Share your experience!
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.
@UKPiglet have a look at samsung community and see the answer for whichever problem you may encounter: the suggestion is always: "update to the latest fw, try resetting, call the support and make them remote resetting your tv". I have too a Samsung and had to reset it... ok only once in 2 an a half years, but it happens.
the same apply to android phones.
BTW in EU it has been just released the firmware version implementing HDD recording and PIP/PAP functionalities. Not UK till now as it was announced
So the update should, hopefully, be available pretty soon for the UK? I don't know what the difference is between EU and UK software versions, other than language but there's loads of languages in the EU.
EDIT:
Ireland also get those features today
https://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/article/73499
Why are they making us wait?!
Have you updated? Does it all work as it's supposed to?
it's planned for end of march if i remember well in uk. main difference is youview that is available only for you british guy
i have to say also that it was planned for feb 29th in eu, so they seem to be ahead of the plan hopefully also for you
It'll be very annoying if it's YouView that's holding back the update, YouView is crap and I haven't used it since a couple of days of it becoming available. It's slow and unresponsive, I was also disappointed with the fact that to view catchup stuff, all it did was open up the app on the correct program. I can do that myself (if they didn't disable All4 and ITV player without having YouView active - what the hell is that about)