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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@scoopy6 wrote:

What do you think guys? is it finger problem on our part or is there a better explanation or way round?

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The overally UI design - bearing in mind it's a television set and not a giant mobile 'phone or tablet - is completely incompetent. As you seem to suggest; had they done the basic legwork they'd have mapped what button presses and navigation moves are necessary to achieve basic things and made them easy for all...   Nobody on the design team has thought through the simple question - who is going to be sitting down watching this thing and how will they actually behave?   There isn't even the option to set it up in a 'simple' mode that (say) an elderly parent could use with ease; that is just bad design. That's coupled to fairly poor performance; 'debouncing' of control presses is very poor for instance, not so much a design issue as a coding problem I suspect. 

As others have said, this range will probably never be sorted out. Sony have their eye on the 2016 range, the only real question is will that too be a 100-mile sprint backwards? 

[scoopy6]

Thanks caledonia for your comments.

I do think it is amazing that just selecting a channel is such hard work, but was a bit shy because I didn't remember if anyone else had noticed or mentioned it while many things, more exotic to us, have had to be repeated while Sony has had nothing to say in response.

All along it has been the most frustrating thing, and the most disappointing, that Sony has been so reluctant to acknowledge or confirm any of the things pointed out.

Still not looking good and Sony, why do you have so little to say?

There are very obviously basic problems, so why be so cagey?

Why not acknowledge and give a bit more hope that you really intend to do the right things?

If it is all so 'complex' for the current team, why not get someone else in who can fix it?

[scoopy6]

Ooops! I just earned a new badge, but guess that was not awarded by a real person...

[bunkum100]

Thanks Marty, I tried what was suggested in the eSupport page wthout any joy. I'm on Virgin not BT and get a regular 48-50mbps. I really don't think the issue is with the inerent connection as the update still doesn't work from a USB.

[bunkum100]

Thanks for this advice, I'll give it a go this evening and report back.

[Danny.Nilsson]

I just visit Sony X93/X94 web page, and looked at the reviews, the funny part is there only where 3 reviews, with 2 5/5 star reviews and one 4/5. and not possiblity to write any review. the 4/5 review said it was the most perfect TV set with some issues at the Android TV area

I really hate when companys disguise issues this way for protecting their brand,

my wish would be to just be able to disable the whole Android TV part, after trying Nvidia Shield TV i don´t know what i should use the slow lagging Sony software that only gives problems.and needs to be rebooted once a day, the tv quality and image is perfect, but then there is nothing more possitive to comment on.

[bunkum100]

I had exactly same issue, only difference was update was failing at 75% with same error code. Sony support as expected wasn't of much help. Then I tried 2 file method and that worked like charm. Sony Bravia Update Procedure • Put two copies of the firmware file on the same USB stick • One of them with the original name • And the other one renamed as 'upgrade_uploader.pkg'. • Then connect the USB stick to USB port 2. • And then see if the update process will start as intended. Most likely TV will restart at % where it's failing but instead of going to home it will start the update which gonna take 25min approx. 

Afraid this didn't work for me, it started to copy the update and stopped at 46% (as it always does since a factory reset), restarted twice, no update screen just loads the home screen.

Is the USB drive format important? I have a Mac but the drive is formatted as exFAT. Surely if it needed to be something specific it woudl say right?

[nik-007]

Not sure about format but Sony procedure is based on PC and if I remember correctly somewhere it was mentioned that it needs FAT32, so it would be worth to try with FAT32. I used FAT32 

[Danny.Nilsson]

But why are you guys trying to update from USB? Android TV has the OTA update that should work or what? or does this nether work

[nik-007]

OTA didn't work for me, was always failing with 2123. As per Sony its network issue. Used wifi, LAN, hotspot on phone all same. Finally this procedure worked. Unfortunately android is not a polished platform where things works as expected.