Netflix quality on PC... (Sadface)

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Talkiet

4792 posts

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#169725 24-Mar-2015 09:28

My TV is older (one of the last good Panny plasmas without smart features), I don't have a gaming console at all and my Media playing source is an i3 NUC (Capable of 4K playback)...

So I signed up for Netflix for a month as a trial last night and while I was VERY impressed by how slick it was to use, I couldn't even get 1080p streaming working. (Yes I had the right account type, yes I set the bandwidth use to high, yes I tried the ctrl-alt-shift-S tricks. I even tried the win8 Netflix App)

It would appear that if you use Netflix on a PC (or Mac apparently) you can't get 1080P or better - it seems it's locked out by policy.

Is there a trick I have missed to get 1080P playback working on Windows?

I could buy a chromecast, I could buy a PS3 etc but don't want to.

The playback - 720P(ish) - was super smooth though.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

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725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1266453 24-Mar-2015 09:34

If you're running Windows 8 you can use the Netflix app.

Talkiet

4792 posts

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#1266463 24-Mar-2015 09:42

D.W: If you're running Windows 8 you can use the Netflix app.

As per my original post I tried that... in conjunction with forcing a high bitrate using ctrl-alt-shift-S and selecting a large number. Didn't seem to give real 1080P - was soft as.

N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

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Vocus

#1266464 24-Mar-2015 09:44

What's the output device/connection? I bet they take it down a peg if it's not DRM controlled...

wasabi2k

2096 posts

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#1266473 24-Mar-2015 09:53

1. What resolution is your PC monitor/TV - if it isn't 1080p it won't be an option
2. What are you watching - not everything is available in 1080p
3. How fast is your connection? What is the max bitrate you can select?

Nakedcity

93 posts

Master Geek

#1266486 24-Mar-2015 10:00

Weren't there restrictions depending on the playback device used, at least in the US? I seem to recall that if you wanted US Netflix in 1080p you needed the Windows 8 app, a Roku or other device...and that the browser version was limited quality-wise (regardless of your bandwidth) to 720p.

I just did a quick test on the Netflix NZ site (using a browser - Chrome) and the status screen seemed to say it maxed out at 720p on a 30Mbps connection. More details are in this post. I'm no expert tho. Maybe that TV show/episode is not available in 1080p but others are.

Talkiet

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#1266513 24-Mar-2015 10:09

Tried on both an i7 PC connected via Displayport to a Dell 3007, and an i3 Nuc connected over HDMI to a Yamaha Amp to Panasonic Plasma TV.

Dell 3007 is 2560*1600, Panny TV is 1080P
I tried many movies (new blockbusters) and Orange is the New Black, recent series of Top Gear. I am sure I would have found things that should have been in 1080P
I have a 40Mbps VDSL connection and am confident I can get line rate to where the traffic is sourced from. As for the max rate I can select, I think that's the issue. On most it's "1750" although I'm not sure if that's Kilobits/sec or Kilobytes/sec. I have seen 5380 (i think) once through the win8 app, but even that didn't result in crisp 1080P.

I have a _very_ decent idea about what I'm doing here. I'm really asking if anyone knows a way to trick Netflix into delivering the high res streams to a PC.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Talkiet

4792 posts

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#1266517 24-Mar-2015 10:10

Nakedcity: Weren't there restrictions depending on the playback device used, at least in the US? I seem to recall that if you wanted US Netflix in 1080p you needed the Windows 8 app, a Roku or other device...and that the browser version was limited quality-wise (regardless of your bandwidth) to 720p.

I just did a quick test on the Netflix NZ site (using a browser - Chrome) and the status screen seemed to say it maxed out at 720p on a 30Mbps connection. More details are in this post. I'm no expert tho. Maybe that TV show/episode is not available in 1080p but others are.

Ah thanks! I hadn't seen Ctrl-shift-alt-D ! I'll try that tonight.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

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ilovemusic

1439 posts

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#1266570 24-Mar-2015 10:37

i've noticed the same thing.

largely looks crap on my pc.

but is ok through my oppo bdp's netflix app with an iffy wifi connection !

it does start oddly though, hd material starts at a really low bitrate, i've seen as low as 288, and over a minute or so, ramps up to 1080p.

Nakedcity

93 posts

Master Geek

#1266592 24-Mar-2015 10:52

...but even that didn't result in crisp 1080P.

What could influence the crispness of video in 1080P? Wouldn't it be a question of the original video quality or any pre-processing that was done to the video before encoding?

I'm asking out of curiosity as I do _not_ know what I'm talking about ... :)

Talkiet

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#1266599 24-Mar-2015 11:02

Nakedcity:
...but even that didn't result in crisp 1080P.

What could influence the crispness of video in 1080P? Wouldn't it be a question of the original video quality or any pre-processing that was done to the video before encoding?

I'm asking out of curiosity as I do _not_ know what I'm talking about ... :)

It was so I could avoid saying "only displaying at 720P" when I didn't have proof of that... The ctrl-shift-alt-D hint looks like it will show the resolution so I'll try that tonight and see if it is actually just serving me 720p (which would account for the fuzziness)

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Nakedcity

93 posts

Master Geek

#1266603 24-Mar-2015 11:10

Talkiet:
Nakedcity:
...but even that didn't result in crisp 1080P.

What could influence the crispness of video in 1080P? Wouldn't it be a question of the original video quality or any pre-processing that was done to the video before encoding?

I'm asking out of curiosity as I do _not_ know what I'm talking about ... :)

It was so I could avoid saying "only displaying at 720P" when I didn't have proof of that... The ctrl-shift-alt-D hint looks like it will show the resolution so I'll try that tonight and see if it is actually just serving me 720p (which would account for the fuzziness)

Cheers - N

Ah - ok.

Well as I said I do think that via a browser Netflix limits to 720p. I'm not sure if there are any hacks/hidden menus in the Windows 8 app, but I'll see if I can find out...I've been meaning to for ages, actually.

To my boorish eye, I do seem to get 1080p on the Windows 8 app (title/bandwidth permitting).

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1266638 24-Mar-2015 11:37

Netflix via browser is limited to 720p. There is no way to get around this other than using an app - windows 8, etc

I belieive also that the list of content that is available in 720p is also considerably smaller via browser than it is via app. i.e. there is quite a bit of stuff that goes up to 1080p when using, say, playstation, that will stay at 480p when using browser.

Incidentally, Lightbox does not do this AFAIK. their browser streaming goes up to 1080p

Noodles

487 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1266653 24-Mar-2015 11:47

It also looks dependent on content. Try one of the Netflix shows and it should give a higher bitrate/resolution. I had it going at 47Mbit/s with Marco Polo on my Mac (in chrome).

jonathan18

7413 posts

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#1266654 24-Mar-2015 11:49

Talkiet:
Nakedcity:
...but even that didn't result in crisp 1080P.

What could influence the crispness of video in 1080P? Wouldn't it be a question of the original video quality or any pre-processing that was done to the video before encoding?

I'm asking out of curiosity as I do _not_ know what I'm talking about ... :)

It was so I could avoid saying "only displaying at 720P" when I didn't have proof of that... The ctrl-shift-alt-D hint looks like it will show the resolution so I'll try that tonight and see if it is actually just serving me 720p (which would account for the fuzziness)

Cheers - N

The best way to check the resolution of the video being displayed by Netflix is to play a video designed for this purpose. Instructions below:

To run the test, navigate to a search box and enter, “Example Short 23.976.”

Afterward, click the blue Play button directly right of the first result and view your streaming information in the corner as the 11-minute montage of video footage plays in the background. The streaming information updates in real time, but don’t fret if the numbers start out low — they’ll likely increase as the video buffers. Also, expect a barrage of tranquil waterfalls, blinking circles, a sunset time lapse, and a random guy juggling soccer balls.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1266700 24-Mar-2015 12:25

Noodles: It also looks dependent on content. Try one of the Netflix shows and it should give a higher bitrate/resolution. I had it going at 47Mbit/s with Marco Polo on my Mac (in chrome).

I sincerely doubt that :P

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