Microsoft has unveiled Video Super Resolution (VSR) – an “experimental” video upscaling feature for its Edge web browser that uses machine learning to boost the resolution of low-quality video. Announced on the Edge Insiders Blog, Microsoft’s VSR technology can “remove blocking compression artifacts” and improve text clarity for videos on platforms such as YouTube. The feature is still being tested and availability is currently limited to half of users using Edge’s Canary channel Microsoft’s Insider Program.
If you want to try it yourself, there are a few conditions: Microsoft VSR only works with video resolutions of 720p or lower (provided both the height and width of the video are greater than 192 pixels), and the video itself cannot be protected. with digital rights management (DRM) technology such as PlayReady or Widevine, which makes frames inaccessible to the browser for processing. That particular limitation may affect the content you can upscale with the feature, as most of the popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max all use DRM technology for copyright protection.
Videos must be 720p or lower and cannot be protected by DRM copyright technology
The device with Microsoft VSR must also include an Nvidia RTX 20/30/40 series graphics card or an AMD Radeon series GPU from RX5700 through RX7800. This support also extends to gaming laptops with separate versions of these supported GPUs; however, the device must be connected to a power source and users must adjust their Windows settings to manually force Edge to run on the laptop’s discrete GPU. Microsoft has not mentioned whether VSR can boost 720p resolutions to full HD 1080p.
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.