N5: video play back is not possible

[libermax]

With last RC (2019-W15) on N5, media player is unable to play mp4 videos, (at least those recorded by the camera). Error message is: "Error playing video
video format is not supported"

(Playing the same videos with UTmedia works)

[advocatux]

I can confirm this bug (Nexus 5 2019-W15).

This is the log while recording a video https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/JX7cpH4zR4/ and this for when trying to play that video using the mediaplayer in the roll https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/HDqNYFhXkq/

The relevant part is qml: AbstractPlayer: 2:The media format type is not playable due to a missing codec.

BTW we should track camera issues in https://gitlab.com/ubports/apps/camera-app/issues and not here, isn't it? :)

[Flohack74]

Yeah we are on it a bit. Seems the camera permission fix had some side effects. It should only affect the recorded videos so far.

[rubencarneiro]

Video playback on nexus 5 was always broken, first was green screen, and no thumbnails, now no thumbnails and no green screen.
Since the update to 16.04 all is broken in video on nexus 5.

[lutin11]

rm .cache/gstreamer-1.0/*
solved the problem on my OnePlusOne but not on my Nexus 5.

[lutin11]

I've tryed on OTA10 rc channel, problem still present, the video can't be played with default media player but I successfully played it with UTmedia.

[nanu-c]

for me this also happens now on fp2 with mp4 files

[gouchi]

How mediaplayer-app is built for ubuntu touch ? According to the snapcraft.yaml it should be linked to gstreamer1.0-libav package but I don't see it in ubuntu touch ?

phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$ ldd /usr/bin/mediaplayer-app
	libQt5Widgets.so.5 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libQt5Widgets.so.5 (0xb6b3c000)
	libQt5Quick.so.5 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libQt5Quick.so.5 (0xb6897000)
	libQt5Qml.so.5 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libQt5Qml.so.5 (0xb65f7000)
	libQt5Gui.so.5 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libQt5Gui.so.5 (0xb62cd000)
	libQt5Core.so.5 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libQt5Core.so.5 (0xb5f09000)
	libstdc++.so.6 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libstdc++.so.6 (0xb5dfa000)
	libgcc_s.so.1 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgcc_s.so.1 (0xb5dd2000)
	libc.so.6 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libc.so.6 (0xb5ce6000)
	/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 (0xb6f4d000)
	libpthread.so.0 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libpthread.so.0 (0xb5cc2000)
	libm.so.6 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libm.so.6 (0xb5c4a000)
	libQt5Network.so.5 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libQt5Network.so.5 (0xb5b25000)
	libGLESv2.so.2 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libhybris-egl/libGLESv2.so.2 (0xb5b10000)
	libpng12.so.0 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libpng12.so.0 (0xb5ae8000)
	libharfbuzz.so.0 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libharfbuzz.so.0 (0xb5a99000)
	libz.so.1 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libz.so.1 (0xb5a77000)
	libicui18n.so.55 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libicui18n.so.55 (0xb58dd000)
	libicuuc.so.55 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libicuuc.so.55 (0xb57c0000)
	libdouble-conversion.so.1 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libdouble-conversion.so.1 (0xb57a2000)
	libdl.so.2 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libdl.so.2 (0xb578f000)
	libglib-2.0.so.0 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libglib-2.0.so.0 (0xb56b7000)
	libhybris-common.so.1 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libhybris-common.so.1 (0xb5699000)
	libfreetype.so.6 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libfreetype.so.6 (0xb5622000)
	libgraphite2.so.3 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgraphite2.so.3 (0xb55fc000)
	libicudata.so.55 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libicudata.so.55 (0xb3d35000)
	libpcre.so.3 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libpcre.so.3 (0xb3cd8000)
	librt.so.1 => /lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/librt.so.1 (0xb3cc1000)
	libandroid-properties.so.1 => /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libandroid-properties.so.1 (0xb3cac000)

Currently we have those gstreamer packages installed

phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$ dpkg -l | grep gstreamer
ii  gstreamer0.10-plugins-base:armhf                     0.10.36-2ubuntu0.2                                           armhf        GStreamer plugins from the "base" set
ii  gstreamer0.10-plugins-good:armhf                     0.10.31-3+nmu4ubuntu2.16.04.3                                armhf        GStreamer plugins from the "good" set
ii  gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio:armhf                       0.10.31-3+nmu4ubuntu2.16.04.3                                armhf        GStreamer plugin for PulseAudio
ii  gstreamer1.0-fluendo-mp3:armhf                       0.10.32.debian-1                                             armhf        Fluendo mp3 decoder GStreamer 1.0 plugin
ii  gstreamer1.0-hybris:armhf                            1.8.3-1ubuntu0.3~overlay2                                    armhf        GStreamer plugins from hybris
ii  gstreamer1.0-nice:armhf                              0.1.13-0ubuntu2                                              armhf        ICE library (GStreamer plugin)
ii  gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad-faad:armhf                  1.8.3-1ubuntu0.3~overlay2                                    armhf        GStreamer faad plugin from the "bad" set
ii  gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad-videoparsers:armhf          1.8.3-1ubuntu0.3~overlay2                                    armhf        GStreamer videoparsers plugin from the "bad" set
ii  gstreamer1.0-plugins-base:armhf                      1.8.3-1ubuntu0.3                                             armhf        GStreamer plugins from the "base" set
ii  gstreamer1.0-plugins-good:armhf                      1.8.3-1ubuntu0.4                                             armhf        GStreamer plugins from the "good" set
ii  gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly-amr:armhf                  1.8.3-1ubuntu0.1                                             armhf        GStreamer plugins from the "ugly" set
ii  gstreamer1.0-pulseaudio:armhf                        1.8.3-1ubuntu0.4                                             armhf        GStreamer plugin for PulseAudio
ii  libgstreamer-plugins-bad1.0-0:armhf                  1.8.3-1ubuntu0.3~overlay2                                    armhf        GStreamer development files for libraries from the "bad" set
ii  libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-0:armhf                0.10.36-2ubuntu0.2                                           armhf        GStreamer libraries from the "base" set
ii  libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-0:armhf                 1.8.3-1ubuntu0.3                                             armhf        GStreamer libraries from the "base" set
ii  libgstreamer-plugins-good1.0-0:armhf                 1.8.3-1ubuntu0.4                                             armhf        GStreamer development files for libraries from the "good" set
ii  libgstreamer0.10-0:armhf                             0.10.36-1.5ubuntu1                                           armhf        Core GStreamer libraries and elements
ii  libgstreamer1.0-0:armhf                              1.8.3-1~ubuntu0.1                                            armhf        Core GStreamer libraries and elements

May we try to add gstreamer1.0-libav package ?

[dbdb78]

I'm running N5 (32GB) in Swedish, when I try to play mp4 i get roughly translated "An error has occurred in the attempt to read media". This is the case for both for video made by camera and external content.

I didn't really follow the last post. Maybe there is an update that can be done, codec-wise?

[lutin11]

this are some more logs from version 2020/01/28
http://paste.ubuntu.com/p/kcsKymnvZx/

[LlamasJM]

It affects me too. Fp2 OTA12 RC Version 67. When I try to play mp4 or MOV videos, I get this message: "Error playing video
video format is not supported".
It affects Teleports too. Impossible video playback in Teleports!

[t-maes]

Same here on my N5, and same message. The video is afterwards readable by other players, but there is no sound at all. I found no setting for that (for information, I see videos in my library taken with the same phone in mid January 2019, with no image(it wasn't working) but the sound was there).

[doniks]

I wonder whether the problem is on the one hand some devices might not have support for certain video codecs in hardware and on the other hand there is a legal challenges with redistributing the software support for those codecs?!

If that is the case, maybe we could do it similar as desktop Linux does it: The codec is not included out of the box, but the user has some simple means of downloading and installing it themselves.

Maybe it could go into some ~/.codecs folder in the home dir or something. That way, ubports isn't redistributing it, it doesn't occupy space in the rootfs where space is scarce anyways and also we don't need to mess with the read only system.

[LlamasJM]

I wonder whether the problem is on the one hand some devices might not have support for certain video codecs in hardware and on the other hand there is a legal challenges with redistributing the software support for those codecs?!

If that is the case, maybe we could do it similar as desktop Linux does it: The codec is not included out of the box, but the user has some simple means of downloading and installing it themselves.

Maybe it could go into some ~/.codecs folder in the home dir or something. That way, ubports isn't redistributing it, it doesn't occupy space in the rootfs where space is scarce anyways and also we don't need to mess with the read only system.

But I had video support in OTA 11. Mp4, MOV... And now, in OTA 12 rc, I don't. It's not a hardware problem...

[GI9VANNI]

Unfortunately this bug is still present on Nexus 5 with OTA-12 stable.

[ubuntu-touch-testing]

I also just reproduced this problem on a Nexus5.

A workaround is to play videos using UTmedia. Even the only two reviews for UTmedia in the OpenStore mention this. This is probably an issue with the app and not Ubuntu Touch.

Is this the correct place to log this error? Or should this be reported in the GitLab repository for this Gallery App? https://gitlab.com/ubports/apps/gallery-app

Reproduced on Nexus5
Channel: Release Candidate
OS Build Number: 2020-W24
UBports Image part: 20200602-30971

[t-maes]

UT media plays videos but, if I remember well, without sound either

[ubuntu-touch-testing]

I have UTmedia 0.14 installed and the sound plays in UTmedia for a video recorded on the phone (Nexus5 with the above stated versions). Please advise if anyone wants me to do further tests on this.

[t-maes]

ok I will re-check... good news if it is corrected.

[t-maes]

It still doesn't work here... maybe because I'm on the development channel ( 2020-06-17/2 ) ?
UTMedia 0.14
If I open the .mp4 on another pc there's no sound either.
And the micro is ok.

[ezze]

UTmedia also doesn't work usually. It's not an option. I think that the issue should be fixed in core gallery application.

[ubuntu-touch-testing]

Yes, of course Gallery should be fixed. I am NOT suggesting that UTmedia is a solution, it is not user friendly and does not seem maintained. The reason I report the videos working in UTmedia is to help isolate the problem.

I just retested on development also (2020-06-17/2). Front and back camera both record video and sound correctly and these videos are playable in UTmedia, but not Gallery.

[ubuntu-touch-testing]

It still doesn't work here... maybe because I'm on the development channel ( 2020-06-17/2 ) ?
UTMedia 0.14
If I open the .mp4 on another pc there's no sound either.
And the micro is ok.

@tmaes04 Have you tried a forced reinstall of all the apps just in case?

System Settings --> Updates --> Update settings --> Reinstall all apps

[lduboeuf]

So how can we make progress on it ? I don't understand all the pieces, is it related to the kernel, missing library ? Does halium 7.1 fix the issue ? .

[Flohack74]

Yes with Halium 7.1 we should have this fixed, among other problems. There are a few blockers still on getting 7.1 on the core devices (to avoid everyone to do a manual reinstallation) but the progress that was made is already quite far.

[Flohack74]

@winstonford do you own an N5 and can help with testing?

[lduboeuf]

@Flohack74 i can test if needed too

[rubencarneiro]

Video playback can be easy fix

[rubencarneiro]

Im working on a halium 9 port but wont be upload so soon.

[winstonford]

@Flohack74 I do not have an N5.Just doing research. Never even touched android, let alone ubuntu touch.. but my pixel 3a arrives today, and ffmpeg never ceases to amaze me.

[Flohack74]

For reasons of Android´s proprieatary stack I would not mess with reencoding anything. Also we have to still run a minimal core Android image in a container, so getting video streamed in and out of this sounds just too wild ;)

[winstonford]

Hmm 'androids proprietary stack' makes me realize how little I understand of ubuntu touch.. I thought it was a way to get ubuntu on the phone, albeit a 16.04 ubuntu. The gui, camera, etc is really gravy for me, I just want to run a server stack on the phone that I can ssh into from my laptop. Does 'minimal core Android image in a container' mean that you are running docker? that's another goal of mine. Sorry this is off-topic.

[Flohack74]

Its a bit off-topic :P - If you want to run a server then probably UT is not what you want: Its clearly a human-interface-focused OS, and installing custom stuff and services is very cumbersome (everthing is write-protected, background tasks are hard to do and image-based delta upgrades might revert all of what you installed when the next update is made).
No, its not "Ubuntu Desktop on a phone". Also not Ubuntu Server ;)
Current mobile hardware (with a few minor exceptions) cannot run a normal Linux distro. The drivers are not in the kernel, you need to accept that the vendor locks you in on their firmware and software, and Android is not a "real" Linux, but more a fork of the kernel only.
YOu might want to look at the Pinephone, Pinephone Pro or other Non-Android devices on the market.

[winstonford]

Thanks a lot for the info. Very helpful. Going to look into pocket vms app as I've already bought the 3a.

[walking-octopus]

Thanks a lot for the info. Very helpful. Going to look into pocket vms app as I've already bought the 3a.

You can run PostmarketOS on that. It's a minimal distro, so you should be fine.

[walking-octopus]

Installing gstreamer1.0-libav fixes thumbnail generation and audio playback, but the video is still broken.

[TipsyTheCat]

What's the current progress with this problem? Also, where is the "home" of development? And is this device still maintained?

[Flohack74]

Well I made efforts to forward-port N5 to Halium 7.1, and now 9.0, but it takes time, and I have also 100 other UT items on my plate. I would however be faster with that if I have someone else helping with this port. 100% it will fix video playback, and its also a precondition to bring this device to Ubuntu 20.04 base later this year.

[walking-octopus]

It will also allow for WayDroid support. :)

[Flohack74]

Yeah Waydroid could work if we rebase on Halium 9 ;)

[weirdal3333]

I have a Nexus 5, and I'm willing to install whatever you guys want on it to test and get this working.

[walking-octopus]

I have a Nexus 5, and I'm willing to install whatever you guys want on it to test and get this working.

Me too. UT is already getting into the 8-year phone lifecycle territory with OTA updates, so it would be very sad to lose the Nexus 5 support when moving to 20.04.

[weirdal3333]

The last activity for this device was back in April. Is the project abandoned, @rubencarneiro ? I would like to be able to test anything on my hammerhead device, but is seems like everyone has just abandoned ubuntu touch for the nexus 5... We were so close!
Video playback and nfc are the only 2 major features that are missing, and most people don't even use nfc. Video playback is such a basic feature that you have allegedly solved... But I don't see any results. where is the OTA that fixes it? I don't mind completely reinstalling the OS for testing.

[Flohack74]

Pleasew ait for the Halium 9 build of this device. We ar enot investing in anything below, since only with Halium 9 we will be able to carry it over to 20.04
Also please understand that this is a very aged device. Usage over the last 2 years has dropped by 50% in user numbers. We can see people jumping on new hardware, and we need also to invest in Halium 10 and 11, soon 12.

[Dogo6647]

Has any progress been made, almost 6 months later? I noticed the development channel getting an update for this month, And I didn't notice any changes at all, not even with things that don't have to do with video playback. Why were the Halium images deleted from the releases tab? did video playback just magically stop working again on those? (edit: oh wait they did) I recently got a Nexus 5 hoping that it would be compatible with everything, but the lack of hardware acceleration for video made playing them more painful than it sounded when I saw the little compatibility checklist on ubports' website. I could help with testing if I wasn't so scared of permanently paperweighting my device.

[t-maes]

Bonjour Madame, Monsieur, Je serai absent jusqu'au 06/03/2023. Cordialement,

…

-- Thierry Maes Auditeur PAE / Certificateur PEB agréé par la Wallonie 0475/ 30 36 51

[rubencarneiro]

Pleasew ait for the Halium 9 build of this device. We ar enot investing in anything below, since only with Halium 9 we will be able to carry it over to 20.04 Also please understand that this is a very aged device. Usage over the last 2 years has dropped by 50% in user numbers. We can see people jumping on new hardware, and we need also to invest in Halium 10 and 11, soon 12.

Not promising anything i do not like to do that, but i will try to port this device to halium 9, again no promisses.

[Dogo6647]

Not promising anything i do not like to do that, but i will try to port this device to halium 9, again no promisses.

No pressure, take your time, and you can totally decide if it happens or not, but i'm sure this move will be highly appreciated by all hammerhead users. Personally I wasn't expecting bigger things such as 20.04 or Halium 9, video playback and hardware acceleration in browser (WebGL, smooth-ish YouTube videos, smooth-ish scrolling) working properly is enough for me.

[gouchi]

@rubencarneiro It seems some work has been started by @Flohack74

https://github.com/ubports/android_kernel_lge_hammerhead/tree/halium-9.0
https://github.com/ubports/android_device_lge_hammerhead/tree/halium-9.0

[Dogo6647]

As @gouchi said, yes, some work has already been done, and there's a pull request on the main ubports repository for the device that still hasn't been approved for some reason. It's possible that the UBports devs forgot about its existence, as there's been no further replies to @rubencarneiro 's last message in the PR and again, the PR is still open. ubports/android_device_lge_hammerhead#31

[weirdal3333]

With last RC (2019-W15) on N5, media player is unable to play mp4 videos, (at least those recorded by the camera). Error message is: "Error playing video video format is not supported"

(Playing the same videos with UTmedia works)

@libermax can you add the text device:hammerhead to the top post for easier searchability?

[Flohack74]

@libermax plz restest with latest RC

[Dogo6647]

@Flohack74 AFAIK YouTube video playback stopped working entirely on latest RC, I didn't test local videos before switching back to stable.

[Dogo6647]

Nevermind, HTML5 Videos work again, but still nothing's working on the video player app

[rubencarneiro]

As @gouchi said, yes, some work has already been done, and there's a pull request on the main ubports repository for the device that still hasn't been approved for some reason. It's possible that the UBports devs forgot about its existence, as there's been no further replies to @rubencarneiro 's last message in the PR and again, the PR is still open. ubports/android_device_lge_hammerhead#31

Ok im updating things to go more toward focal, but i will work on this as i can because i do also have a full time job.
So no promisses.
rubencarneiro/android_device_lge_hammerhead@ebb43b2