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Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

macworld.com

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Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#11

Post by acgourley »

johnduhart wrote: post #8

> Anyone who knows technology knows the computational and image-processing capabilities of even an average PC or Mac far outstrip those of a streaming box, set-top box, or smart TV by several orders of magnitude. It's quite possible these TVs or STBs are shipping with a special hardware decoder that supports this format that they're using.

They are - dedicated silicon support for HEVC. That's how they can do it with such a small form factor and power budget. However a software codec on a modern PC should have no problem with HEVC due to the huge amount of available CPU.

Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#12

Post by scott_s »

themartorana wrote: post #5

But if I grab a torrent to the 4K version of the movie, I can play it on my computer. Do people still legitimately wonder why so many people flock to torrents? Hollywood (and by extension, other large content producers) have the most sincere form of Ostrich Syndrome[0] that I know of. [0] http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=The%20Ostrich...

Do people flock to torrents? No one I know does. They all watch content on their tv, obtained through a legit streaming service or a cable subscription.

Personally, I don't feel right grabbing torrents, but I also don't want the hassle. I think that legit digital delivery for music and video has, for the most part, crossed the threshold where it's just easier than the alternatives.

Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#13

Post by Pyrodogg »

johnduhart wrote: post #8

> Anyone who knows technology knows the computational and image-processing capabilities of even an average PC or Mac far outstrip those of a streaming box, set-top box, or smart TV by several orders of magnitude. It's quite possible these TVs or STBs are shipping with a special hardware decoder that supports this format that they're using.

It's actually quite interesting to me that many 2014 AV receivers support HDMI 2.0 (Fully capable of 4K video pass through) but DO NOT have HDCP 2.2 implemented.

They are technologically fully capable of providing the desired service (4K video) to the customer but as soon as HDCP 2.2 Blu-ray players and 4K content come out they are fully obsoleted.

"As of this update, among the major manufacturers of AV receivers only Onkyo/Integra offers such AV Receivers that support both HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 as will be needed to support certain of the high quality 4K/UHD video sources, such as the upcoming Blu-ray 4K/UHD players." [1]

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Blu-ray_Disc_and_HD_DVD_pl...

Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#14

Post by joshstrange »

themartorana wrote: post #5

But if I grab a torrent to the 4K version of the movie, I can play it on my computer. Do people still legitimately wonder why so many people flock to torrents? Hollywood (and by extension, other large content producers) have the most sincere form of Ostrich Syndrome[0] that I know of. [0] http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=The%20Ostrich...

I remember before Netflix and Amazon when it was: DVD or Torrent and this image came out: http://craphound.com/images/ifurapirate.jpeg

That was about stuffing promo's and ads in before the movie but this feels very similar. You can get a better experience by getting a torrent over streaming legally. I pay for Amazon and Netflix but I will still download content from time to time that I can get on them (for no additional cost) because I can get a better experience: no buffering, no quality yo-yo-ing as network speeds fluctuate, no ads, reliable watched status (Using Plex, this is more an issue with Amazon which keeps track of your position in a video but doesn't have watched/unwatched status so it's sometimes hard to pick up in a series where you left off).

Spotify (IMHO) is a great example of a level of service/features (even at a price) beating piracy. I'm still waiting on the "Spotify of TV" (Or movies) and no I don't think it exists out there yet. I would be all over Hulu expect I refuse to pay for a service AND see ads. I would rather pay $20/mo and not see ads then pay the $10/mo and see them. Almost as bad as having to see ads in the first place the ads on Hulu are painfully repetitive at times.

Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#15

Post by _RPM »

As a torrent user, I do find that paid content is higher quality and more convenient, unless you have a dedicated setup. It is so simple to turn my TV on and watch a move than it is to connect my laptop, download the torrent, which involves firing up my VM, finding the torrent magnet link, and then DL'ing it.

Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#16

Post by joshstrange »

scott_s wrote: post #12
themartorana wrote: post #5

But if I grab a torrent to the 4K version of the movie, I can play it on my computer. Do people still legitimately wonder why so many people flock to torrents? Hollywood (and by extension, other large content producers) have the most sincere form of Ostrich Syndrome[0] that I know of. [0] http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=The%20Ostrich...

Do people flock to torrents? No one I know does. They all watch content on their tv, obtained through a legit streaming service or a cable subscription. Personally, I don't feel right grabbing torrents, but I also don't want the hassle. I think that legit digital delivery for music and video has, for the most part, crossed the threshold where it's just easier than the alternatives.

> Do people flock to torrents? No one I know does.

I know quite a few people who use torrents (or usenet) as their primary source of TV. Combining Plex + Sabnzbd + Sickbeard you get a internet DVR with little to no maintenance once setup (other than adding more capacity as/if needed). They all have a hulu-like (next day) experience, they get it in HD, and there are no ads.

Legit delivery for music has crossed the threshold but video has not. You still have to use multiple services to watch everything you want.

Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#17

Post by balls187 »

random28345 wrote: post #10
cwyers wrote: post #6

I have a hard time getting too worked up over this in the case of Amazon, because I have a heck of a time getting them to stream even SD content without horrible buffering issues.

That's why I pay for Prime (and Netflix, et. al.), and torrent the content. Admittedly, I feel a little bad about paying providers of DRMed content, it sends the wrong market signal. But if I didn't pay these content providers, I wouldn't have a mechanism of signalling that I enjoy watching certain TV shows and movies.

If you cancel your subscriptions will you delete your torrented content?

What if content is removed from Netflix?

Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#18

Post by joshstrange »

_RPM wrote: post #15

As a torrent user, I do find that paid content is higher quality and more convenient, unless you have a dedicated setup. It is so simple to turn my TV on and watch a move than it is to connect my laptop, download the torrent, which involves firing up my VM, finding the torrent magnet link, and then DL'ing it.

For your setup? Yes, legit tv is easier. Using Sickbeard (Usenet or torrent version) will give you a DVR-like experience with the shows auto-downloading, unziping/unraring, and moving into a defined folder structure 1-24hrs after the show airs.

Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#19

Post by redblacktree »

joshstrange wrote: post #16
scott_s wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do people flock to torrents? No one I know does. They all watch content on their tv, obtained through a legit streaming service or a cable subscription. Personally, I don't feel right grabbing torrents, but I also don't want the hassle. I think that legit digital delivery for music and video has, for the most part, crossed the threshold where it's just easier than the alternatives.

> Do people flock to torrents? No one I know does. I know quite a few people who use torrents (or usenet) as their primary source of TV. Combining Plex + Sabnzbd + Sickbeard you get a internet DVR with little to no maintenance once setup (other than adding more capacity as/if needed). They all have a hulu-like (next day) experience, they get it in HD, and there are no ads. Legit delivery for music has crossed the thr…

The setup you're describing is beyond the reach of a great many people. They pay for Netflix instead.

Re: Why you can't get 4K Netflix and Amazon

#20

Post by wavefunction »

joshstrange wrote: post #16
scott_s wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do people flock to torrents? No one I know does. They all watch content on their tv, obtained through a legit streaming service or a cable subscription. Personally, I don't feel right grabbing torrents, but I also don't want the hassle. I think that legit digital delivery for music and video has, for the most part, crossed the threshold where it's just easier than the alternatives.

> Do people flock to torrents? No one I know does. I know quite a few people who use torrents (or usenet) as their primary source of TV. Combining Plex + Sabnzbd + Sickbeard you get a internet DVR with little to no maintenance once setup (other than adding more capacity as/if needed). They all have a hulu-like (next day) experience, they get it in HD, and there are no ads. Legit delivery for music has crossed the thr…

I have to use different services to get all the music I want. iTunes is great for mainstream stuff but that's about it. Amazon's offering is "eclectic"
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