Smart TV

Annie1960

Thanks, everyone. I'll order the Sony.

DoaM

Just to echo others ... buy the TV which gives you the best picture and sound experience. Don't worry about Smart functions ... a Fire TV Stick/Roku/Other device will give you all the Smart functions you need and will likely be supported for longer than the Smart functions in a TV.

Even when the stick gets old ... throw it away and get a new one - the TV can still remain the same.

In other words ... focus your spending on what's important.

sal_III

Annie1960 wrote: »

Does the software not update itself?

Could I use youtube and catch up with an Amazon fire stick?

The TV update it's software itself (if auto-update is enabled)

The Manufacturer still need to spend resources (££) to update the software. It has the added disincentive of people not buying new TVs.

For that reason most TV manufacturers stop releasing updates after 1-2 years and eventually kill "essential" apps like YourTube or Netflix.

The main benefit of getting a TV with Android OS is that the OS development is handled by Google at no expense for the TV manufacturers and they only need minimal effort on their end, mainly testing, which dramatically increases the chance of getting a software updates for longer.

I agree that a smart stick/box is a cure for not-so-smart TVs but you lose a lot of integration. For example Youview would allow you to just browse the TV program guide and if oyu like something available on the main Free view channels catchup platforms will launch the app and go directly that episode/movie etc. Also not having to faf about with multiple remotes

getmore4less

When I was looking last 2018.
Sony sets got poor reviews for the interface

LG, Samsung, Panasonic better.

For the price of the Sony you need to compare to the Samsung 8000

googler

You may well get software updates manually or automatically, but you may not like what happens when you get them.

I have a couple of "smart" Panasonic Blu-Ray players which, when first purchased, could get, through my network, YouTube and iPlayer.

I hadn't used one in a while, and connected it up to the monitor in the study; it prompted for a software update, so I complied, and once done - no more YouTube. Which was precisely the thing that I wanted to get.

You may well be perfectly happy with the internal smartness of any TV right now, but this can easily change in the future, and if it does, you may not like it then.

In our household, we're now keeping the smartness out of the TV - we can replace/add to the surrounding boxes as required, without being forced into replacing the TV to get the new apps.

letsbehonest

Good advice from DoaM, I’ve got a smart Panasonic TV and we very rarely use it’s smart features, my advice buy the best panel you can afford turn it smart with a fire stick if you want.

ckxion

Maybe later Android TV's have all updates available but that is not the case with my Sony Android 2016 kd-49x8005c

It came with a 2014 nearly useless browser interface which has not been updated to anything modern.

The OS is not updated by Google, it depends on what Sony decide to include and they deliberately do not include all feature updates for older models. I certainly do not have access to all apps that I have on my android mobile.

Sony wash their hands of any issues - useless customer service.

Just checked my last email from 2017 - no reply

mobileron

Does it have the goggle play store installed.There are may ways of adding apps to the tv.

thorganby

ckxion wrote: »

Maybe later Android TV's have all updates available but that is not the case with my Sony Android 2016 kd-49x8005c

It came with a 2014 nearly useless browser interface which has not been updated to anything modern.

The OS is not updated by Google, it depends on what Sony decide to include and they deliberately do not include all feature updates for older models. I certainly do not have access to all apps that I have on my android mobile.

Sony wash their hands of any issues - useless customer service.

Just checked my last email from 2017 - no reply

The last update was released six months ago, so you are talking rubbish!

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-lcd-tvs-android-/kd-49x8005c/articles/00229299

Full details of update here:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/downloads/00016209

custardy

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

I would rather go for the one with the better screen, “smart” can be dumb most times, you can add a stick/pi/phone/tablet etc for the latest other “must haves” for little or no extra cost.

second here. We rarely use any aspect of our all singing and dancing 4K TVs smart features.
Though I suppose it would be different if it was our only machine and media hub.