Netflix ends AirPlay support in an ongoing souring of its Apple relationship

arstechnica.com

21 points·e1ven··7 comments

Netflix has been using anti-consumer dark patterns for years. I avoid their app now, since it forces trailers in your face on the main menu. If they want to further sabotage their own presence on Apple devices, that's fine with me. It'll give their competitors an opportunity.

Isn't Apple introducing the same autoplay-trailers to their devices once Apple TV+ launches? I found this from MG Siegler:

"Trailers also now seem to autoplay inline, just like on Netflix, which many people — including people I’m married to — hate with a passion. Good luck with that, Apple."

https://500ish.com/apple-unveils-the-ifawn-11c00912a686

Well, then perhaps I won't be getting Apple TV+. It's also possible that Apple will be more receptive to people's public hatred than Netflix has been:

https://kotaku.com/netflix-s-auto-playing-trailers-are-just-...

> Netflix has been using anti-consumer dark patterns for years.

Examples? "Trailers in your face on the main menu" is not a "dark pattern": there is no element of deception involved. It's simply a user experience that you dislike. Similarly, removing AirPlay support may suck for consumers, but it's not deceptive.

"Netflix does not have access to information about the device to which a user is streaming ... not having this information means it can't certify the target device to ensure a quality experience."

That's seriously the best excuse they could come up with?

This is industry code for "AirPlay receivers don't provide enough information ensure DRM is respected."

Worse– it sounds to me like PR-speak for "3rd party TVs are adopting AirPlay, and we can't collect telemetry about the device that users are streaming to."

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