Millions of Netflix fans warned to STOP watching app immediately – you’re making a big mistake
NETFLIX subscribers have been urged to hit pause and check their browser over concerns they're not getting a feature they are paying for.
The streaming giant has more than 1,500 titles available in 4K picture quality for those willing to pay the top fee of £17.99 ($22.99) per month.
However, some viewers may not be getting bang for their buck - and are none the wiser, according to tech expert in a Medium post.
Netflix restricts video stream quality on Google Chrome and Firefox over fears of people pirating shows and movies, Kim explained.
In technical speak, it comes down to something called digital rights management (DRM).
Essentially, it protects things from being copied.
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Chrome and Firefox have a software-based DRM, but they don't support hardware-based DRM.
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This means Netflix's thousands of hours of TV and film could be ripped off by a screen recording app.
So instead, the company reduces the streaming quality to protect itself somewhat.
But this means that you'll only be able to achieve 720p, which is worse quality than Netflix's cheapest subscriptions.
A Standard with Ads subscription offers 1080p picture quality, and costs just £4.99 ($6.99) a month.
If you're subscribed to the top 4K plan, there is another very easy way to get what you're paying for.
Microsoft Edge supports hardware-based DRM - and where Mac's concerned, so too does Safari.
Switch to these two web browsers to get 4K from your desktop or laptop once and for all.
Subscription Cost Breakdown
Standard with ads (originally launched as “Basic with ads” last year)
- £4.99 ($6.99) a month
- 1080p picture quality
- no downloads - yet
- your date of birth will be used for advert personalisation purposes
- add one out-of-household user for a fee
- watch on two devices simultaneously
Basic (existing customers only)
- Now £7.99 ($11.99) a month
- no ads
- watch on one device
- not available to new or rejoining subscribers.
Standard
- £10.99 ($15.49) a month
- 1080p picture quality
- downloads allowed
- no ads
- add one extra out-of-household user for a fee
- watch on two devices simultaneously
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Premium
- Now £17.99 ($22.99) a month
- 4K UHD picture quality
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) support
- downloads allowed
- no ads
- add two out-of-household users for a fee
- watch on up to four devices simultaneously
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