The demise of YouTube XL and one less feature on my TV

Maxx20

Hey,

I bought a reasonably expensive TV in the last couple of years as it did everything, including the whole Smart TV thing. A key part of Smart TV (I thought) was YouTube. Sadly Google decided to switch off YouTube XL and with it went the feature on my TV. I did imagine that this wouldn't be a problem, it's just software, Toshiba could release a patch and everything would be fine.

Having spoken to their tech support, given plenty of time to write the patch, it seems they haven't, and won't be.

So I guess as a general point, if you buy something which is advertised and sold as having features, which later disappear, is that just hard luck? As I recall the TV was around the £700 mark so not something I want to be replacing every couple of years, or something that I could afford to do, even if I wanted to.

I guess I could just live without the feature but it's no longer the product I bought and it makes me worry, given another couple of years, what will actually still work on it? Must affect a significant number of people too.

Toshiba tech support suggested it could go back to the shop as it no longer fully works and will never do again, maybe that's the best option?

Any suggestions most welcome!

whitegoods_engineer

Might be a good idea to just buy a dvd player or freesat type box featuring Youtube as an option and use that. I get Youtube on my Playstation, so even if your TV doesn't support it, you can fairly cheaply get Youtube through an alternative box or dongle.

[Deleted User]

Maxx20 wrote: »

Toshiba tech support suggested it could go back to the shop as it no longer fully works and will never do again, maybe that's the best option?

The shop won't accept it back after a few years though! It's not "faulty", the service has been withdrawn.
Are you sure Toshiba actually suggested taking it back?

david39

You can't blame Toshiba if a third party provider stops a service.
Otherwise we could all send back our old televisions because there is no analogue signal for them to receive - or even our new ones because one of the TV channels we like has stopped broadcasting.

frugal_mike

Even if you returned the tv to the shop you almost certainly wouldn't get the full purchase price back. They are allowed to reduce the refund to account for the use you have had of the tv. It may still be worth contacting the retailer to see if they make an offer though, even if its just a small gesture of goodwill.

[Deleted User]

frugal_mike wrote: »

It may still be worth contacting the retailer to see if they make an offer though, even if its just a small gesture of goodwill.

They'll refer any such out-of-warranty complaint to the manufacturer and I think it's quite clear that it's not the TV which is "faulty".

frugal_mike

david39 wrote: »

You can't blame Toshiba if a third party provider stops a service.
Otherwise we could all send back our old televisions because there is no analogue signal for them to receive - or even our new ones because one of the TV channels we like has stopped broadcasting.

I'd say it depends how the TV was advertised. Toshiba could patch the TVs to keep YouTube working but they are choosing not to. In any case OPs contract is with the retailer, not Toshiba. Toshiba don't owe OP anything.

custardy

the smart in your smart TV can be added with the likes of a WD TV box
so its value is £50-£70 all in
so You Tube on its own is a small amount
I dont see you getting any joy from the shop

Edit: just checked and /You Tube still works on my LG.might be worth pushing Tosh

[Deleted User]

frugal_mike wrote: »

In any case OPs contract is with the retailer, not Toshiba. Toshiba don't owe OP anything.

Contract?
The retailer has sold the TV presumably with a year long warranty against faulty manufacture. The manufacture of the set is not at fault, a third party has withdrawn the service. In any case, out-of-warranty complaints are not the responsibility of the retailer and are routinely referred to the manufacturer.
As someone said above, if TV's had to remain as originally advertised (even down to what content is available) then we could all replace old analogue TV sets because analogue has been switched off.

[Deleted User]

custardy wrote: »

the smart in your smart TV can be added with the likes of a WD TV box

Yes, a lot of Blu-Ray players have this capability too.

custardy

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Yes, a lot of Blu-Ray players have this capability too.

Thing is the same could happen again
IME the 'boxes' are more likely to be updated