A friend was using a computer with Windows 8.1 (I know lol), and her streaming services stopped working on it. Because she was using an old computer, she couldn’t upgrade to Windows 11. So I suggested installing Linux and even doing it for her, but the problem is that most streaming services don’t work on Linux. After making that disclaimer and suggesting she use a streaming stick, she decided that her computer is junk and will just get a new one. A win for Microsoft.

But the crux is that if streaming services don’t treat Linux as a first class platform, Linux will never be truly mainstream. People say that it’s Microsoft Office or Adobe blocking Linux from the mainstream, but Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, Peacock, etc are the real missing “apps” on Linux.

  • liliumstar@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    For most of them you can get 720p on Linux with basic stereo audio.

    It was possible to play Netflix 1080p on Chrome, but I think those days are gone.

    Unfortunately, I don’t see a user-controlled Linux system ever being properly supported in the current DRM / copyright paradigm. There isn’t really a solution that satisfies the “rights holders”, and even if there were, there is little to no incentive to implement it.

  • Eugenia@lemmy.mlEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    You just needed to install Chrome, not leave the installation with Firefox. Chrome works with streaming services, except one (can’t remember which one). All the other ones work.

  • rozodru@piefed.socialEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    huh? they don’t work? I’ve yet to come across ANY streaming platforms that don’t work and hell I use QuteBrowser.

    what specific platforms don’t work? I’ve used youtube, twitch, netflix, hulu, etc in the past and they all just worked right out of the box.

    Or…just go here and not pay a dime: https://fmhy.net/

  • juipeltje@lemmy.world
    0·
    2 months ago

    Streaming services suck in general if you ask me. Even on windows the apps are ass imo. As an ultrawide user i always hated that i can’t zoom in on movies or shows to get rid of the black bars on the top and bottom and fullscreen it properly. I understand that that’s a weird edge case but it’s just one of the problems i had. With disney+ in particular, even on the windows app i couldn’t stream in 4k. I figured i’d try watching on ps4, but the audio would have this weird clipping like once every minute, which wasn’t an issue with the hardware, because it also happened on ps5 and with different headphones. I even went as far as buying an android tv box because i wanted to be a good boy and watch it legit, but that didn’t work out either, cause the box started getting slow and it would randomly exit the app in the middle of watching a show. So in the end i gave up and started pirating. Their service was so awfull that i saw no other option, which is kind of insane when you think about it. And now i can watch it in my player of choice, and properly fullscreen it on my ultrawide display.

  • Kr4u7@discuss.tchncs.de
    0·
    2 months ago

    Just install her favourite browser, chromium, Firefox, whatever. Set it as default and then create desktop links to her favourite streaming services. How to do that can be found here. You can also change the Icon to the specific logo by downloading it and change the line with ‘icon’ to a file path.

    Should look and feel just like a desktop app

  • BilboBargains@lemmy.world
    0·
    2 months ago

    Just torrent that shit while the streaming platforms get their house in order. It’s not acceptable to be racist to Linux.

  • thingsiplay@beehaw.org
    0·
    2 months ago

    The biggest roadblocks are the manual download and installation process of Linux, if we speak about casuals. I don’t know how important streaming services are, but besides the usual office and adobe application, certain popular videogames are also a blocker for casuals switching to Linux.

    For your (or her) streaming, doesn’t it work in the web browser?

  • surjomukhi@lemmygrad.ml
    0·
    2 months ago

    Why so much downvotes. Streaming services restrict higher quality streams on linux distros, it’s common knowledge. Widevine L3 is supported by browser and that’s what running when someone streams netflix, disney+ or anything on a browser, firefox or chrome, in linux. Almost all streaming services provide 720p with Widevine L3. On the other hand, 1080p and higher are only available in widevine L1, which has to built into the kernal and certified by Google. And linux kernal WILL NOT BE DOING THAT. The OP doesn’t even blame linux for this, they explicitly say to blame streaming services.

  • just_another_person@lemmy.world
    0·
    2 months ago

    The streaming services work by browser, not platform. If Firefox can run it on Windows, it can run it on MacOS, Linux, Android…etc.

    Something must be wrong here.

    • progandy@feddit.org
      0·
      2 months ago

      Many streaming services use DRM that considers standard Linux installations as not “secure” enough. That means either no stream or bad resolution.

  • illusionist@lemmy.zip
    0·
    2 months ago

    The tv os Webos is based on linux.

    Hence, it’s weird to say that linux isn’t ready to play videos

    • SuperSpruce@lemmy.zipOP
      0·
      2 months ago

      The sources I read said only the lower versions of widevine, which many platforms don’t support at all

      • hexagonwin@lemmy.sdf.org
        0·
        2 months ago

        i don’t use it myself so can’t be sure but i find it hard to believe it wouldn’t work on the latest ubuntu with google chrome… it did work as of a few years ago.

      • hexagonwin@lemmy.sdf.org
        0·
        2 months ago

        ah… that sucks. i wonder if it’s possible to run windows versions of browsers through wine. that was the trick i used for silverlight in the ie8 days lol