Netflix has quietly added a few 4K videos to its ever growing repository of on demand streaming videos as it prepares itself for a wider rollout of the Ultra HD service in the upcoming months.

The videos that have been added in 4K only seem to be test content. There have been a total of seven videos added to the catalog, one of which being entitled El Fuente: 24 MP, which provides an example of content shot in 4K at 24 frames per second.

Netflix has already added a Super HD option for 3rd Gen Apple TV in partnership with ISP’s, providing a direct connection to Netflix content servers to enabling users to stream super crisp images. It works by applying less compression than 1080p content receives, ultimately increasing the size of the stream.

However, with the partnership with ISPs, it appears Netflix are in a position to facilitate 4K streaming and believe consumers have the bandwidth for it. Netflix wants to be one of the big suppliers of 4K next year, whether that be with it’s own produced content, or content from its licensing partners.

The main obstacle for distributing 4K was always the bandwidth available to consumers (the other being an expensive hardware), but with the success of Super HD and the partnership with ISPs, it seems Netflix are ready to make 4K content streaming a reality.

The post Netflix begins testing 4K videos for on demand streaming appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Netflix announced that it will be providing a feature called Super HD to all compatible devices, including the Apple TV 3. The company initially rolled out Super HD in January to ISPs with a direct connection to Netflix, and now this has been expanded to give all subscribers the new quality option.

The Super HD higher bit rate stream offers better quality by applying less compression to the 1080p stream, so the image looks crisper than a typical 1080p image, but also obviously uses more bandwidth, which is why it was done in partnership with the ISP’s.

Netflix had this to say on their blog:

All Netflix members, regardless of their internet service provider (ISP), now have access to the highest quality HD streams available on Netflix.

This means that the great TV shows and movies on Netflix will look even better on HD screens with a higher bit rate stream, Super HD, that applies less compression to the 1080p image.

We initially rolled out Super HD in January only through ISPs with a direct connection to Netflix. Based on the performance data we’ve seen, and in response to member requests, we are now expanding availability to give all our members the ability to enjoy Netflix in the best possible quality.

As Netflix mentions, the Super HD option is dependant entirely on your internet connection, and because they use adaptive quality, your connection may mean the quality is always scaled depending on the available bandwidth.

If you want Super HD and it doesn’t seem like your ISP supports it, or your connect isn’t fast enough, Netflix recommend to investigate ISP performance by consulting the Netflix ISP Speed Index.

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The post Netflix adds Super HD option for 3rd gen. Apple TV appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.