Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly • Hacker News Board

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#911

Post by jamaicahest » Wed, Feb 07, 2024, 9:10 AM UTC

izacus wrote: post #495

PlutoIsAPlanet wrote: post #9

Streaming became popular because it was easier than piracy and better than TV (watch anywhere, on demand, pickup where you left off etc). Streaming is no longer easier than piracy, why pay for 8 different services and have to waste your time figuring out whats on what when you can just have one service for free, even if its illegal, and have it all under one roof. The services have taken the piss and now they'll get…

Yeah, also pirated content has: - 4K HDR video, not whatever the heck the buggy client delivers. - Atmos/TrueHD audio track that actually works, not whatever the broken app delivers (I'm looking at you Sky and rest of the ilk that still deliver HBO content with stereo). - Subtitles for ALL the languages, not just one or two. And those languages don't disappear when I go on a vacation, leaving me stuck with german aud…

One downside to pirated content is: 99% of the time it only has English audio track and the majority of the world's population does not have English as their native language. I have small children and they don't understand one word of English, and even if they did, I want them to hear their native language on tv, not English.

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#912

Post by machomaster » Wed, Feb 07, 2024, 11:07 AM UTC

rrr_oh_man wrote: post #572

machomaster wrote: post #571

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of Spotify's biggest problems is their terrible UI, lacking even the basic functionality. I don't understand how they haven't been able do the bare minimum for 15 years now.

Like what?

I tried Spotify shortly after it was released. It was in a bad shape and missed essentials (e.g. basic filtering by name or in lists) to the point of being unusable. I usually am an avid writer of feedback, but here it was clear to me (sic!) that devs simply lacked resources to implement all the essentials and they were coming in short time.

But imagine my surprise when I checked Spotify a couple of years later and the situation was still the same. Ok, I thought, they must have had different internal priorities, but once they get those, they will make UI at least semi-usable.

A few years passed, but the answer was still no. Once again I didn't write because clearly they must have had thousands of actual users writing and demanding the essentials and those things MUST be on their way, no way they weren't!

Several years later and the situation was still the same... This is when I stopped making excuses for the developers. They must be technically incompetent, be dim product-management wise (not understanding features, people, customers, lacking a vision, not to know how to collect, analyze and work on feedback) or stupid/unmotivated. But probably everything of the above.

I only criticize the technical aspects, not the business side. And I don't even criticize a much more challenging podcast/video side of things. I am merely talking about the lack of essentials in the basic music player. They couldn't even do that! I can bet money that the podcast implementation is on no better level. Other people's comments support that assumption. I am not surprised in the least.

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#913

Post by johnchristopher » Wed, Feb 07, 2024, 3:07 PM UTC

nebula8804 wrote: post #906

johnchristopher wrote: post #900

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is DVD Player dependent If you mean the unskippable content then no, it's not DVD player independent.

You are going to need to provide some proof regarding that. A set top unit typically respects the blocks put in place by the DVD author (some rare models have a hidden menu provided by the manufacturer that can bypass things like region coding and this). Most software players(VLC for example) totally ignore any rules placed on the dvd and allow the user to do whatever they want.

> You are going to need to provide some proof regarding that.

That's gonna be hard to come by, I left that job more than twenty years ago and short of digging an authoring tool and making one DVD I don't see how I could convince you. Provided I even remember how the damn thing even worked.

Here's what I remember:

- around 2004-2005 (checking movies I remember posters in the hallway it's more likely to be early 2004) ?

- the studio had three authoring computers, two macos8 and one windows machine

- couldn't upgrade to macos8 because authoring software wasn't supported on macos9

- authoring consisted in linking b-frame and a-frame as entry and exit points for chunks of video

- programming was a mix of drawing video blocks, mapping some keys to them, building some loops into a kind of finite-state machine

- we used dvdshrink a lot internally to move the movie between authoring guys and color/effects/editing guys

- video blocks were overlayed with TIFF pictures to create menus effect

- subtitles were rendered as TIFF at some points in the process, explained the rough edges (I remember I was surprised it wasn't a txt file or something but DVD players hadn't the processing power to render the overlay of arbitrary text so TIFF files were generated and it could overlay them over the video)

- I remember the distributor representatives coming to check out the final master of the DVD: they would sit in a corner of the room in front of the TV and plays the menu to see if everything was right. We made fun of them because they claimed to check the DVD for quality but the TV was too crappy to actually display colours and play sounds right. Now that I think about it I believe they were more likely to check if subtitles and languages options were in accordance with the distributor's rights. They usually watched the whole movie ^^.

Concerning UOP:

- I don't remember if you could input the combination while the unskippable content was playing, I think it was something you had to do before that to disable UOP on the next block

- But it definitely was like something described in that article https://lifehacker.com/hit-stop-stop-play-and-other-tricks-t...

> These tricks may not work every time and with every DVD, but thank god for the times they do. Got a trick of your own that does the trick?

The fact it doesn't always work is because the authoring didn't always put them in.

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#914

Post by nebula8804 » Wed, Feb 07, 2024, 3:59 PM UTC

johnchristopher wrote: post #913

nebula8804 wrote: post #906

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are going to need to provide some proof regarding that. A set top unit typically respects the blocks put in place by the DVD author (some rare models have a hidden menu provided by the manufacturer that can bypass things like region coding and this). Most software players(VLC for example) totally ignore any rules placed on the dvd and allow the user to do whatever they want.

> You are going to need to provide some proof regarding that. That's gonna be hard to come by, I left that job more than twenty years ago and short of digging an authoring tool and making one DVD I don't see how I could convince you. Provided I even remember how the damn thing even worked. Here's what I remember: - around 2004-2005 (checking movies I remember posters in the hallway it's more likely to be early 2004)…

Thanks for the clarification but it appears you and are are talking about two different aspects of the production(at least in your first section).

First of all I want to take a moment to state how hilarious it is you used DVDShrink: a tool developed for copyright infringement of content.

What you described is the standard authoring process that even I did back when it was fun to make home DVDs.

But regarding unskippable content, it is difficult to prove if the code you described will be respected by all brands of players. I recall that JVC players would always go back to the main menu as soon you press STOP and it would then start the playback over when Play was presented. Pause is what would halt playback temporary. Its been a while since I used JVC players though.

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#915

Post by corethree » Wed, Feb 07, 2024, 4:47 PM UTC

smsm42 wrote: post #908

corethree wrote: post #748

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I too understand this logic and follow it to the T. You know that indie filmmaker who spent his lifesaving filming a movie I now get to watch on his dime? Well guess what. No 4k video and no international subtitles makes that guy deserve not seeing any money come back from his hard work. I'm not a thief. The indie filmmaker is a thief. He stole my subtitles and 4k video. In all seriousness, I pirate shit too. But am…

"Indie filmmaker" is not going to be on Disney+ or AppleTV. If they get there, they are not "indie" anymore, by definition, they are corporate employees of a trillion-dollar corporation, and their income depends 100% on how they negotiated with the corporation and 0% on whether or not I watch that movie via AppleTV or via torrent. I have AppleTV subscription anyway (through one of the free offers) and I still may pre…

No no. If they own shit they have the right to do whatever they want. You have no right to steal their shit. They can charge 10 billion dollars for their stuff it doesn't matter.

You're a thief. Plain and simple. You just need to justify your delusion because you can't face reality.

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#916

Post by tomaskafka » Wed, Feb 07, 2024, 7:18 PM UTC

PlutoIsAPlanet wrote: post #9

Streaming became popular because it was easier than piracy and better than TV (watch anywhere, on demand, pickup where you left off etc). Streaming is no longer easier than piracy, why pay for 8 different services and have to waste your time figuring out whats on what when you can just have one service for free, even if its illegal, and have it all under one roof. The services have taken the piss and now they'll get…

Also, shows are just disappearing. My most recent torrent was series 1 and 2 of Bluey, which disappeared overnight from Disney+ in Europe. Try explaining that to kids who love it (and I do as well).

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#917

Post by smsm42 » Thu, Feb 08, 2024, 6:50 AM UTC

corethree wrote: post #915

smsm42 wrote: post #908

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Indie filmmaker" is not going to be on Disney+ or AppleTV. If they get there, they are not "indie" anymore, by definition, they are corporate employees of a trillion-dollar corporation, and their income depends 100% on how they negotiated with the corporation and 0% on whether or not I watch that movie via AppleTV or via torrent. I have AppleTV subscription anyway (through one of the free offers) and I still may pre…

No no. If they own shit they have the right to do whatever they want. You have no right to steal their shit. They can charge 10 billion dollars for their stuff it doesn't matter. You're a thief. Plain and simple. You just need to justify your delusion because you can't face reality.

I don't need anything like that, including paying any attention to an opinion of an internet ignoramus about what I am or am not. You can shove your moralization where the sun does not shine until you hear it click. I pointed out the deficiencies in your rants already, so I am done, and you can keep throwing names around as much as you want, nobody really cares.

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#918

Post by corethree » Thu, Feb 08, 2024, 1:32 PM UTC

smsm42 wrote: post #917

corethree wrote: post #915

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No no. If they own shit they have the right to do whatever they want. You have no right to steal their shit. They can charge 10 billion dollars for their stuff it doesn't matter. You're a thief. Plain and simple. You just need to justify your delusion because you can't face reality.

I don't need anything like that, including paying any attention to an opinion of an internet ignoramus about what I am or am not. You can shove your moralization where the sun does not shine until you hear it click. I pointed out the deficiencies in your rants already, so I am done, and you can keep throwing names around as much as you want, nobody really cares.

Doesn't change a thing. Convenience doesn't matter. Owning a subscription and then subsequently pirating an illegal version (which I'm positive it's not all you're doing) doesn't mean fuck all. I own it, I want you to obtain said media through one venue. That's my fucking right. Even if that venue makes you jump through 30 hoops doesn't mean shit. You don't jump through the hoops your a fucking thief.

All you need to look at is the law. They'd throw you in jail if it didn't cost so much.

You're wrong about nobody caring. You care. That's why you got angry enough to reply. You feel fucking guilty and you're ashamed of being an ass hole thief. Deep down you know it and your getting angry at me because I'm deconstructing your delicately made fantasy world.

I'm the one who truly doesn't give a shit. How else can I criticize myself? I pirate without guilt. I recognize my crime but someone like you has to make up some fantasy in order to live with himself.

What gets me is when that fantasy not only validates your actions, but condemns the party you fucking stole from. That's a freaking joke. That's the epitome of delusional.

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#919

Post by Tonypear729 » Thu, Feb 08, 2024, 2:41 PM UTC

A good friend of mine recommended Henry Clark Hacker to me when I had issues with my partner, he started acting suspicious and was on his phone at odd hours & always acting strange. I contacted Henry hacker and he remotely hacked into his device granting me total access to his device without him knowing. I was shocked and overwhelmed that I could read his texts, see pictures, emails and all that. This hacker is hands down the best I’ve hired. Contact him on email : Henryclarkethicalhacker at g mail com, I recommend him to everyone reading this post.

Re: Netflix: Piracy is difficult to compete against and growing rapidly

#920

Post by dkn775 » Thu, Feb 08, 2024, 4:02 PM UTC

shrimp_emoji wrote: post #867

izacus wrote: post #495

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, also pirated content has: - 4K HDR video, not whatever the heck the buggy client delivers. - Atmos/TrueHD audio track that actually works, not whatever the broken app delivers (I'm looking at you Sky and rest of the ilk that still deliver HBO content with stereo). - Subtitles for ALL the languages, not just one or two. And those languages don't disappear when I go on a vacation, leaving me stuck with german aud…

What's even easier than torrenting? (I refuse to call it "piracy" since that's a life-threatening activity for physical goods subject to totally different economics which would never apply in the post-scarcity utopia that is cyberspace (which businessmen attempt to inflict meatspace's scarcity back onto for money).) Selling movies and shows DRM-free, like Amazon does with music (but no other software goods for some r…

There are pirate streaming websites that stream from putlocker etc links to a media player embed

They have tons of ads and pop ups so blocker is needed.