topic Viaplay app in Android TV

Viaplay app

Loosefaith — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 19:29:10 GMT

Have anyone gotten the viaplay app from the google store working becouse mine installes but wont start and dosent show up under apps only under settings apps downloaded apps.

My tv is a kd-55xd8505

Re: Viaplay app

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 22:06:17 GMT

Hi there

Viaplay is not supported on the AndroidTV platform yet (as far as I am aware). You have probably tried to 'Sideload' the app via the Google Play Store on a PC, which will mean you would need to also install another app "Sideload Launcher - Android TV" - HERE. However even if it loads up, I doubt it will be 'remote control' friendly.

According to Viaplay, these are the supported devices:

https://viaplay.se/devices

Hence no Sony Android TV. However it does mention Chromecast. So you might be able to display the videos on the TV if you cast it via a mobile phone or tablet etc.

Cheers

Re: Viaplay app

Loosefaith — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 22:49:58 GMT

No sideloading its downloaded from the google play store on the tv no funni business in that regard.

Will put up a picture of it tommorrow dont have one from the play store.

Re: Viaplay app

royabrown — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 09:52:34 GMT

@Loosefaith wrote:
No sideloading, it's downloaded from the google play store on the tv, no funny business in that regard.

Will put up a picture of it tomorrow, don't have one from the play store.

I have looked for Viaplay on the Google Play Store on my UK KD-43X8309C, and no result for it is returned.

I see that it appears to be a Scandinavian service, so perhaps it is available on your territory, if that is where you are, but can you double-check that you got it from the Google Play Store on the TV, perhaps provide a screenshot showing it being returned as a result there?

Since if it is on the Google Play Store on the TV, I would certainly agree with you that it ought to work.

Re: Viaplay app

Loosefaith — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:14:27 GMT

Re: Viaplay app

Loosefaith — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:15:06 GMT

Re: Viaplay app

Loosefaith — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:18:34 GMT

Have been in contact with sony support and they said that there is no plan what so ever for a viapaly app.

Re: Viaplay app

royabrown — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:51:16 GMT

@Loosefaith wrote:
Have been in contact with sony support and they said that there is no plan what so ever for a viaplay app.

Hi - Well, I for one am satisfied you have proved your point.

Assuming you are talking to Sony in Scandinavia, I suggest you show them your screenshots, and ask them what it is you are looking at?

And why, given that the Google Play Store is carefully curated to contain only apps that will run on the TVs requesting them, you can get this app downloaded, but it does not work at all?

Re: Viaplay app

Loosefaith — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 16:33:44 GMT

I can download it but it dosent work sadly.

Will try and talk to the support again and hear what they have to say

Re: Viaplay app

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 17:51:22 GMT

Hi there

It is interesting that Viaplay is on the Google Play TV Store. However as I mentioned above, there is no mention of Sony TVs supporting Viaplay on the Viaplay website.

Sony Support also will not be able to help you, simply because they have no control or input on the Google Play TV Store - the issue is between Viaplay and Google themselves. I would advise contacting Viaplay themselves.

Cheers

Re: Viaplay app

royabrown — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:25:50 GMT

@Quinnicus wrote:
Hi there

It is interesting that Viaplay is on the Google Play TV Store. However as I mentioned above, there is no mention of Sony TVs supporting Viaplay on the Viaplay website.

Sony Support also will not be able to help you, simply because they have no control or input on the Google Play TV Store - the issue is between Viaplay and Google themselves. I would advise contacting Viaplay themselves.

Cheers

Interesting point of view Quinnicus, though I am sure you are right.

But then, what are the criteria for apps to be on the Google Play Store on these TVs?

We know the selection is enormously cut down from what you can get on Google Play Store on an Android device; presumably these are apps that run, or are supposed to run, on Android TVs, possibly specifically on Sony sets from the Google Play Store app on these sets, to run on Sony Android TVs?

But here is this app, and it doesn't.

As you say, best ask Viaplay how it got there. Be interesting to know.....

Re: Viaplay app

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:33:30 GMT

@royabrown

I never get a chance to read this, but if you want :

https://developer.android.com/distribute/googleplay/tv.html

How Viaplay got there - my guess is error - but also curious to know.

Re: Viaplay app

Loosefaith — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:42:01 GMT

Have written to viaply now just to see what they will say and will ofc report back when i know more

Re: Viaplay app

royabrown — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 11:04:56 GMT

@Quinnicus wrote:
@royabrown

I never get a chance to read this, but if you want :
https://developer.android.com/distribute/googleplay/tv.html

How Viaplay got there - my guess is error - but also curious to know.

I read it; looks like if Viaplay runs on Android TV and meets certain quality and eligibility standards - and there are quite a few hoops to jump through to get there, so it can hardly happen by accident - then it will appear in the Google Play Store.

Though this does appear to be regional from what we have seen, so we don't see it in the UK.

And such acceptance by Google does not check that it runs on all Android TVs.

So maybe Viaplay and Sony can have a little discussion about the incompatibility of Viaplay and Sony TVs, and then one or both can fix some things.

i can call up Viaplay in the Google Play Store on my Moto G phone, and it will find it, but it says it is not available in my region. So regional restrictions again, but handled differently than on the Google Play Store on the TV, which won't even show it.

There is supposed to be a special badge that appears by any app that runs on Android TV, even in the regular Google Play Store, but I can't see any examples of such a badge, on any app there, and nor can I find out from an internet search what it is supposed to look like

Re: Viaplay app

Loosefaith — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 15:03:16 GMT

Just talked to viaplay today and they say that it ofc is an error that its on the store amd will have there tecnician on it to find out what went wrong.

And from what ive beem told both from sony and viaplay there isent and most likly will never be a viaply app on sony tv's.

But the again that can all change in the future ofc.

Re: Viaplay app

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 17:45:29 GMT

Thanks @Loosefaith for posting an update. Appreciated. At least we all know how things stand at the moment.