Sony Bravia A9F & Z9F Android Pie TV update arrives in America, BBC iPlayer discontinued on some UK models

At the beginning of December 2019, Sony opened its Android Pie TV account by announcing the new software for several 2018 and 2019 Bravia smart TVs.

The Bravia smart TV models confirmed to benefit from the update – an update that also tagged along support for Apple AirPlay and Homekit – include the XBR Z9F and XBR A9F series from 2018 as well as 2019’s XBR Z9G, XBR A9G, XBR X950G, and XBR X850G series (55/65/75/85 inches).

The company had an explanation for those models missing out from the list, but even so, the ones confirmed to receive the update were never going to get it all at once, especially not in all regions across the globe.

Since the initial rollout, Sony’s Android Pie TV has since expanded to more Bravia TVs in the UK and beginning this week, more regions will be receiving the same update on their Bravia A9F & Z9F series of TVs.

To be more specific, owners of models XBR-65A9F, XBR-55A9F, XBR-75Z9F, and XBR-65Z9F in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Peru can now download and install Android Pie on their TV sets right now.

Besides Android Pie, the update also adds the aforementioned support for Apple AirPlay and Homekit and also fixes the Netflix issue where playing UHD 4K or Dolby Vision content properly when AD2P headphones are connected has been a problem for some.

Below is a summary of the changes the new update brings to these TVs.

– Support for Apple AirPlay® and Apple Homekit™
– Integrates Dolby ATMOS support with the TV speakers
– Support for HEVC 100/120Hz format for USB video playback
– Combines the Video, Album and Music apps into the Media Player app
– Redesigns the Setting and Quick Settings menus
– Allows you to customize the Input menu
– Redesigns the Restart menu
– Redesigns the TV menu
– Redesigns the Guide screen to display the current channel in a small window within the screen
– Adds a Timer icon to the Home screen
– For models that have an IR Blaster, the IR Blaster setup function is renamed to Cable/Satellite box setup
– Redesigns the LED illumination behavior when using OK Google
– Provides additional menu, interface, and icon enhancements
Source

The airborne update is arriving as software version v6.3598 and weighs in at about 1.1GB.

BBC iPlayer discontinued on some Bravia TVs

Elsewhere in the UK, both the BBC and Sony have made it official that some old Bravia TVs from 2012 and 2013 will lose support for the BBC iPlayer beginning February 17, 2020.

From 17th February 2020, the BBC has made the decision to remove iPlayer on some older Sony TVs due to performance issues. If your TV is affected, you will see the following message (image below) when attempting to access BBC iPlayer from your TV.
Source

To continue using the BBC iPlayer, the BBC recommends finding a suitable set-top box or a streaming device to link to your old Sony TV.

Affected Bravia TVs are 2012’s EX44*, EX55* and EX65* series; HX75*, HX85*, HX95* and X90** series; and 2013’s W60*A, W65*A, W68*A, W80*A, W85*A, and W90*A series, as well as X85**A and X90**A series. Check the full list here.

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