Anyone who has watched Netflix (or any other streaming platform) through an external streaming device such as Roku TV sticks, or Amazon Fire TV boxes, would have noticed the lagging during camera pans, and when large objects get moved around the screen.

These discrepancy issues involve simply repeating frames, which causes the stuttering/lagging.

Lately, the issues are becoming rarer and less common due to more flexible HDMI technologies, more adaptable screens and new frame rate options.

Some recent fixes include matching the HDMI frame rate to the content frame rate, and the Quick Media Switching extension to the latest HDMI standard’s variable refresh rate capabilities.

Netflix have now unveiled a solution for all of this. Designed by a member of Netflix’s Partner Experience Technology team, the in-app frame rate conversion system will work by considering frame rates over a three-second period rather than one-second.

It looks at receiving 72 frames every three seconds, compared to the normal FRC systems that are trying to turn 24 frames a second into 50 frames a second.

This system can send 25 frames in each of the first two seconds and 22 frames for the last of the three seconds, leading to an overall less disruptive impression of judder.

It appears the approach doesn’t completely remover frame rate related judder from the external streaming device.

Netflix have rated its performance in the in-app system as 3/5, compare with a full 5/5 is the kit lets users take advantage of the ‘Match HDMI Frame Rate to Content Native Frame Rate’ and ‘Match HDMI Frame Rate to Content Native Frame Rate Without Screen Blanking’ options.

The first of these two does cause a ‘black-screen’ delay when first fired up with the content the user wants to watch, as the device and display have to resync their HDMI connection.

The QMS option removes the black screen delay, but is only supported by a tiny minority of streaming devices currently.

The in-app frame rate conversion system works with a reasonable number of devices and doesn’t involve transitional screen blanking.