Netflix downloads could be on the horizon

[Jamie McKane]

Netflix downloads could be on the horizon

Netflix subscribers may be able to download content soon.

[DieGrootHammer]

So here is a question: Netflix uses compression when streaming video, right? That way the file size that needs to stream is a bit less, creating a better streaming service as less data is consumed. But, if you are gonna download a copy of the file for offline use, surely the file would be uncompressed, meaning larger in size when compared to streaming... I'm thinking about what the impact would be on my monthly cap. Would I use more or less data by streaming rather than downloading?

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[BeoTeK]

So here is a question: Netflix uses compression when streaming video, right? That way the file size that needs to stream is a bit less, creating a better streaming service as less data is consumed. But, if you are gonna download a copy of the file for offline use, surely the file would be uncompressed, meaning larger in size when compared to streaming... I'm thinking about what the impact would be on my monthly cap. Would I use more or less data by streaming rather than downloading?

Yes.


No wait.... no!



No yes, no? Sorry, what was the question.

[Avatar]

So here is a question: Netflix uses compression when streaming video, right? That way the file size that needs to stream is a bit less, creating a better streaming service as less data is consumed. But, if you are gonna download a copy of the file for offline use, surely the file would be uncompressed, meaning larger in size when compared to streaming... I'm thinking about what the impact would be on my monthly cap. Would I use more or less data by streaming rather than downloading?

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I'd imagine that it would still have to play through the netflix app, somehow, so it might still download compressed (and encrypted).

[HavocXphere]

So here is a question: Netflix uses compression when streaming video, right? That way the file size that needs to stream is a bit less, creating a better streaming service as less data is consumed. But, if you are gonna download a copy of the file for offline use, surely the file would be uncompressed, meaning larger in size when compared to streaming... I'm thinking about what the impact would be on my monthly cap. Would I use more or less data by streaming rather than downloading?

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

lol no. Its compressed either way. They're using x265 encoding if I'm not mistaken.

But (very) generally streaming has a lower bitrate than downloads (e.g. High quality usenet) in my experience, so if you're cap constrained then streaming is better. In this case they are likely to be identical since netflix will just re-use the stream content and simply transfer it as is instead of keeping two copies of everything on hand.