Consumer Retorts: Apple Computer

NEWS: Why is it easier to watch Netflix movies on a PC than a Mac?

By Leigh Ferrara

July/August 2008 Issue

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CONSUMER RETORTS

apple computer

so you're about to use Netflix's "instant watching" feature on your MacBook, when suddenly an error message pops up: "Sorry, blame Steve Jobs." Huh? Wasn't the whole point of getting a Mac to escape Microsoft's monopolistic tentacles and have the freedom to do stuff like stream movies? The problem is that Apple won't license its copyright-protection software to third parties like Netflix. Predictably, Apple wouldn't emerge from behind its titanium curtain to answer our questions about why it won't let consumers use whatever video service they choose. John Sullivan of the Free Software Foundation suspects that Apple wants you to buy movies only from iTunes. That may keep Steve Jobs in black turtlenecks, but it ticks off dedicated Mac users, many of whom have no doubt noticed that Netflix movies play perfectly fine on a stodgy PC.

Have a problem? Oh yes, you do. Go to motherjones.com/consumer-retorts to vent about annoying products and corporate policies. Selected entries will get MoJo swag.

Leigh Ferrara is the research editor at Mother Jones.

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Steve Jobs is a little greedy that way. I feel it's better to deal with his ego than the behemoth corporate ego of Microsoft. You just have to adapt.
If you want to watch a Netflix movie on your Mac, get it in the mail then pop it in your Mac's dvd drive. Where's the fire? Would you rather have a better computer--a Mac--or get your mind-numbing entertainment instantly?

Posted by:Tim on the MacJuly 1, 2008 6:18:42 PMRespond ^

Wow, this is a confusing article. Please clarify the licensing issue. My understanding is that the Netflix backend uses Microsoft Windows Media DRM to meet the Studio's requirements for 'secure' streaming media. Current versions of WMP for mac were discontinued a while back by microsoft and THAT is why there is no netflix instant support on mac.. or firefox for windows for that matter.. the netfix tech is Internet Explorer only at the moment.

Posted by:RamengodJuly 1, 2008 6:48:31 PMRespond ^

boot camp, and parallels are programs that allow mac osx to run windows os.

Posted by:tomJuly 2, 2008 2:19:25 AMRespond ^

Someone should create an open DRM that anyone can use. This way no one is left out from enjoying services such as Netflix, and there's no tie to a specific company - Microsoft or Apple - to do it.

Posted by:EdJuly 2, 2008 3:46:44 AMRespond ^

And if the studios didn't see fit to try and prevent consumers from doing as they see fit with content that they legally purchased through mandatory DRM schemes this wouldn't even be an issue. Why bash Apple (or even Microsoft) for incompatible DRM schemes when it's the big media companies that are pushing this.

Posted by:informationwantstobefreeJuly 2, 2008 5:27:24 AMRespond ^

I can play many video formats on my Mac without a problem. I don't suppose it might be some other shortcoming. I adore the convenience of Netflix, but the whole thing is a non-issue in my opinion, as I can't imagine WANTING to watch a movie or even a TV episode on my computer. I spend enough time in front of my computer, I like to recline on my couch when I watch anything longer than a youtube snippet. I'm happy with my Mac and with my couch. Anyway, is it greed on Apple's part or a decision that Netflix made to ignore (as many do) the small but dedicated (with good reason) Apple market share?

Posted by:FrederickJuly 2, 2008 5:44:37 AMRespond ^

More humorous anecdotes about the perils of intellectual property; if you want a better computer, build your own PC and run *nix.

Posted by:CodejackJuly 2, 2008 5:45:34 AMRespond ^

PC's rule. Back in the day, sure, they were garbge. BSOD's and all that. Since I installed Vista in the summer of 2007 i have not yet once had a problem or needed to resinstall the OS.

Windows is finally "there". MACS are for people who don't know anything about computers.

Posted by:laughing@macusers.comJuly 2, 2008 6:44:11 AMRespond ^

Apple my not license it's FairPlay DRM to NetFlix, but I suspect the more likely culprit is that they use Microsoft's Janus DRM which MS will not port to the Macintosh Operating System. Otherwise, the DRM required by Hollywood (MPAA members) that NetFlix has chosen is supporting a competing technology- that does not support the Macintosh OS.
It should also be noted that the RIAA members, wih the exception of EMI, are allowing RealNetworks and Amazon to sell music without DRM, but require Apple to via iTunes. It sounds like a cartel-like action to try to limit Apple's market influence by the media conglomerates. The same Sony that owns Sony/Columbia/Epic music owns Columbia/Tri-Star Motion Pictures, for example.
It's not all Apple. Do your homework next time.

Posted by:David GregoryJuly 2, 2008 8:07:32 AMRespond ^

What's Netflix? If I have to choose between using a MAC and having a PC so I can watch movies, there is no contest. Macs have always been the leaders in computers, and Apple has alway been the leader in innovative tech.

Posted by:Donald HyattJuly 2, 2008 12:11:37 PMRespond ^

Sounds like you shouldn't talk about what you know naught about. Netflix doesn't work on the Mac because Netflix chose to use a MS technology that MS doesn't support on the Mac. Sounds like Netflix's problem, not Apple's. Of course, like with many things, Mac users lose. But this is the story of a Mac user's life... companies CHOOSE not to support the Mac. That's not Apple's fault, that's the fault of the companies that choose incompatible, unsupported technologies.

Posted by:dejahJuly 2, 2008 12:39:28 PMRespond ^

Netflix uses Microsoft's DRM, which Microsoft has not released for Macs. Macs cannot play Windows Media Player 10 files for the same reason. Also, one cannot use a Zune with the Mac OS, but one CAN use an iPod with Windows.

Speaking of the Zune, it uses its own DRM scheme. Music sold by their "partners" in PlaysForSure would not play on the Zune. Instead, one must buy music for the Zune from Microsoft's store or use DRM-free versions.

Microsoft no longer provides a Mac version of WMP, but they have licensed a third party, Telestream, which provides Flip4Mac. The basic player is free or one can buy a version that can covert .wmv files to other formats. It can play WMP files through WMP 9, but not DRM-protected WMP 10 files. Again, that was Microsoft's choice, not Apple's or Telestream's.

MoJo should correct and/or retract this story. Otherwise, MoJo is behaving little better than the right-wing lie-machine. As David Gregory said, do the research before publishing an article. A call or email to Apple would have straightened it out.

Posted by:George SlusherJuly 2, 2008 12:48:50 PMRespond ^

I was on the PeeCee side of this until I got my first Mac back in 1999. Now I actually spend my time working on the computer, rather than trying to make the computer work.

Netflix and some of these other companies will come around.

Oh, and if you REALLY want the instant Netflix thing on a Mac in the meantime, just use Bootcamp and install your preferred flavor of Windows.

Posted by:Michael HeisterJuly 2, 2008 1:27:37 PMRespond ^

This is silly. I can watch all sorts of videos on my Mac. This has nothing to do with iTunes; I can watch streaming video from YouTube, Hulu, ABC.com, and hundreds of other sites. If Netflix really wanted to make this happen, they could do it without any input from Steve J.

Worst. Reporting. Ever

Posted by:BenJuly 2, 2008 2:25:30 PMRespond ^

Let's get something straight here: Apple has always been (and with iStuff is now more than ever before) more of a monopoly than Microsoft. Why? Because they make their own hardware AND software, and insist that their customers buy both as a package from them or their licensed resellers. They demonstrated in the 90s during the brief period when they allowed 3rd parties to make Macs that once they opened up some of their closed proprietary interlocking technologies, they ceased to be a viable business. Though Apple has evolved quite a bit since then some of these longstanding disadvantageous attitudes linger (along with fear of regressing back into unprofitability), and this Netflix issue is one of them. Yes it's annoying that Netflix won't run on Macs (or even Firefox on Win) but their Watch Instantly is a great service that really kicks the ass of Apple's competing offerings in both quality and price. Apple needs to change. With all of their superior marketing and design abilities, and their iPod success, there is a reason their computers still have a sub-10% market share - if their product was truly superior their computers should have penetrated the market more by now. Apple has come a long way but they need to come further. I can smell their fear of losing their advantages in media delivery

Posted by:MarcelJuly 2, 2008 2:30:04 PMRespond ^

Apple licensing doesn't have anything to do with Netflix not working on a Mac. It's all about market share and obviously Apple's market share is not large enough for Netflix (or many other companies) to take them seriously and support their platform. Netflix is taking the easy way out and just using the crappy WM DRM structure. If you are a customer, write them a letter and tell them this - if they don't change anything - don't patronize them.

Posted by:Antonio HedacheJuly 2, 2008 2:42:48 PMRespond ^

How about a link to support the following statement: "The problem is that Apple won't license its copyright-protection software to third parties like Netflix."

You know, good journalistic integrity and all.

Posted by:MtheoryxJuly 2, 2008 3:28:40 PMRespond ^

Marcel, there is nothing illegal with Apple controlling both hardware and software. MS does this with the Zune and with the Xbox 360. In fact, as others have noted, the reason why Netflix doesn't work on Apple computers is because Netflix uses Windows DRM, and MS dropped WMV support for the Mac. Apple provides cross-platform support for Quicktime and AppleTV and iTunes and Safari, but MS won't provide cross-platform support for Windows Media. Let's see, who was the convicted abusive monopolist? Right, Microsoft. Natural monopolies are legal. You can't stop people from all making the same choice, right? It's the abusive monopolies that are illegal.

Posted by:KenCJuly 2, 2008 4:52:43 PMRespond ^

mac is not better than a pc, it uses the same parts, the only difference is the softwere and that is just a matter of opinion. I happen to prefer linux myself. AND OSx can be installed on a pc with a little work.

Posted by:danJuly 2, 2008 9:18:07 PMRespond ^

Is this a parody post? Was the error message truly: "Sorry, blame Steve Jobs."? Couldn't it be a Netflix problem if it was a problem at all?

As a subscribe and contributor I think you can do a better job discussing protection of IP.

Sceptically your,

V.M..

Posted by:VicJuly 3, 2008 5:55:39 AMRespond ^

Ben,

After reading you post I tried to buy an Accord with a BMW motor. Honda laughed at me. Dammed monopolists. Do you think I should sue or try Toyota.

TKS,

Vic

Posted by:VicJuly 3, 2008 7:01:28 AMRespond ^

If you need to watch Netflix immediately, get a Roku.
Or, rent the DVD and rip it to iTunes
Or take some deep breaths, exhale slowly and relax

Posted by:Steve w/ Both Mac and PCJuly 3, 2008 11:58:20 AMRespond ^

This is so absurd. This article doesn't even merit comment. I am disappointed in Mother Jones posting an article like this. I thought Mother Jones was a reliable source of information. Evidently not!

Posted by:CraigJuly 3, 2008 5:26:36 PMRespond ^

microsoft silverlight will soon be the netflix video engine...already runs on mac. I read on some obscure forum someone mentioning it will be switched over by the fall. while this ticks me off as a mac user, it's not that big a deal given the scant collection of watchable movies on instant.

Posted by:MaziJuly 3, 2008 11:06:12 PMRespond ^

Netflix doesn't support linux either. I don't think one can blame Steve Jobs for that. The real point is we should be working to get rid of DRM.

Posted by:toddJuly 4, 2008 10:50:56 AMRespond ^

Apple not open? How about, "manufacturer of the only OS that won't let you run it on a commodity Intel computer without buying a proprietary decryption chip"? The iMac computer is, in effect, a pretty version of what was formerly known as a "dongle" - a hardware device that gives you permission to run software, in this case Mac OS.

Posted by:RWJuly 6, 2008 11:40:40 AMRespond ^

As many readers have noted, DRM is a big and complex issue. There are myriad websites dedicated to taking it down/discussing it. Here are just a few to start: defectivebydesign.org; freeculture.org.

Mother Jones' Consumer Retorts column is a narrow format, and is meant to highlight specific company or government agency policies that our readers question. In this case that company was Apple. We looked at a small piece of the DRM pie--how it impacts the Apple/Netflix “Instant Watching” conundrum. Apple does make it difficult for its users to stream movies on Netflix, because they choose not to license out their DRM solution to third parties. There are other players who deserve discussion here too: Netflix, whose "instant watching" feature uses a single-platform DRM solution, Microsoft, which created an exclusionary DRM solution, and movie studios, which demand their films be protected with DRM.

Apple is by no means the only fish to fry, and in fact, many people I interviewed for this column echo several of the commenters' sentiments. John Sullivan of the Free Software Foundation, in particular, thinks disgruntled Mac users are missing the point entirely. He says, "The thing to push for is not 'please give my Mac DRM support'; the thing to push for here is 'get rid of this whole shenanigan (read: DRM).'"

Posted by:Leigh FerraraJuly 8, 2008 3:13:04 PMRespond ^

Yes, this does anger me quite a bit.

However, you blame the wrong party.

Typical.

That said, I dual boot Kubuntu and Mac OS X Leopard on my Aluminum iMac because linux is, for many reasons, superior to them all.

Now if you want to go after Apple, go after them for the spectrum issues w/ the 20 inch. iMac display. I use the Mac OS for the only software that still has a leg-up on what linux offers (GarageBand and iWork '08), and when I'm designing documents w/ massive color and graphics loads, i hate it when I can't tell if my colors are properly balanced.

THAT is frustrating.

Posted by:paracelsusJuly 9, 2008 3:41:31 PMRespond ^

Someone said,
"Netflix doesn't support linux either. I don't think one can blame Steve Jobs for that. The real point is we should be working to get rid of DRM."

paracelsus responds,
"Ahhh, the beauty of linux... Anything you can run in windows, i can run in linux... this includes internet explorer and Netflix Watch Instantly.

P.S., this is on MY MAC"

Posted by:paracelsusJuly 9, 2008 3:49:28 PMRespond ^

This is not an Apple or Fairplay issue. Users on any platform using any browser other than Internet Explorer will be unable to view videos on the Netflix site. This is the kind of crap Linux users put up with all the time.

Posted by:Chris BlessingJuly 24, 2008 3:23:21 AMRespond ^


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