Windows 11 gets a new Netflix app and itll make you wish you could keep the old one (spoiler alert: you cant)

Date:
Mon, 29 Jul 2024 15:34:16 +0000

Description:
Windows 11s Netflix app just became more consistent with apps on other platforms, except, well, it didnt

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Windows 11 users, watch out a new Netflix app has arrived for the OS ( as
was previously promised ), but sadly it isnt a step forward for those who enjoy watching the streaming service on their PC.

Windows Latest noticed that the rejigged Netflix app is now available for download via the Microsoft Store, but its a downgrade in many ways.

For starters, instead of a proper app, its now simply a web wrapper in other words, it just fires up the Netflix.com site in a standalone Edge container. So, youre basically running the website (in Edge) in what looks like an app window.

The second major blow to be delivered with the new app for Windows 11 is that Netflix no longer offers the option to download content. That ability allowed you to watch your favorite shows later, when offline, but you can forget
about that now. Analysis: All in the name of consistency, apparently

The download ability was one of the major strengths of the Netflix app, and
as you can imagine, its regarded as a big loss. What doesnt help is that the app itself feels very barebones and indeed as Windows Latest points out, its shoddily put together. Right-clicking anywhere in the new Netflix app lets
you access the menu to open a link in a new Edge tab, so its painfully transparent that this is all running in a web wrapper.

On Netflixs part, the firm has previously said that the new app is designed for a consistent, quality experience and that the new version will now
include access to live events, compatibility with ad-supported plans, and more. Well, if consistency is the key aim, why remove the feature to download and watch offline which is present on the Netflix mobile apps?

As you can guess, most of the feedback online has been pretty (consistently, ahem) negative. And if you were hoping to avoid the new app, and just stick with the old Netflix client complete with its download functionality well, eventually the old app is going to stop working. In other words, youll be forced to update soon enough.

All in all, this is a bit of a mystifying one, particularly given the apparently shoddy implementation of the web wrapper here, which feels rushed through to say the least. You might also like... Windows 11 24H2 will make updates smaller and faster to download great news for those with slow internet Windows 11 users are getting fed up with the performance of the OS including an ex-Microsoft senior engineer Dont make these 5 big mistakes when using Windows 11



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-11-gets-a-new-netflix-app- and-itll-make-you-wish-you-could-keep-the-old-one-spoiler-alert-you-cant


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