topic Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store in XPERIA archive

Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

aaronf938 — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 17:23:46 GMT

Hello,

I recently purchased "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" in HD from the Google Play Store, I was able to select the HD option and purchase without any problems. After purchase and downloading the movie to my Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 Tablet the movie only plays in Standard Definition (SD).

The settings in the Google Play Movies & TV app have HD quality and Download over WiFi selected but still I get a Standard Definition quality downloaded or streamed.

Does anyone else have this issue or have any ideas why the Sony Xperia Z2 & Z2 Tablet can't play HD content from Google Play Services.

Thanks!

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

_alexdon_ — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 17:48:26 GMT

What did you use to play them? Do you have enough space on the device for the HD version?

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

aaronf938 — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:31:37 GMT

Hello alexdon,

I'm using the Google Play Movies & TV app as the movie can only be played in that app by Google. The settings within the app are selected to download over WiFi and HD quality selected with my SD Card set as my default storage, of which i got 40gb space left.

I noticed on the forums that others have had the same issue, I contacted Google and they tell me it's to do with the Hardware & Software compatibility and display resolution of the phone which doesn't make sense as the phone meets all those.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

_alexdon_ — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:35:17 GMT

I suggest you to download to internal memory and see how it is.

Off topic : Great movie!

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

aaronf938 — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 19:38:47 GMT

Hi alexdon,

I just tried that method now and the problem still persists.

I have noticed just now that if I select to purchase a movie in the Google Play Store which has the "Buy From £" button then it shows me two options, "Buy HD" which goes on to say "Watch in HD on supported devices. Note: HD playback is not supported on this device".

The other option says "Buy SD" Watch in standard definition on the web an supported devices.

How can one rectify this problem as I'm sure many Xperia Z2 users will probably have the same issues and considering this is a HD device with capable specifications, I struggle to see why Google says HD playback is not supported. This happens the same on my Xperia Z2 Tablet as well.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

_alexdon_ — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 19:44:39 GMT

I am sorry,in this case get in touch with xperia care:

http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/support/contact-us/

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

aaronf938 — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:01:23 GMT

I have already contacted Xperia Care twice about this issue and on both occasions I encountered a person who doesn't know anything about DRM or says to factory reset the device which does not solve this issue or tells me to contact Google Play Services. Google Play Services themselves say to contact Sony regarding the compatibility.

Surely there has to be a solution to the problem or communication between you and Google to rectify this issue.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

_alexdon_ — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:12:25 GMT

I am not working for Sony,we are just users helping around.I was thinking about DRM too,usually problems occur on external card.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

aaronf938 — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:30:17 GMT

I contacted Google again and hopefully they can clear it up how the Sony Xperia Z2 isn't supported for HD movies on their store.

If Sony Video Unlimited sold HD movies that were playable on Xperia mobiles then I would buy from Sony but their current playback of HD movies is restricted to Playstation 3 & 4 with Standard Definition for Xperia Mobiles etc. I hope they update that as Xperia Z2 mobile and the Z2 tablet have HD displays and external storage support, would be welcomed to have that option available to download and view in HD.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

_alexdon_ — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:33:06 GMT

Good info you have here.Thanks.

So you still need an answer from google,right?

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

aaronf938 — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:01:50 GMT

Hi,

Yeah I will keep this thread updated as soon as I hear back from Google.

Thanks!

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

_alexdon_ — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:03:02 GMT

Ok,keep us updated.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

azzido — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:09:20 GMT

Once I bought a song on Google P(l)ay and suddenly I noticed it is not visible in my Walkman app! It is like you can play it only using Google Pay player! I thought "Really"? So by doing it you are loosing an opportunity to have all your music in 1 player, you're loosing all Walkman goodies, its sound enhancements, equalizer, surround and so on. The worse is you cannot copy the song YOU BOUGHT to any other device like mp3 player to play it! You can play it on your smartphone with Android onky and pc with internet after logging in to Google Pay service (so you have to have Internet connection). Are you kidding me??? I returned it and they gave me my money back,

NEVER AGAIN! So beware.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

azzido — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:11:53 GMT

Return the movie as it is not what you required and deserve and search for any other online movie store that will allow you to download and PLAY hd movie you PAID for... What's wrong with this world... And then they say "pirate"...

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

_alexdon_ — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:35:07 GMT

The thing is due to DRM you won't be able to copy somewhere else the files you have bought.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

aaronf938 — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 16:00:05 GMT

Hello,

Google has got back to me with this;

"At this time standard definition (SD) video is able to be played on all compatible devices, while high definition (HD) compatibility will vary.

HD video playback is determined by studio agreements and your device's own hardware and software capabilities. We offer you the option to buy HD video because HD playback is allowed across multiple devices - Android, iOS, Chromebook, and Chromecast.

If your device's display doesn't meet the minimum requirements for HD, it will play the video in SD instead. You can still purchase the HD version and watch it in HD on another supported device."

and

"What I can tell you is that the movies on Google Play are launched by the publishers with a specific compatibility. That is something that I don't have access to provide you."

From information that I gathered on these forums, there are many Sony Xperia products that have this issue too, and some users say it could be Sony's licensing arrangements as it probably wants users to buy from it's own Sony Video Unlimited Store.

This probably would make sense but such an issue does ruin the experience of purchasing movies in HD on Android if it's locked down like this, considering there isn't much choice out there to buy from - Google Play, Sony Video Unlimited and probably Amazon Instant Video.

However Google did refund me for the purchase, still goes to say what a shame such great devices with HD displays can't be used to watch purchased HD movies on.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

_alexdon_ — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 16:05:59 GMT

Yes,this is something strange,but there are policies involved and we cannot do anything.Good think you got your money back.

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

azzido — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:35:17 GMT

Alexdon, and this is why I am avoiding all the companies like Google from BUYING the content. I stick with the companies like I bought it = I can use / play it wherever I want, whatever device / screen / player I want.

In this case Google = No $.

It's like a choice between XBone One and PS4. Microsoft shows a middle finger to players in many cases - No $.
In Playstation 4 world, I bought the game = I can play it on any playstation 4, I can lend it to my colleague, I can sell it, whatever I want because I BOUGHT it, I PAID for it and it is mine now

But if this will change for playstation = No $ for Sony as well. I will stick with my PC in such a case or (beware) Nintendo 😕

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

azzido — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:40:35 GMT

aaronf938, I would agree with one "but":

Vide Unlimited is not supported in all countries and sadly Poland is on its list...
For all the feedback Polish users are giving to sony in terms of mobile and gaming divisions (watch the sales) it's quite a shame we are treated in this way.

So it seems you cannot watch HD movies bought form Google Play, but you may not be able to do this by buying form Sony just becauseit does not offer you such an opportunity. No choice = no $

Re: Sony Xperia Z2 fails to play HD movie purchased from Google Play Store

aaronf938 — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 21:15:18 GMT

Hi azzido,

I guess this is an issue not just with Sony Video Unlimited but all services throughout the world, even Google Play Store is yet to hit many countries in the world, licensing of the content is the big issue that they have to sort out with studio companies and music labels etc to be able to roll out services in the respective regions.

I know Sony are focussing on the European and Japanese market as that is where they get majority of their sales. I hope that means improving their services and extending region compatibility of their products.

It is strange the issue with Sony and Google Play Movies playback compatibility, I've seen Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1(2014 model) and Samsung Galaxy S4 both allow for HD movie playback of movie content bought on Google Play.

Out of all the Android manufacturers Sony is the only one that has a movie studio, so it probably wants customers to buy from its own Video Unlimited Store instead of going to the Google Play Store for Movies which Sony probably sees as a rival store for movie sales. That's all I can currently think of what could be a licensing issue to penalize the customer, if it were true it would be a big shame.