I never get why those idiots make it harder for paying customers to watch content, than for those just torrenting it.
It's the same with Amazon Prime Video which will get me a black screen on Linux or force me to SD Quality, while the torrented Movie runs just fine in 4K
I reverse-engineered Netflix's 4K restrictions
11–20 of 102 posts
Re: I reverse-engineered Netflix's 4K restrictions
#12I pay for Netflix Premium but was stuck at 1080p. Turns out Netflix layers multiple capability checks before serving 4K: user agent, screen resolution, Media Capabilities API, codec support, DRM robustness negotiation, and their Cadmium player's internal bitrate caps. Built an extension that spoofs all of these. The interesting discovery: you have to intercept every layer. Miss one and you're back to 1080p. Here's th…
> Happy to discuss the technical approach or answer questions.
Netflix says "Ultra HD (2160p)" requires Microsoft Edge on Windows [1].
This is a "Netflix 4K Enabler" extension that spoofs being Microsoft Edge on Windows - but unless I'm misunderstanding, the extension only works on Microsoft Edge, on Windows.
Under what circumstances would a user want this extension?
Re: I reverse-engineered Netflix's 4K restrictions
#13I may be an idiot, but: What does this actually, y'know, achieve? It seems the answer to me is probably nothing? It doesn't work on Firefox. It appears not to work on Chrome. The suggestion is to use Edge, which on Windows already gets 4K support in Netflix anyway.
i don't think it works! there's no mystery here...
Re: I reverse-engineered Netflix's 4K restrictions
#14I never get why those idiots make it harder for paying customers to watch content, than for those just torrenting it. It's the same with Amazon Prime Video which will get me a black screen on Linux or force me to SD Quality, while the torrented Movie runs just fine in 4K
I've spent a long time wondering the same thing. The standard answer is that it's fallout from the anti-anti-piracy cat and mouse game. The more conspiratorial answer is that bandwidth is expensive and streaming sites will take any excuse to serve you a lower resolution than what you actually paid for, while still being able to say that they technically support 4K.
There are sensible-ish technical reasons why they can't deliver DRM'd 4K on linux, but when browser extensions can upgrade you to 4K there are no excuses on the technical level.
Re: I reverse-engineered Netflix's 4K restrictions
#15Let's go back to tangible media
Re: I reverse-engineered Netflix's 4K restrictions
#16I may be an idiot, but: What does this actually, y'know, achieve? It seems the answer to me is probably nothing? It doesn't work on Firefox. It appears not to work on Chrome. The suggestion is to use Edge, which on Windows already gets 4K support in Netflix anyway.
I believe the benefit for Edge is faking HDCP 2.2.
Re: I reverse-engineered Netflix's 4K restrictions
#17I never get why those idiots make it harder for paying customers to watch content, than for those just torrenting it. It's the same with Amazon Prime Video which will get me a black screen on Linux or force me to SD Quality, while the torrented Movie runs just fine in 4K
I've spent a long time wondering the same thing. The standard answer is that it's fallout from the anti-anti-piracy cat and mouse game. The more conspiratorial answer is that bandwidth is expensive and streaming sites will take any excuse to serve you a lower resolution than what you actually paid for, while still being able to say that they technically support 4K. There are sensible-ish technical reasons why they ca…
We need to divorce "corporate" from "tech"
Re: I reverse-engineered Netflix's 4K restrictions
#18Disappointed to learn that it requires Edge, BUT very grateful for the investigation and write up ! That is why this is called Hacker News.
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Re: I reverse-engineered Netflix's 4K restrictions
#19I never get why those idiots make it harder for paying customers to watch content, than for those just torrenting it. It's the same with Amazon Prime Video which will get me a black screen on Linux or force me to SD Quality, while the torrented Movie runs just fine in 4K
I've spent a long time wondering the same thing. The standard answer is that it's fallout from the anti-anti-piracy cat and mouse game. The more conspiratorial answer is that bandwidth is expensive and streaming sites will take any excuse to serve you a lower resolution than what you actually paid for, while still being able to say that they technically support 4K. There are sensible-ish technical reasons why they ca…
The point is, people usually pay because it is more convenient for them than getting it illegally.
But when I have to fiddle around for 30 Minutes to see a picture (it worked before until it suddenly didn't work anymore), pirating the movie is suddenly the better option. Because I certainly don't see a point in paying and wasting more of my time.
And the piracy cat and mouse game is stupid, as in the End it's always Available illegaly, except for the people developing and selling DRM