Google Play 4K Movies

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Pieter V

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=310833

[Undeadcow]

Curiously people are posting information about Google Play's debunked 4K upgrades program. Spoiler alter - only titles that were redeemed into GP before the announcement allegedly got upgraded. I have not heard from a single person who actually got anything upgraded and redeeming a code into GP today results in no upgrades because apparently it was a bogus marketing plow since retroactive only.

Examples:

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by FubarFrenzy

still don't see some movies I purchased in HD upgrade to 4K (UHD). I own Interstellar, but still haven't seen an upgrade on that. Maybe due to the studio, that isn't included.

Originally Posted by ludated

perhaps this had already been discussed, but just wanted to share that I redeemed The greatest showman in google play last night after noticing it being available in 4k. I thought the recent google play 4k upgrade would then transfer it as 4k to movieanywhere, but it only shows HD in my transaction history.

Not sure if it takes a while to upgrade...

[Covenant9]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

Curiously people are posting information about Google Play's debunked 4K upgrades program. Spoiler alter - only titles that were redeemed into GP before the announcement allegedly got upgraded. I have not heard from a single person who actually got anything upgraded and redeeming a code into GP today results in no upgrades because apparently it was a bogus marketing plow since retroactive only.

Examples:

I redeemed the digital codes for Greatest Showman and Kingsman: The Secret Service on Nov. 23. Both were from the 4K versions but redeemed as HD. Within a day or two, both showed as upgraded to 4K. It was not instantaneous; it takes a couple of days to happen.

[Undeadcow]

Originally Posted by Covenant9

I redeemed the digital codes for Greatest Showman and Kingsman: The Secret Service on Nov. 23. Both were from the 4K versions but redeemed as HD. Within a day or two, both showed as upgraded to 4K. It was not instantaneous; it takes a couple of days to happen.

Thank you. Could you confirm how the licenses transferred to Movies Anywhere? Are they reflected as HD or UHD in Movies Anywhere transaction history?

[vwnut13]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

Thank you. Could you confirm how the licenses transferred to Movies Anywhere? Are they reflected as HD or UHD in Movies Anywhere transaction history?

If it took a day or two I would assume that it took the initial HD license.

Now, I wonder what would happen if you were to disconnect your Google Play from MA, redeem the code, then reconnect once it has upgraded to 4K.

[vwnut13]

Originally Posted by vwnut13

Now, I wonder what would happen if you were to disconnect your Google Play from MA, redeem the code, then reconnect once it has upgraded to 4K.

Just tried this and it ported in HD.

As far as I can tell, what your license says at YouTube.com/purchases is what you will get at MA.

[Undeadcow]

A long shot but maybe disconnecting Google from Movies Anywhere before redeeming a HD code and wait until it upgrades before re-linking would work, that way it would be UHD already when relinking MA.

[vwnut13]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

A long shot but maybe disconnecting Google from Movies Anywhere before redeeming a HD code and wait until it upgrades before re-linking would work, that way it would be UHD already when relinking MA.

That's what I did. Still HD.

[FubarFrenzy]

Hmmph, still waiting for the App update on the WebOS for LG to support 4k. Trying to find some info for this on web, nothing much to find.

UPDATE: Not sure how this happened without an actual Google Play app update on the LG TV's, BUT the 4K support is now available, HDR and all. I had 2 movies that as of 2 days ago would not play in 4K, something changed.....last night both movies were streaming in 4K plus HDR.

[sammytaplow]

I redeemed a handful of canada gp codes for black panther and skyscraper but I haven't seen any 4k upgrades. I think you have to buy the movie directly from them.

[vanton619]

So I am working with a few people on the Digital Movies MeWe group (you should join, link HERE) to figure out what Google is actually doing with 4k upgrades/playback. A detailed description of my experiment is HERE.

In summary:

- HD codes redeemed on Google Play (Fox and Lionsgate) appear to upgrade to 4k after about 24 hours. The Fox titles do not port to MA in 4k, only HD (based on original purchase). Lionsgate titles obviously do not port into MA.

- Using a Chromecast Ultra, casting these movies through the Google Play Movies and TV app, I have confirmed these "upgrades" will play with (at least) HDR, as opposed to a standard HD movie. I cannot confirm resolution, as the GP app does not have a notification, and I am not sure of how to pull it up through my TV OS.

- Casting these "upgraded" movies, along with direct HD purchases from Google Play that received free 4k upgrades, DO NOT play in 4k and/or HDR through the YouTube app. The only movies that play in 4k and/or HDR through the YouTube app on a CCU are direct 4k purchases from Google Play/YouTube and movies imported from MA that are properly registered as 4k on YouTube (check your YouTube purchase history).

- Google Play's FAQ page claims that you need to have 4k rights to a movie in order to get HDR playback.

Based on info in the posts on this forum and what I have seen, I am still trying to get definitive answers on a few things...

- I can conclusively say that Google 4k upgrades do not apply to YouTube. I feel relatively confident that a direct purchase from Google made prior to October 2018 that received a free 4k upgrade is playing back in 4k/HDR using a CCU. Can anyone confirm the resolution for a title upgraded after October 2018?

- Can anyone confirm that HD codes redeemed on GP and "upgraded" 24 hours later actually play back in 4k? I have confirmed that they have at least gained HDR access after the 24 hours. Possible titles to redeem and check include Die Hard, The Hate U Give, Logan, John Wick 1/2, A Simple Favor and Kin.

- Does anyone have any info on how to get a 2018 TCL 6-Series to tell you what resolution is displayed (app-agnostic, I know I can get stats for nerds on YouTube and Vudu has a notification icon)? I currently have it set up to display when HDR/DV is active, but I have not found a setting for resolution.

I will be cross-posting this in the YouTube 4k movies post as well to see if I can get anyone following that post to help out.

[cornbread_1788]

Happy Death Day 2U is only $5.99 in 4K!

[vanton619]

Originally Posted by cornbread_1788

Happy Death Day 2U is only $5.99 in 4K!

That's the first one that's $5.99 for 4k. The new one is up for pre-order for $22.99 for HD. Also, iTunes and FN (and maybe Vudu now) had the 4k version for $4.99/$5.

[FubarFrenzy]

Pretty good Google Movies 4K sale going on right now:

The Dark Knight (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Man of Steel (2013) (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
The Town (2010) (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Blade Runner: Final Cut (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Suicide Squad (2016) (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Sully (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
The Accountant (2016) (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
The Intern (2015) (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Fist Fight (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Get Hard (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Focus (2015) (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
I am Legend (2007) (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Magic Mike XXL (4K UHD Digital) $4.99
Annabelle (4K UHD Digital) $4.99

[cornbread_1788]

Originally Posted by vanton619

That's the first one that's $5.99 for 4k. The new one is up for pre-order for $22.99 for HD. Also, iTunes and FN (and maybe Vudu now) had the 4k version for $4.99/$5.

Whoopsie, my auto-correct added 2U automatically, but yes the 4k version is only $5.99 on number 1

[Sayonara808]

How do I find out what movies I have in Google that are in 4K? I don't have a 4K yet but would like to know which movies in my library are in 4K.

[x7q3]

You'll need very fast Internet to load 4K video quickly.

And besides that, I wouldn't recommend buying digital movies. Physical copies are better. SteelBooks, limited editions, etc, are better still.

It's okay to rent movies as a stream. But if you love a movie, a physical copy is best.

[vanton619]

Originally Posted by Sayonara808

How do I find out what movies I have in Google that are in 4K? I don't have a 4K yet but would like to know which movies in my library are in 4K.

Check the Google Play movies and TV app. It will have a filter for 4k movies. This filter does everything you own in 4k (note it also shows titles that are 4k from MA that aren't available for 4k playback in GP, like Disney movies). From there, check each movie that shows in the filter. If it has a "4k" placard up by the title, then you would be able to play it in 4k on a compatible device.

[ADayToRemember]

Originally Posted by vanton619

So I am working with a few people on the Digital Movies MeWe group (you should join, link HERE) to figure out what Google is actually doing with 4k upgrades/playback. A detailed description of my experiment is HERE.

In summary:

- HD codes redeemed on Google Play (Fox and Lionsgate) appear to upgrade to 4k after about 24 hours. The Fox titles do not port to MA in 4k, only HD (based on original purchase). Lionsgate titles obviously do not port into MA.

- Using a Chromecast Ultra, casting these movies through the Google Play Movies and TV app, I have confirmed these "upgrades" will play with (at least) HDR, as opposed to a standard HD movie. I cannot confirm resolution, as the GP app does not have a notification, and I am not sure of how to pull it up through my TV OS.

- Casting these "upgraded" movies, along with direct HD purchases from Google Play that received free 4k upgrades, DO NOT play in 4k and/or HDR through the YouTube app. The only movies that play in 4k and/or HDR through the YouTube app on a CCU are direct 4k purchases from Google Play/YouTube and movies imported from MA that are properly registered as 4k on YouTube (check your YouTube purchase history).

- Google Play's FAQ page claims that you need to have 4k rights to a movie in order to get HDR playback.

Based on info in the posts on this forum and what I have seen, I am still trying to get definitive answers on a few things...

- I can conclusively say that Google 4k upgrades do not apply to YouTube. I feel relatively confident that a direct purchase from Google made prior to October 2018 that received a free 4k upgrade is playing back in 4k/HDR using a CCU. Can anyone confirm the resolution for a title upgraded after October 2018?

- Can anyone confirm that HD codes redeemed on GP and "upgraded" 24 hours later actually play back in 4k? I have confirmed that they have at least gained HDR access after the 24 hours. Possible titles to redeem and check include Die Hard, The Hate U Give, Logan, John Wick 1/2, A Simple Favor and Kin.

- Does anyone have any info on how to get a 2018 TCL 6-Series to tell you what resolution is displayed (app-agnostic, I know I can get stats for nerds on YouTube and Vudu has a notification icon)? I currently have it set up to display when HDR/DV is active, but I have not found a setting for resolution.

I will be cross-posting this in the YouTube 4k movies post as well to see if I can get anyone following that post to help out.

Did u find out if John Wick 1/2 gets upgraded to 4k if code is redeemed at GP?

[vanton619]

Originally Posted by ADayToRemember

Did u find out if John Wick 1/2 gets upgraded to 4k if code is redeemed at GP?

I redeemed a code for John Wick 1/2 bundle on my GP account. It redeemed as the bundle in HD (bundle is only available in HD). About 24 hours later, I received upgrades to the individual movies in GP, according the GP Movies and TV app. When I cast them onto a Chromecast Ultra from the GP Movies and TV app, my TV confirms that I am at least getting HDR playback. Based on the evidence I mentioned in my post above, I feel confident enough to say they've been upgraded.