Samsung forum: Poor Blacks and Gray Fog on apps in D series

When I do a By Online Software Upgrade it connects to the server but then I get the message "no software to upgrade currently" and it indicates that I'm on version 001022. Do you have any specific reason to think that upgrade fixes this issue? If so, why won't my tv find the upgrade?

itzme1234,

I have no reason to think that it wouldn't fix it, and since you had asked for a firmware update, I figured that would be a sensible first step.

As to why it's not updating automatically, the server that stores the update to send it out to TV is different from the server that stores the updates to the website. So the updates can and are out of sync in your case. So your choice would be to wait for the update, or download it and install it manually. I've attached the link to the manual download: http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/PN59D8000FFXZA#firmware

Hope that helps!

-- HD Tech

Online Brand Ambassador

- Click here to visit the Samsung forum
- Click here to visit the Samsung store on CNET

I have the same problem as many on my UE55D7000(LS)
No update threw TV and on the server and when i try to download via website http://www.samsung.com/be_fr/support/detail/supportPrdDetail.do?menu=SIA00201&prd_ia_cd=&prd_mdl_cd=UE55D7000LSXXN&prd_mdl_name=UE55D7000LS
You only provide a .exe file not usable on Mac even if you try to unzip it in terminal.
I always bought Samsung TV but this problem being unresolved for so long is a huge disillusion me. And not being able to update if you have a Mac add up to the disappointment.

Thanks for replying on this thread anyway it is a good start!

This still seems to be an issue even on latest firmware, is there any update yet?

Thank you for your help.

Neil

Kimbler, just to confirm, did you install firmware upgrade (10261) using USB? Was it to a D8000 or another model? And the poor blacks/gray film issue was still present when you played a video from an app (like Netflix)? Are the poor blacks present on all SmartHub video apps? And not present when you play a video from DLNA?

If so, I hope the Samsung rep might be able to offer us another solution.

Yes, I updated firmware via USB on UE7000. The issue is most noticeable on the Plex App that I run. DLNA videos play fine.

I was hoping the tech might offer us another fix to this frustrating issue?

Im still hoping the tech might have something to offer us, and now that Plex is on some blueray players, he can maybe play a video on both devices. The poor blacks and gray haze on the D series will be very obvious.

itzme1234,

I spoke with our product specialist. And he'd like to know the firmware version and Smart Hub version that you're experiencing the problems with. Also, by your description it's across all of Smart Hub; however, if it's not, which apps are affected and what are their version numbers?

As a general rule, whenever you're experiencing problems with Smart Hub, please be sure to provide model number, firmware version, and Smart Hub version. And if it's with a particular app, posting the version of the app as well. This helps us speed along the testing process to see if we can replicate the issue.

Sorry taking so long to get back with you. Hope we can get this figured out.

-- HD Tech

Online Brand Ambassador

- Click here to visit the Samsung forum
- Click here to visit the Samsung store on CNET

hi,

I too have this issue since the last several firmware updates.

My TV, a UE55D8000, in UK, was till now, stuck on 1021 firmware, as online updates found no new ones. Discovered the 1024.1 update on the Samsung UK website, so tried that yesterday, but it is no better.

The difference can be seen immediately if try a movie played via DLNA (fine), and then try to play the same movie via the Plex app where the picture looks very bad by contrast because of the super high grey levels. I have read other apps give the same problem with video too, but have not tried any others myself

The last firmware I believe it was all working fine was 1015

sorry, just to add....

smarthub version is 3.669-6.0.00067

Hey midnighttuck2,

Thanks for your message. I'd like to help you out, but I support US products and customers, so I only know the product specialists for my country as well to give this information.

However, I'll try push your info over to UK, but you should contact Samsung UK yourself to ensure they get your info. So here's the Samsung UK portal for support on that product: http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/tv-audio-video/television/led-tv/UE55D8000YUXXU

Sorry I couldn't be more help!

HD Tech

Online Brand Ambassador

- Click here to visit the Samsung forum
- Click here to visit the Samsung store on CNET

Hi, I have this same problem. Play on DLNA looks great, play on Plex and get gray haze. I tried firmware 10261, and have same problem, that all started when i upgraded from 1015. My smarthub just did an update so i'm on the latest, but I will look that up and post tonight. I'm in the US.

BTW No idea if this is related, but it's more or less the same terrible black as when "hdmi black level" is set to normal instead of low (when using HDMI of course)

This is incredible, doing a downgrade to 1015 solves all problems with black. This is really a big messup. Disaster! Someone screwed up really bad. I hope it gets fixed in a recent firmware soon :s

While I can confirm the downgrade fixes the problem that started just after ver 1015, we may loose other functionality that Samsung wanted us to have in later firmware versions. But this should be a HUGE hint for Samsung on what went wrong and where. Maybe the tech can try it for himself and see how ver 1015 firmware and before fixes this issue.

Anyone tried the latest 1025 version which just came out (EU) ?

I was going to try that last night, but got sidetracked with my ISP deciding to die on us (area fault).

Will be trying it tonight when I return however

ok, so I've just installed the 1025.

I had to uninstall and reinstall Plex afterwards as Plex just showed a blank screen.

Now I'm not 100% sure, as only had chance for a quick look as had to dash out, but I think its better, or improved.....certainly if a movie has aspect ratio borders they're black as should be......I'm sure someone who has used/compared Plex extensively will be better to confirm

sad to report its still not fixed with the 1025 firmware (UK model)

Put some films to a usb stick and hopped between them to compare. Still less colour and more washed out with grey bleaching than playing direct.

That being said, it doesnt seem as drastically bad, maybe they've done a few things to try to improve it but still needs a fair bit more work....or maybe its exactly the same, as I never had much of a play around with it initially on the earlier firmware, just knew it was bad from first notice

Well watched a few movies now with 1015, can't complain about picture quality.

Maybe the colors were a bit more vivid with newer firmwares, not sure. But if I have to choose between this and terrible black & washed out colors on plex, the choice is easy to make!

Any official info about this coming??

The poor black levels aren't exclusive to D7000 and D8000 series. I can confirm poor black levels on a D6500 using Plex (HDMI black is greyed out). Playing the same movie via DLNA, there is no problem (HDMI black is on "low").
Downgrading to 1015 perfectly fixes problem. Samsung NEEDS to respond to this.

It was out last month and you can see what others write on the web. Example at
http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/33208-poor-black-levels/page-14

There are no net conclusions. Yet.

Since not everyone agreed it fixed it then your view is confirmed.

That is, did you want to wait for a firmware that all thought it fixed it? Might be a long wait.
Bob