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.

[adyjay33]

The only problem with that is they then have a choice of repairing it which in my view is not a good choice as they take it away and leave you with nothing, in the first 30 days if its faulty you can demand a refund or a replacement and do not have to accept a repair. If a TV goes wrong in the first year then its much more likely to suffer further failures from that point onwards and you could be left with a real Lemon.

[Caledonian_TV]

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@webvamsi666 wrote:

SONY PLEASE REPLY at least once here in this post if you really care.

Does any one know how this mater can pass to media? Or any news channels?

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I work in the media... I own a production Company... I'm also, as an individual,  the new owner of one of these sets which, even trying to use it as a very basic TV set, is clearly riddled with problems.  It's not news really; maybe 'Watchdog' would pick it up, but then maybe the BBC don't want to 'spoil' their 'special relationship' with Sony... 

Sony, as far as I can ascertain, really AREN'T prepared to take responsibility for this debacle.  - There are allegations of them censoring negative reviews; and no significant support for end-users, who have been lumbered with sets that simply do not do what they should do.

I've been usng Sony products - both professionally and in the home - for over 35 years. And the harsh reality here is that the only redress is simply to write the brand off...  I've ZERO confidence that they will do anything to help. When the next batch of sets is released current users WILL be dumped. 

- In my case it'll cost them in the region of £30K because I now won't  be entertaining any of Sony's kit when we update our cameras and support equipment in late 2016.  And even with the disgruntled users here - maybe a few hundred £K...   But Sony will be depending on this 'storm' just blowing over in due course...  The lost custom is a drop in the ocean to them.

'Really care'? - No, they don't really care...   Of course they don't care! 

[adyjay33]

Says it all above really... time to get rid of it.

[royabrown]

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@frankie1g wrote:
Don't get worried about 28 days or 30 days it's faulty you can return any time in first year no problem  Sent from my Samsung device

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Faulty, they have the option to repair or replace instead of refund, and at their discretion, not yours.

But these sets aren't faulty within that meaning of the word, as they all have the same Sony-provided software which does not come up to scratch. So the return reason is better 'not as described' and possibly 'not of merchantable quality', if you want a refund.

And you actually have six years in which to obtain redress, under UK law, though it obviously gets harder to explain why you kept it that long, as time goes on 🙂

But in the ongoing situation, it is the act of a perfectly reasonable man to wait for 24 Dec, or even any later date for which Sony are promising the missing functionality, and return the set if the deadline is missed.

Personally, if Sony miss the 24th Dec, I will wait for Sony's CES Press Day event at 17:00 on the 5th of January 2016, and see what they announce. If they describe fully working 2016 Android TV sets - or perhaps even if they don't, which could be worse - time to bail out.

[adyjay33]

I think you will find Currys will play very hardball if you return the TV after the 30 day period, there is no fault as you say but even under UK trading laws you do not have the riight to hold onto a set then return it months later as not fit etc... and ask for a refund... it just wont happen, if the product is "Faulty" from new then yes if it keeps failing you can probably get a refund, but as these TV's are not faulty and its software related, then how can you get a refund on an item that an update could fix?

You maybe holding onto ths TV for years for an update or end up with a future update that screws it

up, do you then go back to the shop and ask for a refund or replacement or repair? No of course you cant you will probably have to pay to get it fixed at your cost, unless of course Sony admit it which they probably wont as not all TV's would be affected as each TV may have different software configuration, in that case some TV's might not get affected at all.

No matter how we look at this the customer is being used as a test bed and this is not the way it sould be, yes software is never easy but my goodness this looks like it was never tested before it went out.

Even Microsoft do test but admit their mistakes and correct them when required too, why is Sony being so coy about this, do they know they cant fix these sets which begs the question that we have bought a TV's set they will last only a few years as most people will by them put their foot through the screen in frustration, I know I have felt like it! No one should by a product that costs 1k and it does not work!

You dont buy a car and wait for the engine to arrive months later and even then maybe find it does not run on Petrol as the software has been wrongly set to run on Diesel but wont fix it.

This is a case of selling a product not fit for the market place and rushed through to get as much into the Android TV market regardless that they dont work properly,compleley and utterly immoral and in my view bordering or even crossing trading standards law.

[frankie1g]

But they are unable repairable so refund is the only option.  Sent from my Samsung device

[adyjay33]

Its not broken thats the problem... its software. Software can be updated and so they will just keep saying the fix is coming and then do nothing about it and write off these sets as a bad batch... its so wrong!

[frankie1g]

A tv that will not start is faulty a tv that freezes is faulty a tv that does not respond to a remote control is faulty. A tv that can turn it's self is funny and faulty. Sent from my Samsung device

[adyjay33]

I agree Frankie, I only hope Currys will... do we hold on and wait till the next disaster of a firmware update screws it up or maybe fixes it though?

[_Essi_]

In Finnish support site Sony has updated information about the fixes. They say there will be fw update before the 8th of December that should fix some major bugs, but it will not address the missing features. Instead because of this new bug fix release the USB Rec and PIP feature release will be postponed to 29th of February. So almost three more months for the promised critical features (maybe to be postponed again then..). Anyone got any updates today?

https://www.sony.fi/support/fi/content/cnt-hn/prd-tvhc//android-tv-features-update-roe