Google Play 4K Movies

[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 anyone ever reply to u regarding "- 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." I have John Wick 1/2 & A Simple Favor codes I have not redeemed yet, not sure if I should redeem them on GP or iTunes

[pghflyer]

Anyone else having trouble seeing what the resolution of some Disney/ Marvel titles are? When I look at some titles (Captain Marvel, Avendgers Endgame, Mickey's Chrstmas Carol) they have one single rent/ purchase price with no indication of the resolution (SD, HD, UHD...)??

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by pghflyer

Anyone else having trouble seeing what the resolution of some Disney/ Marvel titles are? When I look at some titles (Captain Marvel, Avendgers Endgame, Mickey's Chrstmas Carol) they have one single rent/ purchase price with no indication of the resolution (SD, HD, UHD...)??

I see SD & HD available for Capt. Marvel & Endgame, but no UHD. At GP you usually have to click on the buy/preorder/rent button to see the options (only time you don't AFAIK is when they only have one resolution).

[ADayToRemember]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I see SD & HD available for Capt. Marvel & Endgame, but no UHD. At GP you usually have to click on the buy/preorder/rent button to see the options (only time you don't AFAIK is when they only have one resolution).

Certain Disney movies are now available in 4k starting today https://www.androidcentral.com/disne...oogle-play?amp btw

[vanton619]

Originally Posted by ADayToRemember

Did anyone ever reply to u regarding "- 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." I have John Wick 1/2 & A Simple Favor codes I have not redeemed yet, not sure if I should redeem them on GP or iTunes

I've confirmed as much as you have. According to GP's FAQs, HDR is attached to the 4k resolution of the film (like what Vudu does). I haven't been able to confirm in the positive, but I also haven't seen the evidence that contradicts and shows it not as 4k. I think the resolution looks better IMO, so until someone has a TV that can prove one way or another, I think this is the best we get.

[mr_perfect]

did anyone else get a free 4k upgrade for the venom blu ray code? i entered the code well over a month ago and still nothing...yet others like aquaman, kingsman 2, deadpool 2 did.

[audit13]

Originally Posted by mr_perfect

did anyone else get a free 4k upgrade for the venom blu ray code? i entered the code well over a month ago and still nothing...yet others like aquaman, kingsman 2, deadpool 2 did.

I'm in Canada and my version of Venom did not get upgraded. I redeemed the code on release day.

[J.P. Samson]

Originally Posted by audit13

I'm in Canada and my version of Venom did not get upgraded. I redeemed the code on release day.

Sony only gives courtesy 4K movie upgrades on American Google Play accounts. They specifically exclude such upgrades on Canadian Google Play accounts.

JP

[audit13]

Originally Posted by J.P. Samson

Sony only gives courtesy 4K movie upgrades on American Google Play accounts. They specifically exclude such upgrades on Canadian Google Play accounts.

JP

Thanks for the link. I wasn't too concerned since I have the UHD of Venom.

Also, I try to buy movies with codes that redeem in MA so the movie ports to my iTunes USA account. I have shared my USA iTunes account with other Apple TV 4k owners.

[J.P. Samson]

Originally Posted by J.P. Samson

Sony only gives courtesy 4K movie upgrades on American Google Play accounts. They specifically exclude such upgrades on Canadian Google Play accounts.

The only other one to note is Disney which, like Sony, will only redeem in HD regardless if Google Play Canada has the 4k version. Also, no courtesy upgrades to 4k for Disney titles.

JP

[Me-Hostage]

Is there any easy way of seeing what 4K titles GP has on sale, without looking up random titles?

[disco mixx kidd]

What's best streamer for these
Apple and Amazon don't have GP
And YouTube is only HD 2.0 on both
Anyway to get HDR and 5.1?
Chrome cast ultra? Roku?
Thnx

[Me-Hostage]

For some reason my copy of The Shining in Vudu is HDX, but wasn't porting into GP, but it is in my MA account. Strange. I noticed GP had the UHD on sale for $9.99, thought I'd try it, and since MA didn't port my HD to GP, it allowed me to buy it and port back to MA as UHD, thus now UHD in Vudu. Usually you can't upgrade, but since MA failed to port out... I had funds in my GP to upgrade free.

[Brewc]

I have Gremlins in MA and it shows as HD. GP has the UHD version on sale for $6.99 and I want to buy that as some said it will port UHD across MA to Vudu and iTunes as upgraded to UHD.
How do I achieve this, unlink GP, but then how do I purchase the UHD on GP as I’m not given an option to buy just watch?

[vwnut13]

Originally Posted by Brewc

I have Gremlins in MA and it shows as HD. GP has the UHD version on sale for $6.99 and I want to buy that as some said it will port UHD across MA to Vudu and iTunes as upgraded to UHD.
How do I achieve this, unlink GP, but then how do I purchase the UHD on GP as I’m not given an option to buy just watch?

The only option to upgrade a title at Google Play is to have it removed from the retailer where you originally purchased it. The only retailers that will delete a title that you own are Movies Anywhere and Vudu.


However, Gremlins 4K is now $6.99 at Vudu, and Vudu does allow you to upgrade.

[PepeSilvia]

We use the Google Play Family Library. I've run into an issue where if one user already owns a movie in HD and another user upgrades that movie to 4K, the user with the HD copy doesn't get access to the 4K "upgrade" from the shared Family Library.

Essentially, we had users A, B, C, each with their own individual VUDU accounts but they were all linked to the same shared UV locker. When UV got shut down, any movie that was originally added to the locker by user A, became permanently "owned" in the VUDU accounts for users B and C, and vice versa. Now all of these users have VUDU and Google Play linked via Movies Anywhere, and share a Google Play Family Library, along with a new user, user D, who was not originally part of the shared UV locker. If user A upgrades an HD movie to 4K via a Movies Anywhere digital code, and that movie happens to be one that was previously added to the UV locker in HD and now owned by user A, B, and C, only user D can see that movie in 4K in the Family Library, users B, and C, cannot see the upgrade since they "own" that movie in HD in VUDU and by extension Google Play via Movies Anywhere.

Is there any way around this? Seems like they should let you access whatever the highest quality is available whether that's through the Family Library or your own library, but right now it seems whatever quality you own personally will override the Family Library copy.

[AZBrowncoat]

Originally Posted by PepeSilvia

We use the Google Play Family Library. I've run into an issue where if one user already owns a movie in HD and another user upgrades that movie to 4K, the user with the HD copy doesn't get access to the 4K "upgrade" from the shared Family Library.

Essentially, we had users A, B, C, each with their own individual VUDU accounts but they were all linked to the same shared UV locker. When UV got shut down, any movie that was originally added to the locker by user A, became permanently "owned" in the VUDU accounts for users B and C, and vice versa. Now all of these users have VUDU and Google Play linked via Movies Anywhere, and share a Google Play Family Library, along with a new user, user D, who was not originally part of the shared UV locker. If user A upgrades an HD movie to 4K via a Movies Anywhere digital code, and that movie happens to be one that was previously added to the UV locker in HD and now owned by user A, B, and C, only user D can see that movie in 4K in the Family Library, users B, and C, cannot see the upgrade since they "own" that movie in HD in VUDU and by extension Google Play via Movies Anywhere.

Is there any way around this? Seems like they should let you access whatever the highest quality is available whether that's through the Family Library or your own library, but right now it seems whatever quality you own personally will override the Family Library copy.

All user(s) with the HD copy of a particular title need to "unshare" their copies, I believe everyone then has access to the 4K copy.

I belong to a Google Family arranged through a MeWe group and that's what we did...seems to work.

[PepeSilvia]

Originally Posted by AZBrowncoat

All user(s) with the HD copy of a particular title need to "unshare" their copies, I believe everyone then has access to the 4K copy.

I belong to a Google Family arranged through a MeWe group and that's what we did...seems to work.

Thanks! I'll have to give this a try.

[PepeSilvia]

Tried that, but those users still don't see the 4K upgrade.

[AnnSu]

it's still not that good quality though.