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Comment by KeplerBoy | Hacker News Reader

What do you actually need to playback the HD version in a browser?

A recent-ish version of Chrome on Windows and an HDCP connection? It's annoying sure, but not an outlandish requirement.

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Wait, why is requiring Windows not outlandish? It's not like other platforms or browsers don't have DRM support. Even on Firefox on Linux, there's a setting to enable DRM-required media.

I don't know what is actually required. I'm asking.

It is a little different from publisher to publisher. Basically a main-stream OS, plus hardware attestation of any displays, plus an official browser version with the right codecs will get you there with no issues. If you are missing any of those pieces, you get downgraded on quality for sure.

No you don't really, google around and you'll see that whatever you use, unless it's a google stick (not even sure either), you won't get HD. Seems the DRM for displays has been cracked a while back and everyone has just downgraded playback silently ever since.

With zero notifications, refunds or anything of course.

A browser won't even work at all, as you need dedicated software (i.e. native app, TPM/TEE support) in order to play 4K media at full resolution, at least in Netflix's case.

There isn’t a native app for Mac’s, and I’m pretty sure you can watch 4K there.

You don't need any of it. But if you buy it, you should expect to receive it, and if you don't receive it, you should get your money back.

How about: If you buy it you should just download it? It's the only way to complete the transaction.

You don’t consider vendor lock-in to be outlandish? Particularly when it is trivial to support much more? (literally just changing a setting)

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