In streaming news this week, Netflix remains adamant that it has no plans to launch an ad-supported pricing tier as other platforms have, and Disney+ released the long-anticipated first look at its Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
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Following the Super Bowl, we’ve got a bunch of new trailers, content announcements, and more, including the release date for Stranger Things 4 and Google TV’s selection of Valentine’s Day content.
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Google TV’s goal is to make it easy for you to find the content you want without worrying about what app it’s on. That strength may be put to the test in the coming months, as NBC is preparing to remove its content from Hulu and the Marvel shows, including “Daredevil,” are about to leave Netflix.
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Although not yet officially unveiled, Netflix has already confirmed that upcoming global Galaxy S22 models with the Exynos 2200 will be supported by the streaming service.
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Google TV’s promise of aggregating all of your content in one place is ambitious and useful, but it comes with the caveat of requiring cooperation. After Netflix torpedoed its integration with Google TV in 2020, it has felt as though the two platforms will never fully reconcile, but it sounds like, according to one executive, there’s still hope. On top of that, there was a teaser for Google TV’s future, including new fitness and smart home features.
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The AV1 streaming codec is something that Google and others are behind bringing to the mass market, and slowly it’s expanding. This week, following successful tests on Android smartphones and tablets, Netflix has announced that it will bring AV1 to TVs.
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Earlier this year Netflix announced it was testing out an expansion from video streaming to gaming, with mobile games being made part of Netflix subscriptions. Today, that initiative is going worldwide, as Netflix adds Android games for users around the world.
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After limited testing in selected regions earlier in the year, Netflix has now rolled out the “Play Something” shuffle mode to all Android users globally.
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Netflix is taking its first steps into the world of gaming, relaunching two Stranger Things games for Android exclusively for subscribers.
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The cloud gaming market continues to expand on the backs of Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Nvidia, but it seems a new entry is on its way. According to a new report, Netflix intends to add games to its streaming catalog in the not-too-distant future, but the expansion will start with games on mobile smartphones.
Update 7/20: Netflix has confirmed its gaming plans, clarifying that cloud gaming will not be the focus at least to start.
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Netflix and many other video streaming apps use Google-owned Widevine DRM to ensure content isn’t easily pirated on Android. An issue for the past few months sees some Google Pixel phones unable to stream Netflix in HD quality due to Widevine L3 being detected
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If you live in an area with poor internet infrastructure, downloading content for offline use is a crucial feature. Now, Netflix is enhancing its offline option with the ability for users to watch TV shows and movies before they’ve completely finished downloading.
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After integration between Netflix and Google TV was shuttered last year, things are finally back on the repair. On Chromecast with Google TV, the Netflix directory is back in action.
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Netflix has started testing a sleep timer feature on Android that, like any good implementation, will stop streaming content after a preset period, meaning you won’t forget what just happened when binging your favorite shows.
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Although expected, Netflix has now “officially” certified the recently released Samsung Galaxy S21 series to play HDR content on the streaming platform along with the TCL 20 5G.
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As streaming has taken over, the AV1 codec has come up as a way to save bandwidth and improve quality going forward. According to a mention from the folks over at Synaptics, YouTube and Netflix apparently have plans to require AV1 at some point in the future.
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Watching movies when using Netflix on Android is about to get better thanks to a new audio codec that supposedly brings “studio-quality” auditory experiences on mobile.
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It may come as a surprise to hear that not every Android device with a good enough screen can play Netflix in HD. Two of Google’s older tablets, the Nexus 9 and the Pixel C, are no longer supported by Netflix, meaning movies and shows may no longer play in HD.
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Netflix has a huge library of content, but its well-designed app may be one of the service’s more attractive features. Now, Netflix is testing a new audio-only mode on its Android app.
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The arrival of Google TV put heavy emphasis on the ability for users to manage all of their favorite shows and movies in one place, regardless of how many services they subscribe to. A hiccup in that plan first occurred earlier this week on Chromecast, but now things seem all the more serious as the Google TV app has lost access to the Netflix catalog entirely.
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The new Chromecast with Google TV brings some killer features for content management, specifically with its watchlist feature that works across services. Unfortunately, though, that excellent watchlist on Chromecast with Google TV doesn’t support Netflix Originals.
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Today, Google took the wraps off their latest phones the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G. Following that announcement, Netflix has added official support for watching HDR content on both the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4a 5G.
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While all attention this month will surely be on Google’s next Pixel devices, the original Nexus series is now further in the grave with the second-generation Nexus 7 tablet appearing to lose support for HD videos on Netflix.
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Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services on the planet, but it’s always looking to get more subscribers signed up. This week, Netflix has quietly announced that it will offer some of its original shows and movies completely for free on Android and the web.
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