Maybe. I can use the Surface as a laptop on a desk but on my lap it's pretty hopeless to use for anything other that surfing or viewing. If a manufacturer can give a, er, laplet the rigidity of a laptop then they are on to a winner

By adding a thin, folding keyboard to the design you mean?


S

A tablet is only good for surfing or viewing. So you have a tablet as well.

But we all use our phones for lap work these days

The tablet is dead

https://media.netflix.com/en/company-blog/evolving-proxy-detection-as-a-global-service

Looks like Netflix are going to try and stop you accessing content from abroad.

Mmmmm, we'll see

Hulu made a half-arsed attempt at this a few years ago which came to nothing

Ultimately, like many others, I'll get the content that I want. End of. I'll either stream it and pay for it or torrent it and get it for free

Netlfix can't stop this and are part of the solution

In a lot of cases, Netflix have their hands tied by the studios that are producing the content. More often than not it's these idiots that are enforcing geo-releases etc. But as you say, people will get content one way or another - and the studios need to realise that their distribution model is effectively broken now. Doesn't seem to be sinking in yet though...


S

My guess is they will go about in in a halfarsed fashion. A hit on a proxy etc. a press story. They kind of have to, since that's what the content owners demand.

However they really want to fail, since they want global licence on content, not piecemeal local ones. They want to be able to say "look, we tried, but it just doesn't work, now about those global licences".

And I also think there are enough wizards who want to circumvent any 'evolved proxy detection' that what they do will be defeated within months.

Time will tell.

To me the more interesting question will be what the movie companies do. They are used, and rely, on earnings of $10+ per ticket/disk/etc. - but the interest in paying more than $10pm for everything is very limited. Sooner or later they are going to have to shift to a mass market approach, meaning they will need the likes of Netflix et al, or develop something themselves (if they can).

That 'first run movie' hole is an interesting one.

Also, its because the studio's have sold the rights to another supplier in a particular region.

For example Sherlock is on Netflix US but Stan bought the rights to it in Oz.

As much as Netflix won't want to bother with the geo-block, and its not in their best interest to do so, some legal ramifications might force the hand here.

I realise that Netflix are probably being coerced into this by the content makers/rights holders but here's a sobering fact for them:
They have about 22m users in China (despite what our media will have us believe, Australia is a bit player in this), so at, say, $9/m, they've just cut their revenue by roughly $2.4 billion!

They have millions of users in India - boom - gone
Netflix Canada will be finished - over 50% of users there use the US version
Netflix UK is nearly as dire as Netflix Australia - there will be big account closures there too

It will be interesting to see how actively Netflix go after this and if they do, how the VPN providers will respond

I'm not so sure. Even though Australian Netflix users will be reduced to 34% of the available US content, its price point is so cheap that users are unlikely to unsubscribe to save $10 or so. However they might look at other option like Stan.

Or they might look at having both Netflix and Stan for $20 per month.

The big looser in all this internet streaming will be Foxtel unless they subscribe to the new way.

Sure but as I was saying, we are a bit player in this - China, India etc will be where this hurts them most ($2.4b (which is basically all profit) being made in China alone)

Murdoch is no mug, Foxtel will adapt - whether it will be any good will need to be seen

How vigorously Netflix implement this will be key - I can live without it if need be

Has anyone had a message yet?

Netflix starts blocking Australian customers from US catalogue

Its a blame game right now, but when you put it into context you can see why.

The BBC for example suspended its international subscription service last year and probably for good legal reasons. For example the BBC sell Top Gear to Channel 9, but then allow users in Australia to see Top Gear through the iPlayer's international subscription. You can imagine that would not sit well with Channel 9.

Netflix IS working on my Rokus but has stopped on my laptops. I tested with a different VPN provider and it works on laptops so I think Netflix is definitely blocking my DNS redirection service but strange that it's not affecting the Rokus, for now.

My understanding is that Netflix are using two mechanisms for blocking. First is the usual 'known VPN IP address' basis, and the second is if your IP address bounces around the world too fast (eg 'nope you didn't just travel from Oz to the US to the UK all within 3 mins').

The first is a game of whack-a-mole and VPN companies just need a supply of IP addresses to defeat. The second is defeated by just not bothering with anywhere but the US and leaving it fixed there.

Neither are likely to work, nor to be the final word on this. I expect other strategies are up various sleeves - if only to look good.

My bloody main system is down... My Acer Revo HTPC... Kids pinched the mouse and usb thing and now I can't get the bloody thing to respond to any peripheral. I think I've got to redo the OS..

Teach me to go away...

I've not dared look at my Amazon Fire yet.... But I know thats apparently not working either. So no Kodi at all at present.

Bugger it !

Foxtel, Fetch, the bedroom WDHtvLives Xboxes PS4 and the TV's are though.... So It'll all have to wait until I can be motivated.

Maybe we are pushing Tech a bit too hard