[A100] Firmware 01-17-100516-15-POP-402-000 (00-17-091216-15-POP-402 Apps)

[cheaper_popcorn]

(08-14-2010 02:39 AM)complexity Wrote:  What's those IDX/SUB language error that was fixed? I still have mkv's where the A-100 will play the first language (e.g. German) instead of the preferred language (i.e. English). MPC and WMP both would display the correct sub language.

A little disappointed that I didn't get to beta-test this firmware though I am supposed to be part of the beta-testing team... :-(

Chris

Idx/sub in MKV has never been supported on the 100 series.

The fixes apply to external sub/idx subtitles with AVI files. If your preferred subtitle language does not show immediately during MKV playback, use the Subtitle button and navigation pad to choose the desired track.

[staffanw]

For me the WiFi does not work any longer.
It sees the WiFi networks, but is unabel to get connected. This worked perfect with the 100317 FW.
So if you run WiFi don't upgrade. Booting time is also extremely much longer than with old fw.
The music GUI is not really new the only thing they done is that they moved the meta data from bottom of screen to center of screen.

I say absolutely rubbish and if this is how Syabas is to be treating it's users I have recommended a Popcorn Hour for the last time.

I'm going back to 100317 FW instead of this crap.

Edit: Booting time could have been affected by WiFi not working as trying to connect to WiFi could have delayed the ready screen.

/s

[rshri]

Apart from staffanw, is there anyone else who can confirm that boot-time has increased with this new firmware? Anyone tested SAMBA Video_Ts thingy yet? Any comment on MKV playback - poorer or better?

I myself will test it tonight and let you guys know my observations.

[Pernod]

(08-14-2010 04:28 AM)ricocarlos Wrote:  

The good part is that it goes into screensaver when the music is playing, the bad part is my album art shows up diagonally, and it looks really bad. Really bad. Maybe I'll send a screenshot.

I tried a few of my mp3's containing album art and it showed correctly. The album art didn't look as well defined as on the same screen on my A-200 though. It looks as though it's being resized (enlarged then shrunk) losing definition.

I'll have to try some more to see if any others show diagonally, maybe related to actual image size contained in ID3 tags. I think most of my album art images are 400x400.

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(08-14-2010 12:07 PM)rshri Wrote:  Apart from staffanw, is there anyone else who can confirm that boot-time has increased with this new firmware?

I didn't notice any significant change in boot time (no HDD installed), though I rarely reboot it anyway.

[complexity]

(08-14-2010 09:53 AM)cheaper_popcorn Wrote:  Idx/sub in MKV has never been supported on the 100 series.

The fixes apply to external sub/idx subtitles with AVI files. If your preferred subtitle language does not show immediately during MKV playback, use the Subtitle button and navigation pad to choose the desired track.

Thank you Cheaper_Popcorn. Yes, that's what I have been doing, but I was hoping it would get fixed somehow... Oh well..

Chris

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(08-14-2010 12:07 PM)rshri Wrote:  Apart from staffanw, is there anyone else who can confirm that boot-time has increased with this new firmware? Anyone tested SAMBA Video_Ts thingy yet? Any comment on MKV playback - poorer or better?

I myself will test it tonight and let you guys know my observations.

Yes, the reboot time (at least the one immediately after the firmware update) was _significantly_ longer, I thought I might have bricked my A-100... :-)

[mar_tin]

I also got the diagonally displayed album art problem. I have only external jpeg files as album art not in the ID3 tag. That might be the difference, but seeing that when there is no album art and it displays a default image, and that is also diagonally messed up then I think it's not related. I also tested network performance with mkv. Seems like the NFS performance dropped both on UDP and TCP. SMB is faster currently. I think the boot time might be longer, I don't get the Popcorn Hour loading... logo for almost 15 seconds after power up.

[staffanw]

The WiFi through an USB TP-link stick is broken, and it makes me wonder as one of the fixed items is:
"Fixed Wifi fail to connect to non-broadcast SSID" so have they only tested it with non-broadcast SSID and just forgot about the normal state which is with broadcasted SSID. I have not tested to turn SSID of though, but I don't think I bother.
What have Syabas been doing for three months as they obvious have not been testing the software very thoroughly.
Releasing the music GUI with distorted pictures is outrageous as that is the only new part they have added for ages that for me was of any interest at all.

I think it might be time to move on from Popcorn Hour/NMT/Syabas and look elsewhere as they seem to care less for their old and faithful customers. The only thing that has kept this thing working has been the YAMJ and MusicJukebox made by other people as Syabas never got the GUI part right.

[HenkNL]

I want to applaud Popcornhour for their continued support of these 'older' players ! Very good !

In the current computer-related market it is very exceptional that a product is being updated after 6 months or a year. Only the really serious brands afford themselves such long product support on archived models. This will create a lot of goodwill and trust.

Keep the good work going !

Henk

[primetimeguy]

Thanks for the info on the music gui guys. Looks like it is not worth it and has issues as well. No update for me.

[staffanw]

(08-14-2010 02:14 PM)HenkNL Wrote:  I want to applaud Popcornhour for their continued support of these 'older' players ! Very good !

In the current computer-related market it is very exceptional that a product is being updated after 6 months or a year. Only the really serious brands afford themselves such long product support on archived models. This will create a lot of goodwill and trust.

Keep the good work going !

Henk

I'm not sure if I agree with you here as if you don't support an older version all new buyers of new version know that as soon as an even newer version is released they are screwed. So this is an survival issue for any producer of home electronics and most other do not need any updates as they make a working product from start.
I agree with the goodwill and trust is hand in hand with long support, but I believe that crappy support with releasing software which introduces new and worse problems where also the new features does not work is even worse than no support.
I have been a fairly happy user with the March firmware, and have reverted back to this release as well, but have been really pissed off on the obvious almost contempt for old users when releasing this crap.
In this release there are 11 minor bugfixes and one new feature, music UI, where the new feature obviously does not work as expected.
What does this do to "goodwill and trust" ? I know what it does to my trust in Syabas in the future.
PS. Sorry for being so upset and hence taking away the focus from what is working in the new firmware. DS.

[Pernod]

(08-14-2010 02:42 PM)staffanw Wrote:  In this release there are 11 minor bugfixes and one new feature, music UI, where the new feature obviously does not work as expected.

As I said previously, the new music screen works here. Lets try to determine the cause of the distorted art.

Are your images embedded as ID3 tags, or external? What is your video output set to, PAL/NTSC/720p/etc.?

All my images are embedded as ID3 tags and video is output via HDMI at 1080p and not seen the issue yet.

[staffanw]

(08-14-2010 02:54 PM)Pernod Wrote:  As I said previously, the new music screen works here. Lets try to determine the cause of the distorted art.

Are your images embedded as ID3 tags, or external? What is your video output set to, PAL/NTSC/720p/etc.?

All my images are embedded as ID3 tags and video is output via HDMI at 1080p and not seen the issue yet.

Pernod, what I really do not like here is that a "new" firmware, even if the name say it is 3 months old, is released obviously without the most fundamental testing.

[dc11ab]

@staffanw
Pernod says that it works in his setup, probably others too since not many have posted similar issues as you have experienced.

Why don't you try and work with him, since he is kind enough to offer assistance? If it's a bug, let's try to narrow it down so it may be fixed. If it's something that is configurable on your setup, you are up and running again.

"and most other do not need any updates as they make a working product from start. "
Name me one product that was working from start, and I'll name you 10 that wasn't.

[staffanw]

(08-14-2010 04:14 PM)dc11ab Wrote:  @staffanw
Pernod says that it works in his setup, probably others too since not many have posted similar issues as you have experienced.

Why don't you try and work with him, since he is kind enough to offer assistance? If it's a bug, let's try to narrow it down so it may be fixed. If it's something that is configurable on your setup, you are up and running again.

"and most other do not need any updates as they make a working product from start. "
Name me one product that was working from start, and I'll name you 10 that wasn't.

That the music UI works for embedded pictures that is obvious, but to screw up the external file is really showing lack of testing.
As they also manage to screw the WiFi, the latest FW is useless for me and hence I have reverted back to the March FW I'm not able to help debugging it. I have had the A100 since Feb 2008 and FW after FW has passed by with almost no features added as promised at initial release. Only bugfixes has been added sometimes with mixed results and now when they actually announced the long awaited music ui then it only works partially. I have all my album art embedded in the tags (MP3 and Flac) so I would be happy to use the new FW if it only worked.

[rshri]

Did the update and here are my observations -

1) This update took slightly longer to complete its whole course as compared to previous updates. But still it never stalled and completed successfully without any problems.

2) It made NO difference to unit's boot-time. False alarm there.

3) MKVs worked fine as before.

I see no problems with this firmware. I am sticking with it. Thank you Syabas!