Australian web users are all too familiar with the dreaded “This content is not available in your country” message when trying to access US-based services such as YouTube, Hulu and others. In the last few years, browser extensions have saved many the effort of setting up a proxy to side-step these restrictions, with Media Hint being a popular option. Unfortunately, the once-free geo-unblocker now requires users to pay for its benefits.
When you try to activate the extension, users are now prompted to pay a $US3.95 monthly fee or drop $US39.50 for a year’s worth of access. In addition, Media Hint requires you to create an account, not an unexpected development seeing as it’s collecting payment information.
I use Media Hint myself and found it to be excellent, but with a number of free alternatives available, including ProxyMate and ZenMate, it’s difficult to convince someone to pay for it. I’d be surprised if the move doesn’t backfire — the one-star reviews are already beginning to accumulate on the Chrome Web Store.
Media Hint [Chrome Web Store, via gHacks]
Comments
3 responses to “Geo-Unblocking Extension Media Hint Goes Paid-For”
My 0.1.13.1 build on Firefox is still working..
I found MediaHint and Hola Unblocker both stopped working for certain sites that are obviously being more diligent about blocking proxies. If I was going to pay for MediaHint, I’d sure as hell want it to work.
Well I’ve just uninstalled it and I’ll be damned if I’m the only one. I expect to see their userbase drop to 5% at most. If I’m going to pay, I’ll pay for a proper VPN.
Good thing I have an old version of the extension lying about.
Can you upload it for me?
Thanks for the article Logan .Why using a VPN when you can use a DNS service like UnoTelly? The DNS option is much faster and easier to use.