Ask HN: How are you watching your legally obtained 4k videos?
4 comments
Check out Jellyfin (open-source project) + it's associated clients. Pretty simple to spin up in a docker container, and if your machine is fast enough; it can auto-transcode for device and bandwidth limitations.
For example, your iPhone probably won't be able to stream an uncompressed blu-ray over 4G, Jellyfin can transcode the original file at a lower bitrate before sending to your device.
For example, your iPhone probably won't be able to stream an uncompressed blu-ray over 4G, Jellyfin can transcode the original file at a lower bitrate before sending to your device.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a 4K BluRay drive that's USB and works with Linux and Mac?
I use this ffmpeg command line:
Probably not what you were asking for if you're dissatisfied with 1080p downloads, but I thought I'd mention it anyways.
ffmpeg -i "$input" -vf scale=w=640:-1 -b:v 200k -maxrate:v 400k -bufsize:v 1000k
Probably not what you were asking for if you're dissatisfied with 1080p downloads, but I thought I'd mention it anyways.
iPad pro with VLC
On Chromecast 4k: First I gotta rent on my computer, can't really do it on the device. Then when I'm watching I notice occasional frame skipping. The device processor cannot keep up with 4k content, despite the name.
Windows computer: I buy a 4k movie off the microsoft store. I can't download it in 4k, only in 1080p. So I stream it in 4k and despite my gigabit connection, there is buffering. I need to pause the video to let it load. Otherwise it's very blurry.
Apple TV: I don't have the device, I read that it also skips frames? I can stream from my laptop, which at least works better than the microsoft store.
Amazon: no 4k playback in browser, I'm kinda assuming it's not going to play way better than the google play app on my chromecast.
I could probably dust off the Ps4 and try that again, but why is watching 4k video so annoying. It kinda seems like I need to either watch on a console, but even then I'm not really sure it'll let me download the video so I still fear buffering.
It's 2024 and I think I might actually just sign up for a 4k bluray rental service. Is there a better way?
I know about piracy, but I figured I should at least try and patronize the arts.