Can we trust Sony firmware anymore?

[tron3]

I am not a Sony basher by any means, but let's visit a little history here.

Everyone hailed the PS3 2.40 firmware as the greatest ever. Then machines started having BIG function problems. Such as NOT functioning! Ok, but 2.41 fixed it. Golf clap for Sony.

Then there is the firmware issues with the BDP-S300.
* 2.0 was slow as molassas, but did the job.
* 2.60 gave a nice speed jump. "Hey, this is more like it."
* 3.20 even better. "Woo Hoo, load times are MUCH better."
* 3.70 "Wow, there IS a God. How much better can it get!"
* 3.80 "Hey. Why are some of my movies loading SLOWER again?"
* 3.90 "Hmmm, got a little better, but more problomatic."
* 3.95 "Sorry, we goofed." - Sony

Has Sony lost quality control for their firmware? Sure, you could shove SOMETHING out the door with the promise of fixing it later, but as a consumer, I lose a little more faith each time bad firmware is shoveled my way.

Don't break MY player just so you can fix it later. You should have a better test bed of machines and movies. Sony, most of us are willing to wait for the new firmware. Many, like myself, even take great joy in upgrading our players because you typically do great things with your firmware. Your performance enhancing firmware always left me, THE CONSUMER, feeling like you gave me a new machine.

While no company is perfect, quality control should not consist of "Ok, it booted and the movie started."

[greekjgg]

You sound like my local NBC news in columbus oh.

Dogged on the city for months because not all the tornado sirens worked so the city fixed them and then last month during a storm the sirens were launched and there was a malfunction that caused the sirens to stay running for an extra 20 minutes so the news dogged on the city because the sirens worked but for 20 extra minutes.

Never happy!!

[MacDaddyOJack]

You have no choice buy to trust sony if you ever want to play anything online again! Just do what I do, wait a day or two before you download the update, any problems will come out by then.

[Seiko1]

Mate I bought a Betamax video at launch, the most expensive clock I ever bought!
Maybe that would explain to a lot on here why I hate Sony so damn much!!!!!!
Wouldn't trust them to wipe my ass

[tron3]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

You sound like my local NBC news in columbus oh.

Dogged on the city for months because not all the tornado sirens worked so the city fixed them and then last month during a storm the sirens were launched and there was a malfunction that caused the sirens to stay running for an extra 20 minutes so the news dogged on the city because the sirens worked but for 20 extra minutes.

Never happy!!

So when a firmware upgrade disables a PS3 or S300 we should sit silently and wait for the next update?

While I admit that writing code is complex, it isn't rocket science. Sony should not assume the firmware is good just because it was the update. Back in the middle of the 90's a simple single charcter error in the phone system "out of millions of lines of code" caused a cascade phone failure for millions of people.

Yes, mistakes will happen. But let them happen in the lab. In my opinion, the S300 firmware topped off at 3.70. Now I don't know what to expect any more.

[overdrive00]

I am still using 3.7 and just ordered my 3.95 disc (I make them spend the $ on the disk since they couldn't give me an ethernet port!). It sounds like I should sit tight, nothing is wrong with my player, I just get online and order the new one from time to time......

The firmware updates on my player and almost as bad as the Windows updates I am constantly having to do.......

[SS316SRV]

My 3.95 has not had any problems. Load times are not a big concern for me. Sure 10-15 minute load times are unexcusable, but 2-3 minutes I can handle. I know Tron is loyal blu. But load times? Sounds like a Toshiba rag.

[jw]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

You sound like my local NBC news in columbus oh.

Dogged on the city for months because not all the tornado sirens worked so the city fixed them and then last month during a storm the sirens were launched and there was a malfunction that caused the sirens to stay running for an extra 20 minutes so the news dogged on the city because the sirens worked but for 20 extra minutes.

Never happy!!

so true, Mistakes happen, Sony fixed the messups

could be worse. you could have a Sammy

[tron3]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

...I know Tron is loyal blu. But load times? Sounds like a Toshiba rag.

Oh hey, I don't complain so much about load times. PotC: TCotBP took almost 3 minutes to load on 2.0 firmware. I almost suspected a problem and was about to turn it off when I decided to wait. When I saw the picture, I immediately forgave the load times.

Even when we see 4.xx firmware, I don't expect "Independence Day" to load under a minute. It currently takes 2.28 with 3.95 firmware. But I want to see it faster without the twitchiness.

[Moefiz]

For standalone I would always go with a Sony for the fact that they are always on top of there Firmware true for some they might give you more problem that you need but Sony always fix it.

I was worried after reading some of the post about Batman Begins not playing on the S300 poped it in last night and played without a hitch.

[snowballuk]

to be fair, as the poll on this forum shows, the ps3 firmware update problems were so incredibly rare that i can really let sony off on that one. yeah i totally trust the ps3 firmware updates.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

For standalone I would always go with a Sony for the fact that they are always on top of there Firmware true for some they might give you more problem that you need but Sony (will) always fix it.....

Another reason why I went with Sony. Not only do they make movies, they make blu-ray, and are likely to stay on top of the updates. I normally would not rag on Sony. But since firmware 3.80 the S300 has become hit and miss. At least in terms of load times.

Sony, I am BEGGING you to do something to optimize the firmware, if it hasn't been done already.

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by snowballuk

to be fair, as the poll on this forum shows, the ps3 firmware update problems were so incredibly rare that i can really let sony off on that one. yeah i totally trust the ps3 firmware updates.

2.40 just happened to be the worst one of them all

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Seiko1

Mate I bought a Betamax video at launch, the most expensive clock I ever bought!
...

You make it sound like your player never worked. Or are you upset that your format lost?

With the economic struggles of today Toshiba should NEVER have pitted HD DVD against blu-ray. Consumer confidence took a dive while early adopters took a chance. So now we have a couple of million casulties of war trying to heal through group support and ebay.

Sony learned from their history. Looks like Toshiba had to learn the hard way as well. It is human nature not to learn from the mistakes of others, but to learn the hard way for yourself.

Format wars make for great prices, but in the end getting the greatest deal is meaningless if you get the shaft when the smoke clears.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by tron3

Another reason why I went with Sony. Not only do they make movies, they make blu-ray, and are likely to stay on top of the updates. I normally would not rag on Sony. But since firmware 3.80 the S300 has become hit and miss. At least in terms of load times.

Sony, I am BEGGING you to do something to optimize the firmware, if it hasn't been done already.

I know this is the BD player-recorder section (not PC), but its hard to segragate it any more. I haven't needed a firmware update on my BD drive since I've gotten it, and I play all my BD's fiine on WINDVD9. Not to say that there are not problems (like the secure audio path thing {down sampling to 48khz/16bits}but now thats solved with the Radeon 4850 and will be solved with the new generation sound cards). Everyday I get happier that I took the HTPC route - a pain initially but when the kinks got worked out (tks Windvd 9 Plus BD) its been great!
Sony with its constant firmware updates can be seen as a blessing and a curse. Blessing - they are trying to ensure that your product works properly, curse - they are sell products that haven't been properly QC'd causing the company to be reactive instead of proactive - depends on how you see it.

[Sonny]

We live in a world of "updates"....Bad.......Good.....Both??? Updates are great , but not when they brick or take away from your device. Getting new features from something you bought over a year ago is very cool to me! One update could change all that for ever....

[tron3]

Originally Posted by prerich

...
Sony with its constant firmware updates can be seen as a blessing and a curse. Blessing - they are trying to ensure that your product works properly, curse - they are sell products that haven't been properly QC'd causiing the company to reactive instead of proactive - depends on how you see it.

Admittedly, blu-ray had to get rushed a bit to market if it expected to stand a chance against HD DVD. A chance that paid off. Sony was fortunate that the Internet is so prolific it allowed an easy upgrade path for the consumer.

If this had been the mid 1990's when DVD was under development, a format war could have crushed the format with the inferior firmware. If you have an older DVD player, search for firmware updates for it. I bet you will be shocked to see how many players have newer firmware available.

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by Sonny

We live in a world of "updates"....Bad.......Good.....Both??? Updates are great , but not when they brick or take away from your device. Getting new features from something you bought over a year ago is very cool to me! One update could change all that for ever....

yeah but my ps3 has been out of commission for almost 2 weeks just because of 1 update just thankfully i am not like this guy http://youtube.com/watch?v=gmtcqavod8Y

[Mike Z]

Originally Posted by tron3

Yes, mistakes will happen. But let them happen in the lab. In my opinion, the S300 firmware topped off at 3.70. Now I don't know what to expect any more.

I agree. I upgraded to 3.9 from 3.7 and didn't notice anything significant. I've had absolutely no problems with my S300 except for the fact that it seems to refuse to play Live Free or Die Hard. It plays all my other blu's and DVD's just fine and makes them look awesome when upconverted.

I'm getting 3.95 in the mail soon and I'm just hoping with one of these upgrades that it will eventually play Live Free but we'll see

Mike

[Scorxpion]

Guys and especially Tron dont worry ,Sony is listening so expect a new firmware update very soon like 4.0 ..

I always trust sony and never disappointed me.