Netflix for Android Updated with Support for New Devices Including Original Droid, Blocks Access for Rooted Users? [Update: Working Fine]
Netflix has just launched an update to their Android app coinciding with the launch of the LG Revolution for Verizon. The Revolution ships with the movie streaming service pre-installed, but it isn’t the only Verizon handset gaining support for the app. The original Motorola Droid and the Casio G’zOne Commando have been added to the list of supported devices, adding to a handful of HTC and Samsung handsets already prepped for instant access to Netflix video.
[UPDATE]: Several users have tweeted our way to confirm that Netflix streaming is not being blocked on rooted devices. We still aren’t sure what is going on in the anecdote retold below, but those users who are keen on hacking and modding their phones should be just peachy to download the new update.
While we haven’t been able to confirm, we have been receiving reports that this update might also come with a very big downside. Netflix might be jumping on board with Google Movies and Blockbuster, blocking rooted devices from accessing video streams. One user with a rooted HTC Incredible — one of the first handsets to gain Netlix support — received the following error message after launching the update:
It looks like Netflix has been deactivated on this device. It could be an issue with your account or perhaps your device was deactivated on netflix.com
After checking on his desktop, the same user verified that his Netflix account was still in working order, leaving us to believe something may, in fact, be going on. We must stress again that this is unverified information, but we felt it worth mentioning. Any other rooted users out there losing access to Netflix once updating their app? Let us know in the comments below.
[Thanks, romma, Neil, and JDog for sending this through!]