Netflix Android App Update; 'WiFi only' Playback Feature to Help with Your Data Usage

[dgstorm]

Netflix has just added a new feature to their Android app with an update that could prove very useful. In fact, it's such a remarkably simple, yet useful feature that it makes you wonder why no one thought of it before. Their is now an optional setting that restricts video playback to WiFi networks. This will make it much easier to avoid any data overages with your carrier's data service. The default setting for this useful new feature is open to user discretion, so if you would like to take advantage of it, you will need to enable it.

The best part of the feature is that you can still browse Netflix' library via your mobile connection, but your movie simply won't play without a WiFi connection. Neato! Of course, if you are with Sprint, or have one of T-Mobile's newest plans, then it really doesn't matter either way. For everyone else, we gotta give props to Netflix for helping us avoid overages.

Source: NetflixBlog

 

[liftedplane]

it's really to bad that the app developers have to cater to companies like vzw instead of how is should be, cellular phone companies bending over backwards for us, the consumer.

it'll have to change eventually... hopefully

 

[skennelly]

it's really to bad that the app developers have to cater to companies like vzw instead of how is should be, cellular phone companies bending over backwards for us, the consumer.

it'll have to change eventually... hopefully

Not sure this makes sense. The wifi only playback is not enabled by default, you must enable it through the settings menu. Also, this does not restrict you from watching netflix through your data plan. Sounds less like catering to Verizon and more like catering to consumers with tiered data plans.

 

[geoff5093]

I don't really get the point, just make sure you are on WiFi before launching the Netflix app...

 

[Kobe24]

Not a bad addition, thankfully I don't have to worry about it since I'm still on unlimited.

 

[liftedplane]

Not sure this makes sense. The wifi only playback is not enabled by default, you must enable it through the settings menu. Also, this does not restrict you from watching netflix through your data plan. Sounds less like catering to Verizon and more like catering to consumers with tiered data plans.

Which is catering to vzw because they have -gasp- tiered data. This would have never been been an issue had Verizon not dropped their unlimited.

I'm not saying its not a good idea, I'm saying its complete bs that it ever had to be an idea.

Take the Amazon app store, this doesn't happen often however every once in a while there is an app that Amazon has decided is wifi only because its to big. I've got unlimited data, don't tell me its to big. I only have wifi at home and I'm not home much.

Sent from my frozenly delicious bionic.

 

[victoriak68]

Not sure this makes sense. The wifi only playback is not enabled by default, you must enable it through the settings menu. Also, this does not restrict you from watching netflix through your data plan. Sounds less like catering to Verizon and more like catering to consumers with tiered data plans.

What liftedplane is saying is that Netflix making their app wifi capable (which it has been for some time, I don't even know why they implemented this latest update other than to advertise) or maybe liftedplane means the “wifi-only" option is new? That would be a blessing for a lot of people who need to watch how much data they use. $15 for every 1G over? No thank you.

 

[TOMMYBOT]

Not sure this makes sense. The wifi only playback is not enabled by default, you must enable it through the settings menu. Also, this does not restrict you from watching netflix through your data plan. Sounds less like catering to Verizon and more like catering to consumers with tiered data plans.

Its the fact that they have to make this part of the app to protect us from overages when we should not have the problem to deal with.

sent from my leaked ics bionic using tapatalk 2

 

[victoriak68]

Hallelujah! We shouldn't have to worry about overages, considering how much we already pay. What really confuses me is how running 4G lte uses more data than 3g and that is Verizon's justification for cheating their customers.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[ntrddragn]

I don't really get the point, just make sure you are on WiFi before launching the Netflix app...

Ha..that would be to easy. U are assuming ppl know how to use their phone or think. You know the saying "don't assume cuz u make an a** out of u and me."

 

[Krennel]

Well, time to uninstall Netflix. Its a worthless feature on my phone if I have to have wifi in order to use it.

 

[TisMyDroid]

Well, time to uninstall Netflix. Its a worthless feature on my phone if I have to have wifi in order to use it.

It is not that you have to have Wi-Fi to use it. It is that you can select an option that only allows play over Wi-Fi. But you do not have to select that option. You can still use over 3g/4g network. Matter of fact, I believe the default is that it allows unlimited use over network data. The purpose of this feature is so people who have tiered data plans can choose to make sure they only watch Netflix over Wi-Fi so they don't find that they accidentally use too much data by watching Netflix over their network.

Sent from my DROID RAZR Maxx using Droid Forums

 

[DevilDogMP]

This update was long overdue! Alot of times when watching netflix my phone would switch to 4g when on a low signal but now it doesn't! Saved my data and also I can have peace of mind!

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[skennelly]

Its the fact that they have to make this part of the app to protect us from overages when we should not have the problem to deal with.

sent from my leaked ics bionic using tapatalk 2

No, that is not the fact. They don't have to make that part of the app. They realize that customers with tiered plans will likely not use netflix without this option. Whether or not people agree or disagree with vzw's tiered plans is not the question here. The developer added a feature that they thought the consumer would appreciate, and therefore use. End of story. How someone comes up with "they're catering to Verizon" is just a person trolling to hate on vzw. I disagree with the tiered plans as well, but if you joined vzw after they eliminated unlimited data then you never had a choice. If you are one of those people and pissed about tiered plans, then take your business to T-Mo or sprint. I'm sure they'd be glad to have you.

Sent from my SCH-I535

 

[liftedplane]

No, that is not the fact. They don't have to make that part of the app. They realize that customers with tiered plans will likely not use netflix without this option. Whether or not people agree or disagree with vzw's tiered plans is not the question here. The developer added a feature that they thought the consumer would appreciate, and therefore use. End of story. How someone comes up with "they're catering to Verizon" is just a person trolling to hate on vzw. I disagree with the tiered plans as well, but if you joined vzw after they eliminated unlimited data then you never had a choice. If you are one of those people and pissed about tiered plans, then take your business to T-Mo or sprint. I'm sure they'd be glad to have you.

Sent from my SCH-I535

you're awfully quick to accuse me of "trolling to hate" on Verizon. The fact of the matter is that big red is doing everything in their power to take unlimited from their customers. I can no longer get a phone at upgrade pricing without losing my unlimited. New customer have NO CHOICE but to be put on the shared data plans... they cannot even get tiered data per line. VZW is doing everything in it's power to force customers to pay more and get less. It's nice that netfilx added this feature, good on them for looking out for their customers. However I still think it's complete BS that they ever even had to think to add a feature like this. VZW's reason for getting rid of unlimited data is complete bollocks and yet they still peddle their tripe to the masses. Most people who go into the store don't know their A** from a hole in the ground when it comes to wireless technology and data or smartphones etc. VZW knows this, which makes it easier for them to pull the wool over everyone's eyes because the few of us who do (read: those of us on these forums) are the vast minority and don't have a big enough voice to be heard.

So yeah go ahead and think I'm trolling on Verizon, I've been with them since they were Air touch and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon... (although if sprint rolls out their LTE network fast enough and keeps on improving their customer service I might)