Spending more time trying to choose what to watch on Netflix than you are actually watching movies?
You might want to install Netflix Showdown, an extension for the Google Chrome browser that either forces you to pick a Netflix movie before a short timer runs out, or else chooses one for you. It’s the perfect tool for your movie-watching buddy (or you!) who can never bring himself to just pick a darn movie already.
The extension loads on top of the Netflix.com website and works like this: Either you choose three different titles you’re having trouble deciding between, or the app will choose three random titles from Netflix for you. You then have a set amount of time — either 15 seconds, 50 seconds or 90 seconds (you decide) — to make a final selection from among those three titles.
This is the “Showdown” of Netflix Showdown: The three movies are fighting for your approval.
If you don’t make a selection before the timer runs out, Netflix Showdown can choose for you and will auto-play one of the three flicks or TV shows.
Here, for example, Netflix Showdown has automatically selected “101 Dalmations,” “Super 8” and “Firefly” as the Showdown titles. Since I didn’t click on any of the posters before the time ran out, the app chose “Super 8” for me, and will start playing it in a few seconds.
Now, there are obvious downsides to Netflix Showdown. It only works on your laptop, so if you watch Netflix on a tablet, a gaming console or a Roku, you can’t use it. Second, it only works on the Google Chrome browser: Internet Explorer and Firefox users are out of luck. And sometimes, the movies that Netflix Showdown chooses are complete duds. Netflix Showdown — which is in no way associated with Netflix — is not quite as smart as Netflix’s learning software, which Netflix used to create something similar to Netflix Showdown in one of the mini-games in its new Netflix Max app.
Netflix Showdown, however, works a little bit faster than Netflix Max and also gives you some agency in setting up the titles you want to choose from. It’s perfect if you’re indecisive but committed to watching Netflix, or if you’re watching with a group of people and there are several different votes on what you should watch.
No need to come to blows with your buddies on Movie Night: Just let Netflix Showdown choose for you.
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Can't Decide What to Watch on Netflix? This App Chooses For You (BLOG) Updated at :
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Tuesday, January 21, 2014
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