Sony 2021 smart television Screen size and ? no bbc iplayer

[Deleted User]

Thanks half_empty.  I'll read through the links you gave.
I have been wondering, since the price of the Sony 43" 2021 TV is almost the same in most retailers, if Black Friday offers may be mostly on older models.

I hope to have my new television delivered and installed in November.  I really am a slow learner and wanted plenty of time to get used to it well ahead of Christmas.

Retired_Saver

[Deleted User]

It is tricky to predict what they will have in them.
I was watching an OLED TV on a well known high street sales place and mid year it leapt by a £1000 (near enough) to RRP then close to xmas dropped back to what it was before the massive increase and then claimed sale price. However Richer Sounds etc, will still selling at the far lower price all through those months.
I ignore the black friday sales now but whatever you feel comfortable with.
There is an excellent web site call AV forums that may shed some light on the model.

[Deleted User]

I looked on the AV Forums this morning, thanks half_empty.  I hope I am wrong but I am beginning to wonder if the Sony Android TV I have in mind is a bit too advanced/complicated for me.

I hope to benefit from the advance technology but, as a slow (older) learner I wonder if a 2020 less advanced Sony KD type of model would be better for me - yet might that be a retrograde step?  I am glad of all the information here, want to be forward thinking, have always liked Sony (present living room TV is 32" 2014 Sony model) yet I am, owing to limited technical ability, now having some doubts.   I definitely need the 43" size screen and subtitles.

I liked the idea of the  Sony 2021 43" Android TV - I think I need to be a bit more sure I can deal with the advances in it.  I always like my Humax Freeview box, especially in winter, when I can have programmes recorded for the darker nights indoors, and I like BBC iPlayer - it has subtitles too. Maybe I'm struggling trying to embrace advances and not become a dinosaur!  I'll persevere and always glad of the helpful information here, thanks.

With advice already given I hope to buy from John Lewis or Richer Sounds.

Retired_Saver

PZ19

Retired_Saver said:

I looked on the AV Forums this morning, thanks half_empty.  I hope I am wrong but I am beginning to wonder if the Sony Android TV I have in mind is a bit too advanced/complicated for me.

I hope to benefit from the advance technology but, as a slow (older) learner I wonder if a 2020 less advanced Sony KD type of model would be better for me - yet might that be a retrograde step?  I am glad of all the information here, want to be forward thinking, have always liked Sony (present living room TV is 32" 2014 Sony model) yet I am, owing to limited technical ability, now having some doubts.   I definitely need the 43" size screen and subtitles.

I liked the idea of the  Sony 2021 43" Android TV - I think I need to be a bit more sure I can deal with the advances in it.  I always like my Humax Freeview box, especially in winter, when I can have programmes recorded for the darker nights indoors, and I like BBC iPlayer - it has subtitles too. Maybe I'm struggling trying to embrace advances and not become a dinosaur!  I'll persevere and always glad of the helpful information here, thanks.

With advice already given I hope to buy from John Lewis or Richer Sounds.

Retired_Saver

As I posted earlier, get yourself a Samsung.  Very easy to use, all the apps you ever need are on there. This one was a what hi fi award winner recently.  There are obviously other models in that size, but based on your user name I suggest you don’t want anything too complicated.  They are very easy to set up and to use the apps it’s literally press the home button and use arrow keys to scroll across to the app you want to use.  If you wanted a sound at too there’s an offer on with this tv, so worth a look.  Again for most people the sound is fine from tv, but sound at obviously takes it up a level

https://www.richersounds.com/samsung-ue43au7100.html?nosto=nosto-page-category2

mobileron

Can you sideload any apps on Samsung,like u can on Sony Android.

PZ19

mobileron said:

Can you sideload any apps on Samsung,like u can on Sony Android.

I’m not sure the poster wants to do that or will have any need to do that, all most people want are the standard apps..it’s entirely up to them..

[Deleted User]

Thanks for your really helpful replies.  Although (usually prefer what I am familiar with) I wanted another Sony TV, I am now going to seriously look at Samsung - your post is encouraging regarding ease of use.  I do have to move with the times and learn!.

I have to admit that I had a temporary wobble, wondering if I was capable of advancing to the newer TV models.  The Samsung  sounds less daunting and, with old age 'not coming alone' I really would benefit from the 43" larger screen with good subtitles when they are available.

Thank you again for the replies.  I'm not in a great rush, November sometime would be good, and I'll definitely post back with any decision/progress.

Retired_Saver

EssexExile

One thing I would mention is that manufacturers seem to like to keep customers guessing about models and their features. Someone previously mentioned waiting for Black Friday, if you want to take advantage of these deals or see a TV in a supermarket that seems very cheap, be aware that model ABC43XYZ1234ABC can be a very different beast to model ABC43XYZ1234ABD. To make it even more difficult models supplied to one retailer often have different numbers to similar models supplied to another retailer, so it's hard to compare. I'm afraid us old people still have to look carefully at the specifications of each model to make sure it does what we want.

wild666

[Deleted User] said:

Thanks wild666.  I'm afraid I don't  know what a skinned version is or what a stock Android set i - would the shop (John Lewis or Richer Sounds) be able to advise.

Most sets have a skinned version of Android as their system. If you ask if any station APP's are on the set as standard then if they say yes it's most likely skinned but no would most likely mean it's stock android, but not always. 
Skinned just means that the manufacturer has designed their own version of the software using the Android code and they put a load of "Bloatware" this is software that company's might pay the manufacturer to have that APP on the TV.

Rodders53

All Freeview Play TVs have to use BBC iPlayer via the backwards EPG links (EPG and backward/catchup programmes are delivered as streams from the internet).   To get Freeview Play certification they are tested to an exacting spec. to ensure they work as expected.
Freeview Play sets are almost certain to have it as a separate App as well as access via the backward EPG.

Best way is to go see and test your shortlist TV model(s) 'in the flesh' in a store (John Lewis and Richer Sounds usually have a live UHF TV aerial to connect a set to) and demo the interface and Apps listings;  whether they have fast internet connections to the demo TVs I'm not sure but it's easy enough to ask them?

Samsung is a manufacturer that has chosen NOT to follow the Freeview Play certification approval route (cost reasons?) and are operating their own variant of a backward epg (via internet) I understand.

NB Not all 4k TVs are approved for iPlayer UHD Trials (4k streaming) though; but those that are are listed here https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/supported-devices/uhd-supported-devices/