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Also Edge is the only web browser where Netflix can be streamed at 1080p and 4K. OTOH Chrome and Firefox are only at 720p. Safari is at 1080p though. (Netflix's

by ktta 9y ago

Also Edge is the only web browser where Netflix can be streamed at 1080p and 4K. OTOH Chrome and Firefox are only at 720p. Safari is at 1080p though. (Netflix's windows app is another route) Edge also supports Apple's Live streaming tech so, again the only browser on Windows which can be used to watch Apple's Live events. Too bad that Edge won't ever be on Linux.

pritambaral 9y ago
> where Netflix can be streamed Isn't that because of Netflix's choices, rather than technical reasons?
- ktta 9y ago
  I'm not entirely sure. I believe it has to do with the DRM implementation. While Widewine is the DRM in Chrome and Firefox, Edge uses something different[1]. I've seen people talk about Chrome being able to handle 1080p in ChromeOS. So there seems to be more than just Netflix's choice involved here. Although I bet Microsoft being proactive helped. Definitely unclear. Also I don't see any reason why Netflix wouldn't want to support 1080p in all the major browsers. The only downside might be excess bandwidth, but with the Open Connect Appliance being a thing, I doubt it is a big factor. [1]: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/07/13/get-better-quality-video-with-microsoft-edge/ https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/07/13/get-b...
  - 482794793792894 9y ago
    As far as I understand it, you need tight coupling between the browser and the OS to implement the sort of deep-reaching DRM that Netflix/Hollywood wants for 1080p. That would explain why Edge on Windows and Chrome on ChromeOS can do it. Personally, I see it as a plus that my browser/OS combo does not support this. There have to be horrid security implications that just wait to be unturned.
    - shmerl 9y ago
      Indeed: https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/02/drm_in_windows_1.html https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/02/drm_in_window... Insistence on DRM ironically is causing the opposite effect - wider piracy of DRM-free versions.
  - shmerl 9y ago
    If it's because of DRM, it's the fault of Netflix. No one stops them releasing their video DRM-free. It's not the first time DRM hampers performance and thus degrades usability. It's by definition an anti-feature.
tim-- 9y ago
Well, they ported their Javascript engine to *nix[2]. Also, it's not like Internet Explorer wasn't supported in Unix 'back in the day'[1]... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer_for_UNIX https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer_for_UNIX [2] https://github.com/Microsoft/ChakraCore https://github.com/Microsoft/ChakraCore

by ktta 9y ago

pritambaral 9y ago

> where Netflix can be streamed Isn't that because of Netflix's choices, rather than technical reasons?

ktta 9y ago
I'm not entirely sure. I believe it has to do with the DRM implementation. While Widewine is the DRM in Chrome and Firefox, Edge uses something different[1]. I've seen people talk about Chrome being able to handle 1080p in ChromeOS. So there seems to be more than just Netflix's choice involved here. Although I bet Microsoft being proactive helped. Definitely unclear. Also I don't see any reason why Netflix wouldn't want to support 1080p in all the major browsers. The only downside might be excess bandwidth, but with the Open Connect Appliance being a thing, I doubt it is a big factor. [1]: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/07/13/get-better-quality-video-with-microsoft-edge/ https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/07/13/get-b...
- 482794793792894 9y ago
  As far as I understand it, you need tight coupling between the browser and the OS to implement the sort of deep-reaching DRM that Netflix/Hollywood wants for 1080p. That would explain why Edge on Windows and Chrome on ChromeOS can do it. Personally, I see it as a plus that my browser/OS combo does not support this. There have to be horrid security implications that just wait to be unturned.
  - shmerl 9y ago
    Indeed: https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/02/drm_in_windows_1.html https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/02/drm_in_window... Insistence on DRM ironically is causing the opposite effect - wider piracy of DRM-free versions.
- shmerl 9y ago
  If it's because of DRM, it's the fault of Netflix. No one stops them releasing their video DRM-free. It's not the first time DRM hampers performance and thus degrades usability. It's by definition an anti-feature.

tim-- 9y ago

Well, they ported their Javascript engine to *nix[2]. Also, it's not like Internet Explorer wasn't supported in Unix 'back in the day'[1]... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer_for_UNIX https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer_for_UNIX [2] https://github.com/Microsoft/ChakraCore https://github.com/Microsoft/ChakraCore