2015 Bravia Android TV Issues

[NickCo1979]

I thought I'd create a generic thread to cover off the issues being encountered on the 2015 Bravia Android TVs. I've listed my issues below with fixes / workarounds and responses from support. All comments and solutions welcome!

1) Hot Swap HDMI doesn't work - manifested by no input on HDMI channels 2, 3 and 4 on the KD-49X8305C. Workaround - reset the TV, either by holding down the remote power button for 5 seconds or by switching the TV off at the wall and then back on again. Further details on this thread: https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/kd-49x8305c-hdmi-2-3-4-inputs-not-working/td-p/1944435

2) HDD Recording doesn't work - error message states a system update is required but none is available when checking. Hopefully this will be fixed soon by a firmware update.

3) Netflix App doesn't work - this seems like the app has been deliberately disabled. So far a support case has only recommended that a factory reset be performed (took two days to get to that cracking piece of advice.....), with no improvement as a result. A temporary (albeit for advanced users only) workaround is provided by MikeLothian on this thread - https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/netflix-support-for-kd55x8509c-android-tv/td-p/1945360 

4) Sound lag and performance issues after the TV (KD-49X8305C) has been on standby for a while - manifested for me as stuttering and sound / picture sync issues in all apps (youtube, amazon instant video etc) and HDMI sources (PS4, seperate YouView box etc). Hopefully this will be fixed in a firmware update, at the moment workarounds involve either changing channels to get the sync to work or in my case having to turn the TV off and then on again at the socket.

As stated previously, all comments welcome. Personally I'm willing to give Sony a couple of weeks to fix this, but if it's not done soon I'll be sending my new TV back for a refund as it's not really fit for purpose.

[MrLizard]

My point is that Sony seem that be trying to do too much with too little. A regular pipeline of bug fixes and small incremental improvements is a good thing. For example, if they had only focused on the HDMI ARC and Netflix 5.1 issues for the August, September, October update, we'd probably have had this 6 weeks ago, and that would probably draw a line under a fair proportion of the complaints. It would also mean that these issues can be crossed off the list, freeing up the Dev team to work on YouView integration, or HDD Recording, or whatever else has been prioritised for delivery next based on customer pain/business value/regulatory impact/etc... These Big Bang releases just lead to more work, because whenever something changes their poor beleaguered QA team no doubt have to run all their regression tests again.

Shipping small improvements as per a regular delivery cycle is better than shipping nothing at all. 

[Al_Charles]

Re Survey

Are the results of the survey available yet,

[Triswillmott]

Should I start with the good news or the bad news?

Good news (sort of) after emailing Rick londema I've just had a phone call from one of the top escalations guys. She told me they've had thousands of reports of these TVs not working correctly and are taking my tv away to take it apart to probably replace parts.
The bad news is that October date they've given for firmware is a placeholder date. They still haven't had confirmation on a final release date for it and aren't yet sure which issues will be tackled.

Unfortunately I've waited so long for a response from Sony and Currys wouldn't accept tv back until Sony had resolved the case first, that it's now gone over the returns period and I'm stuck with it.
Based on the phone call I just had, it sounds like we could still be in for a long agonising wait for these sets to work anywhere close to how they're intended to work.

Tris Willmott
*****

(edit: removed phone number)

[rdlowry]

Tris, you might want to remove your mobile number from your post

[stoolzo]

the poll ran out at 100 signs, they wanted money after that. I posted the results at the time, now on page 144

[DaM3k0n]

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@Triswillmott wrote:

Should I start with the good news or the bad news?

Good news (sort of) after emailing Rick londema I've just had a phone call from one of the top escalations guys. She told me they've had thousands of reports of these TVs not working correctly and are taking my tv away to take it apart to probably replace parts.
The bad news is that October date they've given for firmware is a placeholder date. They still haven't had confirmation on a final release date for it and aren't yet sure which issues will be tackled.

Unfortunately I've waited so long for a response from Sony and Currys wouldn't accept tv back until Sony had resolved the case first, that it's now gone over the returns period and I'm stuck with it.
Based on the phone call I just had, it sounds like we could still be in for a long agonising wait for these sets to work anywhere close to how they're intended to work.

Tris Willmott
*****

(edit: removed phone number)

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Have you had it longer than 6 mnths??  The TVs have inherent faults, they are not fit for purpose and you could argue they dont match their description.. there are several aspects of the SOGA that these fail on, so I believe you are at least entitiled to return the faulty set for replacement or exchange.. although I suspect the latter would be preferable!

[Triswillmott]

Cheers for the edit, oversight on my part..

It's just over a month old, but Currys are stubborn as always. Doesn't help the fact that this to was a direct replacement for my other Sony tv that I claimed sales of good act warranty replacement on.
Going to see what the outcome of sonys investigation and firmware updates are, if no improvement then I'll be pushing full steam ahead with a SOGA return.

[ZombieFried777]

Just been chatting to paddy power bookmakers to see if they will take a bet on an update being released on the 2015 android tv's. Specifically including youview and it being before 2016, I want to put some money on NO. They are going to look into it and call me back in the next couple of days. 

[SDCEGavster]

As an ex-Sony designer I am still good friends with the Chief Art Director/Home Product Design Group in Tokyo. These are his TVs we are moaning about. He just replied to my email regarding our issues posted here and (from the horse's mouth so to speak) he wrote:

"I know [of] the Android problem and our software engineers are working hard on it. So you will get firmware update several times within this year and then final? one might be sometime next year. please be patient."

No marketing BS.

As close to the truth as I'm likely to believe.

I'm about to update him on what we've been told in the UK by Sony.

[cozzykim]

@SDCEGavster

Please urge him to consider saving his reputation by pressing for release of a series of small incremental updates to resolve the most annoying issues, such as the 0.3s lip sync gap over HDMI