Attention all binge-watchers and homebodies alike. Check out these 7 Netflix Hacks that will promise to optimize your viewing experience, to get the most out of your Netflix and Chill sessions.
Watch Netflix content not available in your country by using an unblocker.
Did you know that Netflix Argentina gets Modern Family? Or that Netflix US has every single season of the X-Files?! Just in time for the reboot. Why limit yourself to Netflix Canada when unblockers like Media Hint or Smartflix (free) trick the site into thinking you are in a different country. With unblockers, you can get access to hundreds of new titles. Media Hint isn’t free but it may save you problems in the long run since Hola has run into some security issues. Use unblockers at your own risk!
Sick of Spoilers? Try Netflix Socks.
Wearable technology is quickly becoming a popular method of improving one’s everyday activities. Netflix Socks sport an embedded pulse sensor that monitors your heartbeat to detect when you’ve fallen asleep and pauses your binging so you never miss a moment. Geek out and create them yourself for a nerdy and fun DIY.
Add Trailers, Rotten Tomato ratings and IMDb links.
Are you a film/TV buff? Do you ever fall for the trap of watching a “Netflix rated 5-star favourite” only to be disappointed by a mediocre 1-star flick? If so, then check out Flix Plus by Life Hacker or Netflix Enhancement Suite . They are Google Chrome add-ons that enhance your experience by creating a hub for Rotten Tomato ratings, IMDb links and official trailers all in one succinct place on the site. As Barney Stinson would say: “Legen -wait for it- dary!”
Pick Titles Quicker with Netflix Roulette.
The time spent on deciding what to watch vs. actually watching the damn flick is a tragic and time consuming obstacle all bingers must face. And as much as I love Freaks and Geeks for the hundredth time, sometimes I just want to watch something new. Cut down your indecisiveness by using Flick Roulette, a website that lets you “spin the wheel” for a totally random experience. Not down to completely randomize your search? Instead, you can filter your search by Director’s and Actor’s name.
Optimize your searching with a “Netflix Bible”.
Sometimes browsing simple categories like “Comedy” or “Action” just doesn’t suffice, especially when you’ve already seen 21 Jumpstreet or The Interview a ridiculous number of times. What’s On Netflix is a searchable encyclopedia of crazy, weird and specific sub-genres using ID codes added to the end of your Netflix url. Try 53310 for Silent Movies or even 10695 for Anime Sci-Fi. The world is your oyster!
Use Rabbit to Binge Watch with friends.
If you are in a long-distance relationship, you probably know the phrase “Netflix and Alone” all too well. You wait on your significant other to visit before even thinking about starting Aziz Ansari’s Master of None. Well wait no longer. The video-chat service Rabbit is a great alternative to Skype or Facetime. You can latch onto someone else’s viewing during video-chat to watch and communicate in real time. A perfect solution to the modern romance.
Stop Netflix buffering.
How are you supposed to navigate through the drama of Making a Murderer if the climax is ruined by excessive loading? Try this: while playing your show hold down Shift+Opt (Shift+Alt for Windows) and left click to open a “hidden” menu (called the Stream Manager) with buffering fixes and other streaming options. Pro-tip: impress your Netflix and Chill companion by using this hack to pretend you are some sort of computer engineering genius/wizard.
Check out even more ways to optimize your Netflix viewing with these 3 Secret Netflix Tricks.