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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

#21

Post by redblacktree »

balls187 wrote: post #17
random28345 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

I get what you're saying, but this is the edge case. I applaud GP for doing the right thing in the 95% case.

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

#22

Post by brigade »

acgourley wrote: post #11
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.

Well, Adobe hasn't added support to Flash yet. Plus, given their massive display pipeline performance problems, it's quite possible that they won't be able do 4k 10-bit HEVC when it's finally added.

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

#23

Post by esMazer »

Pyrodogg wrote: post #13
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 onl…

or hardware DRM

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

#24

Post by smacktoward »

Pyrodogg wrote: post #13
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 onl…

>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

You're assuming that's a bug. It means that users will have to buy a new box to access all that content, which means the manufacturers may see it instead as a feature.

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

#25

Post by gdulli »

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.

And in the case of Netflix HD it's not buffering, it just dynamically drops down to super-low res for however long it needs to which is kind of worse, you're not even getting what you pay for. Not that it's necessarily Netflix's fault, it's just inherent to streaming. Which makes the push for 4K streaming a puzzling choice at best.

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

#26

Post by [deleted] »

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.

[deleted]

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

#27

Post by wmf »

Pyrodogg wrote: post #13
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 onl…

It reminds me of the non-HDCP HDTVs that used to be available (especially projectors IIRC). We know this stuff is guaranteed to be obsolete, but people are buying it anyway. At least most of those receivers don't cost $10,000.

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

#28

Post by ceronman »

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.

I pay for Netflix every month. Still I use XBMCtorrent to watch most TV series and movies. Many things are not available on Netflix or a similar service. Even if they're available on Netflix, most of the time they don't have subtitles in my native language, seeking is slow, there is not flexibility in the resolution. XBMC just provides me a better user experience.

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

#29

Post by imgabe »

> I and your readers on a PC or Mac could intercept the 4K [content] and therefore transmit it to a country that doesn’t have the rights.

Wow, maybe if there's a country full of people so eager to watch your content that they'll steal it you should, I don't know, sell them the rights to watch it? Of course, I'm just a simple nobody. I guess you have to be a fancy movie studio executive to understand how you make more money by preventing people from accessing your content.

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

#30

Post by anigbrowl »

redblacktree wrote: post #19
joshstrange wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

I can't be bothered to go through it, and I do film post & production for a living, so it's not any lack of technical capability.
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