I heard back from Philips regarding the iPlayer app:
We would like to inform that this issue is currently under investigation by our technical department. We have an information that it will be fixed with the new software update.
They didn't mention an ETA, nor whether specifically if it'll be reinstallable or just the sound fixed. I recommend anyone else
do not uninstall the iPlayer app/shortcut as you may not be able to get it back.
I also have the same issues listed earlier in the thread
- no sound in Iplayer
- lip sync issues with Amazon (makes it unusable)
- lip sync issues with Netflix
I would prefer to use the built in Apps, but they are not usable at the moment and had ordered a firestick 4k to handle everything. It works well, can be a little juddery at times and I was initially disappointed to see that the TV reports the HDMI input as 8-bit. My BT Youview and older 2017 shield both show as 10-bit.
Then it got me thinking, is the bit colour depth reported in the Philips info panel actually a bug? because when I turn on the Firestick overlay it does show/report a 10bit colour and codec being used... So is the TV wrong or is it hampering what the firestick is trying to give it?
I've not noticed any lip sync issues, strangely. Not tried Prime thoroughly yet, though. Last night I was having issues with Netflix launching, then when it finally did (after a restart of the TV), the sound was crackling and the picture was juddering like crazy. I kept having to restart the show (V Wars in Dolby Vision if it makes any difference) until it was okay, but then I heard the sound pop every 10-30 seconds, which got annoying after a while. Same thing happened on the next show, Magic for Humans 2. I'm really tempted to get an Nvidia Shield Pro as I'm tired of the issues with the native Android on this TV already, I just really worry the quality issues are with the HDMI ports and it'll be the same as the FS4K.
I have flicked back between the internal and Firestick and I might just be kidding myself, but im sure internal does look a little better with whiter-whites.
I definitely see a big difference in picture quality between Netflix on the Fire Stick 4K and the native Netflix app, at least with Dolby Vision on V Wars. I want to do more tests with other shows and apps, with photos, but it's a tiring process when you just want to enjoy the TV.
Hi Domsy
I can confirm the 8 bit HDR problem in your link.
I have an Apple TV 4k and I can't get anything but 8 bit in the TV info panel on my 10 bit HDR content. This is when streaming with MrMc from a nfs share, I don't have any iTunes/netflix subscription but maybe it works there.
The only way to get 10 bit in the info panel is to set the ATV in 4k HDR and turn off Colourspace/framerate matching. But then also 8 bit SDR shows as 10 bit. If I turn the Colour/frame matching on it will show 8 bit again. It doesn't feel right.
In your link the guy says the FireTv pendent outputs correctly 10 bit. Is this only a Fire stick/ATV problem? Anyone get 10 bit streaming over HDMI to work on the 934?
Thanks! Really hope someone can confirm if another streamer like the Nvidia Shield is any better. My biggest concern is the quality difference between native Netflix and the one on the FS4K. I need to take photos to show what I'm talking about as it's a massive difference for me! I may just get one, but Amazon is currently out of stock.
Also another thing I've noticed is an issue with aspect ratio on certain things in Kodi. It seems to render incorrectly a lot of the time, with the video being really squished. The only way to fix it is to go to the video options and switch the size option (forgot the exact name) from 'Standard' to 'Stretch 16:9', then it looks fine. I have to do this for
every individual thing I watch that has the problem, which gets tiring for TV shows. I don't have to do this on the FS4K, though; that renders everything absolutely fine all the time (again, though, reports 8-bit on FS4K when it should be 10-bit).