The SpeedTest iOS app can now compare video streaming quality from your internet, Ookla announced today. Although the service typically checks general connection metrics, such as maximum download and upload speeds and latency, the new test is specifically focused on the video. It tries to transmit in a variety of resolutions and then measures loading and buffering times.
Ookla explains that he added the new test because of how much of our time spent on the internet involves streaming video. While standard speed tests give a general idea of your network’s overall bandwidth, Ookla points out that Internet service providers generally “prioritize video traffic differently than other traffic”. This means that the best way to compare streaming video performance is, in the final analysis, only to transmit video samples, since “it cannot be simulated over a network”
The streaming video test is only available on the service’s iOS app for now, although Ookla says it will be reaching more platforms soon. During testing, the app streams a video in a variety of resolutions, before listing details such as the maximum resolution of your Internet connection and the loading time of the streaming video. If you still can’t transmit video, even though the Internet speed is fast enough to support it, Ookla says the app will be linked to DownDetector to see if a service is having problems.
The SpeedTest video streaming benchmark is available with the latest iOS update of the service, along with a slightly redesigned interface.