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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."
Microsoft, in the pocket of big media, is working against the consumer to manipulate hardware manufacturers into taking control away from users of the data on their own computers. This is not a feature, this is anti-consumer racketeering.
What consumers want is AAA content for their 4K UHD sets, which are becoming very affordable in all screen sizes.
That content could be distributed through a universal and general-purpose web browser, like Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Opera. But chances are good that won't happen because the geek can't get it through his head that it isn't going to happen without sophisticated content protection.
That leaves the field wide open to the smart TV with its suite of 4K apps, the 4K Blu-Ray player, the next generation cable and satellite DVR, the Amazon Fire HD, the Roku set top box, the stream-casting tablet and so on.
The walled garden wins because that is where people meet and that is where the action is.
MS just removed the Netflix app from it's store, and it has been disabled on my Win10 laptop.
You're being a crybaby bitch. PMP has been out since Vista. Firefox doesn't support it because they were too busy fucking with the UI, fighting H264, and adding in bullshit like Pocket. Opera has completely jumped the shark, threw out their flagship browser, and now just distribute a half-baked blink browser. Google? They're too busy implementing tracking features.