Xperia Z4 and Sony Apps in landscape mode

[JonC1]

Ok, so this technically affects anyone with a Z4 tablet (or any other Sony tablet) docked in some way in landscape mode - in my case I'm using the Sony bluetooth keyboard that case with my LTE Z4.

The following Sony-supplied apps don't want to switch to landscape mode and make my rather expensive tablet look very silly:

• Privilege Plus
• Xperia Lounge
• What's New

I know what the mods are going to say - that these apps were "designed for phones" and should be viewed in portrait mode.  But ... they were supplied as standard with my UK Z4... And as for undocking the keyboard and rotating the device... Well that's possible of course but undocking the Bluetooth keyboard is not the easiest thing to do.

So come on Sony; why can't your branded apps run in landscape mode?

(BTW, there's a contact address for Privilege Plus in the app - I've contacted them over this matter - awaiting a reply)

[JonC1]

I've also complained to Google as the Privilege Plus app isn't working to Google Android design guidelines - it doesn't state "Designed for Phones" on Google Play and therefore should work as intended on a tablet. 

[JonC1]

Well, Sony got back to me:

We are sorry to hear of the issues which you are facing with your Xperia Z4 tablet in relation to a particular application not rotating

We would recommend clearing the cache and data from the application to fix the issue which you are facing. To do this please follow the below 

1) Go to settings
2) Go to apps
3) Go to all tab
4) Go to afflicted application
5) Press clear data
6) Reset your handset by turning it off and on

Can you please let us know the results of this troubleshooting so we can look into the issue further. We apologise for any inconvenience this issue may have caused to yourself

I will let you guess if you think this would sort out this issue.  

[AnnoyedWithSonyUK]

Priceless.

[Rickard]

Sorry to hear that.

I've tested it here as well and both Xperia Lounge and What's New rotates to landscape for me in Z4 Tablet so i'm not sure why it doesn't in your tablet. Privilege Plus will however not rotate.

If the suggestion from your local support doesn't help you could perhaps try forcing the rotation to landscape using an app like this one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.googlecode.eyesfree.setorientation

That should give you landscape even for Privilege Plus.

[JonC1]

Hi Rickard

One question - do you have the Bluetooth keyboard dock?

It appears that with the dock an additional service fires that gives the "start menu" functionality.  It looks like that's causing issues with "normal" landscape mode.

[AnnoyedWithSonyUK]

Does not rotate for me either. Are they different software version installed on these tablets?

Rickard, would you be kind enough to post a picture of What's New in landscape mode please.

Thanks.

[Rickard]

I've tested with BKB50 as well but What's New still rotates to landscape. I also tried it on two different firmware versions. 28.0.A.7.24 and 28.0.A.8.251.

Here's the screenshots you requested, Xperia Lounge and What's New

I'm afraid i'm not sure why they don't rotate for you. Which firmware version do you have under Settings -> About tablet?
Does it work with the app i suggested earlier?

[AnnoyedWithSonyUK]

I have 251.

Will try a reinstall of What's New.

Thank you for the pictures.

Ian.

[JonC1]

Hmmm, the What's New app I don't understand - neither my Z4 LTE nor Z2 Wifi show that app in landscape.  Both have the latest firmware.

However, the Xperia Lounge app - I can get my Z4 to show that particular screen in landscape but what happens Rickard if you press the back soft-key to return to the Lounge's home screen?  On my devices they both revert back to portrait.

Rickard - will you have a problem with me using your What's New picture with my on-going discussions with Sony?  They think What's New only works in portrait?

Thanks

(Edit - learn to spell portrait correctly next time Jon...)

[JonC1]

Weird things are happening here.

As Whats New is a System app, I've removed the updates and rolled back to the factory version.  Which oddly works fine in landscape! 

Then there's no new updates against this app either in itself or via Google Play.

So - here's a guess.  I also have an Xperia Z3c phone - I'm wondering when I originally set up my Z4 did Google restore the phone version of Whats New over the factory tablet version?