I wish they would fix Netflix on (desktop) Linux. Most content is limited to ~2Mbps 720x480 resolution (approx DVD quality), for no apparent technical reason. A Roku streaming box gets the same content on the same internet connection at ~6Mbit 1080P. This is easily verified with the Netflix secret menus (Ctrl-Alt-Shift-S and Ctrl-Alt-Shift-D) -- quality above 1750kbps 480P just generally isn't available to Linux web browsers, except on Netflix originals and a small handful of other stuff.
Sadly, another area where paranoid content owners have made legally available, paid for content inferior to illegal pirate copies.
Too late to edit, but I contacted support: Netflix on linux is "unsupported" with no time frame for moving it to a fully supported platform. They claimed linux does not support some technology that other platforms do (presumably special DRM), so they cant offer HD quality, even to customers who pay extra for it.
This has more to do with licensing restrictions than with technology.
That was my point -- there is zero technical reason HD cant be delivered to desktop linux. Netflix shows do it, and so do a small number of other TV shows and movies. The vast majority of content, however, is limited to 480P. Presumably for licensing reasons only.
The most irritating thing is that "HD" now costs extra, and there is zero indication linux clients cant get the paid for HD content. I watch Netflix via Roku maybe 5% of the time, so mostly Im getting less than I pay for.
Re:Netflix – Chasing 60fps [video]
by darkmighty on Wednesday August 12, 2015 @11:20PM
(#10052102)
Just fake your user agent?
The PS3 doesn't output audio properly to my receiver. I need to use stereo to get any sound at all.
The Nexus Player logs you out if your program ends and tries to play the next episode. This happens all the time when my 2 year old watches Curious George.
These aren't obscure platforms and it seems I'm not the only one with these problems. No known solution either.
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I forgot... also when watching 4:3 content on my Nexus player it uses some stupid gray background which is distracting. What is so wrong with black?
On the other hand, the Nexus player can run Kodi which you can install a plugin called "Genesis" on and stream anything you can imagine without any of those issues.