The first time we talked about Netflix's offline mode was in December of last year, but the company had decided to restrict its availability to mobile devices, which are the ones that suffer the most from bandwidth limitations. Laptops and desktops could help develop the full potential of this feature, and everything seems to indicate that Netflix finally picked up the gauntlet, with a small detail: The offline mode appeared in the universal app for Windows 10.
Netflix's offline mode is probably the most requested feature within the service. The magic of video streaming is powerful, but when the connection goes on strike, the last thing users want to see is an error. After all, they are paying for the service, and the biggest advantage compared to traditional cable is its 'on demand' profile. Netflix cannot solve all connectivity problems around the globe, but it does have the capability to minimize the impact with a robust offline mode. We first saw it on mobile devices, which makes sense given that mobile access is expensive, slow, and limited by data. Now it's the turn of laptops and desktops... as long as they use Windows 10.
Yes, users of the universal Netflix app available in the Windows Store will be able to download shows and movies. The download option was not enabled for the entire catalog due to licensing issues, but Netflix's original productions should have it. The universal design of the app suggests that this same functionality will not take long to reach Windows 10 Mobile, Xbox One, and Windows 8.1, unless it's part of a special agreement between Netflix and Microsoft.
No time limits have been reported either, so once downloaded, the series or movie can be played at any time. It's necessary to remember that downloading Netflix through the Windows Store does not require a Microsoft account: Open the Store app, search for Netflix, and with a single click it will be installed on your computer.
