Does this mean Android apps, like NetQ[1] are essentially done?
[1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sporadicso...
Retiring the Netflix Public API
21–30 of 79 posts
Re: Retiring the Netflix Public API
#22> To better focus our efforts and to align them with the needs of our global member base, we will be retiring the public API program What a sad statement, there is no need for this corporate-drone talk. "We're shutting it down because it doesn't make us money, and we think we will be better off being a closed platform" would have ringed much better, not necessarily in these words. Honesty is always appreciated.
> What a sad statement, there is no need for this corporate-drone talk.
I've always wondered if PR-types think that people "buy" stuff like this. It's somewhat expected from "old" companies but you would think a company like Netflix would be different.
Re: Retiring the Netflix Public API
#23Having a public API is about growing new services that can rely on your data.
Imagine if they had never had one, would flixter, etc have popped up?
A public API can save you money in the long run by offsetting the risk/reward of trying new things with the data and diversifying.
Re: Retiring the Netflix Public API
#24> To better focus our efforts and to align them with the needs of our global member base, we will be retiring the public API program What a sad statement, there is no need for this corporate-drone talk. "We're shutting it down because it doesn't make us money, and we think we will be better off being a closed platform" would have ringed much better, not necessarily in these words. Honesty is always appreciated.
> What a sad statement, there is no need for this corporate-drone talk. I've always wondered if PR-types think that people "buy" stuff like this. It's somewhat expected from "old" companies but you would think a company like Netflix would be different.
whats "old"? they're pushing 20 years now. that feels pretty ancient in internet time :)
Re: Retiring the Netflix Public API
#25This just means more people will rely on covertly scraping their data. It also means, much like Twitter and the way they nerfed their developer ecosystem, Netflix will gain much more control over any available 3rd party offerings (as they've clearly outlined). Seems like a very short-sighted trade off if you ask me, but, hey, maybe the public API was just underused and they didn't want to devote more resources to mai…
NFLX would prefer we not measure their offerings against AMZN's. That's what I think, anyway. Amazon has more headliners than they know what to do with - they rotate them on and off Prime's frontpage regularly enough to give the impression you'll never watch all of it. Netflix, on the other hand... Netflix and I fought an 18-month staring contest over whether I was going to watch The Lincoln Lawyer.
I don't think that's the case as they are allowing Can I Stream It? to stay up which is specifically for seeing what streaming services (including Amazon) offer particular titles.
Re: Retiring the Netflix Public API
#26I am glad my site moved away [1] from their API to TMDB. Just in time.
[1] http://fllix.com
Re: Retiring the Netflix Public API
#27This just means more people will rely on covertly scraping their data. It also means, much like Twitter and the way they nerfed their developer ecosystem, Netflix will gain much more control over any available 3rd party offerings (as they've clearly outlined). Seems like a very short-sighted trade off if you ask me, but, hey, maybe the public API was just underused and they didn't want to devote more resources to mai…
Netflix was my first introduction to webscraping back around 2004 (with Perl and WWW::Mechanize) because they didn't see the need for an API. They've never done anything more than pay lip service to it since they finally caved in and made one. Guess it's back to doing that, or using an alternative like TheMovieDB [1], which has a nice API.
Re: Retiring the Netflix Public API
#28> To better focus our efforts and to align them with the needs of our global member base, we will be retiring the public API program What a sad statement, there is no need for this corporate-drone talk. "We're shutting it down because it doesn't make us money, and we think we will be better off being a closed platform" would have ringed much better, not necessarily in these words. Honesty is always appreciated.
I disagree. In my time on Hacker News I've rarely seen people react positively to casual language in a press release unless the news itself is good/respectable (e.g. an apology, an announcement for some beneficial initiative, etc). I think they're better off using the language they used, and forcing the savvy to read between the lines.
Re: Retiring the Netflix Public API
#29This is why I will never create a business based on an API of a third-party. They can take it away at any time..and your business is done.
Re: Retiring the Netflix Public API
#30> To better focus our efforts and to align them with the needs of our global member base, we will be retiring the public API program What a sad statement, there is no need for this corporate-drone talk. "We're shutting it down because it doesn't make us money, and we think we will be better off being a closed platform" would have ringed much better, not necessarily in these words. Honesty is always appreciated.
I disagree. In my time on Hacker News I've rarely seen people react positively to casual language in a press release unless the news itself is good/respectable (e.g. an apology, an announcement for some beneficial initiative, etc). I think they're better off using the language they used, and forcing the savvy to read between the lines.
I agree but wouldn't say it is anything specific to Hacker News. Honesty and plain language for these types of releases is generally only appreciated when there is an ability to work in a self-deprecating angle, or cast the message into the form of a reasonable request for forgiveness (which is, essentially, asking people a favor). eg:
"Sorry, we fucked up by doing this, that and the other thing. We will try not to fuck up again. Please bear with us."
People like that.
"We're taking away access to something you might use and like because we don't make any money from it."
People don't like that. Since the nature of the message isn't in-line with asking for forgiveness or asking for a favor (which people love, see: the Ben Franklin effect), the bluntness reads like "Fuck you, because we can".