So, it appears that Google Play 4K isn't coming to the Shield

by arrowrand

I went looking for the answer to the question about Google Play 4K for the Shield on the NVIDIA forums - it doesn't look good.

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/980553/shield-android-tv/google-play-movies-4k/

Google Play 4K requires VP9 Profile 2 and the Shield only supports VP9 Profile 0. There is a comment made at the end of that forum thread about NVIDIA solving this via their programmable GPU, but I think that is nothing but a stretch.

This doesn't end my love for the Shield TV, I will continue to use them for quite some time. If the new Shield comes next year and offers support, I'll buy one immediately. I may not have interest in buying $30 UHD movies, but rentals are quite a bit less than that.

OttoNormalRedditor

http://www.androidheadlines.com/2016/12/nvidia-shield-will-be-updated-to-support-google-4k-videos.html

RedTib

I think there's a "workaround." Rent the movie from Google Play Movies, and then watch in YouTube. Then it will be 4K.

Delumine

Well that's fucking bullshit

Andrroid

Meh, we got Vudu, which IMO, is much better.

VirTERM

Actually, google play 4k doesn't use VP9-2... perhaps only for HDR. I can view 4k movies from Google store on Sony's XBR65-930D which is using 2015 chipset without hardware support for VP9.2... I believe they use VP9 profile 0 for normal 4k which is 8 bit Not really sure about HDR (10bit), or if they even offer HDR option

tvtoo

I may not have interest in buying $30 UHD movies, but rentals are quite a bit less than that.

And Amazon Prime video offers 4K for free. Likewise, Vudu Disc-to-Digital might introduce UHD at some point for cheap.

Serialtoon

The more time passes im starting to realize that i bought a 4K capable YouTube box. I was hoping this product would have been the stage for Google to show off its 4K capabilities but it doesnt seem likely.