Linux, Chromecast, and Netflix

[Josh Guyette]

So Netflix isn't directly supported on Linux, but if I understand Chromecast correctly, Netflix streams are decoded on the Chromecast. If that's true, is it technically possible for Netflix to implement direct streaming to the Chromecast to provide "Watch Instantly" for operating systems without Silverlight?

[Mike Frysinger]

Windows is a general purpose OS.  Linux is a general purpose OS.  anything a company (like Netflix) chooses to do on WIndows is almost always technically capable of being done under Linux.  especially when you're basically talking about downloading & decoding a video/audio stream from the network.

so to answer your question more specifically, it's always been technically true that Netflix could write a client that runs under Linux (any distro even) that would stream content.  as to why they haven't, you'd probably want to ask Netflix.  they even have their own forums on netflix.com where you could post these kinds of questions.

-mike

On Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 1:18 AM, Josh Guyette <viip...@gmail.com> wrote:

So Netflix isn't directly supported on Linux, but if I understand Chromecast correctly, Netflix streams are decoded on the Chromecast. If that's true, is it technically possible for Netflix to implement direct streaming to the Chromecast to provide "Watch Instantly" for operating systems without Silverlight?

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[Josh Guyette]

Netflix would love to support Linux, but they use Microsoft's Silverlight DRM (Digital Rights Management), and Microsoft will not support Silverlight for Linux. In addition, Moonlight (Linux Silverlight) will never support DRM. I know the hows, whys and who's to blames. I'm looking for options, not excuses.

If the Chromecast decodes Netflix when launched from the viewing window (like it does with YouTube), which I believe it does do... Who is doing the DRM, the computer or the Chromecast? If it's the Chromecast, then all Netflix needs to do for people with the Google Cast extension and on Linux is to offer a button that does the "Watch Instantly" directly to the Chromecast, without loading Silverlight.

[Robert Ginda]

I don't know the details of the Chromecast Netflix implementation, but Netflix has been available on Chrome OS, without Silverlight, for some time now.  Check out this Netflix blog post for some of the details: http://techblog.netflix.com/2013/04/html5-video-at-netflix.html

[Mike Frysinger]

with the Chromecast, i believe everything is being done on the device itself.  the casting device (e.g. your phone) merely initiates the process (and then acts as a remote to start/pause/stop/etc...).

-mike

[Josh Guyette]

I so hope that's correct, can anyone else confirm this?

[Mike Frysinger]

it's pretty easy to confirm.  buy a Chromecast.  cast a Netflix movie to it.  turn off your phone.

-mike

[Josh Guyette]

Confirmed, now all I need is a way to push a Netflix stream to the Chromecast from Linux. Getting around the limitation in http://movies.netflix.com/WiPlayer that blocks me on Google Chrome (Linux). Any suggestions?

[Don Garrett]

I can confirm that after playback starts, the phone isn't involved.

However, I don't know anything about the protocol used to start the playback or how hard it would be to write your own ChromeCast controller.

Don

[Mike Frysinger]

sorry, but at this point, you'll have to start hacking on it yourself.  fairly certain the inner details of how the Netflix app works is not something Netflix wants given out ;).  g'luck though.

-mike

[Don Garrett]

I'd probably start investigating here and by searching for OpenSource implementations.

http://www.dial-multiscreen.org/

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Don

[James Tyrer]

You don't need to know how the Netflix app works.  What you need to know is how it interacts with whatever it is interacting with.  Which is probably Silverlight.  Adding features to Moonlight would appear to be what is needed.  Remember that you are doing this for interoperability so it is perfectly legal to disassemble Silverlight and even borrow the code (just give credit).

[Mike Frysinger]

yeah, no, Chromium OS doesn't run anything .NET or Mono like.  so looking at Silverlight/Moonlight won't really help.

-mike

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