Netflix for Android updates to support all 2.2, 2.3 devices
updated 06:20 pm EDT, Fri September 9, 2011
Netflix now talks to all Android 2 devices
Netflix gave Android users a treat for the weekend through an update to its app (free, Android Market). Once just locked to certain phones, it will now stream movies on any Android 2.2 or 2.3 device, regardless of the phone designer or the processor inside. Native Android tablet use is still largely limited to the Lenovo IdeaPad K1, although the original Galaxy Tab and others using pre-3.x should now work with the phone-optimized app.
Only US viewers are known to be reporting the update so far.
The app originally launched on Android with just five devices. Netflix at the time explained that Android fragmentation meant it couldn't provide the app on every device without either large amounts of work or breaking the copy protection studios demanded. Its now more ubiquitous support has come simply from adding enough hardware support to cover much of the user base.
Android 3 has modular copy protection and in theory shouldn't be as splintered, but so far it has had much of the same problem.
