Hello. I'm a fairly new owner of a Sony RDR HXD-710. Does anyone know about the probability of software updates?

My box gives the version 1.0.0.0

How often do Sony issue updates? Would an update include new functionality or would it only be essential bug-fixes or updates to support changes to the EPG format or similar.

If they do add functionality, my wish-list would include:

- Auto-extend (either via EPG timings or the ability to easily add an extra minute to the end of an EPG recording)
- Some way of pressing 'back' on the remote control to remove red dots.
- An automatic red-dot remover after 30 secs (as on a Sky box)
- Series recording (record every episode of X regardless of the time)

E.

I'd lke to add a few thing requests to a software update for the HXD-710:

1. 16:9 anamorphic dubbing to the +R/RW format discs (if the machine can record 16:9 ana direct to a disc in DVD mode, there's no reason why it can't dub in 16:9 too).

2. Might be a hardware constraint but it would be great an less limiting if the 710 allowed you to watch a freeview channel while recording through Line3.

3. If watching a channel through Line3 (sky digibox) and a freeview channel timer recording kicks in while the machine fully turned on it shouldn't automatically switch the feed to the freeview channel and interupt the users viewing (it is OK when the 710 is standby).

These problems existed on the RDR-GXD500, which was released in December 2004, so it's unlikely they will be changed soon. There was one update for the GXD500, which sorted out a few freeview reception bugs, but did nothing on the DVD recording side.

Hi all,

Keep them coming. I will keep a list of them all and them email Sony. I too want to be able to pad the EPG. They probably will just ignore us but if we dont ask........

Anyway, if nothing else, then at least they may think about these issues in future models, which cant be a bad thing.

Regards,

Tony H

There is a long thread on here somewhere regarding EPG padding the RDR-GXD500. Lots of people contacted Sony but their reply was along the lines of "most customers can use it ok without EPG padding so they aren't going to do anything about it".

Paul 21,

Ummm.......that is very disappointing. I suppose I am not surprised, if they can get away with doing nothing than they will. I will still write to them but do not expect any success, given what you have said.

Lets face it, the software update thing is more to cover themselves, and not for our benefit. By allowing for software updates, they know they can fix bugs so that people have less amunition for sending units back, which of course really hurts the manufacturer. Unlike, Sky, who have to try and strive to keep customers happy, once Sony have sold their unit they are less bothered about improving things for the user.

Anyway, thanks for your imput.

Tony

I think the only way to press companies into fixing things which aren't actually broken but can be improved, is to ensure their products are given a bad name on forums such as this, so future purchasers are made aware of their lack of interest once they have your money.

Paul 21 appears to be correct.

I've been Emailing Sony customer support about the "+" format anamorphic (16:9) problem on the 910. I specifically asked when a firmware update would become available to fix the bug. Here's what they had to say about it...

"Our understanding is that due to the limitations of a + format disc, they are unable to record 16:9 signal formats. There is no problem with the unit as such as this was the way the unit has been designed and there would be no firmware being released for this."

After I replied that other manufacturers manage it so its not a format limitation they replied with comments along the lines that "well we've sold a lot of them and no-one else is complaining" -or something to that effect, I don't have teh Email at hand to copy in here.

Sorry for the cross posting that avid forum readers may spot, I've posted most of this info in the main710/910 thread but this one is more relevant.

You have to see Sony's point, they sell loads of these items, mainly to people who are buying it as it is a "Sony" and most of the purchasers will have no idea what a WSS is, and will perfectly happy if their machine records their soaps as and when required.

It is a mass market machine and they aren't going to spend time and money enhancing things that only a few AV specialist purchasers require.

Me included! What is a WSS?

Wide-Screen-Signalling

It is to enable equipment to realise a programme is in wide screen format. The problem if this isn't properly recorded onto a DVD is that if it is then viewed on a wide screen TV rather than automatically switching to wide you have to adjust it, not a major problem. A more serious problem is on 4:3 TVs where the picture will appear squashed and can't be stretched or made to play letterbox format without the wss being present.

Sony handles this on -dvds but not at all on +dvds.

Thanks... it all makes sense now!

Another feature I would like (via the unlikely software upgrade!), is to be able to 'Join' two recordings together. I know it is possible to do it via the playlist, but since they have the 'divide' feature, I would have thought join would be sensible too.

I very much doubt that Sony will implement further features as they have never isssued an update for the hx900 to add the missing 'Divide' function for HDD recordings.