Attention: all Samsung Series 6 Smart TV Owners

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KiwiTim

376 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1001149 8-Mar-2014 09:44

jarledb: KiwiTim, I would suggest you try go get contact information for the people at TVNZ that are responsible for the app, they might like to know about whats going on with the SmartTV app on Samsung 50" and might be better suited to fix it.. Could be something with the app..

Yep, done that, twice. TVNZ gave no response.

The interesting thing is that the UK app 4oD has the exact same fault. The 4oD app behaves in exactly the same way; adds occupy the full screen, programs have a 7.5 cm vertical black band on the right hand side of the screen. So this issue isn't just confined to TVNZ on Demand, it is a system wide fault that affects specific apps on probably most Series 6 50 inch TV models. There probably is a number of other apps affected as well as I have only tested some NZ and UK apps; I recall seeing an American customer complaining about the exact same fault on a US-based forum.

Seemingly, 4oD and TVNZ on Demand share some screen configuration properties in common. Samsung need to establish exactly why these two apps won't work correctly on a 50 inch series 6 TV, and then convey this information to app developers so that this problem can be fixed. I think it is in Samsung's best interest to keep a decent level of quality control over the apps released through their Samsung App Store.

These TVs are not cheap, consumers purchase them based on quality values and the feature set, otherwise we would save ourselves hundreds of dollars and go buy a Veon.

It is up to the manufacturer to release a product that works as advertised.

Dratsab

3946 posts

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#1001169 8-Mar-2014 10:35

I agree with jarledb, the app should be looked at first rather than just blaming Samsung. The fact that all sorts of other content, including adverts from the on-demand app, displays correctly is evidence the TV set is working correctly, although not that the firmware is playing nicely with the app.

Based on what you've just said, I wonder if the TVNZ app is simply a port of the 4oD one? If it is, it's relatively likely the port wasn't done here and the answer may have to come from the UK- assuming the 4oD app isn't a port from a US app which is giving the same problem...

KiwiTim

376 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1001240 8-Mar-2014 12:25

Dratsab: The fact that all sorts of other content, including adverts from the on-demand app, displays correctly is evidence the TV set is working correctly, although not that the firmware is playing nicely with the app....

Adverts are the only content that display correctly on a 50" Series 6 TV for both TVNZ on Demand and 4oD apps.

Well, I've contacted 4oD, TVNZ and Samsung, so the ball is in their court. Hopefully, between them, somebody will have the will and intent to sort it out.

My advice for new TV buyers: if you plan on using the TVNZ on Demand app, don't buy a 50 inch Samsung Series 6 TV; better to go down to the 46" or up to the 55".

KiwiTim

376 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1060233 6-Jun-2014 09:04

Here's an update on the problem concerning all Samsung F6000 series 50 inch Smart TVs. As of the latest released OS update (V. 1119.1), the problem of certain apps having a 7.5 cm black band running down the right hand side of the screen persists.

Originally, I thought this problem may have been either a hardware issue, an OS issue, or an error in the coding of specific apps that present this behaviour on a 50" screen. As previously stated, all other screen sizes that I have tested in the F6000 series are unaffected. I've done some further testing by hooking up a Samsung BD-F8500 Blu-ray / PVR to my F6700 50" TV. Interestingly, all the troublesome apps display completely normally on my TV when played through the BD-F8500's SmartHub.

This includes TVNZ on Demand, 4oD, and Netflix. On any 50" F6000 Smart TV's SmartHub, these apps will produce the error. With TVNZ on Demand and 4oD, there is always a 7.5 cm black band on the right hand side of the screen when any program plays (although TV adverts do cover the full extent of the screen). With Netflix, the film plays normally for the first few minutes, and then the display jumps to the left, producing the 7.5 cm black band. Sometimes the Netflix app jumps back to normal viewing extent some minutes later, other times the error remains throughout the duration of the film.

Since this behaviour does not occur when these apps are played via a Samsung Blu-ray / PVR, then I guess we can't blame the error on the coding of the affected apps interacting badly with a 50" screen. If the error was due to a fault / omission in the apps, then it would occur on all SmartHub enabled devices that hook up to a 50" screen. This leads me to the conclusion that this error is either in the TV's operating system, or in the hardware that controls the SmartHub on a 50" F6000 Series Smart TV.

I have talked to Samsung about this, and each time they say they will look into it, but with each subsequent OS release the problem remains. Maybe they will eventually address this issue, maybe they will continue to ignore it.

If you are considering buying a Samsung 50" TV to enjoy apps like Netflix, 4oD and TVNZ on Demand, don't buy it! Buy a 46" or a 55" F6000 series Smart TV instead (I can't comment on the new 48" models as I've not tested them yet).

Despite these issues with certain apps, the F6700 50" has a beautiful picture for an LED TV and is a great buy if you don't intend to use the SmartHub much.

tradertim

70 posts

Master Geek

#1063518 11-Jun-2014 16:55

i also have the problem where the smarthub boots you back to the tv. Additionally if I put a 3TB harddrive into the tv, scrolling through the content if I dont play something quickly the whole tv resets.

tradertim

70 posts

Master Geek

#1063519 11-Jun-2014 16:55

its a ua55f6400.

tradertim

70 posts

Master Geek

#1063598 11-Jun-2014 19:36

Guys has anyone got a samsung H series working with netflix. E.g. H6400 or H6300?

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KiwiTim

376 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1064047 12-Jun-2014 13:27

Hi TraderTim,

Yes, my SmartHub often switches back to the TV when it is first started.

This is how to get Netflix on a F series TV. H series is probably the same or similar. You will need to have UnoTelly or a similar geo unblocking service, and you'll have to change the TV's app store country ( don't tell Samsung you have changed the app store's country as it voids the warranty).

http://www.eyeondemand.com/2013/06/21/how-to-changing-your-samsung-f-series-tvblu-ray-country-app-store/

You can choose UK or US as your app store country, but I prefer the UK as you get the BBC iPlayer, as well as Netflix, ITV, 4oD, 5 on Demand, and a bunch of other free channels. The BBC iPlayer is actually the best free TV streaming option available, globally . It's better than having Sky; at least the doco's are at a reasonable intellectual level.

Good luck,

Tim

Kyanar

4089 posts

Uber Geek

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#1065903 15-Jun-2014 11:09

KiwiTim:
This is how to get Netflix on a F series TV. H series is probably the same or similar. You will need to have UnoTelly or a similar geo unblocking service, and you'll have to change the TV's app store country ( don't tell Samsung you have changed the app store's country as it voids the warranty).

No it doesn't. The Consumer Guarantees Act does not permit a retailer or manufacturer to void the warranty for making a config change. Certainly the most they can do is void the software warranty (it's the same as rooting your phone - the vendor cannot suddenly claim your phone's warranty is void, just permits them to wash their hands of software issues).

Additionally, by claiming that it voids your warranty, Samsung is in violation of the Fair Trading Act, which makes it an offense to mislead consumers about their rights. If you see companies doing this, get in touch with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and let them know, as it needs to stop.

KiwiTim

376 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1066361 16-Jun-2014 05:46

No it doesn't. The Consumer Guarantees Act does not permit a retailer or manufacturer to void the warranty for making a config change. Certainly the most they can do is void the software warranty (it's the same as rooting your phone - the vendor cannot suddenly claim your phone's warranty is void, just permits them to wash their hands of software issues).

Additionally, by claiming that it voids your warranty, Samsung is in violation of the Fair Trading Act, which makes it an offense to mislead consumers about their rights. If you see companies doing this, get in touch with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and let them know, as it needs to stop.

Interesting, I would not have known that. You can't believe what these big corporations tell you! Nevertheless, I still would not let Samsung know you have changed the app store country, it will only give them an excuse not to assist to their fullest extent when you need their support. Best to keep them on side as much as possible. I had to have a Samsung technician attempt a repair on my TV (the black band issue), but I made sure that I reverted the app store to NZ before he arrived. Of course, since the black band issue affects all 50 inch F6000 series TV's, he could not make any difference to the fault.

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