Netflix recently introduced a new feature to its streaming web service that is simultaneously genius and diabolical.
It”s called Post-Play. Instead of allowing the user to choose whether they want to watch the next episode by clicking, a new interface pops up with a 15-second countdown that automatically starts the next episode.
Of course, the user can end the viewing session then.
But, from my own personal experience, the user won”t even wait for the countdown to end and will click next.
It is entirely too convenient. How dare you, Netflix.
I”m only being half-sarcastic.
Ironically, when I signed up for Netflix more than two years ago, it was purely for the DVD rental side of its business. Its streaming web service was not as organized and user-friendly then, so I basically ignored it.
I mainly used the website to organize my queue, disregarding ones marked for streaming.
And then, Netflix became available first on the Xbox 360”s Xbox Live Network and later on the Playstation 3”s Playstation Network.
Suddenly, everywhere I went, everyone had Netflix on their gaming system to watch TV shows and movies while at parties and hanging out.
I knew I could use the website to stream onto my computer or even my new cellphone. But a 13-inch laptop screen with terrible speakers just didn”t seem as appealing as all my friends” 40-inch flatscreen TVs.
First-world problems, I know.
When I just couldn”t take it anymore, I decided to use its streaming service to fill in some of the gaps in my favorite TV shows.
When I started into “How I Met Your Mother,” my own mother thought something was wrong with me because I was spending all my time watching it in my room.
After a break for the Olympics, I recently started going through older episodes of “The Office.” Once again, I was marathoning the episodes, clicking through each time.
And then the new feature came along.
I first saw it earlier this month at my brother”s place during its rollout on the Playstation Network. It did strike me as odd, but again, convenient.
And then it showed up on my computer. Suddenly, I”m seeing news articles about it online. One writer said it will “suck you more into TV show marathons.”
Yeah, I was already prone to that. I think I watched something like two seasons of “The Office” during the past three or four days.
Even before the new feature debuted, I”ve found this addiction to be quite common amongst my friends. It is incredibly hard to stop watching a TV show when all of its episodes are right there at the click of a button. You fall in love with a show and you just want to keep watching.
It”s to the point where I completely ignore my DVD queue now and just focus on catching up on so many of the best TV shows that I”m behind on.
Honestly, Netflix streaming is really designed for TV shows. It doesn”t have a wide-variety of movies in its system, unlike its DVD library, which is fairly vast.
It”s also much easier to justify two or three 22-minute TV episodes than a two-hour movie. Besides, when I”m watching TV shows, I can multitask a bit and do small tasks such as make a quick lunch or check the web for a minute. I”m also fond of watching to unwind before bed.
When I”m watching a movie, that”s all I”m doing. Well, maybe the occasional Google search because I know that actor”s face but can”t quite recall his name.
For better or worse, I enjoy Netflix. I know the company has gotten a lot of flack for its pricing the last few years, but I find it to be more than acceptable for the service I”m provided.
I don”t think I”ll ever complain about having so many possibilities to watch in front of me all at once.
I simultaneously shake my fist at and raise my glass to Netflix and its Post-Play feature. Here”s to losing just a bit more sleep each night.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter:@KevinNHume.
