I have an iMac M1 laptop, but I'm running into trouble watching 4K or even HD movies. I've tried streaming services like Google Play, YouTube, and Amazon Prime, but nothing works for full-length films. I can watch them on my iPad and TV just fine, but it seems like my computer is being left out. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can fix this?
1 Answer
The issue you're facing is likely due to licensing restrictions and copy protection. Movie studios enforce strict DRM protocols to prevent unauthorized copying of HD and 4K content, which in turn limits the devices and browsers that can stream these movies. For instance, on a Windows system, Netflix only streams 4K content on Edge if your computer meets specific requirements. On macOS, you'd need to use Safari for Netflix to stream in 4K, again depending on certain conditions. For Google Play, they mostly support 4K streaming through Android devices, Google TV, or Chromecast Ultra. With Amazon Prime, it appears that all browsers are capped at HD.
It's really frustrating how they limit access. I find myself downloading 4K versions of movies I already paid for just to avoid these issues!