in the High Castle." Apple is off to a rough start and is at odds with the content creators in Hollywood that it has hired to make shows for its streaming service...
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If one thing is for sure, recent home TV and movies services market changes have been seismic. Over the years we have gone through Beta, VHS, laser discs, DVDs, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, but nothing has reshaped the home entertainment landscape like streaming video. Each time a new form factor for delivering movies in the home launches, the old form factors have eventually gone extinct and it appears that Blu-ray may be the next format to die off. Samsung has announced that it is not going to produce any new Blu-ray players for the U.S. market. Samsung announced that no new 1080p or 4K Blu-ray players would be produced for the U.S. and the new announcement gives more detail than an earlier statement by...
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