BBC iplayer on Android XE9005 now working with UHD and HLG HDR (sort of)

[stormyuk]

All,

For information there is a Planet Earth UHD HLG test video on the Beta iplayer which appears to work with the Android TVs. (Tested on my XE9005). Its pretty short but looks amazing. It was playing FA cup test loop video which didn't look as good and kept dropping out.

The FA Cup one just fails after about 5 seconds on my TV. Hardwired ethernet. Odd that the Planet Earth loop is fine....

Check it out.

[stormyuk]

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@pb1965 wrote:

So, having spoken to my retailer, they have contacted Sony. Surprise surprise, they say it's the BBC's fault, that their 8000 and 9000 series sets 'have the same processor inside' and it's basically just the screen which is different. They also said they sent information required by the BBC for all 2016/2017 sets 2 days ago and now it's up to them to add these to their list of authorised devices.

If, as was suggested earlier, that XE9005s could previously access the Blue Planet II stream, then perhaps this will get resolved quickly. We shall see what happens!  

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I got a response from BBC via the iPlayer twitter when I asked why the Planet Earth II clip worked and it basically said hard luck.

https://twitter.com/BBCiPlayer/status/1002943559270588416

[rgledhill]

Thanks, that's very helpful. It's a strange list - lots of cheap rubbish but some huge holes in product ranges, such as ours and almost 3 years of Panasonic TVs! I think there's something in doing it at 50fps that's the problem, as YouTube has problems with that in 4k too. Let's hope they sort it out...

[pb1965]

Now perhaps you understand why those of us who paid a lot of money for our XE9005 sets are so annoyed by this. 

[pb1965]

This just gets better....

I don't know whether this is specific to those owners who have downloaded and installed the latest firmware or not but I did and, following doing a system reset (to see if that would kick start iPlayer UHD working), now Sony Select won't load meaning I've lost all apps including iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon Prime etc. Trying to start Sony Select manually just produces a 'Sony Select an error has occured' message.  

Way to go Sony!

[speedyrite]

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@stormyuk wrote:

My version says:

4.6.110.1

Interestingly it says it was updated 31st May. Odd.

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Same version here.

Also noted that on my XE9005 the info shown against the "Device:" label is "SONY TV 2016 HIGHED YOUVIEW".

As we all know, the XE9005 is actually a 2017 model. And although YouView is disabled, presumably the XE9005 still uses the BBC iPlayer app that is bundled with the YouView software (as it doesn't seem to exist as an app in its own right within the Google App store for Android TVs).

I say again "what a shambles" this has whole thing has turned out to be! Should have waited another year and got a 2018 model the XF90...

[pb1965]

Ok. So I messaged somebody in BBC R&D yesterday and I told them my XE9005 was reporting a Youview version of iPlayer (although mine does say it's a 2017 version)  They replied saying...

'The iPlayer version your TV is reporting is exactly the same as I have on my TV (non Sony) at home  and that works for the UHD trial.   The resolutions reported are relevant to the iPlayer UI and do not impact on what content can be played back.  Again my TV reports exactly the same.'

Make of that what you will.

[stormyuk]

Pity that person in BBC RD can't fix the issue.

[pb1965]

They are at least engaging with me regarding this issue which is more than Sony UK are doing.

[stormyuk]

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@speedyrite wrote:

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@stormyuk wrote:

My version says:

4.6.110.1

Interestingly it says it was updated 31st May. Odd.

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Same version here.

Also noted that on my XE9005 the info shown against the "Device:" label is "SONY TV 2016 HIGHED YOUVIEW".

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That's weird as mine say's 'SONY TV 2017 HIGHEND YOUVIEW'. Its interesting that it appears any TV which is 2017 is not on the Sony list. There are however Android TVs with Youview from 2016 and 2018 on the list.

Maybe if yours is saying 2016 it will work speedy!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/live-uhd

[stormyuk]

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@stormyuk wrote:

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@speedyrite wrote:

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@stormyuk wrote:

My version says:

4.6.110.1

Interestingly it says it was updated 31st May. Odd.

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Same version here.

Also noted that on my XE9005 the info shown against the "Device:" label is "SONY TV 2016 HIGHED YOUVIEW".

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That's weird as mine say's 'SONY TV 2017 HIGHEND YOUVIEW'. Its interesting that it appears any TV which is 2017 is not on the Sony list. There are however Android TVs with Youview from 2016 and 2018 on the list.

Maybe if yours is saying 2016 it will work speedy!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/live-uhd

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Apparently the latest firmware changes the DEVICE ID from 2016 to 2017 so its anyone's guess which is the best to go for....