topic Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get in Audio & Video

After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get eARC

PrMinisterGR — Tue, 12 May 2020 09:34:29 GMT

Top is the info.txt from the latest HW-N950, bottom is the text from the eARC update of HW-Q90r.

As you can see it's just generic Tizen. The hardware in both sound bards is basically identical, and whatever differences there are, shouldn't influence eARC which is basically a software feature.

Things get even more interesting when we open the HW-Q90r firmware file with a HEX editor. The HW-N950 (SAT-HKA18WWC) is literally mentioned in the file headers.

I see this as a huge f*ck you from Samsung. There was an implicit promise that the HW-N950 would get eARC, and seeing how it seems to be literally baked in the firmware (it's just a Tizen distro with software features after all), it feels wrong doubly so.

Are we getting this update or not?

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

N950-eARC — Tue, 12 May 2020 12:29:51 GMT

I knew this would be the case, I mentioned on another forum that the firmware would be near enough identical.

It's disgusting how they can't put the minimal amount of effort in to release this for what is essentially the same bit of kit. Great way to shaft customers who've spent $1500 on your kit with no support after a year in.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Tue, 12 May 2020 13:31:00 GMT

It is truly terrible, especially telling reviewers that it would be supported eventually.
If I wasn't afraid to brick mine, I would attempt to flash it. The problem is that I have so few trust in them that I'm afraid they have no checks and the flash might go through and brick my soundbar.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

N950-eARC — Tue, 12 May 2020 13:43:32 GMT

I can imagine someone will try to do that at some point, I certainly won't be the pioneer though!

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Wed, 13 May 2020 08:17:16 GMT

So, zero response at all? Why not make customers happy ONCE with your update schedule Samsung, it looks like your actual engineers have already done the work.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Fri, 15 May 2020 08:45:32 GMT

Apparently there were rumours leaked to some reviewers that we might get this alongside this generation of sounders (which makes sense with a casual look at the update files). Any response from Samsung?

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

voodoochild1974 — Fri, 15 May 2020 08:49:14 GMT

Both the Q80..90R tvs had earc mentioned in many reviews as a future update, as did HW N850 and 950, yet nothing on either.

Last I knew was it was coming in May, so will give it May and June due to world situation, after that, if nothing, I am done with Samsung.

When the company was growing they seemed much better, now they rule they don't seem to care or even try (take the no dolby Vision BS)

If they fail on this, my next phone, tv, soundbar will ot be with Samsung, and that's not saying other companies don't mess up, its just lost confidence in Samsung.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Fri, 15 May 2020 09:07:27 GMT

I am not even aware of any Dolby Vision issue yet. What's up with that? I am really annoyed with eARC, since I have a C9, and I have to be either between getting 5.1 audio via the TV, or lose HDMI VRR and advanced video features if I connect the PC and my Playstation on the Soundbar itself.
eARC would solve everything, since the TV already supports it (and they are supposed to fix the Dolby MAT issues soon, at least LG made a commitment to that).

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

voodoochild1974 — Fri, 15 May 2020 09:10:17 GMT

Samsung don't support dolby vision, just hdr, hdr 10.
Basically they don't want to pay the licence for dolby vision.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Fri, 15 May 2020 09:30:31 GMT

I thought they were simply forwarding any video signal and just processing audio.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

voodoochild1974 — Fri, 15 May 2020 09:35:15 GMT

Samsung tvs don't do dolby Vision, they are pushing hdr10 as their choice, its just to save money.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Fri, 15 May 2020 09:39:02 GMT

I understood the Soundbar, not the TVs. I get what you mean. The sound bar works with Dolby Vision as far as I have seen, the only real issue it has is eARC.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

Terry-Reynolds — Sat, 16 May 2020 12:27:23 GMT

please also update the Samsung HW-N950, in its day it was said that they would also support earc

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Sat, 16 May 2020 12:31:39 GMT

It is frustrating when you see that it's basically the same software platform for all of them, but they just don't try to enable it. If there was an beta program, I am certain that most of us would be glad to help.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Mon, 18 May 2020 09:43:00 GMT

I don't know if the lack of any communication from Samsung about this is bad or good
Anybody else did any digging in the firmware files?

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

fnikols — Tue, 19 May 2020 05:37:06 GMT

They are probably keeping quiet expecting this to go away.

I hope I'm wrong and that they are working on it.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Wed, 20 May 2020 21:19:41 GMT

They would probably retain a lot of us as customers if they did that.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

MKS28 — Thu, 21 May 2020 07:15:33 GMT

Any Samsung representative here in this community can confirm whether there will be a software update? Release note? I would like to see what other bugs would be fixed I have been waiting for almost a year.... getting impatient and have been thinking to sell this sound bar and buy another brand. Any good recommendations?

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

PrMinisterGR — Sat, 23 May 2020 18:44:42 GMT

I guess they are just waiting for us to blindly shut up. Reviewers won't speak of this because otherwise Samsung would not send them review copies. This is disgusting.

Re: After the HW-Q90r eARC update, I did a little digging in the firmware files. Is there a reason that the HW-N950 didn't get

meerkat_mafia — Sun, 24 May 2020 01:05:15 GMT

Very disappointed, was also told this would be added to my N950.. otherwise i would have never purchased..

I'm in the same boat as everyone else, if this does not get added, then i have no trust in Samsung as a brand anymore..

No Samsung brand of any product will be purchased and i will tell as many people who will listen.

poor form Samsung..