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.
So just had this email sent to me......
" Dear Sony customer,
Having continued our engineering efforts on our new Android televisions since our most recent updates on our website, we can confirm that we have overcome the technical issues reported, and a new firmware version is now available for UK residents to download "
So its official now!
@anjenki75 wrote:Ah @rdlowry that HbbTVLauncher error is not new, I've been having that one for a while.
Have done update, not tried a lot but seems a bit snappier, and the input labels are now shown alongside the input number when you switch inputs. The guide uses the new freeview logo, no idea if that was there before as I don't use the inbuilt tuner. I did notice some slight lip sync error on the internal tuner, though curiously it seems to be in the other direction (i.e. the sound is slightly ahead). Time will tell if HDMI lip sync is fixed. Plex is still 2 channel, whether you enable passthrough in plex or not.
@anjenki75 Thanks for letting me know. I've seen the TvDotAction error many times when switching to the guide with the previous firmware but not this error, oh well...
Unfortunately, despite applying the update, I have experienced some lip sync issues similar to that already posted by another person where sound is actually ahead of the picture.
This happened on Netflix and occurred after the stream started to stutter (not sure why, we have 150mbit Virgin and TV is connected via 5Ghz WiFi). Is this acceptable, or should I expect the TV to be able to regulate audio and picture sync after network issues?
I tried casting from my phone - picture fine, sound sounds like its playing at 2x speed!
Just a further update, rescanned the Satellite feed and the Astra 4K demo is available on channel 101 for me, just watched it and it looks amazing and a good way to check your picture setup.
Still disappointed that the Amazon Video doesn't have 5.1 yet, I was thinking though for Amazon and some of the other apps like Google Movies could it be that it needs a app update? I know it's not a normal app from the store but its still an app. I wonder if they just need Amazon to release a fix to them?
Might try Amazon Support and ask if they kinow when it will be updated
I've got a nexus player running marshmallow, latest version of Google Play movies. If I plug it into TV, I can only get 2.0. Plugged straight into Amp, I get 5.1.
@UnoBorg all i can suggest is try retuning it using these settings
ASTRA 28.2°E
Transponder: 2.038
Frequency : 12.441 GHz
Polarisation: Vertical
Symbol Rate : 29.5 MS/s
DVB-S2
Modulation: QPSK
FEC: 3/4
i can look tomorrow at my settings and confirm if needed
So far so good. The UI feels much snappier, and no observed HDMI lip sync issues as yet.
Much happier with the TV now. Glad that the bugs are fixed. Looking forward to the new features now. Hopefully we'll be getting YouView next!
Thanks Sony!