2018-10-06, 15:59
As a 3D-enthusiast I have gotten my hands on one of the last Sony 65ZD9 lately, moving my beloved Sony 47W805 to the bedroom.
I was not expecting too much from Sony's Android-TV-implementation, but since I was using an old PC as HTPC (capable of running Guitar-Hero and Rocksmith) I didn't think I would get any problems until I get some 4k-media (which I have by now) - the old PC is not capable of playing 4k, and the PC-industry is obviously not seeing a market for low-budget-video-cards.
But I was completely SHOCKED to see what an official Kodi running natively on the ZD9 can do - or better: can NOT do.
Major problem: it's running 1920x1080. Everything, not only the UI. 4k-media is played in 1920x1080/60p
Next (kown) problem is, that the "Action menu" stops the playback. There seems to be some workaround, and I read that Kodi 18 will solve this - but... oh well.
BIG problem: Kodi running on the ZD9 is disabling the 3D-capabilities of the TV! That seems to be a Android-problem, see below.
So I have a 4K-HDR-3D-TV running an operating-system which allows me to run kodi natively - which disables ALL major features. Great!
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I have read up on these problems, finding out that it's probably all Sony's fault. Oh well.
Upgrading the Windows-PC to full-UHD-capability would require a total GPU-overkill - a nVidia 1080, just for playing video reliably.
At least I can switch to 3D when using the Windows-Kodi.
So I got myself a 50€-S912-Android-TV-box, which should be capable of playing 4k/60 and 3D without problems. Found out that it's VERY laggy using kodi, AND the Sony-TV still refuses to enable 3D-functionality. Weird.
Since my chosen 2/16GB-variant seemed to be too limited anyways I got myself another S912-box with 3/32GB. Same problem (plus it overheated quickly and seems to be defective by now).
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What's the problem here?
The old Non-Android-Sony from the W8-series is happily auto-switching to 3D whenever I play a 3D-movie with kodi, no matter which hardware I use (nVidia-ION-HTPC with Windows or Linux, "big" Windows-10-PC of any kind, both S912-Android-boxes), but the "flagship" ZD9 is denying the 3D-function in all configurations except Kodi on Windows-PC (which can't play 4k).
Anyony knows how to get 3D working, using an android-TV-box?
Right now I am considering a J3455-based Intel-NUK, but so far it all seems like throwing money in the wind for nothing.
I was not expecting too much from Sony's Android-TV-implementation, but since I was using an old PC as HTPC (capable of running Guitar-Hero and Rocksmith) I didn't think I would get any problems until I get some 4k-media (which I have by now) - the old PC is not capable of playing 4k, and the PC-industry is obviously not seeing a market for low-budget-video-cards.
But I was completely SHOCKED to see what an official Kodi running natively on the ZD9 can do - or better: can NOT do.
Major problem: it's running 1920x1080. Everything, not only the UI. 4k-media is played in 1920x1080/60p
Next (kown) problem is, that the "Action menu" stops the playback. There seems to be some workaround, and I read that Kodi 18 will solve this - but... oh well.
BIG problem: Kodi running on the ZD9 is disabling the 3D-capabilities of the TV! That seems to be a Android-problem, see below.
So I have a 4K-HDR-3D-TV running an operating-system which allows me to run kodi natively - which disables ALL major features. Great!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have read up on these problems, finding out that it's probably all Sony's fault. Oh well.
Upgrading the Windows-PC to full-UHD-capability would require a total GPU-overkill - a nVidia 1080, just for playing video reliably.
At least I can switch to 3D when using the Windows-Kodi.
So I got myself a 50€-S912-Android-TV-box, which should be capable of playing 4k/60 and 3D without problems. Found out that it's VERY laggy using kodi, AND the Sony-TV still refuses to enable 3D-functionality. Weird.
Since my chosen 2/16GB-variant seemed to be too limited anyways I got myself another S912-box with 3/32GB. Same problem (plus it overheated quickly and seems to be defective by now).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's the problem here?
The old Non-Android-Sony from the W8-series is happily auto-switching to 3D whenever I play a 3D-movie with kodi, no matter which hardware I use (nVidia-ION-HTPC with Windows or Linux, "big" Windows-10-PC of any kind, both S912-Android-boxes), but the "flagship" ZD9 is denying the 3D-function in all configurations except Kodi on Windows-PC (which can't play 4k).
Anyony knows how to get 3D working, using an android-TV-box?
Right now I am considering a J3455-based Intel-NUK, but so far it all seems like throwing money in the wind for nothing.