Region-Free Sony UBP-X700 Problem

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So, though my heart wanted to wait for the Panasonic 820, I purchased the region-free Sony Ultra-HD UBP-X700 from Bombay Electronics so that I would be able to watch Zone B blu-ray dvds from the UK. Turns out that while it plays regular Region 2 dvds, it does not play any blu ray discs at all (No problem with Region 1, Zone A discs). Returned it to Bombay, who confirmed that the problem was the same with other X700s that they tried using. They also told me that Sony had announced that they would be doing a firmware update in May (I foolishly didn't ask them how they knew),which would likely (but not known for a fact) solve the problem. I have not been able to find any announcement from Sony online about an upcoming X-700 update, or for that matter, any posting anywhere that mentions the inability to play Zone B blu-rays- had I purchased the X700 in the UK, wouldn't it logically have the same problem?

Bombay offered to replace my player with the X800, but I want the Dolby Vision capability that the X700 is supposed to get at some point, so they are returning the X700 to me, where I suppose I will wait until some unknown date in May when I might get a firmware fix (while I sit like a dummy not being able to play my UK Blu Rays). I think I would feel better if I had seen any discussion of this on the Internet at all. Would appreciate any input on this- should I have taken the X800?