Netflix-Style Offline Learning for Caregivers Worldwide
A native Android app with offline DRM video, multilingual playback, and full course hierarchy — built for learners in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe studying for care roles in Germany, the US, Canada, and Australia.
Client
iCare Life Learn
Platform
Android (React Native + Kotlin)
Markets
Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe
Built by
Maveristic
Overview
iCare Life trains aspiring caregivers from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe for care jobs in Germany, the US, Canada, and Australia. Their learners study on affordable Android handsets in regions where internet is intermittent, expensive, or simply unavailable. Maveristic manages their entire digital ecosystem — website, LMS, course platform, billing infrastructure, and the Android app. One team. Everything connected.
The challenge
Learners needed to study on affordable Android handsets in regions where connectivity is unreliable. Simply adding an offline mode was not enough — the content had to be DRM-protected to satisfy licensing obligations, playable across languages with correct audio and caption tracks, and navigable through a full course hierarchy without a network connection. A WebView-only approach could not meet these requirements.
Key Features
Offline DRM Video
Custom Kotlin module with Widevine DRM, three-level probe + auto-provisioning for MIUI devices.
Full Course Hierarchy
Course > Module > Chapter mirrored offline without local database bloat.
Multilingual Playback
Highest-bitrate HLS audio group auto-selected per language. Undeclared captions surfaced correctly.
OTT-Grade Downloads
Continue Watching, storage bar, licence expiry badges. Zero third-party offline libraries.
App Screenshots
Why offline is not a feature — it's an infrastructure decision.
We used a WebView — but only where it makes sense. The course catalogue, online player, and chapter browser all live in a React Native WebView. But offline DRM video requires direct access to the device media stack, the Widevine DRM layer, and Android's file system — none of that is possible inside a WebView. So we built a completely custom native Kotlin module compiled directly into the APK.
DRM security and the device problem
Widevine DRM does not reliably work on a large percentage of affordable Android handsets popular in Africa and Asia. Xiaomi and MIUI devices often have the Widevine hardware present but the cryptographic keybox missing or misconfigured. We built a three-level DRM probe that checks hardware presence, session capability, and security level. If it fails, the module auto-provisions via Google's Widevine certificate server.
- ✓Widevine DRM licence required before any offline play.
- ✓Three-level hardware probe before provisioning.
- ✓Licence expiry enforced at the device media stack.
- ✓No video bytes accessible without a valid DRM session.
- ✓Android Keystore used for secure credential storage.
- ✓EncryptedSharedPreferences for offline token management.
"Offline DRM video requires direct access to the device media stack, the Widevine DRM layer, and Android file system. None of that is possible inside a WebView."
Two layers. One seamless experience.
The custom native Kotlin module owns every download, licence, and offline playback event independently of the WebView layer. The learner just presses Download. The rest is invisible.
- →React Native WebView handles course catalogue and online player.
- →Custom Kotlin native module owns all offline DRM operations.
- →Base44 API authenticates users and returns course entitlements.
- →Mux HLS delivers adaptive bitrate video streams.
- →Expo EAS manages build and OTA deployment.
We manage their entire digital ecosystem.
The Android app is one part of a larger engagement. Maveristic manages all development for iCare Life — website, LMS, course platform, billing infrastructure, and the Android app. No handoffs. No scope gaps. One team that knows every layer.
The outcome
iCare Life now has a fully offline-capable Android learning app that works in low-connectivity regions, protects course content with Widevine DRM, and delivers an OTT-grade experience on affordable devices.
Offline-first Android app for low-connectivity markets
Widevine DRM on affordable Android handsets
Zero reported offline playback failures post-launch
OTT-grade Continue Watching experience
Full course hierarchy available without internet
Managed end-to-end by Maveristic
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