[SoftwareMaven]

Probably a general problem. They (of course, depends on the network) use the DNS system to determine "where" you are to provide a node closer to you. However, you probably will only notice it on things like video where latency can make such a large difference.

[trotsky]

While that's generally true for basic CDN backed services like image fills from akamai, DNS geolocation isn't the norm for more complex applications. Netflix specifically doesn't use dns to push you to a specific pop, you first talk to a set of central authentication/drm servers who in addition to giving you your ticket/key also direct you to the video CDN POP they choose for you. The fact that Apple TV made the news because their service was/is broken by anycast DNS servers is just a case of bad engineering and not the industry norm.

[SoftwareMaven]

And yet when I switched from OpenDNS to my ISP's DNS, I consistently went from marginal quality to almost always HD.

[wiredfool]

I suspect the best way to tell is to run some tests. Shouldn't be that hard to do.

(though, I wonder if youtube suffers when google dns is used. I could see arguments both ways)