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.

[Caledonian_TV]

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adyjay33 wrote:

There are no advanced features now as they have broken them all!

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Not much by the way of basic functions either...

I hear the Phillips G8 is still spoken highly of in some circles... Perhaps Sony could acquire one as an exemplar of what a TV set is supposed to be like - before moving on to more ambitious projects!

[frankie1g]

He he no need for instructions  Sent from my Samsung device

[adyjay33]

The only people we should be "Attacking" as such is Sony, Caledonian is only expressing what he think s about his TV and I dont blame him.

Starting to turn on others is not the way it should be... I fully understand how he feels too, its not right we are treated like this fullstop...

We shall have to see if any other updates come out or just return these pieces of junk, everyone has to make their own choice, its as simple as that.

Making the shops we bought them off understand is another issue though.

[frankie1g]

Phew I thought I was going insane Sent from my Samsung device

[elraouk]

I don't want recommendations, so can turn those off... Sort of.  I don't want half the featured apps, can't figure out if you can get rid of half this crap or not?  External inputs can be switched off, although I get 3 phantom icons for hdmi 1 sources (there is nothing attached to hdmi 1) Can't delete or hide sony apps that i don't want.  I should be able to customise my home screen to remove everything I don't want to see, so it just has my Hdmi sources, Netflix, Amazon prime, Plex etc. 

[adyjay33]

I think if we all carry on watching these TV's go wonky and doing strange things is enough to make me go insane for sure! 🙂

[dobooth13]

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@adyjay33 wrote:

The only people we should be "Attacking" as such is Sony, Caledonian is only expressing what he think s about his TV and I dont blame him.

He is rather repetitive and manic which weakens the message I think.

[Caledonian_TV]

Yes I did...  And I was fully aware that all these 'extra' functions were completely irrelevant and, largely, problematic... Which is why the sets were being sold at a reduced price.

What I didn't realise is that these frivolities would contribute to the instability of the set to such an extent that they would interfere with its very basic functions ( tuning, switching latency etc) and also that they also could not be turned off or deleted. I also didn't expect the UI to have been created by someone who had obviously-never studied User Interface Design in their life!  

Basically - and this is an educated guess - these sets just don't work because the hardware is not adequate to run all the 'rubbish' (merely my opinion) that's been loaded onto them.  - All the worse since you can't get rid of it; as you might (say) a PC that came pre-loaded with nonsense...

I've said this before of course... But Sony need to 'fess up' to the fact that they've mis-sold these sets. They either recall them (not going to happen) or make them function properly at a basic level and find another way of providing their end users who want/need these extra features happy; be that by refunding, replacing or providing extra hardware...

[frankie1g]

Ok let's get back to the real stuff when's the next firmware update please I fully expect want another soon and well before March hdd p in p launch  Sent from my Samsung device

[Caledonian_TV]

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@dobooth13 wrote:

He is rather repetitive which weakens the message I think.

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Unfortunately necessary when Sony clearly aren't listening...  

Go back a few pages and you'll find allegations of Sony censoring posts; allegations which are in my opinion well-founded. Now I'm being 'attacked' for repeating a simple fact...

While the 'Neros' at Sony fiddle around the edges of some of the 'advanced' features; these sets just don't work and are badly designed at a very basic level!  - Go back to basics, get the platform stable and functioning, THEN deal with the frills... Common sense and basic sound engineering practice!

That's quite an inconvenient message for Sony.... And possibly the dealers; who are on the 'front line' facing angry customers and massive expense returning these rejected goods!  The fact that even an experienced technician can't make one of these sets do the very basic things a TV set should do without problems!  - If you were actually thinking about returning a set that fact alone should interest you...  

"moaning about everything"?  "boring"?  - How very shilly!   No... My complaints about the set really are quite specific...   It BASICALLY doesn't work properly...  

As for the next update?  Well; they've had these things on the market for six months... Yesterday's update addressed nothing of any note... Those requiring the HDD recording function are being 'binned off again'...   And all we seem to get from Sony is abdication of responsibility, evidence of censorship and what now appears to be fairly lame shilling...

Be nice if nobody complained wouldn't it Sony?

We might get on better if Sony just published the source code - no doubt there is somebody 'out there'  who could hack out a decent solution!