Netflix is truly trying to take over our entire social calendar. We thought that after the streaming company revealed its October debuts and departures and shared insight into what episode gets us hooked on a TV series that the Internet entertainment giant would, for lack of a better word, chill, for a sec. We were wrong though. Remember the first time you heard the phrase “Netflix and Chill”? There’s now an official “Netflix and chill” button that you can hack together to bring your binge watching/couch potato activities to the next level.
While it would be uh-mazing if this button was called the “Netflix and chill” button, its official name is actually The Switch (guess we’ll have to save that Urban Dictionary term for Netflxing ;) The Switch, which made its debut at the 2015 World Maker Faire this past weekend, is a prototype all-in-one device to use with the streaming service. Think of it as the universal remote for the Netflix generation.
Not currently available for purchase, this maker-made button is an all-in-one: it can turn on your smart TV, open up the Netflix app, dim your Phillips Hue lights, silence your phone, order you food, etc all with the push of one button. Yes. It is very DIYable (head to The Switch website for instructions). If you have a basic understanding of electronics, web servers and how APIs work, that is ;)
The DIY Netflix companion device (which, in its current state, is a smart wooden box, essentially) is powered by a microcontroller and an infrared transmitter that, when built successfully, syncs with your tech to work together to make your binge marathons chill. Whether you end up watching what’s on your TV’s screen or not is up to you.
P.S. Want to get paid to travel and take pictures of amazing film and TV locations?! Duh, you do! Netflix also has a super cool program for Instagrammers called Grammasters. After you make your own Netflix button, apply STAT!
Do you want to DIY your very own Netflix The Switch button? Let us know in the comments.
(Photos via Netflix + @netflix)