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Microsoft Edge and IE 11 are the only 2 browsers on Windows capable of streaming Netflix content at 1080p

By Wong Chung Wee - on 14 Aug 2016, 4:00pm

Microsoft Edge and IE 11 are the only 2 browsers on Windows capable of streaming Netflix content at 1080p

Note: This article was first published on 15th July 2016.

(Image source: Microsoft)

Currently, there are only two browsers on Windows that are capable of streaming Netflix content at full HD resolution, i.e.; 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, and they are the Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11. For the uninitiated, Microsoft Edge is the latest web browser from the company, and it’s only available on Windows 10. It’s also the successor to the Internet Explorer 11.

Netflix published data that confirms this fact. Web browsers that include Chrome, Firefox and Opera can only stream its video content at 720p. In fact, Microsoft Edge was able to hit a maximum bitrate of 7,500; in comparison, its competitors managed to achieve a maximum bitrate of 4,420, according to Microsoft's own testing results.

(Image source: Microsoft)

Besides better video quality, Microsoft also claims the Edge browser is also more power efficient as the browser was designed to take advantage of Windows 10 platform features, which keeps the CPU sipping power during video playback. According to Microsoft, this is achieved by “offloading CPU intensive video processing operations to power-efficient peripheral hardware” present in modern PCs and mobile devices. Just last month, Microsoft was already trumpeting the power efficiency of the Edge browser.

 

 

With the release of the Windows Anniversary Update on 02 August, a new version of Microsoft Edge will be introduced. The new browser will feature extensions, and a new accessibility architecture that supports modern web standards, including HTML5, CSS3, and ARIA. Also, by riding on its current achievements, the new Microsoft Edge will pose a serious challenge to the current incumbents.

(Source: TechRadar, Netflix, Microsoft)

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