<html> <head> <style></style></head> <body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>I have been avoiding the Netflix subscription based on their lack of Linux support. This morning this news arrived in my RSS feed. I thought to share with you guys. I am sure some of you already new about this.<br><br>"<strong>Netflix is now available to watch on Ubuntu out of the box — no hacks, plugins or user-agent switching workaround required.</strong><BR> The company has, quietly, and without fanfare, flipped the switch required to allow Google Chrome users on Ubuntu (and presumably other *buntu-based desktops) to watch movies and TV shows in the browser.<BR> If you’ve been following this long, protracted saga — which has been about as enjoyable as a binge-watch of the US Inbetweeners remake — then this news won’t be too out of the blue.<BR> Last month <a href="http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2014/09/netflix-linux-html5-nss-change-request" title="Netflix Works with Ubuntu to Bring Native Playback to All (Updated)">Netflix engineer Paul Adolph pledged to remove the user-agent filter</a>, the final hurdle in preventing Ubuntu users from streaming content, once a newer version of the security library (nss3) was rolled out to users.<BR> <a href="http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2014/09/ubuntu-rolls-updated-nss-library-native-linux-netflix-support" title="Updated NSS Library Rolls Out To Bring Netflix Support on Ubuntu">That roll out took place in late September. </a><BR> <h3>Google Chrome Only, Folks</h3> The kicker is that streaming playback <strong>only works in Google Chrome</strong>. Seriously. Try watching The Hobbit on Netflix in Chromium, Opera, Firefox or any other web browser you might<em> prefer</em> to use and you’ll get nowhere.<BR> Why? Google Chrome comes bundled with a specific module, one Netflix requires to permit playback on a system through HTML5. It’s called “Encrypted Media Extension” (‘EME’ for short) and, without getting too technical about it, it’s a form of user-friendly DRM.<BR> <em><br></em><BR><em>There’s a contradiction in terms.</em><BR> If you’re a subscriber of the obscure, totally unheard of indie subscription streaming service* you can stop reading, and start watching right now.<BR> <h5 style="text-align: right"><em>*Sarcasm"</em></h5> <br><br><em>Enjoy.<br><br></em><div> <em><font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Benjamin Chavez</font></em><br></div><br> </div></body> </html>