- Netflix has changed how it encodes high-definition videos to reduce buffering
- All Netflix Premium subscribers will benefit from the change for free
There's nothing more annoying than having your movie interrupted by buffering, at the most exciting moment.
Fortunately for millions of Netflix users, there's now a free hidden upgrade that will make buffering a thing of the past.
The streaming giant has quietly announced a major technical change in how it handles high-definition movies.
Best of all, all Netflix Premium subscribers will automatically benefit from this change.
Netflix says these changes should result in a 40 percent reduction in video buffering.
Netflix gave millions of users a hidden upgrade that will significantly reduce buffering frequency (stock image)
Netflix Premium subscribers have access to 4K Ultra High-Definition (UHD) streaming.
If you have the right type of TV, this provides the best possible viewing experience outside of the cinema.
The drawback is that streaming 4K video requires a huge amount of bandwidth and can lead to frequent buffering.
However, Netflix now says it has fixed this annoying issue by making technical changes to the way it processes high-definition videos.
In the Netflix Technology blog, the company's engineers explained that Netflix is now using a system called “Dynamically Optimized HD.”
This system changes the way videos are encoded by Netflix so that there is a dynamic trade-off between bitrate and quality.
Engineers say the changes have “reduced storage space and internet data usage – and, most importantly, improved video quality for our members.”
“Improvements were seen across all device categories from TVs to mobile phones and tablets,” they add.
Because HD video is now encoded more efficiently, your device needs to download less data to get the same amount of information.
Netflix Premium subscribers will benefit from a change in how Netflix encodes high-definition video, resulting in 40 percent less buffering (stock image)
Streaming services are constantly “caching” by downloading the movie before it is being watched.
What we call buffering only happens when our stream catches up with the downloaded data and we have to wait for more to arrive.
These changes will increase the speed at which your device can download the movie and thus reduce the chance of catching an annoying buffering experience.
The change also comes with a host of other benefits for Netflix users.
People watching Netflix on their mobile devices or tablets now have to use less data to stream high-quality movies.
Likewise, Netflix engineers say there will be a lower initial bitrate, higher initial quality, less variation in the quality of the video delivered, and less playback lag.
Netflix Premium subscribers will be the only users who will benefit from the update as they are currently the only tier that can access streaming in UHD resolution.
Since the change has already been made, users do not need to do anything to gain the benefits of the change.
However, this comes at a time when Netflix is making changes that are less popular among its users.
In November, the streaming company announced that prices for UK subscribers would rise to £17.99 per month for the premium tier.
In the UK, the price of the Basic plan has risen by £1 per month to £7.99.
Its ad-free premium plan now costs £17.99 in the UK – an increase of £2 while the standard subscription will remain at £10.99 per month.
Netflix has also begun cracking down on password sharing, preventing users from lending logins to those outside their household.
(tags for translation) Daily Mail