On: I tried creating a web browser, and Google blocked me

[pmontra]

Firefox on Ubuntu 16.04 NVIDIA proprietary driver here. I searched for 1080p on YouTube and the first result is this harmless video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQuhA5ZCV9M It started at 720p, then I switched it to 1080p and it started playing at that resolution. However I didn't count the lines and I don't know if this is the kind of streaming you're writing about. Maybe Netflix? I can't check that.

[jhasse → pmontra]

Most YouTube videos (including the one you linked) don't use DRM, that's why 1080p works on Linux. Netflix only works with up to 720p on Linux.

[floatboth → jhasse]

I'm pretty sure YouTube doesn't support DRM at all. Premium originals (e.g. Mind Field) play in 4K for me on FreeBSD (for which no one has ever compiled Widevine or anything like that)

[jhasse → floatboth]

Premium is DRM-free, but Google Play purchases, which you can watch on YouTube, use DRM.

[phh → floatboth]

VEVO (the music producer) have most of their free video clips under DRM