Video streaming company Netflix announced that they will now support High Dynamic Range (HDR) streaming on Windows 10 devices.
HDR streaming is made available both through the Netflix app and the Microsoft Edge browser. However, there are a few requirements before people can access HDR streaming, dependent on both hardware and membership.
First, users need a 7th Generation Intel processor or better. A Nvidia 1050 graphics processing unit (GPU) or higher is required, or an integrated Intel GPU with similar power. Processors and graphics cards from AMD are currently unsupported.
The hardware is needed to stream HDR10 encoding from Netflix.
Nvidia 1050 cards are capable of processing this kind of encoding, which utilizes 10-bits-per-channel in each RGB color. This increases the "color space" that can be presented in the final display output.
The software necessary to work with the new hardware is included in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Between the updates and the processing power, HDR streaming would be possible.
As for the subscription, users need to have a Premium plan in order to enjoy HDR.
The company stated that it has more than 200 hours of HDR content currently available in its catalog. Netflix implied that the current push for HDR streaming is in preparation for 2018 when more HDR-capable Personal Computers will enter the market.
They also stated that this recent HDR support for Windows 10 is the product of "a multi-year collaboration between Netflix and a number of industry partners."
Netflix is one of the biggest streaming services operating today. It started as a streaming site for franchised content. However, it soon grew into a company that can produce its own movies and series.
Notable titles from the streaming service include "Stranger Things," "Chef's Table," and the adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel "American Gods." It also acquired the rights to the techno-thriller "Black Mirror," the fourth season of which will premiere later this month.
