Surprise, you can now download Netflix shows to your phone and tablet to watch offline

I dunno about you, but Netflix and my cell phone's data plan are not the best of friends. But that won't be a problem going forward, since Netflix has announced that, starting today, you'll be able to download shows and save them to your phone or tablet for offline viewing. Yes, you heard me: Offline. Viewing. And the nice thing is, the service doesn't cost extra.

Now, before you freak out too much, not every show will be available for download. Netflix originals like Stranger Things, Daredevil, and Narcos are in, but other shows are hit and miss in terms of availability. There's also restrictions based on location. If you download a show that's available on Netflix in the US but not available in the UK (or vice versa) and travel from one country to the other, you may not be able to view the content while you're overseas.

And last but not least, keep in mind your download may not be permanent. Some titles only give you 48 hours to finish watching once you've hit play, while others may be available for less than a week. The app will tell you if your show of choice is limited in such a way, so at least you don't have to worry about getting blindsided by unavailability.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a doctor's appointment and a long waiting room visit to get to.

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