newagemac wrote:
First of all Markus, you should generally NOT use the Google DNS servers. If you are using 8.8.8.8 you should remove it and add the ones your ISP gives you to use. Google's Public DNS is usually much slower than the DNS servers your ISP gives you unless you live in countries with ISPs that aren't as capable as what are are usually found in countries like the U.S. and other more developed countries.
Well, what you're saying here is simply not true. My ISP is Time Warner/Los Angeles. I did extensive research into what happens when I access Netflix using the default DNS servers and what happens when I use public DNS servers like the ones from Google, or Level3 or PublicDNS. With the default servers, my signal got mysteriously routed through an out-of-state Netflix server in Chicago. Using a public DNS server sent my signal straight to the nearest local Netflix server.
There is actually a very helpful community of people over at the Roku forums that have been looking into these Netflix DNS server issues for quite some time now. And the big consensus is: DO NOT USE YOUR ISP's DEFAUL DNS SERVERS with Netflix streaming. Maybe I should try switching to a different public DNS Server like Level3's 4.2.2.2
Netflix tech support by the way will tell you the same thing. If the DNS servers of your ISP are working fine - good for you. But that's not a given for many people.
Secondly, have you tried connecting with ethernet yet? That should be the first thing you try even if only doing it temporarily to narrow down the problem. The fact is the majority of people (the hundreds of thousands that aren't posting on this thread and aren't using the forum for help) are not having problems with Netflix. Even still, I am not saying that Apple could not be at fault. It's just people who basically declare that it is impossible that Apple is NOT at fault (because their other device was working) that my post was aimed at.
Yes I have. Makes no difference. And I am very happy for all those people for whom Netflix streaming is working fine. I used to be one of those people too (with my Roku box and my Apple TV PRIOR to the iOS upgrade.) The Roku had a similar issue a little over a year ago. They updated the software and for a lot of people Netflix streaming was broken after that. They did however downgrade those who asked back to the old software version and we could continue streaming without any problems. Eventually they came out with a fix that allowed us to upgrade too and still enjoy Neflix without major issues.
You have people here claiming their other devices are working but there are all sorts of reasons that could be the case. Your other device might be on ethernet while your Apple TV is using Wifi. Your other device might be streaming Netflix in a lower quality that the connection is able to handle. Your other device might be in a different location or on another tv in the house which means the wifi signal may not be as strong where the Apple TV is located. Your other device might be connecting to your wireless N network while the Apple TV might be connecting to your wireless G network. Netflix themselves might not be streaming to Apple's device correctly.
Yes you are right. I am sure iPhone and iPad are not using the highest Netflix streaming quality. But neither is my AppleTV right now. Picture is quite blurry and blocky, with lots of stops and freezes. Now this could also be a Netflix problem. They are after all getting hugely popular and it might simply overwhelm their system at times. They do allow you do report blurry picture quality problems (including frequent starts and stops) on their website for each show that you stream.
There are a multitude of possibilities and reason enough not to conclude that it positively MUST be Apple. Especially since so many people are NOT having problems with Netflix. I can understand a little more with the people having trouble streaming iTunes content because at least on that issue Apple is the one doing the streaming and it seems to be a more general problem. But the people having Netflix problems seems to be more of a local issue that needs to be resolved as shown by the many people who have reported changing things on their end that fixed the issue for them.
All true. And we simply don't know. And a lot of people simply don't know if they're getting the highest possible quality or not. The Apple TV doesn't tell us. Again, in my Roku days - we had an on-screen quality indicator telling us if a show was streaming in HD, SD full quality or any quality level below that. Even with those clear indicators, a lot of people simply didn't pay attention or were confused about what it meant. They were watching Netflix streaming at very blurry quality levels and did not say or do anything. Most people are not tech-savvy. Most people can't even set up their TV's properly, let alone optimize their internet streaming.
Apple's trademark is making complex and complicated issues easy for "the rest of us". With the new Apple TV they are absolutely on the right track. They'll figure it out (together with Netflix). I am sure. Hopefully sooner than later. That's why it's important to let them know that we do care. And no, I do not want to go back to Roku. I want to be able to stream video from my iPhone and from iTunes to my TV. Plus - navigation on the Apple TV is sooooo much nicer than on any other device.
