A NEW desktop app hopes to revolutionise your binge-watching by letting you pick and choose from Netflix content normally only available in the US, Canada and more.
A software engineer has today launched a new desktop client for Netflix subscribers which could revolutionise your next binge-watching spree.
Dubbed Smartflix, the new Mac and Windows application bypasses location restrictions to allow viewers to access the full 14,000 films and TV shows available to Netflix customers across the globe.
Content on Netflix varies between countries based on the distribution deals with the film studios and TV networks.
Smartflix aggregates this regional exclusive content in one beautiful native app.
According to the developer, "Smartflix is a simple application that combines an index of Netflix content available worldwide, an optimised proxy service and a chromeless web browser that embeds the Netflix web player."
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| Smartflix brings together regional-content from around the world in one sleek app |
Virtual Private Networks, dubbed VPNs, can be used to make your device appear as if it is residing in another country – and unlock a new range of regional-locked Netflix shows.
Smartflix, which was first announced on Reddit last year, uses a similar technique to bypass location restrictions, its creator has claimed.
Netflix chief product officer Neil Hunt has previously denied the US streaming firm blocks customers from using VPNs to access different content.
"The claims that we have changed our policy on VPN are false," he said earlier this year.
"People who are using a VPN to access our service from outside of the area will find that it still works exactly as it has always done."
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| The app will tell you where the content is available - for example top-left, Netflix Canada |
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| Smartflix is available on Windows and Mac |
By bringing together the geographically-locked content available to subscribers across the globe, Smartflix dramatically increases the number of shows available to subscribers.
British Netflix subscribers can currently access 2,875 films and TV series across all genres.
Smartflix boasts a catalogue of some 14,000 films and TV shows.
"It is WAY better and safer than VPNs and “smart DNS” services (both potentially routing and/or intercepting every requests your computer makes at any time)," the software developer behind the app posted on Reddit.
The Mac and Windows desktop app – which is free while the software is in beta – supports Full HD 1080p streaming, manual quality selection, media key support for playback and a picture-in-picture mini-player for multi-tasking binge-watching.
The OS X version of the software has been signed – which means it is associated with a known Apple Developer ID and will not be blocked by Apple's in-built malware security mechanism, Gatekeeper.
An iOS version of the Smartflix app for iPhone and iPad is also in the works, the creator has confirmed.
NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com has not tested the beta software first-hand.
When Smartflix comes out of beta, customers will be able to get a lifetime subscription for $7.99.
- NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com has approached Netflix for comment
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