[whoisjuan]

Well. There’s a reason why Netflix is successful. They spent a lot of money and time operating as a tech-heavy company before becoming a content-heavy company. Just as an example, their Open Connect appliances (https://openconnect.netflix.com/en/) are an impressive piece of technology that probably needed years of research.

Launching a streaming service sounds simple in the paper but there are hundreds of complexities under the hood that ensure availability, speed, security, and reliability.

If my Netflix experience wasn't as trivially smooth as it is (from a UX point of view) I wouldn’t pay for it.

[paulddraper]

I thought I'd try out Disney+.

Then I found out it doesn't support Vizio Smartcast/Chromecast.

That's...bizarre. I guess I'll watch on my little laptop screen.

Turns out it doesn't support Linux either.

:/

EDIT: I eventually downloaded a Windows VM and watched it there. What could they possibly be gaining from that though??

[xnyan]

I love linux, I use it every day more than any other OS. I don't understand why other linux users act surprised that corporate America frequently ignores altogether or uses DRM methods that are not compatible, I don't think its right, i i don't think its good, but its not new or unusual or surprising.

The reality is that linix makes up 2-4 percent of the desktop PC market which itself is fraction of mobile use and even then, most linux users have the capability to watch it on something else. More of their customers are on windows XP than all linux desktop distros combined. I don't think they consider it anything close to financially worth it and I don't know if I disagree, even if I wish it was otherwise.

[chii]

Which is why the web is the best platform to support. I don't get why companies offering a service that can easily be web-delivered don't do it as their primary mode of business.

[josteink]

> Which is why the web is the best platform to support.

But then they “support” it with platform-specific WebDRM which doesn’t work on Linux it in truly free/open browsers.

Nothing gained.

[aries1980]

DRM doesn't seem to stop warez. Things that can be decoded, can be shared.

All they gain with DRM is to put off potential customers. For many of us, the best way would be a downloadable file format, that I can copy or watch whatever player or device I want to use.

[paulddraper]

Somehow Netflix, Hulu, and Google Play/YouTube all work.

And they're renting most of their content.

> The reality is that linix makes up 2-4 percent of the desktop PC market

Plus an additional 3% for Chromebooks.

[dvfjsdhgfv]

Both Netflix and HBO Go support Linux without any problem. In this way you can turn an older device into a multimedia player in a simple way, and without paying Microsoft (which is totally unnecessary in this case).

[nvrspyx]

I can't speak for Vizio Smartcast, but both the mobile app and desktop website both support Chromecast. I watched the first few episodes of The Mandalorian on my Chromecast last night. I started casting from my Linux desktop no less.

[paulddraper]

Yep, the fix it to buy a separate Chromecast.

IDK why the built-in one is incompatible; I've literally never seen this before.

EDIT: Looks like if I buy a Mac, I could use Airplay with Smartcast. Or way until next month when they supposedly have support coming.

https://support.vizio.com/s/article/Disney-App-EXT

[freehunter]

Doesn’t Disney own Hulu? They shouldn’t be new to the streaming video world.

[phamilton]

Their actual state of the art streaming tech is from BamTech Media, which was developed by Major League Baseball and sold to Disney in 2017.

Disney also owns ESPN and their streaming platform.

So between Hulu, ESPN, and Bamtech they definitely aren't new.

[whoisjuan]

I think there's a big delta between having experience with operating those services and trying to launch a service that on its first day had 10 million users and its expected to be at 100 million users in 4 years.

ESPN and MLB TV are probably pretty far from those numbers.

[RubberShoes]

We did a lot more than just MLB and ESPN ;)

[whoisjuan]

But just as a controlling shareholder. I don't think they have any input or say on Hulu's operation besides the typical influence you can exert as a board member even when it's from a vote controlling position. I may be wrong but I doubt they can use Hulu's streaming technology or IP in general unless they license it from Hulu somehow. If Hulu was an actual Disney subsidiary it would be different. Although Hulu is controlled by Disney, Comcast still owns a third part of it.

[arjunbajaj]

Not quite. Since March 2019, Disney fully controls Hulu [1]. In 2024, Comcast can sell its remaining stake to Disney.

[1]: https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/disney-full-control-hu...

[xnyan]

Disney is the the biggest kid at the pool in media and their is really nowhere in the entire entertainment industry where their influence can't be felt. Disney happens to 100% own hulu now, but even before that I don' see how you can look at their operations and not conclude they were in control.

[scarface74]

Which has nothing to do with people reusing passwords on Netflix and other sites. Netflix isn’t doing anything special to keep from getting hacked.

[whoisjuan]

At least on Netflix you can sign out devices. According to another comment in this post, it seems that Disney+ doesn't have that.