Server Version#: 1.20.0.3133
Player Version#: 4.34.4 (web)
So if you have both a 4k / 2160p version of a film and a 1080p stacked / merged together that you can select via “Play version” (note the “2” tag in the upper left corner), the web interface always shows 1080p as the resolution (see screenshot). Note that the XML under “Get Info” shows the 4k resolution, and that other clients (iOS, Android / Shield, ATV) all show the actual resolution, so it’s something in the web UI. I mean it’s not a big deal but it’s also one of those things that should be easy to fix right?
What do you know about the client you observe this from? Perhaps the default version is best suited to the client codec capabilities/resolution/colour depth etc.
your web browser can’t handle HEVC, not might it be 4k resolution thus would require transcode so perhaps it is selecting the appropriate version?
I suppose it’s an interpretation of what you want out of web UI. I know a lot of people who don’t browse directly on their devices all the time, or who view stuff in the web UI during the day to determine what they’ll watch later and if there’s a 4k HDR version that plays into the decision.
As a function of “yes this device should play the 1080p version” the interface is effective. For browsing the library to determine what formats are available, no, it’s not nearly as effective. Ideally it should list the available formats it’s originally in.
You can list HDR movies. Change “All” to “HDR” when viewing the library in Plex Web.
/13 Hours The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
/13 Hours The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016).mkv
/13 Hours The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) [2160p].mkv
Yep further to that link to my other post, using the HDR tag is exactly my work flow.
As I mentioned in that other post im just really surprised how well the server/clients are now so smart at making the right choices. More surprised that it flew under the radar (at least for me).
Look, I appreciate all of you giving me workarounds (note that the HDR thing has been around forever and doesn’t always work properly). However this is less of “here’s how to do it” and more of “this UI element is confusing for non-technical folks”. For example, if you have someone who doesn’t know there way around some of the more obscure Plex menus on different devices (think your non-techie friends) these are all non-starters. It’s the exact situation as one of the biggest complaints about Plex in general – all clients default to 720p at low bitrates, and walking someone through changing that is not the most straightforward procedure, not to mention end-user fatigue quickly sets in when you have to change it on multiple devices.
On an end-user dedicated device like an ATV or a Shield or your phone, sure, it’s fine to show what the capabilities of that device are as the “video” field (though that could also be debated). However the web UI has broader applications, including (as mentioned before) browsing for what’s available. A perfect example: my parents wanted to see if there was a 4k available version of film X on there and they weren’t in front of their TV at home; they quickly perused from their phone and laptop and just saw the video field as “1080p”. There was a 4k version, but to find it you’d have to either hit “play version” which is buried in a submenu, or go back to the library and sort or filter by HDR (which misses all sorts of HDR content, which is another issue entirely).
Or let’s take another scenario: my brother has a Shield in a room with a 1080p plasma; everything he tries to play defaults to the 4k version, and lists it in the description in the Shield’s interface, but he doesn’t WANT that on the 1080p display for obvious reasons. In other words what’s listed for him doesn’t reflect either the capabilities of that particular setup (the entire point of the field) nor does it make it easier for him to play the correct version.
Listing the available formats would be far less confusing (this is what the streaming services do); it could easily be added as another field if you want to really keep the generic “video” field the same, as there’s plenty of room. The optimal solution would be to show what’s available, and what this particular Plex client is going to play or transcode to when you hit Play. More information is empowering, not hiding it behind odd interfaces that don’t operate as expected.
