Great Speaker/google Assistant But It Has Been Bricked By Sony's Update To 176.

My SRS-XB501G suddenly quit responding (July 2022), and now shows as 'offline' in Google Home. I tried the reset by holding down the power button for 8 sec. - no solution. Next holding the mic off button till the leds flashed green. No solution, now the speaker appears to be stuck in a loop and will not respond to anything. Constantly cycling the power button on - off - flashing - green leds flash and repeat, steady for now over two weeks.Sony put out an update to 176 in late 2021 and it is supposed to update automatically, without asking permission and (they say) without the ability to reject the update. My router does show the unit as online, but I cannot access it with Google Home from my phone to see if the update ever installed or to initiate the update manually. Sony says it is required as it effects how the unit connects to Google Home. I have been on support chat with Sony multiple times and all they can say is try the power button reset and the mic off button reset, that's it, nothing more to offer. i insisted on a contact from higher level support and did get a call from someone. The ONLY thing they would say is " it is off warranty and we cannot do anything*. Try having a call from someone who will only repeat that line over and over and over again. STUCK IN A LOOP TOO ?Sony's only other suggestion is to send it to their repair depot, where they will try a software fix, but if the main board is bad, they are not available for replacement any more. Expensive two way freight and $100.00 +.Any ideas ? I sure would like some help. And I am extremely disappointed that Sony will not step up. I am convinced that this is all a result of the required Sony update.