Back in October, the guys at XDA Developers dug out a code in the Netflix app for Android that suggested that an interesting new feature was in the works. “Save your data by turning off the video and listening to your favorite shows,” read the description. Now the “audio-only” mode is officially rolling out to Android users, Android Police reports.
Just as the name suggests, this feature allows you to listen to the audio stream of a show, with the video turned off, much like a podcast. The update is happening on the server-side, so you may see a new “Video off” button when you tap on the video player in full-screen mode. Toggling the Video on and off results in a black screen with playback controls the only visible thing left.
Image credit - Android Police
It’s an interesting feature and its usefulness can vary wildly depending on the show you want to listen to. If we’re talking about plot-driven, heavy content, with a ton of characters and plot twists, it probably won’t be a good idea to stream the audio to your earphones while you’re driving to work. Some documentary series could turn out to be perfect in audio-only mode, though.
There might be a deeper plot behind this feature though - real podcasts. Netflix is working hard to add those on the platform. The first scripted podcast show (The Only Podcast Left) supplementing Netflix’s apocalyptic zombie show Daybreak is already streaming on Spotify, which doesn’t make much sense. Obviously, Netflix is getting ready to host podcasts on its own platform and cease to rely on competitors.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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