Q: Netflix quality HORRID after update
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Dec 10, 2013 11:11 PMby Vandergraff,Indros wrote:
But this is not just an ATV issue. I have 2 iPhone 4S', an iPad 2 and an iPad 4 and the only device with a problem is the ipad 4. Another user had a similar issue, with his ipad air showing poor quality and not his ipad 2.
It is definitely a Netflix app issue. It is definitely on Apple devices. But it is not just the ATV.
Finally, if you want a fix, do not just post here. Apple does not read forums looking for bugs. Netflix does not read this forum. You need to call/contact Apple or Netflix, a lot, if you want a fix.
There are certainly multiple Netflix issues (some platform independant) - however there is certainly an Apple TV issue that started early November.
My other devices (Chromecast, Rokus, Blu-Ray players) continue to get Netflix without issues - as do my other Apple devices (iPhone 4S, iPad 3rd generation) - all on Comcast.
Yes please keep posting here - Apple does monitor these discussions (can anybody really imagine they wouldn't!) - but obviously they don't respond directly to posts.
Keep calling them (Apple and Netflix) as well - although I am not sure I have the patience to deal with Netflix phone support.....
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Dec 11, 2013 12:11 AMby rgoldd2,I actually just did this and oddly it has fixed at least temporarily the issue.
- Settings > General > Reset > Restore on Apple TV...then reset it all up
- In the interim went to Netflix.com clicked My Account > Sign out of all Devices
- Also on Netflix.com "Playback settings" changed from High to Auto then Saved and then changed back to High and saved
- Unplugged cable modem then AirPort Extreme/Time Capsule
- Replugged in AirPort Extreme/Time Capsule
- (waited ~3 mins)
- Then plugged Cable Modem back in
Been a steady little while of 5800 kbps pray you guys (;
- Settings > General > Reset > Restore on Apple TV...then reset it all up
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Dec 11, 2013 3:44 AMby skywlkrsnd,With the iPhone and iPad apps getting updated yesterday, is there any way to tell if the Netflix app on Apple TV got updated? I got up this morning and tried the Example Short again on my ATV3. I too got it up to 5800 kbps for the first time in a month. Started out around 3000 kbps, then when I thought it would quickly fall off to the 235 rate, it actually picked up and reached 5800 and stayed there through the end of the clip. I had not adjusted any of my network or Netflix account settings.
I am certain the time of day is a major factor in getting good performance. But I have run this test at the same time of day a few other times earlier in the week, and got the terrible 235 kpbs stream. So maybe this is just an anomoly. Or perhaps something got pushed out yesterday that is helping. I honestly have no idea. I'll keep testing throughout the day on all my devices and my ATV3 to see if it changes.
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Dec 11, 2013 4:13 AMby vulcan_on_earth,Call me cynical but I think Netflix may have rigged the back end to ensure that the Example stream plays at high bitrate. I say that because suddenly the example stream consistently plays at 5800 and never pauses to buffer. However, every other super hd stream drop to lowest bitrate within seconds.
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Dec 11, 2013 7:16 AMby BobUrban,Same experience here as with everyone else - Netflix quality has been terrible in the past month or so on my Apple TV, while it was fine before that. I don't use Netflix on any other device so I can't comment on that.
Today, I am also now seeing the Example Short giving a consistent HD (1280x720) picture. This might be because we are in off-peak hours (10:00 AM EST) because last night I was getting a sub-standard definition quality picture. Did Netflix happen to update the app overnight? Who knows. A check during tonight's prime time viewing will be a better test.
Just thought I'd chime in.
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Dec 11, 2013 7:22 AMby bodosom,Indros wrote:
I tried the 5.1 app on my ipad 4 with no change in streaming quality
Comcast, minneapolis, 25mb down on speedtest app, have only ever gotten 235kbps on Example Short
One difference with new app- example short no longer shows bit rate!
It sounds like you have a different problem. The only difference I've seen is a now consistent start at 4300 and then a drop to the long-term rate (which might be 4300 but more likely 3000 at home).
I continue to see the performance display. I continue to have poor performance on my ATV3 while getting superHD on my PS3 and TiVo. The ATV app doesn't appear to have changed.
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Dec 11, 2013 8:11 AMby mikegdiaz,Same here - bad netflix quality on AppleTV (newest).
Worked great for over a year on the same exact internet connection.
Tested my upload/download speeds and it's roughly 50 down / 10 up.
Worse yet, my TV's built in netflix app has perfect quality on the same exact show/movie vs. the apple tv's horrible quality.
My original iPad (1) netflix app works great (high quality) but my iPad mini retina has the same crappy quality as my Apple TV.
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Dec 11, 2013 8:17 AMby DanH,With Apple adding new channels, this is the process by which they would push out a new Netflix app, so it's worth a try. I could not get the new channels to show up until I rebooted my ATV3.
I did not see any difference in bitrate using the test video, but it is non-prime time here so that is business as usual -- ramped up to 5800 quickly and stayed there.
However, one big difference was the amount of time it took the test video to buffer before showing up on the screen -- much longer. Perhaps this indicates a change in the way Netflix and the ATV handshake?
We'll see tonight during prime time.
-dan
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Dec 11, 2013 9:38 AMby Markus Wernig,DanH wrote:
With Apple adding new channels, this is the process by which they would push out a new Netflix app, so it's worth a try. I could not get the new channels to show up until I rebooted my ATV3.
According to this new article about the development behind the new Apple TV Bloomberg app http://9to5mac.com/2013/12/11/bloomberg-apple-tv-app-development/ Apple is not creating these apps. Apple simply provides an SDK to third party developers, similar to its iPhone/iPad SDK.
We don't know if Netflix tried to fix their Apple TV app and if such an update was included in today's Apple TV software update. But since all other iOS Netflix apps (iPad, iPhone) were updated yesterday, it's very likely that they also tried to improve their Apple TV one. Too bad there are no version numbers on individual Apple TV apps for us to see. We can of course ask Netflix's friendly customer service reps, but I would take anything they tell you with a grain of salt.
But the conclusion for me after this article is - if Netflix streaming is broken on the Apple TV, it's up to Netflix alone to fix it.
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Dec 11, 2013 9:45 AMby DanH,Markus,
Excellent info -- thank you. But there is an additonal possibility: if the problem is an incompatibility between the Netflix app and the operating system, it would probably require a cooperative effort between Apple and Netflix to fix it, even if the actual code changes are done by Netflix.
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Dec 11, 2013 9:53 AMby jimpal,Sundog66 wrote:
Apple TV adds ABC, Bloomberg, Crackle, KORTV.
Great, but how about fixing Netflix?
Agree wholeheartedly. These new apps pale in importace by comparison with our poor Netflix performance. Look at the size of this thread and extrapolate to imagine how many people are upset about this.
This is a real story! What's the problem? Who or what caused it? What can be done about it? Who will? When? Yet the journalists seem to be staying clear of it.
Today "Macworld" ran a small article about these new apps, but nothing about the big Netflix issue, of course. They did mention our problem in a small way a week or so ago, but with no insight on why it is happening.
Getting this into the press could increase presssure to fix it. I did my small first part today by sending the Macworld editor an email. Who knows what will happen with that? Perhaps others have better ideas. . . .
