Are you losing Netflix?
6Some devices will no longer stream Netflix as of Sunday Dec 1.
Some older Roku, Vizio, and other brands will be affected.
https://bgr.com/2019/11/29/netflix-roku-support-ending-samsung-vizio-december-1/
I have both Roku and an old Vizio TV. I won’t really know if they’re affected until it happens tomorrow.
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/giphy whaaaaat
@bleedmichigan OH!
so you’re probably not but the article you linked says you will lose it if you have this device/version. That notice had been out for months.
Do you need help identifing your devices/max version? We could probably help with that. Unless you have a very early version you’re probably fine. That’s one of their core services
Most likely your device has a version menu we can get you too.
@unksol - I appreciate that, thanks. Today is the first I saw of the change.
The article does say they’re notifying those affected, but I’m sure I never registered any devices. Roku knows I have an account, but the TV is not smart so they would not have my contact info.
I actually think my Roku is okay, but I can’t remember when I got the Vizio - it’s old.
I’ll find out soon enough - just crossing my fingers.
(After I type this)
@kdemo the model number would indicate the year but it’s probably on the sticker on the back which is annoying to get too in some installations.
@kdemo @unksol
If your roku still works, or if you can find another workaround, try to avoid the “smart features” on your tv.
These tvs tend to be rarely/never updated for security patches
@kdemo @unksol If your Roku device is a separate unit from your TV (e.g. plugs into the TV with an HDMI cable), it won’t be the TV, but the Roku device itself, that might be affected. Your TV won’t suddenly stop working with a device you connect to it due to the age of the TV. I have played my Nintendo Switch on my 1963 GE M180 TV!
@PooltoyWolf - A working 1963 TV??
You win the thrift game! (Not available on Switch).
@kdemo Here it is playing Super Mario 64!
@PooltoyWolf - That is so cool!
Wait, did they have color TVs in 1963? How does that work?
Edit - I guess they did. Fancy!
We didn’t have one until mid 70s.
1953
@kdemo The M180 is a black & white set, but RCA built the first color TV, the CTC-5, in the early 1950s. You can play games on B/W sets just fine, but you’d better be good at differentiating between shades of gray when a game requires colors!
One of the reasons I’m not a fan of ‘smart’ TVs vs appliances for these services. You’re at the mercy of a TV vendor for updates. I’d rather replace a plug-in than the whole TV…
@duodec counterpoint. You NEVER have to replace the whole TV. Absolutely worst case you could buy a cheap new HDMI plugin of your choice and use it as a dumb screen through that. Your TV is never scrap.
Netflix and Roku are also motivated to update the apps because they often have paid subscribers they want to keep. It’s a lot different than Android. But also at some point they do have to move outdated hardware to legacy or unsupported status. This has been normal for almost 5 decades
@duodec I got Hulu(1.99/month) for Black Friday and discovered our blueray player no longer supports Hulu.
I went to Wally World to get a cheap Black Friday Roku. My wife yells at me because I didn’t put her non-functioning Roku from her bedroom in the living room.
There may be a deal or 2 on a low end streaming devices between now and Monday.
@unksol true but you paid more for a likely short term usable capability that would have been better spent getting a higher spec, more capable monitor. More inputs, less overloaded remote, etc.
Half of the smart TVs they put in at work in early 2016 are no longer getting firmware updates (been a year already for two of them), and checking since this topic, those two are on the Netflix drop list for the version of Netflix available on them. Meh. Don’t know what other items they have will stop working in the future (not that we use them much at work but its still representative)…
@duodec @unksol try chromecast?
I would have to get Netflix to be able to lose it.
@yakkoTDI -
Nothing to see here, move along.
The fact that Netflix was still working on first generation Roku this long is pretty impressive. These are 11 years oops. MLB Network, HBO go, all stopped working 5+ years ago on these. Clickbait article.
@j37hr0 - Even if true, some may have not been aware (me) and would be upset if it just stopped working. Everyone is not a tech whiz like you.
More a PSA, not clickbait.
@j37hr0 @kdemo but didn’t you get an email from Roku about a month ago? I received one anyway for my registered devices that will no longer support Netflix. They even offered a discount if I wanted to upgrade.
@j37hr0 @tinamarie1974 -
sigh
If your Vizio says “VIA” or has apps from the long defunct “Yahoo app store”, then move to a Roku, FireStick, or other Android dongle.
@mike808 - Thank you.
Roku.com has a streaming stick on sale for thirty dollars. I use a Roku stick with my smart TV- it’s worth it for the Roku channel alone.
@sammydog01 - Thank you! Roku inexplicably offered me a free Roku Ultra a while back, but the older one is still hooked up in another room. I have no smart TVs, but I’m not smart so it works out.
This could be helpful to others, I’m sure other thrifty mehniacs with older devices could consider the Roku stick.
For anyone worried about their Roku, Walmart is offering a Roku on the cheap. The Roku SE is a basic streamer that could be an inexpensive solution. Currently $18 (OOS, but sign up for “notify me” as I expect they’re holding back stock for Cyber Monday sales). I believe this may be a Walmart Exclusive option.
@ruouttaurmind I believe this is the version that I bought last year for Black Friday. Maybe a slightly upgraded version.
The only drawbacks are that I can’t screen mirror my phone and I can’t program the buttons at the bottom.
@RiotDemon Yup, it’s a pretty basic device. But for someone who’s gonna lose Netflix and looking for a dirt cheap solution, it’s a fine option.