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[MonarchX]

JRiver has just about everything, but there are 2 important features that either don't work right or may be missing...

1. JRiver Netflix works through Theater View, but it uses MS Silverlight instead of HTML5, regardless of whether I select IE or Chromium as a JRiver browser. Silverlight does not allow SuperHD content to be streamed. SuperHD can only be done using Windows 8/8.1 IE11 HTML5 or Windows 8/8.1 Netflix app. I own Windows 8.1 Pro with IE11 HTML5 support and it plays SuperHD content without any issues. I also downloaded the Netflix app, which also works great on my PC and shows SuperHD content. However, I can't figure out why JRiver won't utilize IE11 HTML5 or the Netflix app to stream my movies... It should be as simple as making JRiver properly open IE11 and take the user to the Netflix page, where IE11 HTML5 will kick in and do the rest by itself. Sure, I could just use Netflix separately, but using it through JRiver would allow me to use the remote, save and display Netflix content information, etc... Is JRiver going to support Netflix IE11 HTML5 SuperHD playback??? Also, Netflix doesn't seem to be properly streamlined with JRiver - why only in Theater mode? Netflix WMC plugin behaves better than JRiver Netflix support...

2. Can JRiver play 3D BD content? Will that content be rendered by madVR if madVR is what I use to render all other (2D) BDs?

[fitbrit]

MC can play 3D BluRay/ISOs as 2D. MadVR cannot render 3D material, but you might eb able to set up a third party app like TMT to play the 3D.

[MonarchX]

Thank you. I already own TMT6, but it doesn't have any proper calibration features, like 3DLUTs. I do not understand why madVR cannot render 3D while TMT can...

[fitbrit]

Thank you. I already own TMT6, but it doesn't have any proper calibration features, like 3DLUTs. I do not understand why madVR cannot render 3D while TMT can...

The creator of MadVR is not interested in 3D

[Hendrik]

The creator of MadVR is not interested in 3D

Actually thats not entirely true, its just not the highest point on this priority list.
He was seen asking on opinions about a bunch of 3D screens recently, though. Don't hold your breath though, it will still be a long while.

[CountryBumkin]

1. JRiver Netflix works through Theater View, but it uses MS Silverlight instead of HTML5, regardless of whether I select IE or Chromium as a JRiver browser. Silverlight does not allow SuperHD content to be streamed. SuperHD can only be done using Windows 8/8.1 IE11 HTML5 or Windows 8/8.1 Netflix app. I own Windows 8.1 Pro with IE11 HTML5 support and it plays SuperHD content without any issues. I also downloaded the Netflix app, which also works great on my PC and shows SuperHD content. However, I can't figure out why JRiver won't utilize IE11 HTML5 or the Netflix app to stream my movies... It should be as simple as making JRiver properly open IE11 and take the user to the Netflix page, where IE11 HTML5 will kick in and do the rest by itself. Sure, I could just use Netflix separately, but using it through JRiver would allow me to use the remote, save and display Netflix content information, etc... Is JRiver going to support Netflix IE11 HTML5 SuperHD playback??? Also, Netflix doesn't seem to be properly streamlined with JRiver - why only in Theater mode? Netflix WMC plugin behaves better than JRiver Netflix support...

Netflix is a major component of my HTPC experience. I fear that it is just hanging around in MC until its eventual demise (since there is no support from Netflix). If there is anything JRiver can do to update or improve the experience, PLEASE investigate the possibility. I have a built in Netflix app on one of my "smart" TVs. Is there anyway JRiver could utilize this "app" approach through MC?

[JimH]

Netflix is a major component of my HTPC experience. I fear that it is just hanging around in MC until its eventual demise (since there is no support from Netflix). If there is anything JRiver can do to update or improve the experience, PLEASE investigate the possibility. I have a built in Netflix app on one of my "smart" TVs. Is there anyway JRiver could utilize this "app" approach through MC?

I use it frequently and see minor problems, not major ones.  It isn't forgotten.

[glynor]

I think I heard on some kind of podcast during CES (but there were a million of those) that the Netflix API doesn't allow access to their fancy new "SuperHD" content, and that this is something they're opening up only to "partners" (meaning, pay us).

Not sure, and I could be remembering wrong, but I think I heard such a thing.

[coderego]

I just found this out today too...was about to make a post about it.

Bottom line up front: Netflix does not allow streaming to PCs in HD/SuperHD of certain shows. This is to prevent pirating (as if its not already out there and easily torrentable..). This is due to contract requirements (Ie: fox). Try streaming 24 via netflix in browser...then compare to Playstation 3 / TV. Their customer service does not even know the difference. Ridiculous.


Here's the details:


 Today, I was enjoying 24 on my netflix streaming through my PC displaying on my TV. I noticed that the quality was not so good. I looked into it to see if it was available in HD. Turns out, the streaming details read:



"Available in HD on your TV"



While other content reads simply



"Availbe in HD"



I googled the issue and discovered forum posts on the issue. They said that for some content, netflix is being pressured by producers to show only standard def with 2 channel audio UNLESS the user is watching through a Smart TV. This is to prevent pirating using a PC. This is a laughable measure (as if there arent already thousands of torrents with 24 available to download. Why in the world would anyone record a new illegal copy?)



In order to confirm I called netflix customer service. The first rep I spoke with did not understand the issue. Or she may have just been following a script. She said that any device that has good enough internet will play it in HD. When I pointed out that the stream was NOT hd, and that some content says "Available in HD" while others specify "...on your TV" and identified myself as a share holder, she escalated me. Placed on hold...



Next,  I spoke to a supervisor. The supervisor said there is also no difference. I pressed her further stating that I was observing a difference. I also asked if there is no difference, why display two different strings in that section of the screen? Unable to escalate me, she said she would check into it with her back end engineers. Placed on hold again...



The supervisor comes back to me and asks for more examples.



24: Availble in HD on your tv --- plays in SD

Burn notice: Availble in HD on your tv --- plays in SD

Walking Dead:  Availble in HD --- plays in HD



I was placed on hold again. The supervisor returned and said



"The difference is in the way the show is given to us"



However that did not specifically answer my question so I was placed back on hold...just for her to repeat the same thing and tell me there is no further information available.



My next call will be to shareholder relations....

[cncb]

The Netflix Windows 8 app supports Super HD and 5.1 audio.

[JimH]

Next,  I spoke to a supervisor. The supervisor said there is also no difference. I pressed her further stating that I was observing a difference. I also asked if there is no difference, why display two different strings in that section of the screen? Unable to escalate me, she said she would check into it with her back end engineers. Placed on hold again...

I was placed on hold again. The supervisor returned and said

"The difference is in the way the show is given to us"

That is an outstanding engineering department.  Thanks for posting your findings.

From your description, it does appear to be a licensing issue.

[cncb]

Is 3D playback something that has to be implemented in the renderer so that supporting this with the standard Windows "Enhanced Video Renderer" would not be possible?

[glynor]

From what I've read at Doom9 and on previous threads here, the basic deal is:

1. Prior to Windows 8.1 (or maybe Windows 8.0, that was unclear), the implementation of 3D support under Windows varied depending on the GPU manufacturer.

2. Since Windows 8.1 (or, again, maybe 8.0 did it), Microsoft implemented a "unified" system, but adoption of Windows 8 has been, obviously, less than enthusiastic.

3. Madshi was unwilling to spend a massive amount of time to implement GPU-driver-specific implementations, only to have them broken by a future driver update, and was unable to easily implement a single solution that would work across all machines, prior to this.

4. He was also less-than-enthusiastic about implementing something that would be limited to only Windows 8.

And, of course, 3D is a gimmick, so there's that.

SBS 3D works fine in MC on my Panasonic, by the way.  That's the only time I've ever turned the feature on, but I did as a test, just a few weeks ago.  Worked okay.  Turned it back off and put the glasses away and they'll probably never be used again.

[MonarchX]

Yes, some shows are only in SD while others are in normal HD but a whole lot are in SuperHD. On PCs, Silverlight can only reproduce SD and normal HD, but not SuperHD. Silverlight is the only way to watch Netflix on Windows 7 and earlier versions, regardless of browser. However, Windows 8 allows streaming of SuperHD content through Internet Explorer 11, using its HTML5 capabilities, and also through a special MS Store Netflix app, also available only for Windows 8 and 8.1.

JRiver, however, uses Silverlight even in Windows 8... It should be using IE11 HTML5 to load Netflix content. IE11 is what does the playing without any help. All JRiver needs to do is to launch IE11 from within MC and go to Netflix page - IE will do the rest. It does something similar already but loads Silverlight instead... So, Windows 8 users should receive an update to allow MC to utilize IE11 HTML5 capabilities to view SuperHD content.

[coderego]

Yes, some shows are only in SD while others are in normal HD but a whole lot are in SuperHD. On PCs, Silverlight can only reproduce SD and normal HD, but not SuperHD. Silverlight is the only way to watch Netflix on Windows 7 and earlier versions, regardless of browser. However, Windows 8 allows streaming of SuperHD content through Internet Explorer 11, using its HTML5 capabilities, and also through a special MS Store Netflix app, also available only for Windows 8 and 8.1.

JRiver, however, uses Silverlight even in Windows 8... It should be using IE11 HTML5 to load Netflix content. IE11 is what does the playing without any help. All JRiver needs to do is to launch IE11 from within MC and go to Netflix page - IE will do the rest. It does something similar already but loads Silverlight instead... So, Windows 8 users should receive an update to allow MC to utilize IE11 HTML5 capabilities to view SuperHD content.

mostly correct. There are still shows that even with ie11 html5 will still show in SD due to license problems. However the suggestion you make is still the correct way to go at present for jriver.