[mikerb]

I looking for more information on the web browser. Reading this forum I have found out 3 users find it slow with comments of "far too slow", "painfully slow" and "doesn't seem to be very fast". But if I want to watch an online video which is not supported by the "Smart Hub", then shouldn't need to do too much web stuff before getting to video, so slowness might be forgiven over being able to use any video site, because I haven't found any player that supports 4OD yet. But there are some more comments regards flash:
adamtemp64 says "STB-E7500 has flash player 10.1.105.7 32 runnibg all bbc videos on news site"
disleyland says "when I tried 4OD, message said needed updating"
Searching the web, it appears 4OD requires 10.2 and BBC iPlayer needs 10.1, so can anyone confirm the BBC iPlayer does work on the browser (as I gather BBC iPlayer is still not in "Smart Hub") and if firmware updates have updated flash to 10.2 or higher so that 4OD works.
In terms of navigating the browser, Vangelo says "Remote is USELESS to navigate online browser" - can anyone clarify this in that is it just difficult and tedious or actually impossible if for instance you can't move mouse cursor (and can only use tab on keyboard).
Thanks to comments by Vangelo, it appears that this PVR does not have 2.4G wireless built-in and therefore you can't use a "Samsung TV" keyboard and instead have to use 2.4G wireless keyboard with USB dongle (of any brand I believe).

Thanks

Mike

[robjw68]

I am finding that the sound volume on HD channels is approximately half of SD channels. Anybody else seeing this? I have a an LG TV if that's relevant.

I have contacted Samsung but they have told me this:

The HD volume is definately a broadcast issue due to the compression methods used

Are they fobbing me off?

[trigger47]

I`ve got a Samsung TV as well and the sound is half that of SD so for once Samsung could be right!

[robjw68]

Originally Posted by trigger47

I`ve got a Samsung TV as well and the sound is half that of SD so for once Samsung could be right!

Interesting! Thanks.

[glynster]

My BD-E8900 received a large app update this morning and now has BBC iPlayer at last.

[mikerb]

Originally Posted by glynster

My BD-E8900 received a large app update this morning and now has BBC iPlayer at last.

Has this update updated the flash version in the web browser so you can watch 4OD?

Thanks

Mike

[glynster]

Hi Mike no update for flash but if you navigate to 4OD and click on a program to watch, a flash need to be updated message appears along with a link. This gives 4 versions of flash 11.2 to download but i'm not sure which one is needed.

[mikerb]

Originally Posted by glynster

Hi Mike no update for flash but if you navigate to 4OD and click on a program to watch, a flash need to be updated message appears along with a link. This gives 4 versions of flash 11.2 to download but i'm not sure which one is needed.

This is a generic message from 4OD website and I would guess that you cannot upgrade the flash version this way as I can't imagine that you update individual components and you can only upgrade via a firmware update.

Mike

[Nick09]

I now have bbc iplayer also. Seems to work well.

Lot of mixed reviews on this unit but have to say I am impressed with it, especially now iplayer has arrived. Love film and Netflix plus a acetrax if you want them.

[trigger47]

Yes iplayer is working well. On my samsung E series tv I`ve got a BBC sport app presumably for the Olympics ,why has it not appeared on my 8500?

[mikerb]

Originally Posted by trigger47

Yes iplayer is working well. On my samsung E series tv I`ve got a BBC sport app presumably for the Olympics ,why has it not appeared on my 8500?

It looks as though this will not be ready in time for the olympics - see YouView IPTV service will not launch in time for the Olympics, BBC director-general said to the press | IP Telephony so maybe Samsung thought there is no point putting this in yet.

[Steven Collis]

I have just bought this player/recorder and am pretty happy with it. I do have one problem, and that is that after playing any sort of optical disk, the unit appears to freeze and only a reboot will fix it. I have looked on the Samsung support web site and searched elsewhere with no joy.

The unit updated its firmware straight away, so I should have the latest version. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

[IBranco]

Originally Posted by Steven Collis

I have just bought this player/recorder and am pretty happy with it. I do have one problem, and that is that after playing any sort of optical disk, the unit appears to freeze and only a reboot will fix it. I have looked on the Samsung support web site and searched elsewhere with no joy.

The unit updated its firmware straight away, so I should have the latest version. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

Have you solve this yet? I am having the same issue...

[dasjournal]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking about buying the BD-E8900. I've just got a few questions that I need answered first.

1. Can I record two shows and watch a pre-recorded show (HDD) at the same time?
2. Say you're watching a pre-recorded show and a scheduled recording begins. Does the unit interrupt playback of the previously recorded show? (I have a Realtek PVR that does this...)? I mean, does playback continue as though nothing has happened?
3. Is the unit region free for DVD playback?

If someone could answer these questions, I'd really appreciate it.

[Miki]

Originally Posted by Steven Collis

I have just bought this player/recorder and am pretty happy with it. I do have one problem, and that is that after playing any sort of optical disk, the unit appears to freeze and only a reboot will fix it. I have looked on the Samsung support web site and searched elsewhere with no joy.

The unit updated its firmware straight away, so I should have the latest version. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

Is anyone else having this issue as I am. I updated to firmware 1008.1 and am still having this issue.


Thanks,

[moby101]

Originally Posted by dasjournal

Hi guys,

I'm thinking about buying the BD-E8900. I've just got a few questions that I need answered first.

1. Can I record two shows and watch a pre-recorded show (HDD) at the same time?
2. Say you're watching a pre-recorded show and a scheduled recording begins. Does the unit interrupt playback of the previously recorded show? (I have a Realtek PVR that does this...)? I mean, does playback continue as though nothing has happened?
3. Is the unit region free for DVD playback?

If someone could answer these questions, I'd really appreciate it.

I purchased this unit last Sunday and can answer most of our questions
1. Yes
2. No interuption - it does inform you that a recording has started, so a few seconds of text on the screen
3. No - seems for Aust we have Region 4 and will not be able to play other regions. Not sure if there is a way of getting around this.

I have a few other issues with the PVR and will start a new thread
3

[moby101]

Purchased the PVR last Sunday and a few problems showing up:
1. When I check out the "Guide", I can see the current shows for the timeslot but most other timeslots have 'No information' so unable to ore set a recording schedule
2. Recorded a couple of shows for 10 - 20 mins. Both indicated that they had finished their recording fter the appropriate time, but couldn't find the recordings to play back
3. When playing back a show which did record on Sunday, first time playing back all was good. Second time, the show would progress 3 mins then a blank screen for 2 - 4 seconds before it then continued again. After approx 5 of these over a 10 min period we turned it off.
4. Have turned on the PVR and cannot get any of the buttons on the remote to respond - have to turn it off and then back on

Have called the shop I bought it from and they said to bring it in as it sounds like a faulty one. After testing it they will replace it. Will do this at the weekend and update this post afterwards

[dasjournal]

Hi moby101, thanks for that info.

Aside from having a faulty unit, have you been happy with the Samsung? Did you fix the EPG information issue?

[jbng]

Originally Posted by Steven Collis

I have just bought this player/recorder and am pretty happy with it. I do have one problem, and that is that after playing any sort of optical disk, the unit appears to freeze and only a reboot will fix it. I have looked on the Samsung support web site and searched elsewhere with no joy.

The unit updated its firmware straight away, so I should have the latest version. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

Mine has this problem too. The manual states that you should be able to press 'exit' whilst playing a bluray or dvd and it will take you back to TV. This is what I've found with mine:
* playing a DVD, press stop, it returns to home screen. Then pressing any buttons cause it to freeze (the icons stop moving)
* playing a DVD, press exit or return - nothing happens.
* playing a bluray, press exit or return - nothing happens.
* playing a bluray, press stop, it returns to home and continues to function.
* playing a bluray, press pause, then press home - it returns to home - BUT it will only play the bluray from the beginning, it won't return to where it was up to.

What it means is that you can't pause your disk, watch a tv show and come back to it.

I'm going to swap it tonight and see if I've got a bad one or if it's bad for everyone. Samsung phone support were unhelpful.

Can anyone confirm they are NOT having this problem?

[Markp123]

I have had a BD-E8500 for a couple of months and have noticed the same freezing after playing a disc. It does seem to freeze more after playing a DVD rather than a bluray. I also notice when it freezes, the hard disc sounds very busy. The only solution is to pull the plug on the machine.

[jbng]

I exchanged my unit tonight and tested the replacement at the store. We confirmed that it DOESN'T freeze coming out of optical drive playback using the shipped firmware 1006. We tried upgrading it to 1008 in-store (so we could see if that broke it again) but the old mobile phone wireless wasn't quite stable enough to complete it. I'm reluctant to upgrade until I've got a way of going back - does anyone know where to get 1006/1007 firmwares as zip files? If it freezes with 1007 or 1008 we should be able to tell Samsung they broke something with the last update or two!

Does anyone have a non-freezing unit with firmware 1008?

[rob1973]

Originally Posted by Nick09

I now have bbc iplayer also. Seems to work well.

Lot of mixed reviews on this unit but have to say I am impressed with it, especially now iplayer has arrived. Love film and Netflix plus a acetrax if you want them.

Has anyone logged into the Love film app and watched a film through an e8500?

[moby101]

Originally Posted by dasjournal

Hi moby101, thanks for that info.

Aside from having a faulty unit, have you been happy with the Samsung? Did you fix the EPG information issue?

I do like all the functionality that comes with the 8900 PVR but obviously want them to work.

The EPG info is still causing some problems and replaced my unit today so will check out the new one.

[moby101]

Originally Posted by moby101

Purchased the PVR last Sunday and a few problems showing up:
1. When I check out the "Guide", I can see the current shows for the timeslot but most other timeslots have 'No information' so unable to ore set a recording schedule
2. Recorded a couple of shows for 10 - 20 mins. Both indicated that they had finished their recording fter the appropriate time, but couldn't find the recordings to play back
3. When playing back a show which did record on Sunday, first time playing back all was good. Second time, the show would progress 3 mins then a blank screen for 2 - 4 seconds before it then continued again. After approx 5 of these over a 10 min period we turned it off.
4. Have turned on the PVR and cannot get any of the buttons on the remote to respond - have to turn it off and then back on

Have called the shop I bought it from and they said to bring it in as it sounds like a faulty one. After testing it they will replace it. Will do this at the weekend and update this post afterwards

Have replaced my 1 week old Samsung 8900 for another one - same model.

I asked the salesman a few additional questions and found I was not using the unit correctly so will list the new info regarding the 4 items above

1. The 'Guide' is still only showing a limited set of info. Seems I have to pick a channel to then see extra information - haven't tried this yet

2. User error - I was looking in the wrong place. Found all my recordings

3. Will check out over the next few days

4. User error - when using TV remote, I then need to click the 'TV' button on the PVR remote to then have the remote respond.

I did consider changing over to a Panasonic unit, but it lacked a few things - only 500Gb HDD, couldn't display PIP and couldn't receive iview so stayed with a Samsung.

Anyway, I now have a new unit and will see if all works properly.

[jbng]

Okay - so it turns out the exchanged Samsung with the 1006 firmware is fine coming out of DVD playback, but it freezes when coming out of Blu-Ray playback. *deep sigh*. I got so frustrated with this problem that I took it back again and resolved to try a different model. The Panasonic was less features for a WHOLE lot more money, so I spent an extra $50 and took home an LG HR925t. Half the hard drive size and no picture-in-picture, but I figured if it operates smoothly and doesn't freeze up it's worth it. Unfortunately they didn't let me test it in the shop, but they said I should test it at home and bring it back if it was no good.

Well... contrary to the reviews I read the LG's menus and layout are nice and responsive, but the picture quality from the HD tuners is VERY poor compared to the samsung, even compared to my 32" LG tv's internal HD tuner. Footage with movement has 'lines' around it, and SD channels are barely watchable - extremely pixelated with lots of artifacts. I remember being very impressed with the picture quality from the Samsung's Tuner (is that because it has 'progressive scan' perhaps?).

I guess a firmware update can (eventually) fix the exit button freezing on the Samsung, but the picture quality of the LG is probably always going to be poor. So tomorrow will hopefully be back to the store for the last time to get the Samsung back!

Can anyone with the BDE-8500 or 8900 confirm that you DON'T have the optical drive exit problem? If everyone has it maybe we can persuade Samsung to fix it...

[rob1973]

Originally Posted by rob1973

Has anyone logged into the Love film app and watched a film through an e8500?

Alright Rob, great name mate, I can confirm yes the Love film app works on the E8500, it took less than 2 minutes to set up and check strange you didn't hear from anyone else sooner probably whinging about a freezing unit.

[moby101]

Have played a DVD today in the new 8900 PVR and same problem as reported earlier by others - if I stop the DVD the unit shows me the 'All Share Play' screen with the option to "Play" the DVD but nothing on the remote works. The unit freezes and cannot even turn the power off on the remote - I have to take the power cord out.

I have another few minor irritations with the PVR -
1. With the PVR turn off, my previous model showed the time, but my new unit only displays the power symbol - no time
2. When I turn on my TV then PVR, I can use the PVR's remote to change channels on the TV as you would expect. If I use my TV RC to change a channel, I cannot use the PVR RC for any functions. I have to turn off the PVR and then back on for the RC to function
3. It seems very difficult to remove a show that I've previously taped. Anyone know how this can be easily performed?

[dgs2001]

My Bde 8500 also freezes after playback of a blu ray.

The only way to recover from this freeze is to unplug the unit and then plug it back in.

I can however confirm that although frozen with the disc spinning non stop ,and all icons and display frozen, the schedule manager does still record.


The other thing I have noticed is that HE AAC 5.1 broadcast sound is not being output properly, according to the manual it should be output as Dolby digital, if i have selected Bitstream unprocessed however it is only being output as 2 channel PCM.

I'm on firmware 1008.1
Can anybody else confirm this?

[dgs2001]

Originally Posted by dgs2001

The other thing I have noticed is that HE AAC 5.1 broadcast sound is not being output properly, according to the manual it should be output as Dolby digital, if i have selected Bitstream unprocessed however it is only being output as 2 channel PCM.

Sorted the sound thing it was user error

[Olympian]

I have the BD-E8900 with firmware 1008. The website shows 1008.1 but I assume that that the decimal is not significant as no updates are available by online update.

I can confirm that the lock-up when exiting a BluRay disc is still there.

I must also report other major bugs - sound and vision dropout momentarily when Freeview HD channels switch from 1080i to 1080p (which can be almost every shot with BBC HD Olympics coverage). This bug is also evident with my UE40ES6710 TV where the audio drops out when listening via the HW-E450 soundbar (HDMI or optical). This is a well-known bug that appeared in 2011 on several TV brands when 1080i and p dynamic switching was first used by the BBC. It was fixed by firmware last year but has now re-appeared.

Another lock-up can occur sometimes after attempting an online firmware update. After nothing is found, the PVR can sometimes display 'Update' and lock up. I have had this lock-up clear itself after a few minutes but also remain indefinitely, in which case pulling the power cord is the only solution that I have found. This is obviously dangerous if it was indeed actually updating.

Moby101 - you have not gotten into the fiendish minds of the designers….you have to go to Home>All Share Play>Recorded TV>HDD>Choose Prog>Tools>Delete>Tick>Delete>Confirm to delete programs. This is a ridiculously long-winded process but does eventually consign the program to history (even though it's ghost still lives on in My List>Recently Played!).

LATER EDIT: I have recorded a short segment with repeated 1080i / 1080p dropouts. When played back through my UE40ES6710 HD TV via HDMI the dropouts are very evident. However when the PVR is connected to the TV via AV cables the sequence plays normally (allbeit with reduced quality). Does this mean that the problem must be with the TV and not the PVR?