Strato V HD Compatibility Analysis

[ZeroDarkFuga]

@MikeKobb , I think everyone’s million dollar question is also when we get Gravity in the new HD (or better if HDR/DV) format….

 

[rafaelsmith]

You should be able to download the non-compatible hd version and you will be notified when the update is available.

I can only d/l the SD version...cant seem to find anywhere to download the uncompatible HD version.

 

[gadgetman]

If you are using a Strato V only, I do not believe you can download non-compatible HD versions of any title. (This makes intuitive sense.) So, in the case of Gravity above, that screen showing download SD is correct.

 

[rafaelsmith]

If you are using a Strato V only, I do not believe you can download non-compatible HD versions of any title. (This makes intuitive sense.) So, in the case of Gravity above, that screen showing download SD is correct.

Which confirms my initial thought/question that with standalone Strato V ...the only way to know if a non HD compatible version of a movie has been updated is to keep manually checking the movies.

 

[StanfieldNC]

I can only d/l the SD version...cant seem to find anywhere to download the uncompatible HD version.

View attachment 5645

I can only d/l the SD version...cant seem to find anywhere to download the uncompatible HD version.

View attachment 5645

Are you sure you own the HD version? I have 2 Strato V players and a Terra 22, see my image below.
I have been able to download the HD version. See image below. This may be because of the fact that I own a terra, but you may get an update notification if the SD title is downloaded. I cannot confirm this.
Also, I can confirm that if you have the non-compatible HD version of a title downloaded, that you will be notified when there is an update.
Either way, for a title like Gravity, there will be all kinds of bells and whistles on the forum when it is delivered. If you are active here, you will know.

 

[gadgetman]

The difference is that you have a Terra. In Strato-V standalone mode, you would not have the option to download a non-compatible HD version. You are seeing the HD option because the HD version is compatible with the Terra (the destination). If you don't have a Terra, and only a Strato V, then only the SD option would appear.

The screenshot below may help clarify matters: I have a Terra/Strato system in another location (called "The Strato System"). In my current location, I only have a Strato V (standalone). So, I can download Gravity HD to the Strato System (with the Terra) but only have the choice of downloading SD to the Strato V standalone.

 

[MikeKobb]

@MikeKobb , I think everyone’s million dollar question is also when we get Gravity in the new HD (or better if HDR/DV) format….

Yeah, highly anticipated for sure. It was in the tranche of titles that were scheduled to be converted by the most recent revision of the conversion tools. Unfortunately, there tools threw an error while trying to convert it, and so that's now being investigated to see what it's going to take.

 

[rafaelsmith]

Are you sure you own the HD version? I have 2 Strato V players and a Terra 22, see my image below.
I have been able to download the HD version. See image below. This may be because of the fact that I own a terra, but you may get an update notification if the SD title is downloaded. I cannot confirm this.
Also, I can confirm that if you have the non-compatible HD version of a title downloaded, that you will be notified when there is an update.
Either way, for a title like Gravity, there will be all kinds of bells and whistles on the forum when it is delivered. If you are active here, you will know.

View attachment 5647

Yes, it even says on the tile card in the store "HD version owned"...but since I have a standalone Strato V it will only let me download the SD since HD is not compatible.

I believe there are two things at play here with regards to standalone Strato V's:
1) The notifications of compatibility only looks at downloaded non-compatible HD versions of titles not SD.
2) The standalone Strato V cannot d/l non-compatible HD versions of titles.

hence standalone V customers that own non-compatible HD movies do not get notifications and thus have to check on things manually.

 

[StanfieldNC]

Yes, it even says on the tile card in the store "HD version owned"...but since I have a standalone Strato V it will only let me download the SD since HD is not compatible.

I believe there are two things at play here with regards to standalone Strato V's:
1) The notifications of compatibility only looks at downloaded non-compatible HD versions of titles not SD.
2) The standalone Strato V cannot d/l non-compatible HD versions of titles.

hence standalone V customers that own non-compatible HD movies do not get notifications and thus have to check on things manually.

View attachment 5656
View attachment 5655

I'll be sure to create a new thread and announce when I get the Gravity update notification. There's a lot of memebers that are eagerly awaiting this and we've been told it's coming soon.

 

[MikeKobb]

we've been told it's coming soon

Yes, although see above. Since the tools were unable to process the conversion, I'm not sure how long it will take to resolve the issue.

 

[StanfieldNC]

Yes, although see above. Since the tools were unable to process the conversion, I'm not sure how long it will take to resolve the issue.

@MikeKobb I saw your post about it yesterday. "Soon" is relative.
That was the closest thing I've ever seen you give to a timeline. It can mean 2 days or 2 years. I'm not sweating it too hard.
I rarely buy discs anymore, but I do like to use this title to show off my HT, so I purchased Gravity on Atmos disc.
Maybe they will announce a 4k release in the not-so-distant-future and the issue will resolve itself.
I appreciate that you guys are spinning a lot of plates right now and understand you all are doing your best to bring a premier product to your users.

 

[FenceMan]

Why are there new release movies I can't buy (can buy but can't actually use)? I understand getting the old catalog to be compatible but no excuse for not being able to sell me something that just popped up in the store (and that my wife wants to see no less).

 

[JWort93]

Why are there new release movies I can't buy (can buy but can't actually use)? I understand getting the old catalog to be compatible but no excuse for not being able to sell me something that just popped up in the store (and that my wife wants to see no less).

I am wondering the same thing. My best complete guess is that the movie was probably available on another country’s storefront a while ago, and then they just used the same movie download package/encode, that was still in the older format, for the US store when they got rights to it from the US distributor.

Regardless, hoping this movie gets upgraded soon.

 

[LoveCinema]

Why are there new release movies I can't buy (can buy but can't actually use)? I understand getting the old catalog to be compatible but no excuse for not being able to sell me something that just popped up in the store (and that my wife wants to see no less).

Skinamarink was released to digital stores in the US back in February. So, chances are this already in the pipeline before all of the Strato V HD stuff hit. At that point, K probably had to make a decision to release as-is for applicable users and follow up with an update, or delay it for everyone. They probably picked the first option as Strato V owners would still be a minority of users. All guesses.

 

[FenceMan]

I am wondering the same thing. My best complete guess is that the movie was probably available on another country’s storefront a while ago, and then they just used the same movie download package/encode, that was still in the older format, for the US store when they got rights to it from the US distributor.

Regardless, hoping this movie gets upgraded soon.

Still someone needs to keep their eye on the ball here. New release movies not working on your latest hardware is bush league. I am a huge fan of my Strato V but this is unacceptable to me.

 

[Don678]

A quick update for you Strato V owners:

The next tranche of the HD conversions to make older content compatible with Strato V is entering the final qualification and rollout phase starting today. The full rollout is expected to take 4 to 5 weeks to complete (approximately 35 titles per day).

Good news. You stated 4-5 weeks on Aug 14 so I am hoping K is on schedule. I am waiting on The Music Man and Michael Clayton (I purchased the HD versions but only SD is available for the Strato V).

 

[LoveCinema]

I thought I'd drop an update. Since my original post, I went through all of the various compatibility screens and manually assembled a list of HD movies awaiting updates, removing things like "Extras are in HD" which gets picked up by these screens.

(Revised) Original Count of Incompatible Movies: 272
Current Count of Incompatible Movies: 203

So, a 25% reduction over the last two months.

Also, I found that ~20% of my incompatible movies are now considered "Lesser on K", meaning that I'm unlikely to ever watch them on K again. It'll be interesting to see if any of those end up not making the jump.

 

[Don678]

I thought I'd drop an update. Since my original post, I went through all of the various compatibility screens and manually assembled a list of HD movies awaiting updates, removing things like "Extras are in HD" which gets picked up by these screens.

(Revised) Original Count of Incompatible Movies: 272
Current Count of Incompatible Movies: 203

So, a 25% reduction over the last two months.

Also, I found that ~20% of my incompatible movies are now considered "Lesser on K", meaning that I'm unlikely to ever watch them on K again. It'll be interesting to see if any of those end up not making the jump.

Thanks. I guess K is way behind schedule. I will be patient as the new upgrade probably consumed many K resources.

 

[LoveCinema]

Thanks. I guess K is way behind schedule. I will be patient as the new upgrade probably consumed many K resources.

I don't believe they've ever posted a timeline. My own speculation upon a first read of the FAQ was that we're looking at six months or so. The actual delivery over the last two months seems not out of line with that speculation.

I do know that they said the latest batch would take 4-5 weeks to deliver, and that appears spot on given that I was seeing 2 a day during that time period but haven't seem any the last few days.

 

[Don678]

I don't believe they've ever posted a timeline. My own speculation upon a first read of the FAQ was that we're looking at six months or so. The actual delivery over the last two months seems not out of line with that speculation.

I do know that they said the latest batch would take 4-5 weeks to deliver, and that appears spot on given that I was seeing 2 a day during that time period but haven't seem any the last few days.

This is the post I alluded to from K on the timeline. Maybe I misinterpreted it.