Sony offers firmware upgrade for 400,000 TVs on the fritz

Sometimes the hardest words to say are "I'm sorry," followed closely by "please allow us to upgrade your TV's firmware." Sony is now in the position to utter both of those phrases, thanks to a curious error in their LCD and rear-projection sets that causes the TV to either stop turning off or stop turning on after 1200 hours of operation. Apparently just unplugging the TV for 30 seconds resets the set and gives you another 1200 hours of normal use, but since the flaw may be present in up to 400,000 sets, Sony is offering free firmware upgrades if you ask nicely.

[Derek @ Feb 14th 2006 11:32AM]

rss feed broken - you have a "µ" tag in there that is upsetting a lot of feed readers. Whatever that is, remove it.

[Gary @ Feb 14th 2006 11:39AM]

but how would you update the firmware of a TV? its not like it has USB and you can plug it to your computer and download the firmware update from sony and install it yourself?

I could be wrong though lol

[Radiationman @ Feb 14th 2006 12:00PM]

So Sony Electronics is taking cues from Sony/BMG and putting forth crummy software... Who's next Sony Ericcson? Oh wait, no, probably the PS3...

[Jeff @ Feb 14th 2006 12:14PM]

Sony has always had issues with crappy software. Like SonicStage

[BrownBlinds @ Feb 14th 2006 12:50PM]

SONY is a great company, so when a great company trys to make there legacy product revive, i would think they will make sure there heart the color TV now LCD Bravia works like a charm as there brand building tube TV'S did in the old days. But as usual with whats going on inside of SONY these little hiccups are very embarrassing. SONY in one of the old brand promises, when you buy SONY you are getting the best quality product, i think people inside SONY are forgetting that they have to keep there promises.

[scotius @ Feb 14th 2006 1:09PM]

#4: please, consider using 'their'. Misuse of the word grates my spine, no offense.

[rye @ Feb 14th 2006 1:13PM]

I hope someone smart orders the firmware update... is able to hack into it... and figure out how to update the HDMI driver to accept 1080p... then use this knowledge to dive into the SXRD's linux system, turn some magic knobs and make the crazy TV with 'ears' look a little bit better. That is all I ask.

ready, set, go.

[Nihls @ Feb 14th 2006 1:17PM]

What sony is not telling you. You will have to buy a sony only compatible firmware upgrade tool that only works with one model of sony TV.

[Spartacus @ Feb 14th 2006 1:33PM]

This is the very reason why I can't bring myself to buy an HDTV yet. The set that I want happens to have one major problem with it: The name SONY is plastered on the front of it (Sony 50" SXRD). Therefore it is expensive and has a good chance of having some strange glitch in the future as well as coming from a company notorious for crummy software/drivers and interfaces. Why couldn't someone else make a 1080p LCoS display? PS: This also happens to be my biggest concern with PS3.

[Matt Fuerst @ Feb 14th 2006 2:19PM]

Well, my Sony HDTV LCD has two ways I imagine they could upgrade the firmware.

One, not very likely would be over the HDMI Interface. That seems very clunky as it would require some custom hardware memory apparateous to hold the upgrade, then connect over HDMI. But that is a pure digital connection so I guess it would be a possibility.

The far more likely candidate is the fact that my Sony LCD has a Memory Stick reader. Pop an upgrade onto a Sony memory stick along with some exectuable/boot code, pop it into your TV, turn it on and watch it upgrade.

"But I don't have a memory stick" - yeah, well me neither. But you were asking how they would update it. That would be the easiest to accomplish for the largest number of people.

[David @ Feb 14th 2006 2:19PM]

Scotius = jackass

[Toy Man @ Feb 14th 2006 2:24PM]

Thanks for posting this. I have one of the affected TV's and ordered the update. According the their website, it (whatever it is) will be mailed to me.

[Chris Heuer @ Feb 14th 2006 2:26PM]

Hmmm - wonder if this is what really happened with our Sony 55" Rear Projection LCD. A couple of months ago, it just would not turn on. 12 days later a Circuit City tech came out, looked at it and said the 'balast' was blown (not the bulb itself). Several weeks later they came out with the new part, reprogrammed the system and it has been working fine ever since.

If so, I would be extremely upset that they were lying to me, trying to cover up this issue - only to find out later that it was more widespread than they had thought...

[Silence @ Feb 14th 2006 2:29PM]

1200 hours...sounds like an Easter egg left by a disgruntled programmer....

[Matt @ Feb 14th 2006 2:57PM]

Wow...yet ANOTHER hardware/software killswitch from Sony. /me expects PSPs to stop working in another 8 months or so.

[Josh @ Feb 14th 2006 4:05PM]

Comes with a free Rootkit!

[C.A.M. @ Feb 14th 2006 5:58PM]

Just updated my 32" Bravia. They sent me a tiny USB device with the update on it. All I needed to do was insert the device into the USB port on the t.v.,turn the t.v. on, and wait 30 seconds. Nothing to it. It's free and appreciated.

Some of you need to get a grip. It's not the end of the world. Would you rather they did nothing?

[johntchow @ Feb 14th 2006 7:17PM]

i've got the 40" sony bravia and it has a usb port. if you dont have the tvs that are affected why do you care?

[James M. @ Feb 14th 2006 7:32PM]

Well most of those TV's have a service input. It's a small serial connector that has a warning for you to not use it, as it's what is used to fix a TV by a professional. I would imagine you could use this as it seems to be the direct link to the TV's operating system.

Could be wrong but that is what I would guess.

[Anonymous Coward @ Feb 14th 2006 9:01PM]

The firmware update will be delivered via a regular ol' USB thumb drive / micro vault. If you have a Sony rear PJ LCD, there's a USB port on the back of your TV behind an access cover.

[evo @ Feb 14th 2006 10:21PM]

Some may be interested to know that my 34" Sony HDTV apparently runs Linux. In the manual, there is a GPL license and a link to get the source code. My only beef is that it takes surprisingly long to "boot" for what should be an instant-on device, maybe 8 seconds before the picture appears.

[steven @ Feb 14th 2006 11:32PM]

I have (I guess) an older model (KF-42WE610) that just started doing this. It has happened twice in the past three months. I've had no other problems besides replacing a bulb and love the unit. I wonder if it is a similar software glitch that is affecting more models then they have listed (so far?)...

[Michel de Breyne @ Feb 15th 2006 10:57AM]

One gripe I have against Sony for this is that they will only offer the free 'upgrade' until 2008. Owners that don't watch that much tv (less than 5 hours/week) are likely not going to hit that number before the free upgrade is up!!!

And as Chris Heuer mentioned, I wonder how many people will be charged for service because of this (when the TV doesn't go on, it's awfully easy for a repairman to blame it on anything (even unknowingly (in this case, if you unplug the tv 30 secs, it resets it so the serviceman, could try to turn it on, doesn't work, does a bit of diagnostic, still doesn't work, unplugs it, changes the bulb to see and all of a sudden, it's been more than 30 seconds so the tv turns on and he thinks it's because the bulb was bad so charges you for it).

[Paul @ Feb 16th 2006 11:42PM]

I have the Bravia 32XBR LCD affected and did this update. Sony sent me a 64MB Micro Drive (USB). I plugged it into the side (yes the TV has a USB port, for looking at photos and videos through it via thumb drive or external hard drive, which is cool) and it turned off, updated and turned back on.

10 seconds and done. No biggie

[Coyote @ Feb 17th 2006 2:54PM]

Yep #20 is correct, all sony televisions from about 2002 on have a USB port cleverly hidden somewhere. I myself have a Sony Trinitron CRT TV from about 2004-2005 and found it while snooping around the ports. I was really hopeing it could be used for something constructive but havnt found any info on it besides yea its there and we dont know what it does either (sony tech supp. and the retailer I got it from)

[Coyote @ Feb 20th 2006 9:57AM]

Yep #20 is correct, all sony televisions from about 2002 on have a USB port cleverly hidden somewhere. I myself have a Sony Trinitron CRT TV from about 2004-2005 and found it while snooping around the ports. I was really hopeing it could be used for something constructive but havnt found any info on it besides yea its there and we dont know what it does either (sony tech supp. and the retailer I got it from)

[Juancho @ May 25th 2006 10:33PM]

I just bought a Sony LCD Flat 32 KLV32, and is driving me crazy turning itself off and on when the movie is in the best dialogue or fast scene... I'm taking it back to Bransmart to get Panasonic or something...
Bye Bye to Sony , I just dont have the time to test Sony's Beta-LCD's

[Victor @ Jan 24th 2008 7:10PM]

Have a 2002 kp51hw40 that flashes 8 times. For about 20 seconds, it works. Then the red and green lamps turn off. A few seconds later, the blue lamp turns off, too, then the set turns off by itself and the timer/standby flashes 8 times.

Would greatly appreciate info to fix this problem
Thanks in advance for your help.