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.

[royabrown]

Shoot me down if I'm wrong, but I seem to be seeing the explosion of crapness that these TVs used to be settling down to a handful of small annoyances at last.

I'm back to mine on Sunday, ready for the latest update, and I am expecting it to be mostly well-behaved.

And I will give it a factory reset as a birthday present 🙂

Let's see see how long the honeymoon lasts.....

But as a wise earlier poster linked:-

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarcher/2015/07/23/android-tv-review-just-what-the-smart-tv-world-doe...

i.e. the problem with these sets isn't software, or hardware particularly, it's the UI. Which is deliberate and designed, not as a TV, but as a video content consumption device. Of which TV is a component, sure, but just a component, illustrated by it not being the first and foremost thing these sets do.

So are Sony prescient, premature, or presbyopic, presumptions and preposterous to do this? 

It may be the way of the future, and perhaps one day we will wonder how we ever managed with anything else.

But for me, for now, I want my telly to be first and foremost a telly. And I would really like to be able to pick a skin for this set that reflected that.

[TWLeebo]

@royabrown you are spot on, I've been describing my "TV" as a content delivery system since I bought it last August. It's a PC with a screen.

[hordley]

No real issues with mine. Some people are never happy

Sent from my iPad

[bobm2t]

Update - Well, I decided to try something else... turn the Wifi on, turn the TV on, leave the computer off and the TV works fine. So, it turns out the issue is the (iMac) computer connects to the TV (for some reason), cancelling out the internet/Wifi connection.

Resolution, make sure the TV is up and running with the Wifi first before switching on any computer assigned to the same network.

Apologies for complaining to Sony, the download update could be partly responsible (it was fine before I had to change my routine to get it to work properly!) but mainly... there's just too much gear in the house!

Best.

Bob

[dhanpal.panwar]

Hi, how is it looking after the last SW update? I'm after 49x8309 but holding off after looking these issues reported on this thread? Kindly advise is it worth buying this TV after the last update??

DP

[shtira]

Simply, some people have more needs. Or some people insist on the features that some companies put in their adds, but don't bother to incorporate them in the appliances...

Valentin Tomov
FSE Medical systems
S&T BG
mobile phone

[bobm2t]

Hi Dhanpal.Panwar,
Overall, I am happy with it.

Although, I am a little miffed at the way 'YouView' displays the 'Guide' but fails to let you view the current transmission. All (HD) TVs I had seen before offered this feature. Thinking maybe it'll get updated later, as they mentioned March 2016, there would be major update to the service.

Anyway, I realise this is not going to happen and although the controls in 'Home' are rather clunky (the shelving area as they call it) the picture quality at 4K is brilliant.

I don't subscribe to Google, so I am not getting any benefit from that, if there is any of course!

The USB connection were a little tricky at first, but rather than use the 'external inputs 'control screen, it is best to open the 'Video' app. As that is connected to it (the input terminal).

In hindsight, I should have bought a TV that wasn't Android because it isn't something I am into, I don't own a Smart phone, so you can see something isn't quite right there! However, I have Apple Mac gear and have that hooked up and all worked fine until the last update knocked the WiFi connection a little, which I figured a way around it last night - turn the computer on after the TV has 'warmed up' and done it's checks for updates/apps, etc.

If you enjoy being connected with everything, from your handheld phone to TV to computer, you'll love it. If not, simple just get a TV that can show 'Catch up' or 'Streaming' via a dongle (Amazon Firewire?) and you'll be happier.

As one reporter said, we all love our TV's, why stuff up something that's proved itself with the transmissions and not bombard the user/viewer with 'content'. And to be honest, it should be viewer for TVs and not 'User', that's the Internet!

Good luck on your decision.

Regards,

Bobm2t

[royabrown]

---

@bobm2t wrote:
Hi Dhanpal.Panwar,
Overall, I am happy with it.

Although, I am a little miffed at the way 'YouView' displays the 'Guide' but fails to let you view the current transmission. All (HD) TVs I had seen before offered this feature. Thinking maybe it'll get updated later, as they mentioned March 2016, there would be major update to the service.

---

I'm mystified by what you say here. How does YouView not let you view the current transmission, exactly?

if you click on a programme that is current, on any channel of your choice, the programme should be displayed, and it should play,

This is not anything that needs updating, as it should work like this now.

try pressing the On/Standby button on your remote for just over five seconds, and letting the TV soft reboot.

Does this fix it? If not, you may need to do a factory reset.

But before doing that, please come back and describe in more detail your expectations, and what actually happens. Lest it is your expectations that need adjusting, and not the TV.

[dazworld]

Since purchasing the 49x8309 set in September I experienced lots of un-addressed problems.

7 months on I have returned the set to Currys and successfully exchanged it for a Panasonic 55CX802B (paying an additional £200). The Panasonic is extremely responsive, picture is amazing and I have the features I want (bar mirroring which I can’t quite yet get going).

After installing the Sony set in September 2015 and experiencing issues from the start (including it not having advertised features) I called Sony; posted concerns on this forum; contacted Currys (where I bought the set); wrote a letter of complaint to Sony.

Sony didn’t bother responding to my complaint but simply created a technical ticket with a first line support person somewhere in the globe.

I was not prepared to spend a day on the phone with Sony tech support doing ‘do this; try that’ with the set inevitably being in the same buggy, sluggish condition.

You can see my complaint letter in February (where I’ve listed the issues) by clicking my name in this forum.

I had been a big Sony TV fan but am no longer. Bugs and issues will happen but not being addressed and the un-respectfully nature of Sony not bothering to respond to my letter of complaint is unforgiveable in a company>customer arrangement.

The regularity of the firmware updates is testament to problems, but they have failed to fix the issues. And to top this Sony will soon cease to release fixes for the 2015 sets. Things will get worse.

Going into Currys

I went into Currys armed with a pack of print outs from this forum post (including the forum start page showing the number of views/posts made); copies of my communications with Sony and Currys; and information that I had spoken to a John Lewis salesperson during the week who said JL has received a lot of returned Sony 2015 Android TVs and it was worrying. Actually whilst walking past some Sony’s - both in John Lewis and Currys stores this week – I noticed either ‘Sorry, xxx is not responding’ error messages or ‘update firmware’.

Currys were initially not going to accept the return (I bought the set in Sep 2015, and it’s now April 2016) saying they’d ordinarily need to return the set to Sony to test. But, with the expectation that the set would return with the same issues (as they were predominantly software-related) an exchange for any other set (whatever brand) was agreed.

Thanks to Currys for making the return not so much of a pain than it has been with Sony.

Sony – you’ve done a poor show here.

Firmware	Delivered what...
29 September 2015	?
13 October	?
4 November	YouView (finally)
10 December	?
02 February 2016	?
8 March	HDD recording (finally)
12 April	?

[rooobb]

So @dazworld having sent back your Sony tv 7 months ago what's the meaning of this post? You are  still looking at Sony firmware release but you should check Panasonic ones.