Are there grounds to sue someone like Netflix under the ADA if their content is not accessible in a standards-compliant browser that happens not to be allowed to access closed-source DRM?
I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
571–580 of 632 posts
Re: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
#572Earlier quoted context omitted.
>- A few hours ago, I wanted to play a game, but guess what... Steam had a network problem [1] and didn't even let me enter the offline mode. I think Steam is a really good (not shitty) DRM enforcer. A very occasional lapse in service is acceptable for entertainment platforms. I use steam because it is actually easier to use their DRM systems than it is to, for example, buy CDs or download individual game installers.
>I think Steam is a really good (not shitty) DRM enforcer. It may be a good DRM enforcer, but as a UI it's terrible and intrusive. There's no way to turn off all those popup messages and game related alerts. I had to give up on steam once they started doing that.
Well, actually, there is in the steam settings.
And to be fair, not every game on Steam comes with DRM attached to it. I have many games I can play without launching Steam itself.
Re: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
#573Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's why I use Brave Browser, it blocks everything by default. Doesn't even download them.
Doesn't uBlock Origin in Firefox do the same by intercepting network requests? I really don't know...
uBlock Origin supports[0] both network filtering where requests to an ad cdn or domain are blocked before the network connection is ever made, and it also supports cosmetic filtering where elements can be hidden after the fact - but this is mostly for blocking intrusive popups or dialogue boxes and the like rather than for blocking ads. The vast majority of filter lists that come with uBlock Origin are network filters where ad domains are blocked outright. As uBlock Origin uses the Adblock Plus filter syntax it's not difficult to use ABP filters or to port hostfile filters over.
[0] https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Does-uBlock-block-ads...
Re: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
#574DRM is just a huge pile of shit. I mean, if it would actually work I would say okay, at least we have a solution that everyone is somehow happy with. But instead we consumers just loose. To give a few examples: - When I want to watch movies on Amazon Prime Video, there are some movies I can't watch in HD, even if I paid for HD (so the movie obviously exists in HD; probably dependent on the rights holder). The problem…
The Netflix issue isn't really DRM, it's just a way to minimize bandwidth[1]; they found HQ 720 encodes to be sufficient quality for most consumers. I personally find it lacking. [1]: https://medium.com/netflix-techblog/per-title-encode-optimiz...
The blog post you link explicitly mentions that they have 1080p streams (and since then they have added 4k). That post makes no claims about 720p being sufficient for consumers.
And if you have the right combination of browser, os, Intel CPU, GPU and monitor to have intact DRM of the required level, Netflix will stream you the 1080p or 4k stream
Re: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
#575Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would argue the increased customer satisfaction from being able to stream 1080p/4K quality in more browsers with less esoteric hardware would be worth the extra implementation complexity (currently higher resolutions are disabled on browsers with weaker DRM or hardware without a pure HDCP path)
Most people don’t stream 4K on a computer. And most people don’t have the bandwidth to stream at 4K. Ie most customers would never notice.
Netflix 4k streams are like 25Mbps at best. The US average broadband speed in 2017 was around 50Mbps. There is no problem getting 4k to consumers.
Whether or not they have a 4k display... that is probably the blocker. I have a 4k display but it's not my primary display (instead opting for a 165Hz 1440p panel) and I never bothered to buy a 4k TV, given how dirt-cheap high-end 1080p TVs are. Would much rather have the black blacks of a $500 1080p OLED TV than a $3000 washed-out 4k LCD.
Re: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
#576Earlier quoted context omitted.
Most of the above, with a couple caveats. For HDMI, specifically: A is true, as HDMI requires a pretty ugly IP core on an fpga or an asic to process or produce the phy. B is also true, as to sell a device with an HDMI port you have to join the group and pay fees. If you're just hacking stuff together for personal use I think you're A-okay here. C is true ONLY in the case of HDCP protected content, as that handshake d…
Also I'm pretty sure the hdcp private keys have been factored, so anyone can now make unauthorized but compatible devices.
Pretty sure the latest version of HRCP (required for 4k Netflix) replaces the factored keys and the entire key scheme.
Re: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
#577I also find the title to be rather sensational.. "I tried creating a web browser" ^ "Google blocked me" implies that Google blocked them from creating a web browser.. which is not the case.
Absolutely. The title isn't just sensational, it's misleading. OP's browser is opensource and uses a P2P-like architecture. It sounds incompatible with current rights management. OP sounds like he feels entitled to others' work and efforts. If he wants to play videos in his browser, he can make them. Or find people who will make videos for free for him.
It's compatible.
All OPs browser does is syncronse playback across users legitimate Netflix (or other) accounts.
OPs broswer will pass the encrypted video through to the DRM plug-in, which will authenticate from Netflix through to the to the screen. It will decrypt the video, decode it, re-encrypt with hdcp and send it to the monitor.
The DRM chain is intact. OPs browser can't be used to pirate the videos, or steal Netflix.
All he needs is permission to ship the closed source DRM plug-in.
Re: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
#578Earlier quoted context omitted.
I never meant to suggest that this wasn't a big deal, just that the title was intentionally dramatic to get more views.
Which has proved, time and again, to be the only way a lowly user can appeal or seek redress for grievances with Google. If you don't -- or can't -- raise a shitstorm on social media, you have no voice in their decisionmaking process. Break them up. They are no different from a competing government at this point.
I suppose you make a good point.
Re: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
#579Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Netflix issue isn't really DRM, it's just a way to minimize bandwidth[1]; they found HQ 720 encodes to be sufficient quality for most consumers. I personally find it lacking. [1]: https://medium.com/netflix-techblog/per-title-encode-optimiz...
The blog post you link explicitly mentions that they have 1080p streams (and since then they have added 4k). That post makes no claims about 720p being sufficient for consumers. And if you have the right combination of browser, os, Intel CPU, GPU and monitor to have intact DRM of the required level, Netflix will stream you the 1080p or 4k stream
It states it depends on bandwidth, sometimes 720 is served. I certainly receive 720p in aus.
Re: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me
#580Earlier quoted context omitted.
How does that work? If I have an old player that is perfectly technically capable of playing new media, will it fail to play requires new keys? If so, that's atrocious, and I'm glad I jumped off the physical media train post-DVD.
>If I have an old player that is perfectly technically capable of playing new media, will it fail to play requires new keys? Yes. It will require a soft/firmware update, which won't be available if the device has widely known vulnerabilities which cannot be software patched that would allow for key extraction. HDPC is not limited to physical sources.
> which won't be available if the device has widely known vulnerabilities
Probably won't be available full stop. Very few devices ever get manufacturer updates - they're all focussed on just making a new version of the device.
If it's still in warranty, sometimes they'll take it back for a refund.