Sony BDP S350 firmware problem

[gregvet]

Calling all you people with the BDP S350. I am having problems upgrading the firmware. I do not have a wireless network, and the nature of our phone line means that internet is only available in one room, with too many stairs imbetween to allow me to get the blu-ray player plus TV where they would need to be. As I use a mac I cannot create the disk to update without going on line. 

I have tried using an internet cafe to no avail, I am not sure what I am doing wrong but I suspect the CD burning software may be to blame. So, did anyone burn a disk to update the software, and if so did it work ok?

 

Anyone have any other ideas as to how I could get the update?

 

i have tried the local Sony shop, they dont want to help at all. If anyone here has made and used the disk, and would consider doing me a copy, that would be perfect  

 

[Tonya]

You don't need a wireless network to update the BDP-350, or a special CD. Just insert a cable from your router (the same cable you would use for connecting your PC or laptop) to the player and then upgrade using the menu of the player. It only takes a few minutes. Then disconnect the player. Most of the upgrades are to the Java engine which is used to create the menus, etc, although more discs are being programmed to access special media content from the studio's website. If you have a wireless router you can always buy a wireless access point, which is a small box with several outputs so you can connect your Sony BluRay player, TV and Xbox all together online, so they are online permanently.

 

[gregvet]

Thats the problem. The cable would need to be 20m long, or I have to take my 42' plasma up three flights of stairs in order to be able to view the menus on screen!

Thanks for the speedy reply though.ÿ

 

[Tonya]

Hmmm! Well you could always try the "blind" method! Remove any discs, take the player downstairs and connect it up to the Internet cable, power the player up and wait 30 seconds. Then using the remote, press HOME, then the left arrow three times, then the up arrow 8 times (just to be sure) then ENTER (the round button in the middle).
This will obtain the update if available, so be sure to wait around 15 mins before unplugging again.

Your software version should read 07.4.010 by now. You can check this by accessing SYSTEM SETTINGS then SYSTEM INFORMATION on the menu, when you connect your TV.

Remember that to enjoy the full BD specification, this player needs a small USB type memory stick as these players were shipped without the required memory to bring it up to BD2.0 specification. The memory stick is not your usual type, due to the connection on the back of the player. I bought a 4 gig one online, can't remember where, but you can easily find one that specifically fits the player.

Hope this helps, just let me know if you need more help!

 

[crusaderlord]

Having just bought the 350 myself - what is the benefit of the firmware update ?

 

[Big Chris]

When I got my BT Vision, it came with a couple of 'broadband-through-the-mains' plug in adaptors, allowing the BT Vision and the BT Hub to be in completely different locations. I guess these can be purchased separately

I just unplugged the ethernet cable (which is connected to one of these adaptors) from the back of my vision box, and into my 350. The screen immediately announced a software upgrade which I carried out.

Once the download was complete, I returned the ethernet cable to the BT vision box as before.

 

[Tonya]

Quote "Your Sony Blu-ray player can now play all the fancy-pants BD Live extras once you update your player's firmware. The 56 MB firmware update can be downloaded directly via the players Ethernet port or you can download it on your computer and make an update disc. The BD Live functionality finally adds the same features HD DVD had years ago".

The BD2.0 specification makes available extra interactive content available, in particular when the player has a permanent connection to the Internet (as it should be). Online content from the studios is rapidly becoming available. The recent update is mostly Java related, that's the graphic engine that creates the fancy menu animations, etc.
The last update also improves the sensitivity of the remote control eye when the player is in standby mode.

The 3 things that owners of the player should do is

1) Stick a memstick in the back of the player.
2) Connect it to the Internet to get the initial upgrade to make it 2.o compliant and preferably leave the player online so you can enjoy the BD Live features some discs allow you to access.
3) Make the player region-free (DVD playback) using a "One-For-All" remote control.

By the way, the player upscales ordinary DVDs and makes an excellent job at it as well.
Have hooked mine up to a sony KDL-52W4500 and am constantly amazed at the details in both BD & DVD sources.
Make sure you calibrate your screen for the ultimate quality - I used the "Monster" calibration disc.

 

[Thomassteele]

I have firmware version 07.4.013 Loaded on my BDP-S350, which I down loaded about a week ago, but on the sony website its back to the previous version 07.4.010, which is very strange is there a problem with the newer version?

 

[VoodooDoctor]

They reverted back to the old version quite quickly for some reason. There haven't been any problems with the new version that I've read about.

 

[Anonymous]

I found that the update went on just as advertised via a long cable from my router... trouble is the machine is now TRASHED! I did the update because of some problems I had playing a few discs and hoped it would help.

All I get now is 'No Disc' for every kind of DVD that I put in.

Anyone any idea how to revert to the previous OS?

Nick