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)

[Rickard]

@JonC

Glad to hear that it works now

It could be possible that you've somehow got the wrong version installed as an update.

If i press back in Xperia Lounge it will switch to portrait but then it will automatically switch back to the landscape mode within 1-2 seconds so it will not stay in portrait mode.

You can of course use the pictures i posted.

@Ian1234

Could you also try to uninstall updates for What's New and see if that helps for you to?

[JonC1]

Hi Rickard

An update to the factory version of Whats New - update version 3.3.A.0.1 - causes the non-landscape mode issue.  It's a Sony software issue.

[Rickard]

Do you know if you got this update inside What's New or from Settings -> About tablet -> Software update?

Could you please send me a private message with the IMEI/EDID of your tablet? You can find this under Settings -> About tablet -> Status.

[JonC1]

I got the update from within What's New - the side-panel flagged an update against the Updates option.

Edit - I can confirm this as I've rolled back to the factory version, and the update has just re-appeared within What's New as an Application Update "Recommended by Sony".  It even states "Please tell us what you think about this update at https://talk.sonymobile.com" ...  

Sent you a private message with my Z4 details.

Thanks

[Rickard]

I've recieved more information about this. In the client version 3.x of What's New, there was a complete rework of the UI and it was decided to go for portrait mode only, regardless of if it is a phone or tablet.

So with the latest version, there's no landscape support i'm afraid.

This update has also rolled out in my country now and i see the same thing. It seems it's still possible to force it to landcape using the app i mentioned earlier though so that is perhaps something you can try.

[JonC1]

Thanks for you help on this, Rickard - I sorta guessed this was the case but it's a little worrying that one part of Sony (aka the software side) doesn't communicate with the hardware side.

Obviously something I'll have to take up with Sony directly.

Thanks again.