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

[dilbert99]

Well you have a ton of Apple stuff - what keeps you buying Apple? I know if I were unhappy with the decisions a company is making, I would buy elsewhere. What moves are you referring to?

Things that affect my workflow. Taking away ports, soldering and gluing things in. Not working well outside the Apple ecosystem. Discontinuing software that I was using. Making equipment more expensive at a time when exchange rates are working against them are the ones that come to mind readily, I'd imagine there are more than that.

Take for instance the removal of the SD card slot its a major annoyance for me.
Then there was the removal of the magsafe, whose bright idea was that to remove such an amazing addition...

 

[Mac 128]

Your explanation is weak and ca simply summarized with the words: Apple has money. The end.
Well in the real world thing are not this simple.


So you are saying Apple can put their badge on anything and it ill be successful?
I clearly specified that Netfix has more recognition as a video streaming service. TV manufacturers are integrating a Netflix button on the remotes of their Smart TVs and Netflix's app is everywhere. Now are you going to deny these facts?



It's actually almost half of their supposed cash surplus.
This is the problem with you, everything is black or white.

Blockbuster video was everywhere too. Didn’t save them. Once a brand is no longer of value to a customer, it doesn’t really matter, and something else will take its place. RedBox for instance. I’ve got a GooglePlay button on my remote too, which I never use. After Netflix exhausts it’s money, and loses its catalogue of licensed programs which make Netflix a good value, it will fade into the past making a useless button on broken TV remotes — the only sign of a failed empire, and Apple will still have strong name recognition, and a good value proposition for its customers, with original programming which their entire business model is not dependent on.

But you just made this personal, so, Cheers.

 

[DNichter]

Things that affect my workflow. Taking away ports, soldering and gluing things in. Not working well outside the Apple ecosystem. Discontinuing software that I was using. Making equipment more expensive at a time when exchange rates are working against them are the ones that come to mind readily, I'd imagine there are more than that.

Take for instance the removal of the SD card slot its a major annoyance for me.
Then there was the removal of the magsafe, whose bright idea was that to remove such an amazing addition...

Makes complete sense. Unfortunately I think you are just a niche customer for Apple at this point as they move to support what the bulk of their customers want - mobile, wearables, and services. I hope there is another company that can help support what you need though.

 

[rhett7660]

Thing is: AirPlay is not reliable in any way, shape or form. Just use the Safari App, watch an embedded video from a page on full screen on your Apple TV - and chances are, if you end the video, AirPlay will fail and still be active on your mobile device. So, I see where Netfix is coming from. Apple didn't do their homework and AirPlay just has problems which aren't solved. Until they get their sh... ehm, stuff together, I would disable it as well. It's probably fair to say that there is a chance that Netfix got support questions about that and people were not satisfied with the answer "It ain't me, babe!"

I have had a completely different experience with airplay. I used it for over a year with HBO/Amazon Prime and had zero issues with it. I haven't used it with Netflix, but something tells me they don't want folks going to other peoples house who happen to have an airplay device and then using that device to watch movies or shows.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

But does it need to be installed? The point is, how do you stream Netflix from an iOS device to an Apple TV that doesn't have the Netflix app installed.

Hard to tell because you can’t uninstall built in apps like Netflix and YouTube. All I can tell is the app doesn’t need to be running on the TV. Windows 10 can cast video files direct to smart TVs too using the same protocol as the Netflix iOS app.

 

[EdT]

Hey! How about a spoiler alert!

They’ve already announced follow on movies for these characters and I’m personally looking forward to seeing the Zombie Marvel shows.

Does a zombie Logan regenerate?

 

[zarmanto]

If that was it they would likely have just said so rather than look like idiots making up a nonsensical excuse about picture quality.

I disagree. Consider: Netflix just killed a feature outright. While not everyone uses that feature, clearly some people do. Which is the stronger argument for such an action?

* Determining that Airplay has the potential for security vulnerabilities, enabling piracy of their content? or
* Determining that Airplay has the potential for quality degradation, with readily available work-arounds?

It has become apparent from recent revelations that someone is successfully pirating Apple's 4K content -- but we don't yet know how. We can deduce that Apple is still working on a fix for that vulnerability, and that they're not really going to want the vulnerability confirmed until after they've implemented that fix. And if the new Airplay 2 protocols turn out to be the "how" in this scenario, than it seems to me that a little egg on their face might be a far lower cost for Netflix to bear, compared to the potential for wholesale piracy of their entire catalog.

 

[4jasontv]

Hard to tell because you can’t uninstall built in apps like Netflix and YouTube. All I can tell is the app doesn’t need to be running on the TV. Windows 10 can cast video files direct to smart TVs too using the same protocol as the Netflix iOS app.

When did Netflix and YouTube become built in apps in the Apple TV?

 

[ROGmaster]

Blockbuster video was everywhere too. Didn’t save them. Once a brand is no longer of value to a customer, it doesn’t really matter, and something else will take its place. RedBox for instance. I’ve got a GooglePlay button on my remote too, which I never use. After Netflix exhausts it’s money, and loses its catalogue of licensed programs which make Netflix a good value, it will fade into the past making a useless button on broken TV remotes — the only sign of a failed empire, and Apple will still have strong name recognition, and a good value proposition for its customers, with original programming which their entire business model is not dependent on.

But you just made this personal, so, Cheers.

LoL, like I've said weak arguments.

 

[dilbert99]

Makes complete sense. Unfortunately I think you are just a niche customer for Apple at this point as they move to support what the bulk of their customers want - mobile, wearables, and services. I hope there is another company that can help support what you need though.

Some things perhaps, but I wouldn't say that some things like removing mag safe was. There are a lot of niggly things that they could fix like I have a set of bluetooth head phones that I can go in to Apple settings on an iPad and an iPhone and swap over the connection. If I can do that manually, then Apple could do it but don't.
Then there is hotspot functionality. Nearly every day on my iPad, I have to go in to hotspot on my phone before the iPad sees it.
Then there is the 30% thing on services of big providers like netflix. Apple was taking too big a slice of the pie when also competing in some of those areas like Spotify.
Apple also said they were going to open up iMessage then didn't.
Apple make so much profits they could cover water damage in "waterproof" devices but don't - which is a bad look.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

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]

Well, I think this is BS. Many of us like to broadcast what we're watching on our iPhone to our Apple TV. For them to use this excuse is lame.

And I also like to airplay YouTube from phone to TV. Right now I am watching YouTube "Weird City" on my iPhone and transmitting it to my ATV, and I can select 480P from the iPhone to limit bandwidth used if we're close to our 1TB data cap.

This is especially true when internet is down and we have to watch with cellular. I would use significantly more bandwidth by trying to connect my ATV to my phone's wifi hotspot in order to continue watching when my internet is down.

 

[Tech198]

I don't by Netflix's statement for "better viewing" ... It users decision to Airplay or not.. so if quality is not good, then user is to blame for doing it, not Netflix... Its an "option" they chose to take, but by disabling AIrplay support, Netflix is just wanting the "best experience" always, no mater what.

Sometimes you need to Airplay.

 

[benoitc]

I’m a little bit confused about what the issue is. If you have an Apple TV, why wouldn’t you just use the app? Airplay has never been a seamless or convenient experience - at least for me.

well because sometimes you're not in your house... I personally don't travel with my apple TV.

 

[DNichter]

Some things perhaps, but I wouldn't say that some things like removing mag safe was. There are a lot of niggly things that they could fix like I have a set of bluetooth head phones that I can go in to Apple settings on an iPad and an iPhone and swap over the connection. If I can do that manually, then Apple could do it but don't.
Then there is hotspot functionality. Nearly every day on my iPad, I have to go in to hotspot on my phone before the iPad sees it.
Then there is the 30% thing on services of big providers like netflix. Apple was taking too big a slice of the pie when also competing in some of those areas like Spotify.
Apple also said they were going to open up iMessage then didn't.
Apple make so much profits they could cover water damage in "waterproof" devices but don't - which is a bad look.

Yup, I am sure these things bother others as much as you, but for some like myself - it honestly makes no difference. I've come to accept that Apple is a business and they'll make decisions based on what is best for business. For some products, I still see the value, for some I don't. Customers will ultimately decide if their decisions keep them coming back. As of right now, there are still a ton of happy Apple customers.

 

[bchery21]

Technical limitations is a lame excuse? Someone should let NASA know so they can’t get that mars mission going this week.

There's no real "technical limitation" here, c'mon you know this...

 

[Macaholic868]

I make much more use of their disc service than streaming. My kid is pretty much the only one who watches Netflix now, and mostly for old Disney stuff that will doubtless be on Disney+.

Thank you for reminding me that service still exists!!! I loved Netflix back in the red envelope days. I remember signing up and spending an hour or two rating a ton of content I’d already seen and being presented with that list of suggested movies and TV shows I might like based on my ratings of other content. That opened up a whole new world of movies and TV shows I’d either never heard of or that I did hear of but didn’t think I’d like.

That’s why I loved the 5 star ranking system. You can distinguish between what you love, what you like, what was OK, what you didn’t like and what you really didn’t like and that made their recommendations mostly spot on.

Does their disc service still allow you to rate content on a scale? If the answer is yes I might sign up and cancel the streaming service.

 

[EchoplexSE]

I think Apple should flex their muscles and make Airplay support mandatory for video streaming apps, don’t want to support airplay then you don’t get to play in the garden. I have no problem with that at all

 

[cyb3rdud3]

yeah anyone who thinks apple is going to beat netflix in thhe streaming game should probably step away from the kool-aid.

It is not so much beating, but providing something else. Netflix has got the monopoly on 'original' content which nowadays seems to be based around 1001 spin-offs of individual characters from drug cartels. So far it doesn't seem like Apple is interested in that, yet are looking to change the whole of the experience.
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I think Apple should flex their muscles and make Airplay support mandatory for video streaming apps, don’t want to support airplay then you don’t get to play in the garden. I have no problem with that at all

Agreed. It is part of the operating system and the whole experience.

Just because Netflix wants to change their subscription model I don't think it should change the user experience. Especially not for those of us who pay full price anyway.
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well because sometimes you're not in your house... I personally don't travel with my apple TV.

Totally agree, and even when I do travel with my 15" MacBook Pro...when the hotel has a nice 65" OLED or LCD hanging on the wall I'd rather airplay it to that then watching it on my MacBook.
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Yup, I am sure these things bother others as much as you, but for some like myself - it honestly makes no difference. I've come to accept that Apple is a business and they'll make decisions based on what is best for business. For some products, I still see the value, for some I don't. Customers will ultimately decide if their decisions keep them coming back. As of right now, there are still a ton of happy Apple customers.

Agreed. I like MagSafe but actually I like USB-C for charging and connecting even more. All our monitors in the office have got USB-C on them. it is wonderful never having to carry a charger around with me. Just as one example.

 

[Abazigal]

I think Apple should flex their muscles and make Airplay support mandatory for video streaming apps, don’t want to support airplay then you don’t get to play in the garden. I have no problem with that at all

It's not just Netflix, but every other big company out there. Google apps took forever to support split-screen multitasking, their youtube app still doesn't support PIP, the gmail app doesn't support files, Facebook still doesn't support the newer iPad resolutions (I think?), and their share sheet extension support is downright crap.

Basically, these companies know that people will use their apps and services however lousy the experience is because there is no other choice.

Apple obviously can't mandate that every app must support every new Apple API available, but I do wish they would prod these companies in the right direction sometimes.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Idiotic... since TVs with AirPlay are relatively new your usecase didn’t even existed unless a hotel provides an ATV

Perhaps, but that is EXACTLY the reason that Netflix provided as an excuse to disable AirPlay.
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Because there's nothing about that experience that they can improve or work on.

Developers rely on interaction and content data to be able to make decisions on how to optimize an app for its audience. Seeing how users interact with an app on specific platforms can mean the difference between seeing "users on Android TV, view this more than on Apple TV, and on Android TV it takes 3 clicks to get there, we can make that 1 click since it's a priority for Android TV users." Therefore making the experience more pleasant, and making it easier for others that didn't notice it, thus increasing the retention rate. It's not something they'd change in the Apple TV version, because Apple TV users are different and have different methods of navigation.

if I am AirPlaying to an Android TV there would be no indication that I'm using an Android TV remote to navigate through the video stream. It would just be indicated as an iOS device air playing. It muddles the data, because now you're getting Android TV device interactions with iOS identifiers.

Interesting. Thanks for the analysis. I hadn't looked at it from that perspective.

 

[DudeDad]

Seems like a lot of crying over nothing. If you have an AppleTV, then just download the FREE Netflix app, and log in. If you want to stream to someone else’s, just do the same on theirs...not really much of an inconvenience ... certainly not one that would lead to cancelling...

 

[Dieseldk]

Totally agree, and even when I do travel with my 15" MacBook Pro...when the hotel has a nice 65" OLED or LCD hanging on the wall I'd rather airplay it to that then watching it on my MacBook.

Just cast to it then, all TVs you can airplay to you can cast to.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Seems like a lot of crying over nothing. If you have an AppleTV, then just download the FREE Netflix app, and log in. If you want to stream to someone else’s, just do the same on theirs...not really much of an inconvenience ... certainly not one that would lead to cancelling...

Ayayay...Someone who doesn't take security serious...I wouldn't leave my account details elsewhere. I wouldn't allow others install their software on my system. My gosh are you serious?
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Just cast to it then, all TVs you can airplay to you can cast to.

??? I've got airplay but since when does a MacBook or iPhone have WiDi? Besides it has airplay, decent hotels have had that for many years now. Why not use it?

 

[Dieseldk]

Ayayay...Someone who doesn't take security serious...I wouldn't leave my account details elsewhere. I wouldn't allow others install their software on my system. My gosh are you serious?
[doublepost=1555016126][/doublepost]
??? I've got airplay but since when does a MacBook or iPhone have WiDi? Besides it has airplay, decent hotels have had that for many years now. Why not use it?

Netflix app on iPhone still have the cast option so it’s really not a problem to get the stream to does OLED screens and just as easy as airplay.
Never used airplay or cast from my MacBook so don’t know what the options are with netflix on the MacBook

 

[steve123]

Interesting comment. I suppose one could draw a similar conclusion regarding the Mac and MacBook range.

Very true. As also mentioned, add the iPhone to the list too. People are pushing back and that indicates a willingness to look at alternatives. Disney just announced a $7 subscription and is staking out the original ground that Netflix launched from. I am hopeful that increased competition will help keep prices down ... but Netflix is bucking that.

When the dust settles, I hope we do not replace the cable companies with a bunch of new cable companies ...