How to disable being included in tests and previews on Netflix
The online streaming service Netflix changes things constantly on the site and monitors carefully what users do and don't do when they interact with the service.
You may have noticed that Netflix uses A-B tests to determine the effectiveness of covers or other element on the site, but did you know that Netflix customers may be included in beta tests and experiments on the site automatically?
Inclusion in tests and previews may not be a bad thing, at least not for all users; if you like to have access to new features as soon as possible, then that is certainly the right option for you even though there is no guarantee that your account will be picked for any of them.
Netflix notes that participating customers help the company improve the experience on Netflix and access new features before anyone else.
Participate in tests to help improve the Netflix experience and see potential changes before they are available to all members.
Netflix does not reveal to customers whether they are part of an experiment or not at the time. You may notice differences if your account is signed up for an experiment, but there is no confirmation for any of that.
It is unclear if all Netflix users take part in tests automatically; when I checked whether the test participation setting on Netflix was turned on for my account I noticed that it was and that I did not opt-in to that by myself.
Here is a quick guide on finding out if your account is set up for participation in tests and previews. Some Netflix customers may join the program if they have not been added to it automatically, others may want to leave it if they prefer the standard experience instead.
Note: Test participation is linked to the account and not to user accounts. The change is valid for all accounts if you disable or enable the feature.
If you are on a computer and use a web browser to access Netflix:
- Load https://www.netflix.com/DoNotTest in the browser's address bar.
- You may enable (on) or disable (off) test participation on the page that opens.
You may use the option above even if you watch Netflix on a TV or mobile device. Since the setting is linked to the account, it carries over to any device you use Netflix on.
Some applications or TVs may not provide access to the full list of Settings. The Windows application, for example, opens the Netflix account page in the default browser when you select Settings > Account Details.
It offers no option to join or leave the test participation program of Netflix.
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Why not make use of the mplayer.conf?
Huh, I have never even seen this “font cache” pane; videos play at once for me, using VLC & XP SP3.
Mike, in theory this should have only been displayed once to you, at the very first video that you played with VLC. The time this window is displayed depends largely on the number of fonts in your font directory.
huh, I lucked out for a change?? Amazing!!
Apparently VLC keeps this info through version updates, but I didn’t see this message after a fresh OS install about 8 weeks ago, & a new VLC.
yes, yes, i have the same problem. sometimes, VLC crashes when it is playing .mov file.
Error:
Buidling font Cache pop-up
Solution:
Open VLC player.
On Menu Bar:
Tools
Preferences
(at bottom – left side)
Show settings — ALL
Open: Video
Click: Subtitles/OSD (This is now highlited, not opened)
Text rendering module – change this to “Dummy font renderer function”
Save
Exit
Re-open – done.
Progam will no longer look outside self for fonts
Source – WorthyTricks.co.cc
Great tip, thanks a lot Kishore.
@Kishore, I’ll try your tips, but does this mean it will no longer show subtitles either?
I do use subtitles, but the fontcache dialog box pops up (almost) everytime I play a file.
Could this be related to the fonts I have installed? Or if I add/remove fonts to my system?
I’ll try to do a fresh install also, if your tips does no work. I’ll post back here later…
/thanks
/j
@ Javier, The trick i posted will show up subtitles too. If not,
@ Javier, The trick i posted will show up subtitles too. If not,Dont worry, VLC is currently sorting out this issue and the next version will be out soon.
No probs @ Martin !! Its my pleasure
Try running LC with administrator privileges. That seemed to fix it for me
I am using SMplayer 0.8.6 (64-bit) (Portable Edition) on Windows 7 x64. Even with the -nofontconfig parameter in place SMplayer still scans the fonts. Also, I have enabled normal subtitles and it is still scanning fonts before playing a video. Also, it does this every time the player opens a video after a system restart (only the fist video played).
Does that mean that only instrumental versions of songs will be available for non-paying users?