XMS-888 - Mpeg4 - Firmware?

[LouisB]

Hi jok11n

could you please e-mail me the Firmware update. Do you know how to turn Macrvision off on the XMS-888 by any chance. I'm not trying anything illegal here. Reason is I run my DVD Player through my VCR(because my TV doesn't have an AV jack on it) and when I watch movies, the Macrovision protection really spoils it.

Thanks
LouisB

Ok, I have tried the supplied update and it installs no problem. However I don't see any improvement on the issues that I am aware of. If anyone still wants to try it i'm quite happy to send it out, perhaps there are things that I am not aware of that are ok (don't get your hopes up though) for those that are willing to wait I will have passed on the results to the factory and wait and see what happens from there. Personally I would wait, I expect that the firmware that they have provided is what they were already working on. We are not their only market there are others that sell this player and I would expect that their customers would be chasing the same fixes. The factory is quite responsive to requests so far so hopefully this can be sorted soon.

If anyone still wants to try it, it doesn't seem to have any negative impact just reply here and i'll send it out. I have the addresses in my pm box but I won't send it unless you confirm here that you still do want it (no hotmail addresses please) I don't want the bounce messages from the file size.

To anyone that does it's a simple matter of burning the file to disc in iso9660 format and closing the disc. Then just follow the instructions in the manual. I don't have the original firmware either. I'll see if I can get details of how to read the firmware version (I didn't see it anywhere) so at least we can see where it's at.

Please don't bug the guys at WDS about this, they only handle the distribution etc, they don't get involved in firmware fixes, I will follow this up and make sure everyone is kept up to date on what happens via the forum as any info becomes available

[LouisB]

Hi jok11n

ignore my previous request for the v1.1 Firmware as I got it from the FTP. Could you please e-mail me the v1.0 Firmware though in case I need to go back to it.

Thanks
LouisB

I didn't want to put previous firmwares up to avoid confusion, if anyone needs the previous one I'm happy to email as required.

[The Man]

jok11n could you also email me the v1.0 Firmware please. Email addy is in ur PM box. Thanks

[andw]

From : DVDRhelp.com post on Lite-On LVD-2002 (http://www.dvdrhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=190398) about 20 posts down
re : zooming / aspect ratio etc...

Roundabout
Lost In Space


Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Posts: 388
Location: Southern California
Posted: Nov 30, 2003 15:14

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@ astroruben,

New PM sent to you now. Unit is playing perfectly right now. Found the Zoom function is great if the picture doesn't fill the screen, you can use the zoom to any size vertically and horizontally to suit your taste. Great when some letterboxing goes off the edge of the screen, or aspect ratio doesn't look the way it should.
_________________
"That's how you know what's good in America, Meathead!...It costs more!" - Archie Bunker

[andw]

If you read through that thread, you will notice a lot of talk about firmware updates required for the LitE-On as well... (esp for divX3, ogg and .srt)

[andw]

p.s. regarding the LVD-2002 and the US price (as mentioned before), checkout http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=82-101-304&catalog=336&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=10#top - remember that is US dollars.
Also, if you read the DVDRhelp link I posted above, you'll find that there are a lot of firmware issues still being 'worked out' on the 'name brand' Lite-On unit.
p.p.s I'm only posting the above link for price comparison, not because I think you should all rush out and get one. (plus they are about 2x this price in Aus)

[davidf]

This link will give you an idea of what the European scene is like relating to MPeg 4, The European market is the place to look when it comes to MPeg 4 becuase they are miles ahead of everybody at the moment. DIVX etc.. has been prominient in Europe for 12 months. Locally we are only marginally behind the USA as currently only 2 or 3 MPeg4 models are available in the USA.

http://www.quellicheilpc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1082

[andw]

This link will give you an idea of what the European scene is like relating to MPeg 4, .........
http://www.quellicheilpc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1082
Thanks davidf for that link, I particularly like this part...
"CHIPSET ESS

XORO HSD400

Aggiornamento Firmware 17/10/2003: Update für Xoro HSD 400 (Deutsches OSD, ZOOM, Rescale) - zip, 743 kB "

This is the ESS chipset (ours) with Zoom and Rescale, so the chipset must be able to handle it.
(DO NOT use this firmware on the XMS-888, it might break it. - besides, it probably is not in English)

[davidf]

Ive just picked up my replacement unit from Strathfield, Now that I have a non upgraded unit I thought it may be a good time to look at what the player in its virgin state is capable of then see the what it does after upgrading.

So any ideas or sample files to be used in a controlled set of tests would be appreciated.

[Pythonisman]

Just a small issue -- A bit annoying though
(after the firmware flash to 1.1)

Everything works fine, but i've noticed a bit of backwards progression ...

I used to be able to Fast Forward while playing divX files (at 2x, 4x or 8x).

Now, when i push the FF button on the remote it just comes up with the evil little hand ;)

Anyway, just letting you know! :)

[andw]

Pythonisman -That's odd, I've been ffwding Xvid files ok. What ver divx are these files, or is it any?

Davidf - can you try original DVD's, see if 'Title' or 'Menu' do anything. I'm sure that prior to upgrade, 'menu' took you back to the dvd's menu screen.

[Pythonisman]

um ok that's weird, it seems to just be select ones.. :\

File Name: Terminator 3 CD2.avi
Size: 697MB
Stream Type: OpenDML AVI
Video Format: XviD
Aspect: 640 x 272 (2.353:1)
Bitrate: 1462kb/s
Framerate: 23.976 FPS
Duration 00h 50m 52s
Audio Format: ac3
Bitrate: 448 kb/s (89/ch x 5ch)
FS: 48000Hz

That one doesn't FF / FR but it seems that some of the other ones do. Wierd, I'll keep testing and let you know :)

(p.s. transposing info from GSpot pisses me off!! ;))

[andw]

A decent cut and paste in Gspot would be good. :-)
Is it only files with AC3 that are having problems?
All mine are 2ch stereo.

[Pythonisman]

It's possible it's the AC3 part of it. :)

I'll do some further testing and get back :)

Also, one for the future updates brigade -- The option of having a blank screen with the visualisation whilst playing mp3 would be cool. Naturally preference to the important things first, like folder shuffling ;)

[wakeboardandy]

Andw I have been playing xvid 24 episode files and I find they play better when you play them in NTSC format. It fits the screen better.

[andw]

Yes, I noticed that as well, just make sure that you change it before you start it, as the 'evil hand' comes up when you try to change it while it's playing. :-)
Interesting tho, I tried a file that is 592x320, and it is 'thinner' if the output is set to NTSC first.

[davidf]

Well the 1.1 firmware definitely changes the behaviour of DVD playback.

WIth out upgrades the Title button works the PBC search menus work and the zoom facility works without making the movie jerky( with the exception of 1.5x whichhas a very slight jitter).

So now I will go through a bunch of tests to see what the player does now then I will flash the firmware and do the same tests.

If anyone has some of these problem avi's or links to them I wouldn't mind getting hold of one or 2 so that I can do a comparison between the firmware versions.

Tommorrow or the day after I will put up a simple web page that goes through each of the remote controls buttons with a result of what behaviour seems to happen for various cd's dvds etc.

[davidf]

I was just experimenting with 99 minute CDR's (870mb) and discovered a few things

Mode 2 burn - resulted in poor audio decoding (broken sound)
Mode 1 burn - perfect when CD burnt with Gear pro
Nero 6 and record Now DX burns worked on the PC but the XMS player took several attempts to get them to read.

I think maybe burning software may have a lot to do with the XMS player being able to read the disks. I have noticed in the past that Gear Pro always seemed to give me more reliable DVDr burns but this is the first time I have used it for CDr. Maybe the software people are using to write the CD's should become part of the equation when trying to find out what is causing problems.

btw: 99 minute CDr's are so kewl :) 90 minute movie complete with AC3 and really good image reproduction.

[andw]

I have some '90' minute and some '99' minute cdr's.
When I use something like VCDeasy to identify them, they both say that they are around 97minutes 45 seconds in length.
Anyway, I have burnt them with Nero 5.5 - DAO disc-at-once - finalized - overburn on.
So far no problems, but have only done a few so far (90 minute discs that is).
Otherwise, I have just been using 80 minute discs with no problems so far.

[SirLoinOfBeef]

I recently purchased a XMS - 888 player, and found all the same troubles every1 has found :) A simple firmware fix from this forum has fixed most of em. This is the only site with ne usable info on this product. Great work ppl!