What The Flix? Netflix 4K Streaming Requires Kaby Lake, Windows 10, Edge Browser

[Cryio]

"Will as I am planning to sub in a netflix like in the future and after seeing this I 100% remove NetFlix from the list"

You knew ALL browsers on ALL platforms had 720p streaming, except for Edge on Window 10 which until now was the only one which provided 1080p streaming, while now also providing 4K. So ... what's your point exactly?

 

[Johnpombrio]

I use Microsoft Edge for my Netflix and Amazon streaming from my HTPC as it is the only browser that does 1080P streaming (according to PC magazine). Whatever it is, the streams definitely look better on my TV with Edge vs Chrome or FireFox.

 

[Rheotome]

Now I'm really irritated that ASUS has failed to add a Kaby Lake bios update for my Z170-WS mobo !! ASUS are you listening ??

 

[skit75]

As mentioned above, this doesn't have anything to do with the Netflix App on a 4k TV. I got a pop-up this weekend to upgrade my sub to 4k streaming for an additional $2.00/month(11.99/month total)... most likely because Netflix knows I'm using a 4K TV as part of what the App collects and sends back to Netflix.

 

[celilo]

I wonder if it will play in the Ubuntu subsystem on Windows 10? Windows is begining to lose the battle and strong-arm deals like this are easier than building a better product.

 

[UnnDunn]

I'm disappointed that a site claiming to be "The Authority on Tech" couldn't actually explain the technical reasons for these requirements, instead of taking potshots at Microsoft.

Put simply, Netflix UHD streaming requires two things: PlayReady 3.0 support and hardware-accelerated 10-bit HEVC decoding support.

PlayReady 3.0 is the DRM standard mandated by the content companies for UHD (4K) streaming. Netflix has to enforce this otherwise the content companies will not make deals with them. Among other things, PlayReady 3.0 requires that its video streams are processed in a protected memory space using strong encryption with hardware-based key management. Most CPUs and GPUs sold in the past few years already do this, but PlayReady 3.0 adds a few new requirements which are only met in Kaby Lake CPUs and NVIDIA 10-series GPUs.

10-bit HEVC decoding (needed for HDR support) is only implemented in Kaby Lake CPUs and NVIDIA 10-series GPUs. Skylake CPUs implement 8-bit HEVC decoding, which is not good enough.

The PlayReady and video acceleration functions are exposed in Windows through the Media Foundation API. Any application can use Media Foundation for video playback and get support for PlayReady and HEVC acceleration (and hence, Netflix UHD 4K support). Unfortunately, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox do not use Media Foundation for HTML5 video playback. They use their own proprietary video players instead. That lets them implement cross-platform stuff, but it shuts them out of the features Media Foundation provides.

Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer properly implement Media Foundation, so they will be able to show the Netflix UHD (4K) streams. So does the Netflix app on Windows 10.

 

[UnnDunn]

It should also be noted that every other Netflix UHD-capable device implements PlayReady 3.0 and hardware-accelerated 10-bit HEVC decoding. This includes smart TVs and streaming boxes.

 

[wifiburger]

pahahahah, yes I'm laughing , pathetic attempt by Microsoft to lock you in, screw that diarrhea show ! just wait max 1year you'll enjoy your 4k on any freaking operating system,

 

[Junaid Balouch]

So, Netflix is trying to be the next digital Bestbuy???

for all the expensive luxury suits out there, the moment you start frustrating your consumer, start counting your days.....

 

[celilo]

Unndunn, your answer reiterates the problem. Ready play is a proprietary Microsoft technology designed to eliminate competition. The fact that Netflix requires it's use is the reason for such limited device support.

 

[UnnDunn]

Celilo, if something like PlayReady didn't exist, content owners would simply refuse to let their content be streamed. And PlayReady has the widest device support in the industry.

Google has its own DRM solution called Widevine. It is only supported on Android and Chrome OS.

Apple has a solution called FairPlay, which is only supported on iOS, tvOS and macOS.

PlayReady is supported on Windows, Android, iOS, tvOS, macOS, Linux, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS and more. It doesn't eliminate competition the way you're implying. The other DRM solutions are more limited.

 

[gunbust3r]

This is how you do a press release to say you've got 4K, but then not actually have to provide it to anyone and crush your CDN partner with increased bandwidth usage.

 

[Laurentiu Larry]

why bother upgrading to such high specs for a so average flick?

 

[old_newbie]

From a legal perspective, I kinda get the OS and browser requirement in order to avoid Hollywood DRM lawsuit pressure (although I think it is a spineless cave-in decision on the part of Netflix).
However, the CPU requirement is an outright load of BS. You dont need a Kaby Lake CPU to decode H.265. In fact, CPU's are not even the preferred decoder for 4K. There are plenty of GPU's and integrated graphics going back a few years (late 2014) that have dedicated HEVC decoding blocks in them. Hell, even tablet/phone SOCs have H.265 decoders in them. So where's this Kaby Lake requirement really coming from??

 

[shrapnel_indie]

why bother upgrading to such high specs for a so average flick?

The worst thing for true 4k-aficiandos is its more than likely up-converted with all the typical up-conversion flaws

 

[cats_Paw]

So THIS is the reason people are canceling their Netflix Account?

 

[cats_Paw]

Oh and, On the whole zen/kaby only win10 thing, I will probably go Linux.
Dont want to start learning everything from scratch, but...
First it was Microsoft games live, then no DX10 on windows XP, then DX12 only on win10, then microsoft store being separated from multiplayer communities, then zen/Kaby and now edge.

I dont want to find out what their next move is going to be.

 

[Matte_Paynt]

LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Kaby Lake is just the Skylake uArch with such miniscule tweaks and higher clocks, it's bull crap other operating systems are not supported. Might as well call it Kaby Joke.

 

[Vestin]

"We're going to implement new DRM... and we'll make our users pay for it!" - Netflix, apparently

 

[MCMunroe]

It's definitely a DRM / Marketing gambit.
I play and stream 4K 10bit color HEVC to everything down to a low wattage Haswell i3. The requirement to play the Netflix and Amazon 4K through an consumer device instead of a PC is purely DRM.

 

[Sharro]

After many years of windows.... it's time to move to Linux....

 

[TJ Hooker]

Kaby Lake is just the Skylake uArch with such miniscule tweaks and higher clocks, it's bull crap other operating systems are not supported. Might as well call it Kaby Joke.

On the CPU side, yeah pretty much. There have been some changes to the iGPU, including adding a 10 bit HEVC decoder. Not that that justifies the lack of OS support though.

 

[MCMunroe]

It's definitely a DRM / Marketing gambit.
I have been playing local 4K 10bit color HEVC files at home on everything down to a low power Haswell i3 with integrated graphics. It's not a hardware issue, it's a DRM issue.

 

[nebun]

this is where a 4k Smart TV comes to mind....suck it, Netflix