Intrigued, but not sure if Netflix is for you? Check out our guide to help you get started.
Intrigued, but not sure if Netflix is for you? Check out our guide to help you get started.
At CES 2016, Netflix made a major announcement that it would be launching in 130 new countries. Singapore was one of these countries. Now that it’s here, some of you might be wondering, what is Netfl ix exactly? Can I only watch it on my TV? And how does it compare to Netfl ix USA? Let us answer all questions and help you get started.
NETFLIX 101
Netflix is a video on demand streaming service. Now, some users might wonder how it differs from Singtel TV and Starhub TV. The main difference is that Netflix viewers can choose to watch whatever is on the Netflix catalog whenever they want. In their defense, both local broadcasters, Singtel TV and StarHub TV do have on demand videos, but that only makes up a small portion of their catalog, unlike Netflix which purely offers video on demand.
WATCHING NETFLIX
The other great thing about Netflix is that you can watch it on a multitude of devices. You can watch Netflix on your TV, computer and just about any mobile device.
You can watch directly on your web browser simply by heading to Netflix’s website and logging into your account. Or you could download the Netflix app for your Android, iOS or Windows Phone smartphone or tablet and watch it on those devices too.
And if you want to watch Netflix on your television, there’s a couple of ways. The Netflix app is available for most smart TVs from major brands like Samsung, LG, Philips, Sharp and Sony, and that would be the most straightforward way. Alternatively, if you have a modern internet-enabled gaming console like a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you could download the Netflix app for those consoles and watch Netflix on your TV using your game console. However, if these methods don’t work for you, you could invest in a Google Chromecast, which is an affordable and super tiny HDMI streaming dongle; or an AppleTV, which is a digital media player and streaming device.
Also, for existing subscribers of Singtel TV and StarHub TV, there are plans to bring Netflix to your respective set-top boxes from April, allowing you can use your existing set-top box to watch Netflix.
Another nifty thing is that viewing progress is carried over across devices, which means customers can begin watching on their phones while commuting, pause it when they get home, and then resume watching on their TV without missing a beat.
THE PLANS
Netflix offers three subscription plans: Basic, Standard and Premium. And the important thing to know is that the plan does not determine access to content, meaning to say that there’s no need to worry that a cheaper plan might not be able to watch some shows that only those with premium plans can.
One of the key differences between the plans is the resolution you can watch at and also the number of devices that can log on simultaneously. With a Basic subscription, which costs $10.98 a month, you will only be able to watch videos at 480p. That’s not ideal given that anyone who has bought a new TV in the past three or so years is likely to have a Full-HD TV. Likewise, if your notebook and mobile device is relatively new, it is likely to have a display that supports Full-HD resolution and beyond too. Plus, with a Basic subscription, you can only watch Netflix on a single device at any one time.
A Standard subscription is recommended for most users as it will give you access to videos in Full-HD (1080p) resolution. Furthermore, it will let you watch on two devices simultaneously, which is great for couples or families who want to watch different shows. The Standard plan is only slightly pricier at $13.98 each month.
For cinephiles, the Premium plan is for you as it allows you to watch shows up to Ultra HD or 4K. It also lets you watch Netflix on up to four devices simultaneously, which is great for large families. One thing to note, however, is that not all shows are available in Ultra HD, though most of the newer and more popular titles are. Of course, it goes without saying that you need a 4K display to be able to take full advantage of the 4K content as well. The Premium plan is the most costly at $16.98 a month.
NETFLIX SINGAPORE OR NETFLIX USA?
Now, some of you might have read that Netflix Singapore still pales in comparison to Netflix USA when it comes to content, and that’s true. Because of licensing issues, shows like House of Cards are not available on Netflix Singapore. In fact, a comparison done showed that we only have access to about 10% of the shows and movies that Netflix USA has.
Subscribing to Netflix USA isn’t as hard as you may think either. All you need is a VPN or proxy service provider and that can be set up in as little as 15 minutes. However, there are some issues that you should consider before going down this route. To begin, subscribing to Netflix USA will be costlier in the long run because you need to subscribe to a VPN or proxy service too.
But perhaps more importantly, Netflix has said that it wants to clamp down on users bypassing geographical restrictions to access its content. In the past few weeks, there have been reports of some users in Singapore losing access to Netflix USA as Netflix clamps down on VPN and proxy services looking to circumvent the geographical content restrictions that the company has put in place. This occurrence is not exclusive to Singapore viewers, Netflix USA viewers in Australia also reported experiencing the same fate.
Fortunately for most of these viewers, they were able to resume watching Netflix USA once their respective VPN service providers found workarounds. Peter Dujan, managing director uFlix, a firm that specializes in provided Netflix USA to Australian users, said, “It’s simply a game of cat and mouse, and this is our job, so let’s play.”
What this really means for new users contemplating between Netflix Singapore and Netflix USA is this: Netflix Singapore is easily the more fuss-free option, but it comes at the cost of a limited catalog; on the other hand, Netflix USA provides more entertainment options, but it costs more and could be problematic at times (especially if Netflix USA clamps down on your VPN or proxy service provider).
