By David Katzmaier, CNET.com
18/09/2008
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/home_av/tvs/0,39037594,62046269,00.htm

Anybody who owns a Sony PlayStation 3 knows all about software and firmware updates. Every month or two, Sony sends out an update notification telling users that it's time to head over to the update section of the menu and wait 10 minutes to an hour to download and install the latest features, bug fixes, and what-have-you.

Personal computers have been doing the same thing for years, via Windows Update for example, and now that the PS3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii are Internet-enabled, it seems that game consoles are also firmly aboard the update bandwagon.

The same goes for cable, satellite, IPTV, HD settop boxes which are updated so frequently that as reviewers, we find it impossible to keep up. We believe the new-generation HDTVs that connect to the Internet should also allow firmware updates.

Should firmware and software updates be available to HDTVs via an Internet connection? Among HDTV makers, we suspect Samsung will be the first to offer an "update" service on its Internet-connected HDTVs. When we heard about models with Ethernet connections, such as the Series 7 announced at CES this year, our first question to the company's reps was whether that jack allowed firmware updates. We were frankly surprised when the answer came back "no." In the last couple of years, Samsung has issued numerous firmware updates for its HDTVs including the LA46F81BDX, but they've only been available via download from the company's Web site.

To update your TV, you not only have to know about the existence of an update, but you then have to download it to a USB drive and install it on the TV yourself. Granted, the Samsung updates so far have fixed minor performance issues, typically 1080i deinterlacing, but I think most HDTV buyers would be interested in improving the performance of their sets regardless of how minor the update.

The flip side of firmware upgrade

The flip side of this argument is that HDTVs shouldn't need updating--they're fine as they are, and their only purpose is to display content, so why would they need updates? Our answer is that updates can seriously improve performance. A great example is the above-mentioned Samsung F8 which was its first attempt at 100Hz de-judder. A firmware update toned down this motion enhancement and the resultant haloing artifacts. It's true that such updates can't fix poor off-angle performance and etc, but they can evidently improve video processing at least.

Another argument is that firmware updates allow manufacturers to rush imperfect products to market, knowing they can fix the problem later. With a little more quality assurance testing, for example, perhaps those issues wouldn't have occurred with the Samsung TVs mentioned above. But we notice performance issues all the time during HDTV reviews, and in the majority of cases they're not addressed at all. Offering a fix to a problem, even if it's relatively late, is better than ignoring it as far as I'm concerned.

If done correctly, as with the PS3, firmware updates to HDTVs via the Internet can be painless, instill a sense of confidence, and ward off obsolescence. If you've ever appreciated the added functionality or performance after a PS3 or settop box update, you know what we mean.