When Disney+ first launched, Linux and Chromebook users found themselves unable to use the service. The issue came down to the fact that Disney+ did not support the DRM system used on Linux computers. Now Disney+ has updated its DVR to add support for Linux computers. Disney also now lets you download the Disney+ Android app onto Chromebooks that support Android apps.
So were devices like Chromebooks blocked when trying to use a web browser? It seems that Disney has set its DRM (Digital Rights Management) to a very high level to help prevent piracy. Disney uses a DRM system created by Google called Widevine. The Widevine system has three different levels of security, and Disney has set their level of security all the way up to 1 according to Hasdegoede who first reported this and Cord Cutters News has later confirmed. Sadly, many devices including Chromebooks and Linux do not support level 1 Widevine as their support stops at level 3.
Google’s Widevine DRM is a commonly used DVR standard for services like Google Play, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. This DRM standard is also why you can’t stream Netflix higher than 480p on mobile devices and some Android streaming players. With Level 1 access you can get full HD but Level 3 is limited to only SD video. Right now Disney+ is requiring devices to fully support Level 1 DRM from Widevine if they want to be able to stream the service.
Unfortunately, some Android devices, especially older ones, don’t support L1. This is very true of many of the cheap Android streaming players not running the full version of Android TV.
Hopefully, this change means Disney+ support will be coming to more devices soon like more Android players. Have you noticed any other changes to Disney? Leave us a comment and let us know.
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