Netflix to add 0.5x and 1.5x playback speed soon

Netflix will allow its subscribers to select the speed of the media they are watching on their Android smartphone or tablet.

This feature will let you adjust the speed of whatever you're watching

New playback controls for users

Netflix users will have the option to stream at either  0.5x and 0.75x speeds for slowed-down viewing or 1.25x and 1.5x speeds for faster watching.

This playback option is still going to be available if they download the episodes or movies for watching offline. According to the streaming platform, they can select the playback speed for every series or film to prevent users from watching something faster or slower unintentionally.

Netflix said that this playback speed option was already tested last year but it drew flak from some actors and directors from Hollywood. For example, Judd Apatow even tweeted that "distributors don’t get to change the way the content is presented."

As a result, Netflix is releasing some features along with this feature rollout to address the concerns of creative community. To make sure the quality of the content is not confused, the company will equip an automatic correction for "the pitch in the audio at faster and slower speeds."

Netflix’s VP for product innovation stated that there are changes in technology that have allowed for different types of viewing over the years. That's the reason behind the company's decision to implement after the quick testing period. She added,

The feature has been much requested by members for years. Most important of all, our tests show that consumers value the flexibility it provides whether it’s rewatching their favorite scene or slowing things down because they’re watching with subtitles or have hearing difficulties.

The playback speed feature is approved and commended by the National Association of the Deaf and the National Federation of the Blind. According to them, it can help deaf people who might prefer the captions at a slightly slower speed. Meanwhile, they say that many blind people can understand and appreciate audio played at a much faster pace than what might be comfortable for most sighted people.

Netflix will monitor the feedback to this new feature on both the creative community and subscribers. Aside from that, they are starting the testing on iOS devices and the web version of the app. However, there’s no testing phase set for Netflix’s TV app.

The feature was rolled out a few days ago but it will be available globally in the coming weeks.

What are your thoughts on this upcoming feature?

Source: The Verge

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This is the Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition

• A leaked render has apparently revealed the Galaxy S20 FE 5G for the first time.
• The render shows off the front of the device, featuring a center-mounted punch-hole cutout.
• We don’t get a look at the rear of the phone though.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S10 Lite equivalent for 2020 has just appeared in a leaked render. Its name is currently up for debate but tipster Evan Blass refers to it as the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G in his latest leak. FE apparently stands for Fan Edition as also noted in previous leaks about this more affordable S20 phone.

It’s evident from the leaked Galaxy S20 Fan Edition render (see image below) that the device borrows its design from its S20 siblings. It carries the same thin-bezel display with the center punch hole but looks a bit squarish and wider in comparison to the current S20 phones. Then again, that could just be an issue with the render and the actual phone could end up looking exactly the same as other members of the S20 series.

There’s a speaker grille at the top of the device and the button placement for the volume and power keys remains unchanged compared to existing S20 phones.

Credit: Evan Blass

According to previous leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition will feature a 6.5-inch display, making it slightly taller than the vanilla Galaxy S20, but smaller than the 6.7-inch Galaxy S20 Plus.

Related: Best Samsung phones for all budgets

Sadly, Blass’ new leak does not show the phone from the back so we don’t know for sure if it features the rumored triple camera setup or not.

Elsewhere, the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition is expected to get the Snapdragon 865 chipset, a 4,500mAh battery, 6GB RAM, and 128GB storage. We still don’t have a leaked launch date for the phone but a previous report suggested an October debut.

For now, all eyes are on the Galaxy Note 20 lineup coming later this week. We highly doubt that Samsung will launch the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition alongside the new Notes but one can never be too sure about what a company has in store. Let’s wait and see what Samsung announces on August 5.

Also read: How the prices of Samsung Galaxy Note phones have changed over the years

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