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Microsoft: Only Microsoft Edge Will Play Netflix Content At 1080p On Your PC (pcworld.com)
An anonymous reader writes from a report via PCWorld: Microsoft made the bold claim on Wednesday that its Edge browser was the only browser of the big four browsers -- Chrome, Firefox, and Opera -- to play Netflix content at a 1080p resolution. PCWorld tested the four browsers and found this claim to be valid. The other three browsers capped out at a 720p resolution. Microsoft has been trying to boost Edge's reputation. Microsoft recently claimed that its Edge browser is more power-efficient than Chrome. (Opera later denied those claims.) This is the latest bold claim to come from Microsoft in regard to its Edge browser. Microsoft has even publicized a Netflix support document to show that Netflix streams at 1080p on Internet Explorer and Edge, and 720p on the other browsers. PCWorld used the "secret Netflix menus" that were first unearthed by Reddit users (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D) to display the resolution and bitrate and confirm that Microsoft's claims are true. "In a blog post, Microsoft claimed Microsoft Edge was built to take advantage of platform features in Windows 10, including the PlayReady Content Protection and the media engine's Protected Media Path," reports PCWorld. "The company said it is working with the Open Media Alliance to develop next-generation media formats, codecs, and other technologies for UltraHD video, and with chipset companies to develop Enhanced Content Protection that moves the protected media path into peripheral hardware for an even higher level of security, and one that could be used to protect 4K media."
I got old worn-out eyes; I don't see the difference and don't fricken care.
I only care when I want to zoom into Natalie Portman's [censored], but don't want to pay extra for that.
Table-ized A.I.
Microsoft did magically disable 1080p in the other browsers, it's right there in the summary. Edge is the only browser that (can) use PMP and PlayReady which the content cartels require for 1080p playback on Windows systems.
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No, they enabled copy protection that the content producers want to see enabled before they let you stream 1080P/4K content. That's just how it is. It sucks, but don't go after Microsoft on this one.
The good news is that since 4K will be so hard to obtain--then most end users will ultimately just use 720P content anyway. There's no demand for 4K content in the sense that if it's too fucking difficult to access nobody will want it.
So how can others make use of this copy protection? That's right, they can't because Microsoft is the creator of the 'standard' and controls the keys to the kingdom and doesn't really publish anything about it. There is no way that you can get your program to work with DRM in Windows without jumping through major hoops (both technical and bureaucratic) and even then, the thing is barely documented.
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Its not though. As someone who helped put it on a set top box recently, your org just has to sign with MS to be a playready developer and pay your license fee. After that you are free to go use it and generate keys. They have full docs and specs on how playready works and how its implemented. You then have to pass netflix's certification suite (which is mostly fully automated, choose test, tell it which device, run test, look at results/errors) to their satisfaction and your good to go
Why a browser? Because that's the only choice we have on Linux.
Chrome, Chromium, or Firefox with Pipelight. Those are my options. I chose Chromium, only because it doesn't require the headaches of Pipelight, and no spyware of Google.
The PlayReady DRM system is documented. It's also documented that any entity implementing it must pay beaucoup bucks for certification to get a player key.
Remember that Netflix CEO Reed Hastings sits on Microsoft's board of directors.