U.S. – Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is taking a step beyond its competitors by letting its Google Play Movies video platform the first to receive dozens of films and videos in 4K ultra-high definition (4K UHD).
The Google Play Movies app on the Play Store will start off with 125 titles in 4K UHD, and more will come in the future, including movies like Ghostbusters (2015) and Captain Phillips.
The catch is that these movies will not come free. The 4K content is only available for purchase on the app rather than rental, and pricing starts at $29.999.
It is the official incursion of UHD quality on the roster of Play Movies’ downloadable content
The 4K UHD content on Play Movies uses VP9 codec, one of the two original codes that drive this kind of videos, while another one is the HEVC. VP9 makes it possible to mix fine video quality with online streaming.
Consumers will be able to purchase the new content from any device with Android OS or via Google Play Movies on the web.
Only select products can stream 4K UHD content at the moment: these are Sony Bravia Android lineup of TVs, the Xiaomi’s Mi Box 3, and Google’s Chromecast Ultra device.
Also, the service is currently only available for the United States and Canada. Worldwide consumers will have to wait a little bit longer to see 4K UHD on Google Play Videos.
How to get 4K UHD on Google Play Videos?
Is the users are in the United States or Canada and are eager to try out the new media content, Google is offering a limited-time deal of one free 4K UHD video download to anyone who purchases the Chromecast Ultra.
The offer includes any of the 125 movie posters from Play Movies, and it equals savings of at least $20.
4K content is becoming increasingly popular
4K videos are growing in popularity as of late, and more and more viewers and producers are supporting televisions and devices that can play it.
The BBC Media launched its first HD 4K broadcast this week, so it became the first broadcaster to do so. Before the BBC, only paid-for services like Netflix, Sky, and BT have produced and distributed 4K UHD content.
Sky offers Ultra HD coverage of sport and music events as part of it Sky Q service, available to subscribers at no extra cost. However, only the company’s most expensive packages support it.
And last week, Virgin Media launched its TV V6, the very first 4K UHD TiVo box.
Source: Google Play