Netflix is not a tech company (2019) • Hacker News Board

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#281

Post by bradknowles » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 10:22 PM UTC

fshbbdssbbgdd wrote: post #234

ativzzz wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is, for consumers, these minor technical issues don't matter as much as the content on the platforms. Yes, Netflix works much more smoothly than HBO, but we don't choose Netflix over HBO because of the quality of the video streaming app, but for the shows we actually want to watch.

I go to Netflix when I want to watch TV but don’t have anything in particular in mind partially because of the more pleasant UX. I only venture onto the other services when motivated to watch a particular show. I sometimes cancel these memberships after finishing a show because I’m not getting any value.

I find Netflix to be extraordinarily frustrating and annoying, because of their insistence on auto-playing video constantly based on whatever I momentarily hover over or pause on.

I have to dash through shit way too fast to try to get somewhere that they won’t auto-blast me with whatever high volume video shit they want to force down my ocular neural pathways.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#282

Post by bradknowles » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 10:24 PM UTC

jboy55 wrote: post #247

ativzzz wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is, for consumers, these minor technical issues don't matter as much as the content on the platforms. Yes, Netflix works much more smoothly than HBO, but we don't choose Netflix over HBO because of the quality of the video streaming app, but for the shows we actually want to watch.

As someone who seemingly in the past 6 months has subscribed to them all. The worst technically (Hulu on Android TV), has got the most interesting content, and has just passed Netflix as my go-to streaming channel. HBO, Prime, Disc+, Hulu, Vudu, Apple TV, they might as well use the same software.

Hulu is only of interest to me if it is truly ad-free, a feature that I willingly pay for.

If I pay for ad-free and then they serve me incessant ads anyway, I get really pissed off.

So, I don’t watch Hulu. If something is only available on Hulu, then I just don’t watch it. I’ll happily watch Disney+, though.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#283

Post by bradknowles » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 10:27 PM UTC

r00fus wrote: post #198

conductr wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This are highly subjective design choices. Hence why they are perpetually unsolved. For me, Netflix on fire Tv is by far the worst experience I encounter lately. I had to relocate the icon because if I accidentally click into it, it takes me 5 minutes to get back to Home Screen. Yes I timed it. Amazon has given apps ability to control the exit app UI and naturally apps do not want to let you exit. They hide and make…

Perhaps you need a new streaming device. My 3-year old AppleTV4 it's near-instantaneous. Both Netflix and Disney+ are great, even Prime is good.

Yeah, I think the device makes a huge difference. Amazon Prime on AppleTV is not horrible. It’s not the best UI out there, but it’s loads better than Hulu, and I like it much better than Netflix because it doesn’t try to constantly scream at me while I’m trying to find something to watch.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#284

Post by bradknowles » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 10:30 PM UTC

kristjansson wrote: post #222

jen20 wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The UI of HBO Max on an Apple TV is entirely befitting of AT&T - it makes me want to watch anything else because of how bad scrolling is because they insist on using their own crapware instead of the platform-native software.

Chalk up DirectTV NOW/ATT TV/DirectTV Stream (all the same product) as a victim of that too. Scroll interactions take multiple seconds to register, click activates elements other than the one indicated as selected by the UI, just an overall shitshow. But they’re the only OTT streamer that carries the Lakers and Dodgers channels, so alas…

Oh, if only I could outright kill all sports channels and sports content.

Or at least permanently hide all sports-related content on all devices I own.

I pay for the Hulu+/Disney+ combo that does not include ESPN, because I don’t want to pay for ESPN. Even if that triple combo was cheaper, I’d still pay for the combo that doesn’t include ESPN.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#285

Post by bradknowles » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 10:34 PM UTC

fullshark wrote: post #239

majormajor wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One core problem Netflix is currently trying to solve with tech is "how do we produce hundreds of series/movies concurrently with predictable budgets and predictable performance." They want to be a tech and data-driven studio.

Doesn't every large mature company basically try to solve this problem, namely predictable revenues and expenses?

They need predictable revenue GROWTH, not just predictable revenue.

Because if you’re not growing, then you’re dead. And no one wants to be dead.

This is the fallacy that all big companies seem to fall into, because they try to keep chasing the kind of growth numbers they had when they were small, but of course they can’t possibly sustain that level of growth.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#286

Post by fshbbdssbbgdd » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 10:40 PM UTC

bradknowles wrote: post #281

fshbbdssbbgdd wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I go to Netflix when I want to watch TV but don’t have anything in particular in mind partially because of the more pleasant UX. I only venture onto the other services when motivated to watch a particular show. I sometimes cancel these memberships after finishing a show because I’m not getting any value.

I find Netflix to be extraordinarily frustrating and annoying, because of their insistence on auto-playing video constantly based on whatever I momentarily hover over or pause on. I have to dash through shit way too fast to try to get somewhere that they won’t auto-blast me with whatever high volume video shit they want to force down my ocular neural pathways.

That feature can be oppressive. You can disable it if you log in to the website (you may need to sign out and back in on your streaming device for the setting to take effect).

My guess is that it appeals to the average “turn on the TV and watch whatever is on” consumer, and Netflix probably prioritizes retaining them.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#287

Post by xtracto » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 10:44 PM UTC

Areading314 wrote: post #3

We should stop thinking in terms of "tech companies" and think of them in terms of "companies that use tech with a high degree of success". Ultimately any company that makes money is not a tech company because pure technology on its own does not make a business. Also, with the right incentives and management it is possible, although hard, for legacy companies to start using tech better to compete.

For me a tech company is one that sales APIs, SDKs or similar products. I was in 3 "tech" startups before that were both b2c and b2b. Their product was perpendicular to their technology (one video-tech 2 Fintech) my current company's product is a set of APIs. It means that the features that we sell ARE the technology, instead of some footnote that buyers send to their nerd department to make sure it checks a box.

Needless to say, the difference on how the tech team is valued is night and day between this last one and all the others.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#288

Post by cletus » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 10:47 PM UTC

AStrangeMorrow wrote: post #243

BeFlatXIII wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> search continues to get better Many here would dispute this claim. However, it may be that SEO spam has caught up and we're merely at the old equilibrium rather than worse than before the peak of Google usefulness.

This might be very anecdotal, but in my case, outside of tech/programming topics, I feel like google results are getting more and more generic. For example, a while back I had some changes in my life and had to fill lots of paperwork. I had various administrative issues regarding 2/3 specific forms. When I searched for people that ran into these issues, I found many helpful link/forums etc... Fast forward these past…

Search is one of those areas where I find people have very strong but very subjective opinions for some reason.

It's like every DDG related HN thread always has these comments:

- I moved to DDG X years ago and it's [fine|better than Google]

- I can't find anything on Google anymore

- Here's a search where I didn't find what I want.

It's reached the point that I just immediately tune out whenever someone brings up anecdotes. There just seems to be so much confirmation bias.

I mean no disrespect here. This is generally true. Anecdotes just don't mean anything but for some people tech people love them when it comes to search.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#289

Post by adventured » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 11:21 PM UTC

cletus wrote: post #261

alberth wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is Telsa then a "tech company" by your definition? What about Jet.com (pre-Walmart acquisition) that pioneered cheaper shipping / savings by informing users to by substitute products from the data distribution center.

Tesla is interesting because even they've described themselves as an energy company masquerading as a car company. Put another way: battery tech is Tesla's core business. They just happen to make cars as a way to sell batteries. It's a bit like how SpaceX is set to become a major player in regional Internet delivery but you wouldn't call SpaceX an Internet or a networking company. It's just a synergy between Internet…

> Put another way: battery tech is Tesla's core business. They just happen to make cars as a way to sell batteries.

No it's not. That's a fake narrative that was invented by Tesla bulls to try to label Tesla as anything but an automaker.

It doesn't make sense to categorize Tesla primarily as a battery company or energy company. Batteries and energy (including solar) are a fraction of their business in terms of dollar value and that will continue to be the case. That has been true for nearly two decades now. And it's not a close comparison, the battery is less than a quarter of the cost of the car. For the Model S and X it's far less than that.

Tesla is an automobile company. GM and Ford are also not transitioning into being primarily battery companies. They're automakers.

Want to test this out? Kindly ask Tesla to immediately end their automobile business and start only selling batteries, see what happens to the stock and their P&L statement.

If in 20 years Tesla's battery business is finally larger than their automobile business, then sure, recategorize them.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#290

Post by jamesfinlayson » Tue, Sep 07, 2021, 11:27 PM UTC

fshbbdssbbgdd wrote: post #286

bradknowles wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find Netflix to be extraordinarily frustrating and annoying, because of their insistence on auto-playing video constantly based on whatever I momentarily hover over or pause on. I have to dash through shit way too fast to try to get somewhere that they won’t auto-blast me with whatever high volume video shit they want to force down my ocular neural pathways.

That feature can be oppressive. You can disable it if you log in to the website (you may need to sign out and back in on your streaming device for the setting to take effect). My guess is that it appeals to the average “turn on the TV and watch whatever is on” consumer, and Netflix probably prioritizes retaining them.

I discovered that setting by accident on the website - pretty annoying that you can't set it through the TV (but more views is better so make it hard to change).