Comment N561 Re: Good to see coverage, but nothing really new

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Netflix claims you don’t really want offline video support

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Good to see coverage, but nothing really new (Score: 2, Informative)

by wootery@pipedot.org on 2015-09-13 15:57 (#MAKN)

I like that this issue is getting some attention, but there's nothing particularly new here: Netflix have, for some time, given bullshit answers to this question.

And we can be pretty certain that people do want offline playback. Wuaki managed it, and it's now a selling-point for them.

The strangest thing about all this is the way it's happening now. As our Internet connections get faster and faster, and data-caps go up, the question of offline playback is of ever-decreasing importance. This would've meant a lot more to me five years ago than now.

Re: Good to see coverage, but nothing really new (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-09-14 00:57 (#MBJ5)

As our Internet connections get faster and faster, and data-caps go up, the question of offline playback is of ever-decreasing importance. This would've meant a lot more to me five years ago than now.
Ironically, 5 years ago you could still get an "Unlimited Data" plan from AT&T and Verizon... Today, you can't.
- http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2013/05/05/pegoraro-unlimited-data-plans/2132895/

And it was only last year that Boost/Virgin quietly switched from unlimited data, to throttled after 2.5GB.
- http://www.phonearena.com/news/Report-Virgin-Mobile-and-Boost-Mobile-to-lower-throttled-data-speeds-starting-in-May_id54094

And T-Mobile just announced they're dropping their heaviest use customers from their unlimited plan.
- http://pipedot.org/K8AY

It seems that prices on mobile data are going UP, not down. That being the case, I've gone with the flow and downgraded to just 500MB and I stay well under that, thanks to wifi. I pay about 30% less, too.

Re: Good to see coverage, but nothing really new (Score: 1)

by wootery@pipedot.org on 2015-09-14 11:07 (#MCQV)

That's a good point, the 'Unlimited data' plans seem generally to be getting less and less common.

Here in the UK, Three still offer unlimited data, but tethering is forbidden (unlike with their capped plan).

If we ignore the unlimited plans, I think the price-per-gig is generally going down. £30/month can buy you 25GB of 4G (tethering is permitted) with EE. Not a bad broadband substitute if you're travelling or moving house.

Re: Good to see coverage, but nothing really new (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2015-09-18 08:44 (#MTP1)

How do they detect tethering? Use a vpn to bypass dpi?

Re: Good to see coverage, but nothing really new (Score: 1)

by wootery@pipedot.org on 2015-09-21 23:12 (#N561)

Good question - I'm afraid I have no idea, nor do I know how well it works.

Of course, for some applications, you could avoid tethering by other means. For Netflix, say: play Netflix on your phone using the Android app, point a camera at the phone, and upsize it across to your TV. You'll lose some quality, sure, but I suspect it could be made to work pretty well.

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