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I very rarely interact with any Apple tech. Recently I wanted to watch Severance, so I signed up for a trial period of Apple TV. It even worked on Firefox on my

I very rarely interact with any Apple tech. Recently I wanted to watch Severance, so I signed up for a trial period of Apple TV. It even worked on Firefox on my Linux desktop. But I only get 1080p video, while my screen is 1440p. The show didn't look good, and I found that yes, you can only get 1080p if you're not watching through an Apple device. I would have been happy to become a subscriber of the streaming service, but not if it looks ugly on my PC, so I didn't continue the trial. I'm sure Apple has data showing that offering higher-res video on non-Apple hardware isn't worth it, but this experience felt like a perfect match for the rest of my experience with Apple - if you want to use their software but not hardware, fuck you. If you want to use their hardware and software with a different workflow than they intended, fuck you too.

nonchalantsui 2y ago
Yeah I've heard similar, although I'm surprised you got 1080p out of Apple TV on Linux. The streaming services landscape is very weird in general. Lots about DRM or what have you that cause very bizarre rules like Netflix only allowing Opera on linux to play full 1080, or how on mac Edge only does 720. Some of them refusing to show anything over 720p on browsers no matter which platform. Of course some have workarounds through extensions. Certainly not the seamless experience one would have hoped from the switch away from cable services!
varenc 2y ago
Do any mainstream streaming services offer you greater than 1080p on desktop Linux? I had thought that none of them allow it due to the perception of weaker DRM. And because 90% of consumers watching on desktop really care/notice
- PaulHoule 2y ago
  I can't say I care that much: 1080p quality pixels are really good, I'd prefer that to messy 4k with visible blocking artifacts.
alt227 2y ago
I am no Apple sympathiser, and I use Firefox religiously, but to be fair to Apple Firefox streaming support and implementation is the worst of all the browsers.

nonchalantsui 2y ago

Yeah I've heard similar, although I'm surprised you got 1080p out of Apple TV on Linux. The streaming services landscape is very weird in general. Lots about DRM or what have you that cause very bizarre rules like Netflix only allowing Opera on linux to play full 1080, or how on mac Edge only does 720. Some of them refusing to show anything over 720p on browsers no matter which platform. Of course some have workarounds through extensions. Certainly not the seamless experience one would have hoped from the switch away from cable services!

varenc 2y ago

Do any mainstream streaming services offer you greater than 1080p on desktop Linux? I had thought that none of them allow it due to the perception of weaker DRM. And because 90% of consumers watching on desktop really care/notice

PaulHoule 2y ago
I can't say I care that much: 1080p quality pixels are really good, I'd prefer that to messy 4k with visible blocking artifacts.

alt227 2y ago

I am no Apple sympathiser, and I use Firefox religiously, but to be fair to Apple Firefox streaming support and implementation is the worst of all the browsers.