Cross-platform video developer

Cross-platform video playback and DRM done right on every device

One license server, the correct player and manifest on each platform.

Native video playback with FairPlay, Widevine and PlayReady, wired to your license server so streams start fast and play clean on real devices. Day rate: €500 or $600.

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Why one DRM never covers everything

FairPlay protects Apple platforms, Widevine covers Android and Chrome, and PlayReady is what Windows and many smart TVs expect. There is no single key system that satisfies all of them, so most catalogs end up packaged twice: HLS with FairPlay for Apple, and DASH with Widevine or PlayReady for everyone else. Sylvain sets up the per-device decision so the right manifest and the right key system are requested automatically, without forking your backend into a mess.

A real player per platform, not a wrapper

Apple wants AVPlayer driving an HLS stream, and Android wants Media3/ExoPlayer driving DASH. These players have different APIs for track selection, buffering, and DRM session handling. Sylvain builds the native player on each platform and wires it directly to your license server and key delivery flow, so playback behaves the way the OS expects rather than fighting an abstraction layer.

License servers and key delivery

DRM only works when the player, the license server, and the packaging agree on key IDs, content IDs, and request format. Sylvain handles the FairPlay SPC/CKC exchange on Apple and the Widevine license request on Android, including how those calls carry your authentication token. If you already run a license service such as a third-party multi-DRM provider, he integrates against it rather than replacing it.

Tracks, fast start, and seeking on real hardware

Multiple audio languages and subtitle formats (WebVTT, CEA-608/708, IMSC) break in different ways across players, and simulator behavior rarely matches a real Apple TV or a mid-range Android phone. Sylvain tests on physical devices to confirm that startup time is low, that seeking does not stall or desync audio, and that track switching is reliable. Tradeoffs in segment length and buffer tuning are explained, not hidden.

Frequently asked questions

What is your rate for this work?

A flat remote day rate of €500 or $600, with no agency markup. You are working directly with the developer who writes the code.

Can you work on our existing player codebase?

Yes. I regularly pick up an existing iOS or Android app and fix or extend its playback and DRM layer rather than starting from scratch. I read the current code first and tell you honestly what is salvageable.

Do you support multi-DRM providers like a third-party license service?

Yes. I integrate AVPlayer and ExoPlayer against your existing FairPlay, Widevine, and PlayReady license endpoints, whether self-hosted or from a multi-DRM vendor.

Can you cover web playback too?

I focus on native iOS, tvOS, and Android, which is where DRM is hardest. For the web side I can advise on EME and a player like Shaka or hls.js, but my hands-on delivery is native.

How do you handle subtitles and multiple audio tracks?

I wire the native track selection APIs on each platform and test WebVTT, CEA-608/708, and IMSC subtitles plus multiple audio languages on real devices, since these are the parts that quietly break in production.

Will playback actually be tested on real devices?

Always. Simulators hide DRM and buffering issues, so I validate startup, seeking, and key delivery on a physical Apple TV, iPhone, and Android handset before calling anything done.

Need senior native mobile help?

Send the product context, target platform, repository state, and timing. I will tell you quickly if I can help.

Contact Sylvain