[A-300] Firmware 05-01-120118-23-POP-421 (05-01-111007-23-POP-421) (1.3.2012)

[chris57]

Totally agree subtitles are a let down on the 300 series.

Not only sync but the fact that they are displayed in the image instead of the black bars on releases. On other models you can move the subtitles to the black bars or move the picture.

The sync issue should get resolved as they have been messing with sync for bluray subs PGS subs and improved that on the 200 series. Lets hope they release the long awaited 200 and 300 releases soon.

[jasch]

I am not even able to delete files. Everytime I try, I get an error saying the file would be deleted, yet when the file list is refreshed, the files is gone.

Reported to Werner via PM a couple of weeks ago and he never replied to me, not even to aknowledge that the problem was being looked at. I even did the extra leg work of downgrading the firmware, and doing several different tests, and summarizing results off all possible variations.

Seriously considering going back to a A210.

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(06-27-2012 03:20 PM)chris57 Wrote:  Not only sync but the fact that they are displayed in the image instead of the black bars on releases. On other models you can move the subtitles to the black bars or move the picture.

This is horrible, specially if your movie is seriously letterboxed (aspect ratio of subtitles look extremely distorted).

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(06-27-2012 01:32 PM)chris57 Wrote:  I dont find the no picture on resume a major problem. Do a skip 30 secs forward/backward and you get the picture.

This work 'sometimes'. Sometimes the only way to regain picture, is by jumping to 0%. (in my case)

[accident]

(06-27-2012 07:14 PM)jasch Wrote:  

(06-27-2012 03:20 PM)chris57 Wrote:  Not only sync but the fact that they are displayed in the image instead of the black bars on releases. On other models you can move the subtitles to the black bars or move the picture.

This is horrible, specially if your movie is seriously letterboxed (aspect ratio of subtitles look extremely distorted).

I happen to know this one was a change in the sigma sdk and they have requested the ability to move the subtitles out of the video image and into the black bars.

[cyberfredfox]

still no new firmware :/

[rimsa]

yes it starts becoming a serious concern (

[accident]

The last couple firmwares for each model were liek this. someone notices it in qa, it takes 3-4 weeks before it's actually out.. not fun but in line with what happens lately.

[Rosche22]

Any news on a firmware that will fix the video blackouts that happen all the time when watching videots rips? I've had to go back to the c200 for the last few months because it's so bad. There is a thread about it but no talk in the firmware threads.

[accident]

I haven't heard any specifics.

[kevin1990]

Syabas is starting to become a no go. Support used to be absolutely fantastic but now it is just horrible.
Looking forward to the small intel system (can't remember the name), at least that will always work since the user is almost the only limitation...

[accident]

Your assuming too much, just look at the recent htpc software updates and you'll see the lists of what you need high end hardware to do. This is going to take it off topic, just if you want to discuss make a new thread in off topic

[jasch]

I am about to buy a used an A210, just because I can't stand the current bugs on the A300.

[accident]

But your a long term community dev. Did you never have the 200 the first year it was out? You should know in the next couple months it'll firm up.

[jasch]

I know, but I never experienced 9 months with unsolvable firmware bugs, specially from the main product a company is currently selling. I have reported bugs since the November release, still unfixed. It's gotten to the point than I am afraid of doing things with my A300s... I even went back a firmware revision to stop crashes... (now I only get like 20 error popups a day)

It was never this bad with the 100 or 200 series...

I don't mind bugs. I develop software myself, and I beta test lots of things (both software and hardware). But what bothers me is *time* it takes now to fix stuff. The lack of communication and months and months of unresolvable bugs. At least if there were an open channel, or a beta program again, or more active participation from Syabas, one would feel something is being done.

There was a leak of a new firmware almost a month ago. It was said posted here that a bug was found, and needed to go back to QA again. A month is a long time to have something in QA. (let us do the QA at our own risk if we want to)

If the problem is with the SDK, and Syabas is waiting for Sigma to fix underlying stuff with it, obviously the chipset was not really ready to be in used any public hardware yet.

It's like it was said a couple post back. They sold us a lemon.. but I don't doubt for any moment the problems will be fixed eventually, and the software will be on par with the hardware... but maybe it will be too late.

This device has been selling almost for 9 months, and everyone that buys one probably has the same complaints... unfortunately only like 1% make their way to this forum to vent about it... The other 99% probably return it, or throw it on the closet and swear never to buy any popcorn device anymore.

I don't know Syabas reasons for the delays, and lack of updates, removing the beta program, and almost shutting down all communications channels on this forum.

But I think these same reasons are hurting the company image more, than helping them. If you have a product that out of the box has problems, you should not stop communicating with your hurting customers. You should make them feel like you're addressing the situation, give ETAs or any other information you can. If not, they will go somewhere else and your sales will die eventually.

[accident]

I think you might be getting your first experience of what an end user without beta access goes through. The 200s were horrible the first year if you didn't have access to the betas. Especially the 7 months it took for the sdk change when the large majority of sigma bugs got fixed.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not thrilled with the 300s and I'm sure there's a bunch of people experiencing cannot use it bugs still. Just strange to me, that as a software dev, you think this is worse than the past.

[jasch]

Strangely, I don't remember any 200 bugs that were show stoppers. Or at least it didn't happen every time you try to delete a file, that probably why it's frustrating to me (the fact that they're so easy to reproduce time and time again, and they are not fixed).

Any show stopper bug the 200 series had, at least for me, happened very infrequently. The only persistent bugs I've seen carry over from the 200 to the 300 series, have to do with HD audio.

As a developer, you have to agree no firmware updates in almost 6 months, is just looks bad (latest firmware is from January 18). If I were a new customer, I would think it's abandonware, or the company just doesn't care. Only 2 firmware updates since release... (not counting shipping firmware)

I would prefer smaller releases every 1-2 months. They don't have to fix 40 bugs at a time... fix a couple of bugs, test, release. Fix a couple more bugs, test, release.

It's harder to complain, when at least you're getting small fixes frequently, and you know there's somebody at the helm of the ship steering.

Even simple things like updating NMT apps. NZBget 0.6 is still being shipped with units (and bugs). Even tough 0.7 and 0.8 have been available for years (final, not testing releases). But it seems they do have plenty the resources to pump out new hardware (like the S300), but not for fixing bugs and doing QA on firmwares.

I dunno... at least I am so grateful this forum exists, so I can vent my frustrations with fellow users. Well, by the time firmware problems are fixed, there will be a new A400 and the cycle will begin again.