Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Netflix App for iOS No Longer Supports AirPlay Because of 'Technical Limitations' [Updated With Netflix Statement]

Abazigal said:
I can share with you an example.

Say I am at work and have an Apple TV hooked up to a projector screen. The Apple TV wouldn’t be connected to any network, and thus none of its apps work. It’s there solely for airplay mirroring.

This is why I hated the YouTube redesign. Previously, I could stream YouTube from the app on my iPad to the Apple TV. Now, it simply launches the YouTube app on the Apple TV and attempts to stream from there, which naturally fails because my Apple TV has no internet access.

The only recourse for me is to either download the video clip first (using a shortcut) or load the video in safari.

And now you would have a similar issue with Netflix, and any app which goes down this route.

Remind me how competition is good for the customer again? /s
Click to expand...



ok wowwwwww honestly all these years my dumb a$$ thought airplay was performed over a network!!! Maybe I just never read much into it thinking I'd never use it?? Basically same as airdrop and now I live by it (I think a lot of the general public doesn't realize how amazing airdrop is).
 
  • Like
Reactions: soid.exe and AdonisSMU
I think they did it because of recent piracy activities; it's been demonstrated recently that someone, somewhere is pirating brand-spanking-new 4K content directly from Apple's iTunes Store... and I'm guessing that Netflix has some behind-the-scenes knowledge that has led them to believe that Airplay could plausibly be the vulnerability which was exploited to enable that piracy. Thus, in an attempt to minimize piracy of their own content, Netflix lopped off that feature.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AdonisSMU
convergent said:
I didn't read the whole thread, but doesn't seem that anyone understands Netflix's position. I am a Netflix customer and pay Netflix for a service. If I have quality problems with that service, I am going to call them and complain. Of all the companies doing streaming, Netflix has their app available on practically every platform known to man and they do a good job of getting quality streaming on all of them. What Apple has done is now allowed many different hardware devices to masquerade as an Apple box. If I'm Netflix, I see this as a risk to consistent quality and have no way to mitigate it, so I simply turned it off. Given Netflx runs on all the platforms with their own app, I don't see the issue. The thread seems to be more about "how dare you do anything against Apple?" to all the apple fans.
Click to expand...

The voice of reason. Thank goodness someone here is using their brain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tphalp
zarmanto said:
I think they did it because of recent piracy activities; it's been demonstrated recently that someone, somewhere is pirating brand-spanking-new 4K content directly from Apple's iTunes Store... and I'm guessing that Netflix has some behind-the-scenes knowledge that has led them to believe that Airplay could plausibly be the vulnerability which was exploited to enable that piracy. Thus, in an attempt to minimize piracy of their own content, Netflix lopped off that feature.
Click to expand...
If that was it they would likely have just said so rather than look like idiots making up a nonsensical excuse about picture quality.
 
MacRumors said:



The Netflix app for iPhone and iPad no longer appears to support AirPlay, based on an updated support document found on the Netflix website.

According to Netflix, AirPlay is no longer supported on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch due to "technical limitations." There are no details from Netflix on what those technical limitations might be.

netflix-1.jpg

Several MacRumors readers have attempted to use AirPlay with the Netflix app over the course of the last few days and have run into issues doing so from the Netflix app.

AirPlay can still be initiated using the Control Center on an iOS device, but when attempting to test the feature, we were unable to get Netflix content to play and received an error message.

netflixairplayerror.jpg

It's not clear why AirPlay support has been removed from the Netflix app. The feature has been available since 2013 and it was working up until this week.

Netflix apps are available on the Apple TV, consoles, smart TVs, iOS devices, and more, so there's not a real need to use AirPlay to watch Netflix content, but there were instances where it was convenient to use.

Netflix has in recent months been making efforts to better protect its content. In December, Netflix stopped allowing customers to sign up for Netflix within the iOS app, and Netflix has never opted to participate in Apple's TV app, making it unavailable in the "Up Next" feature of Watch Now.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings recently confirmed that Netflix had no plans to be a part of Apple's TV plans and said that Netflix isn't interested in offering its content in alternate ways. "We want to have people watch our shows on our services," he said.

Update: A Netflix spokesperson provided further explanation on the company's decision to discontinue support for AirPlay on iOS devices, attributing it to the rollout of AirPlay support on third party devices and an inability to distinguish between them:

"We want to make sure our members have a great Netflix experience on any device they use. With AirPlay support rolling out to third-party devices, there isn't a way for us to distinguish between devices (what is an Apple TV vs. what isn't) or certify these experiences. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue Netflix AirPlay support to ensure our standard of quality for viewing is being met. Members can continue to access Netflix on the built-in app across Apple TV and other devices."

Article Link: Netflix App for iOS No Longer Supports AirPlay Because of 'Technical Limitations' [Updated With Netflix Statement]
Click to expand...
 
marco114 said:
One example: Let's say you got a new girl and she's too cheap to buy Netflix and you go over to her house to "chill" but you don't want to give her your credentials to login, you could just stream from your phone.

Another example: casting it to a hotel tv that doesn't allow you to install stuff

Another example: say you are at work and wanted to cast to a tv to show your workmates something

Just a few things, you're "missing".
Click to expand...

Yeah, makes sense.
[doublepost=1554733936][/doublepost]
GaryMumford said:
Yep, you ARE missing something. If you read the thread you will find many different reasons people used Airplay with Netflix. I never used it myself as, like you, I never had the need, But I don't assume everyone else has the same needs as me
Click to expand...

I did not assume anything, and you can't possibly expect me to read 21 pages of posts. That's why I asked. And I got a good explanation. No need for negativity, it was just a question.
 
Gearing up for mobile only tier maybe?

That excuse is absolutely a dodge. Apple should be providing a guarantee that devices listed as AirPlay enabled are up to spec.
 
Sometimes it just easier to plop down on the couch, open Netflix, or YouTube, whatever and airplay the content you want to see. Maybe you were already watching the video or show on your phone and don’t want to have to search for it again in the native Apple TV app.

Searching is a subject all of its own. I find it easier on my phone to type than using a remote on the Apple TV. Yes, you can use the remote app on your phone but to me that isn’t as easy and just sticking in the app on your phone and searching there.
 
Nozuka said:
Not sure why one would need this anyway.. if you have an apple tv to airplay to, you might as well use the netflix app on it.
If you have a tv with integrated airplay, it is new and definitely has netflix on it.
Click to expand...
You couldn’t be more WRONG. Many people use VPN on their devices to stream content, and airplay it to the TV. Can’t do that with Apple TV (and Netflix app).
 
  • Like
Reactions: adampk17
ROGmaster said:
Yeah but what does Apple have in the end? It's not like they can offer more than Netflix.
So according to what you wrote Netflix is going to decline and Apple's steaming service will never be successful in the first place.
Click to expand...

I don’t believe I ever wrote that Apple will never be successful.

There’s a big difference between Apple and Netflix models.

Netflix started as a DVD company offering other people’s programs by subscription. DVDs continue to be a major part of Netflix profits worldwide. Then Netflix began heavily borrowing to produce and license exclusive original programs — they are billions of dollars in debt, with plans to become billions more in debt over the next 5 years. Netflix is profitable currently, but it’s entirely dependent on their subscribers and the fact most of their debt load is still manageable. In 5 years, Netflix will have the remnants of their DVD business, a few hit shows in their catalogue, and billions of dollars of debt, with no third party content to offer its subscribers who will likely move to another platform to get it, en masse. Without that catalogue content, they will be much less attractive to new subscribers, and they will have to raise prices to pay their massive debt, and will increasingly lose their subscriber base until they succumb to their debt load, with a dwindling DVD rental business and nothing else to fall back on.

Apple, in contrast, is producing content with its massive cash stores, generated from its core hardware business. They aren’t deficit financing. So While Apple is rolling the same creative dice in terms of creating a must-see hit program, they aren’t racking up debt they can’t afford to pay back if their subscriber numbers fail to materialize. In other words, if nothing else Apple can afford to be a boutique source of niche entertainment, which may be a draw for some customers, whereas Netflix can’t. Apple doesn’t need the catalogue content, Netflix does. And unlike Netflix, Apple is essentially offering a streaming version of Netflix’ dying DVD rental business: subscription TV packages, which Apple is negotiating to bring TV bundles to customers.

Netflix has nothing like that, they are committed to packaging their own curated content, including licensed third party programs — not bringing other networks to their customers under one roof. If Netflix tried to jump into that later, they will be late to the game, with no experience, and little good will from the major studios launching streaming services, after poaching their top talent and upsetting the business by overpaying with their massive loans. Apple has been negotiating hard to create those partnerships, which will keep customers on Apples platform, even as the major studios launch their own streaming services. Traditional TV networks, and even smaller streaming services will benefit from this kind of integration to get eyeballs on their content. And Apple’s original content provides a unique draw over other platforms who may also offer this bundling. At a minimum, it holds its own with Hulu and Amazon. Hulu will have the advantage of Disney/Fox catalogues. And Apple may very well buy a studio or other entities with catalogue content. Netflix can’t really afford to do that. In fact, Apple might even buy Netflix’ catalogue out of bankruptcy in 5 years...

So the bottom line is, Apple has a solid future, Netflix doesn’t.
 
cmaier said:
“PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.”
“No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.”
“I give them two years before they’re turning out the lights on a very painful and expensive mistake.”
“Apple is slated to come out with a new phone… And it will largely fail.”
“There’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance. It’s a $500 subsidized item.”
Click to expand...

you're comparing the iPhone, which was maybe the most innovative product to come out in the past 30 years to entering a marketplace that's been around for over a decade, without adding anything new or intuitive.
 
Can't a tech company sell a service or product without also trying to control its users' behaviour?
 
I canceled my subscription with the last round of price hikes. There's too many other options. We currently do great with Hulu with live TV and Amazon Prime.
 
kidtronix said:
you're comparing the iPhone, which was maybe the most innovative product to come out in the past 30 years to entering a marketplace that's been around for over a decade, without adding anything new or intuitive.
Click to expand...
Yep. There were no smartphones before iphone and no MP3 players before iPod.

Also, nobody could ever enter a marketplace that has been around for a whole 10 years and succeed. Completely impossible.

Looking forward to adding you to the list in a decade the next time I have to paste it into a response.
 
cmaier said:
Yep. There were no smartphones before iphone and no MP3 players before iPod.

Also, nobody could ever enter a marketplace that has been around for a whole 10 years and succeed. Completely impossible.

Looking forward to adding you to the list in a decade the next time I have to paste it into a response.
Click to expand...

the difference is that apple completely re-imagined those markets. the iphone was revolutionary compared to the competition. but apple was revolutionary back then. there is absolutely nothing revolutionary about apple's streaming service.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back