Netflix is currently testing a special audio-only mode for its mobile apps – Android, specifically. Walthough this is no guarantee that the useful feature will see daylight in a stable version, it is promising, aIf you’re lucky, you can test the feature right now.
I totally understand you scoff at the idea of ”listening” to a movie instead of watching it, believe me. I would have had the same reaction too, but we used to do that in my early days as a technology editor. A lot of Maximum PC employees spent the day in the lab performing all kinds of benchmark tests, building (and breaking) various components and packaging and unpacking unlimited shipping boxes. We put movies to pass the time, but it’s not like we can just squat down and watch them. We had things to do.
Was anything lost by an audio-only experience? Obviously, yes, but if it’s a movie that you’re already quite familiar with, losing visuals – or just checking them every now and then or looking for favorite scenes – isn’t what a great thing. I can see the same thing being true if you are on a trip and I want to have something more exciting to hear than the radio (or your favorite podcasts) Why not upload your favorite movie? And sSince you are not transmitting video, you should use much less of your precious cell data limit (theoretically).
To see if you are eligible for Netflix audio only testing, you need to make sure you are running at least version 7.84.1 (build 28 35243) of the Android app. This is easy to check on the Google Play Store; just touch “About this application” and scroll down until you see the version number in Application info.
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If possible, try to sign up for the Netflix beta at the bottom of the app list. It was full when I checked, but if you can get in, you will only increase your chances of being selected to test these types of limited release features.
A word about it: Since Netflix’s audio-only mode is a server-side unlock, you may not see it in your app, even if you’re running the most up-to-date version possible. If you’re eligible, you’ll know quickly as soon as you access anything to view on Netflix. At the top of the view, just above the pause button, you will see an option to turn the video on and off.
I don’t have that option, so I get the normal screen, shown above. (Also, blame Netflix for not allowing screenshots of its content.)
If you can access the feature – lucky for you – you’ll also find an entirely new option on the Netflix Settings screen. Under the modified Video and audio playback in the application settings, you can choose when Netflix should default to audio-only mode: always, never, or whenever it detects that you are using headphones or external speakers.
We don’t know when Netflix will launch this feature for everyone, if it ever will, but we’ll let you know if that changes. However, I can’t wait to check out the feature, as I can’t wait to enjoy movies without wasting precious data during those times when I can’t stay on the screen for hours.