Google TV update for 2020/older models (KE-55XH9005 specifically) + infuriating settings popup

[willhindson]

Hi all!

Just purchased an XH90 55” Bravia (Norway) and am considering whether or not to return it for two reasons:

1) It is unclear whether Android TV will be updated to Google TV for older-than 2021 models when that update is out. Otherwise it feels like my essentially brand new tv will already be obsolete in a way as Android TV will be superseded by Google TV.

As far as I can see, Sony have not committed to anything regarding this, but maybe someone has other insights?

2) The incredibly infuriating power consumption popup that appears every time you adjust certain settings. If this is not fixed, it’s reason alone to return it - such a shockingly bad user experience. I can’t believe that this wouldn’t be fixed, but then again this is my first experience with a Sony TV product - any thoughts? I’m aware this issue has been brought up in another thread, but can’t hurt to repeat it.

Is there an official feedback form to nudge Sony on these issues/do they look at these forums?

(update: have sent a support request to Sony about both)

[IamNic]

Hello @willhindson,

regarding point "2" - I think this is required by the EU. Not sure if Sony can do anything about this. But then again - how often do you change the settings of your TV?

Reg. "1" - I think Sony delivers firware updates for two or three years, after that you will only receive security updates - but I am not 100% certain about that unfortunately.

- Nic

[willhindson]

Thanks for the reply @IamNic

Regarding the settings popup, you’re right that long term I would likely not be changing too much/often, but in the short period of time that I’ve had it it makes setting up and experimenting with picture settings extremely frustrating. I can’t believe there isn’t another way to implement this warning and still follow requirements - do other TV os’s in Europe need this intrusive an implementation? After all being able to quickly change picture settings for different types of content is just a good user experience.

As for firmware updates, I guess we just have to hope they retroactively apply Google TV, as I doubt there are technical reasons it wouldn’t be possible.

[royabrown2]

@IamNic 

Norway aren’t in the EU.

[Bydandie]

Whilst Norway are in the EEA, we are no longer in the EU but Sony appear to have one European firmware package.

[willhindson]

Good point 😅 but regardless of Norway’s european status I still think the point to make here is that there must be a more elegant ask-once only (even for every item!) solution to the requirement.

[royabrown2]

@willhindson 

I might suggest you get hold of whatever the rules for this are, wherever they are, in the EU documentation mountain, and look to see if you can formulate a simpler, less in-your-face approach to this which is still compliant with those rules.

I am sure Sony would welcome this.

Our new LG GX has been popping up similar messages in this area, but not, I would have said, excessively so; perhaps Sony could buy one, and see how it’s done.

But in the meantime, Sony know exactly where we are in Europe, even if there is just one set of firmware, and it should not be beyond their capabilities to only enforce these rules in the actual EU countries, just as they support YouView only in the UK.

Of course, even in the UK, we have our cross to bear; the absurd, blunt-instrument, OFCOM rules about the watershed and Parental PINs. Ho hum....

[willhindson]

Just received a reply from Sony customer support, for what it's worth:

"This was implemented based on the latest EU regulation for power consumption. At the moment there is no workaround or way to prevent the warning from showing up when changing the affected settings.
I will however save your feedback regarding this.

Unfortunately, at this point we can not say if your TV will be updated to Google TV in the future or not."

[Bydandie]

Certainly my 49XH8505 has the right framework components updated.  My understanding was that Google TV will be rolled out across Europe according to a Google roadmap?

[IamNic]

Hello @royabrown2,

---

@royabrown2  schrieb:

@IamNic 

Norway aren’t in the EU.

---

I am aware of that, yet the models are the same troughout Europe and therefore have the same software with the regulations of the EU implemented into them.

@Bydandie got what I meant and Sony confirmed it in the meantime to @willhindson.

- Nic