http://gigaom.com/2013/01/08/netflix-3d-superhd-open-connect/
http://support.netflix.com/en/node/8731#gsc.tab=0
Check to see if your ISP is part of the CDN: https://signup.netflix.com/superhd
Fios is not.
Note, Apple TV 3 is mentioned in the second link, but not in the supported devices link.
https://signup.netflix.com/openconnect
Note: If your ISP is not part of Open Connect, you can try out SuperHD and 3D assuming you have enough bandwidth and using a paid third party DNS Service: Unblock-Us.
Unblock-Us offers a 1 week trail then its $5 a month.
Note 2: The service is flaky and mostly unreliable at the moment. Refer to this for details: http://support.unblock-us.com/customer/en/portal/questions/798579-unreliable-connections-to-us-super-hd-servers?new=798579
http://support.unblock-us.com/customer/portal/questions/802121-erratic-netflix-superhd-connection
Edited by Aero 1 - 2/22/13 at 11:49am
Quote:
Netflix added a limited number of 3-D titles to its library Tuesday, and also introduced a new, higher-quality 1080p HD format dubbed Super HD that promises an even better picture quality than the service’s regular 1080p HD streams. The catch: Both 3-D and Super HD are only available to customers whose ISPs are using Netflix’s own Open Connect CDN.
The company has even built a page that allows you to check whether your ISP is already using Open Connect, and suggests that you should give the ISP a ring if they don’t. In other words: It’s enlisting its customers in its push to replace third-party CDNs with its own delivery network, effectively turning a complex peering war that has been largely happening behind the curtains into a catchy consumer issue.
3-D and Super HD: device support and bandwidth requirements
But first things first: It’s worth pointing out than Netflix isn’t betting its future on 3-D. The company added a few dozen titles this week, which include a few Red Bull action sports flicks as well as nature series from 3net. It also made a small number of titles available in Super HD, which can be played on the PS3, Roku devices, the Wii U, Windows 8 devices as well as some Blu-ray players and Smart TVs.
Super HD comes in two different encoding qualities, and Netflix recommends that consumers have at least 7 Mbps of bandwidth available for the higher-quality version, with 5 Mbps being enough to sustain a less demanding Super HD stream. 3-D streams need at least 6 Mbps of bandwidth, with the best quality topping out at around 12 Mbps.
Suddenly, peering is all about 3-D
That’s a lot of bandwidth, and it makes economic sense for Netflix to deliver these bits through its own CDN as opposed through networks run by the likes of Akamai and Limelight. A Netflix spokesperson also pointed out Monday that Open Connect was specifically built for Netflix streaming, which gives the company confidence that it will support those more taxing streams.
But there’s something else at play here as well: Netflix has become a major source of traffic. The company is now responsible for about one-third of all residential downstream traffic during peak times. And the question of who has to pay for that traffic has become a source of contention.
The issue blew up in 2010, when Level 3 accused Comcast of violating net neutrality by asking them to pay for delivering Netflix traffic to Comcast consumers. Comcast argued at the time that this was a simple peering disagreement. What actually happened is to this day a bit of a mystery, but Netflix may just have figured out a way to sidestep all of these business and policy issues: By enlisting the consumer, it may have found an effective weapon to pressure ISPs to get in line and sign up for Open Connect.
Not that all ISPs object the idea of a Netflix CDN to begin with: Also on Tuesday, Netflix announced that the majorty of its international traffic is now delivered via Open Connect, with major international ISPs like Virgin Media and British Telecom already getting their Netflix bits through the network. In the U.S., it counts Cablevision as one of its Open Connect-using ISPs – but CEO Reed Hastings made it clear that he wants to win over others as well. “Our goal is to have all of our members served by Open Connect as soon as possible,” he said.
The company has even built a page that allows you to check whether your ISP is already using Open Connect, and suggests that you should give the ISP a ring if they don’t. In other words: It’s enlisting its customers in its push to replace third-party CDNs with its own delivery network, effectively turning a complex peering war that has been largely happening behind the curtains into a catchy consumer issue.
3-D and Super HD: device support and bandwidth requirements
But first things first: It’s worth pointing out than Netflix isn’t betting its future on 3-D. The company added a few dozen titles this week, which include a few Red Bull action sports flicks as well as nature series from 3net. It also made a small number of titles available in Super HD, which can be played on the PS3, Roku devices, the Wii U, Windows 8 devices as well as some Blu-ray players and Smart TVs.
Super HD comes in two different encoding qualities, and Netflix recommends that consumers have at least 7 Mbps of bandwidth available for the higher-quality version, with 5 Mbps being enough to sustain a less demanding Super HD stream. 3-D streams need at least 6 Mbps of bandwidth, with the best quality topping out at around 12 Mbps.
Suddenly, peering is all about 3-D
That’s a lot of bandwidth, and it makes economic sense for Netflix to deliver these bits through its own CDN as opposed through networks run by the likes of Akamai and Limelight. A Netflix spokesperson also pointed out Monday that Open Connect was specifically built for Netflix streaming, which gives the company confidence that it will support those more taxing streams.
But there’s something else at play here as well: Netflix has become a major source of traffic. The company is now responsible for about one-third of all residential downstream traffic during peak times. And the question of who has to pay for that traffic has become a source of contention.
The issue blew up in 2010, when Level 3 accused Comcast of violating net neutrality by asking them to pay for delivering Netflix traffic to Comcast consumers. Comcast argued at the time that this was a simple peering disagreement. What actually happened is to this day a bit of a mystery, but Netflix may just have figured out a way to sidestep all of these business and policy issues: By enlisting the consumer, it may have found an effective weapon to pressure ISPs to get in line and sign up for Open Connect.
Not that all ISPs object the idea of a Netflix CDN to begin with: Also on Tuesday, Netflix announced that the majorty of its international traffic is now delivered via Open Connect, with major international ISPs like Virgin Media and British Telecom already getting their Netflix bits through the network. In the U.S., it counts Cablevision as one of its Open Connect-using ISPs – but CEO Reed Hastings made it clear that he wants to win over others as well. “Our goal is to have all of our members served by Open Connect as soon as possible,” he said.
http://support.netflix.com/en/node/8731#gsc.tab=0
Quote:
Netflix Super HD
Netflix now offers Super HD streaming on the following devices:
Sony PlayStation 3
Roku
Nintendo Wii U
Windows 8
Blu-Ray Players and Smart TV's with existing Netflix 1080p support
More devices coming soon!
To stream titles in Super HD, your Internet Provider needs to be connected to our new content delivery network - Netflix Open Connect. Visit our Super HD page to see if your Internet Provider is connected.
If you have a compatible device and your Internet Provider is connected to Netflix Open Connect, you can find Super HD titles by looking for the Super HD logo.
Please note that Super HD requires an Internet connection speed of at least 5Mb/s, and 7Mb/s for our highest available video quality.
For more information about Super HD and Netflix Open Connect, please visit our Super HD page and Netflix Open Connect page.
Netflix now offers Super HD streaming on the following devices:
Sony PlayStation 3
Roku
Nintendo Wii U
Windows 8
Blu-Ray Players and Smart TV's with existing Netflix 1080p support
More devices coming soon!
To stream titles in Super HD, your Internet Provider needs to be connected to our new content delivery network - Netflix Open Connect. Visit our Super HD page to see if your Internet Provider is connected.
If you have a compatible device and your Internet Provider is connected to Netflix Open Connect, you can find Super HD titles by looking for the Super HD logo.
Please note that Super HD requires an Internet connection speed of at least 5Mb/s, and 7Mb/s for our highest available video quality.
For more information about Super HD and Netflix Open Connect, please visit our Super HD page and Netflix Open Connect page.
Check to see if your ISP is part of the CDN: https://signup.netflix.com/superhd
Fios is not.
Note, Apple TV 3 is mentioned in the second link, but not in the supported devices link.
https://signup.netflix.com/openconnect
Quote:
SPs can directly connect their networks to Open Connect for free. ISPs can do this either by free peering with us at common Internet exchanges, or can save even more transit costs by putting our free storage appliances in or near their network.
Major ISPs around the world have already connected to Open Connect, including Frontier, British Telecom, TDC, Clearwire, GVT, Telus, Bell Canada, Virgin, Cablevision, Google Fiber, Telmex, and more.
As part of Open Connect, we are also sharing our hardware design and the open source software components of the server. These designs are suitable for any other provider of large media files, and are very cost efficient. We welcome commentary and improvements, which will be shared with the community with the goal of a faster, less expensive Internet for all.
Open Connect is a single-purpose Content Distribution Network, and by shifting to Open Connect, from using third-party commercial CDNs, we are able to save money and keep consumer prices low.
Major ISPs around the world have already connected to Open Connect, including Frontier, British Telecom, TDC, Clearwire, GVT, Telus, Bell Canada, Virgin, Cablevision, Google Fiber, Telmex, and more.
As part of Open Connect, we are also sharing our hardware design and the open source software components of the server. These designs are suitable for any other provider of large media files, and are very cost efficient. We welcome commentary and improvements, which will be shared with the community with the goal of a faster, less expensive Internet for all.
Open Connect is a single-purpose Content Distribution Network, and by shifting to Open Connect, from using third-party commercial CDNs, we are able to save money and keep consumer prices low.
Note: If your ISP is not part of Open Connect, you can try out SuperHD and 3D assuming you have enough bandwidth and using a paid third party DNS Service: Unblock-Us.
Unblock-Us offers a 1 week trail then its $5 a month.
Note 2: The service is flaky and mostly unreliable at the moment. Refer to this for details: http://support.unblock-us.com/customer/en/portal/questions/798579-unreliable-connections-to-us-super-hd-servers?new=798579
http://support.unblock-us.com/customer/portal/questions/802121-erratic-netflix-superhd-connection
Edited by Aero 1 - 2/22/13 at 11:49am
