XMS-888 - Mpeg4 - Firmware?

[davidf]

This latest problem is really annoying as I have had such a great run with the unit till now, I have thrown a lot of stuff at it that I downloaded thru bit-torrent and everything has been working great.

[andw]

How very odd, I suppose you would have tried different AV cables. Otherwise sounds very hardware malfunctioney (new word for the dictionary?).

[Pocket]

Hey guys
sorry i never got that list together, i've just been really busy (got a job :dD ) and andw's site pretty much has it all anyway...
Just writing to say that the reason some of you may be having problems playing any type of cd is because burning at a higher rate (i.e 40x) leaves a 'lighter' burn, making it hard for 'cheaper' lasers to read. I used to have some problems playing vcd's in my old player when i burnt at 48x, but now everytime i burn something good i burn it at 4x, leaves a deeper burn and is easier for the player to read.
Also I heard the other day from a friend that works at a TV/DVD player repair shop that even the best dvd player will only last 2 years!!!??? whats the go with that>? anyone think thats true??

Pocket

[buts]

-buts- on the test cd you downloaded, there is a file '6k-320.avi - 1-pass 6378 kb/s, MP3 320kb/s' - does this allow you to skip forward, or rewind, or use 'goto'?

I burnt this file on Philips CD-RW 1-4x at 4x. Forward, rewind - no problems at 2,4,8,16x. goto is working fine as well. Video is just slowing down on fast scenes because of the high bitrate.
This disk is dark grey (or blue) and "reading index" takes a half of second or less. My conjecture: if "reading index" takes more than 2 secs, you are going to have troubles with that disk. Just curious, how long did it take on those
disks you had troubles with ?

[andw]

hi buts, It sat for a while, also when you insert the disc, some take longer to get to the file list than others. On some, I have the .avi file, and a .srt subtitle file (for when subtitle support happens (hint, hint)), on the discs that seem to definitley have problems the .srt comes up with the same 'windows' logo next to it as the .avi file does. (Instead of a ? mark in a bubble).
I agree, the longer it takes to read the index, the weirder the results you get.
Thanks for testing that file.
I can't get a definite, 'This is the problem' though.
Like I said, with the Strathfield red 48x discs, it seems to be more likely that it won't work. Maybe it is touch and go on those discs, but the weirdest thing is that the files play fine, I just lose the controls, so it's like the player is saying ' I can play this, but your not allowed to move around through the file'. - but I can put the same file onto another disc, and it is happy with it....
Nero won't let me burn those Red discs slower than 12x, (although it is happy for me to burn others down at 4x??) so I can't lower the speed on the Red discs to try for the 'deeper' burn.

[davidf]

Hey guys
Also I heard the other day from a friend that works at a TV/DVD player repair shop that even the best dvd player will only last 2 years!!!??? whats the go with that>? anyone think thats true??

Pocket
He is sort of right, the problem with DVD players is the required accuracy needed for the lasers to pick up data. as the player ages several things happen the laser lens deteriorates causeing a broader beam, tracking becomes less accurate due to mechanical wear and deterioration caused by heat. These problems are also apparent in CD Roms but you get about twice the life, CD Burners also have a life span that is close to a DVD drive, CDR burn accuracy after about 2 years is more luck than design. Now with the mass production of cheap burners it will be interesting to see how long these drives last. I am already on my second DVD burner and 5th CD Burner.

My first CD burner cost $1200 (2x) and lasted 15 months (1000 blanks) before it started producing continual coasters even when it was new it had a 25% fail rate.

PS: I replace the DVD drive in my PC every 6 months

[andw]

Technology marching on also must have some impact...
Why produce something that will last 5 or more years, when the technology will be outdated by then, and people will probably have bought something new to replace it before it's 'use by' date arrives.
Suddenly people start wanting Mpeg-4 players to replace their DVD players... :-)

[HoochieMamma]

^like me :D

[andw]

hehe, check out the new Philips DivX player...
http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/d/dvd737_00/dvd737_00_dfu_eng.pdf
Go down to page 14 and follow from there, screen shots of setup menu, Smart Navi etc almost identical to the xms-888.
Jpeg preview the same...(can play mp3 while doing jpg slideshow)
Looks like another ESS based unit on it's way.
also "3D sound provides a virtual surround sound experience using just two speakers."
Is this what the 3D button on our remote is supposed to do?
As it's not implemented in the current firmware, and I would be surprised if the chipset did not support it.

[tonkatuff]

If you have problems playing Divx or Xvid files, run the file through a program called DivFix.
http://www.divx-digest.com/software/divfix.html
Strip the index, then rebuild the index.
Helped me a couple of times.

[Tau C Seti]

I have a new problem with the xms over the last few days i am getting snow effect thru the image, i have tried cleaning the effected dvds and the player itself but this problem is only with the xms 888. Basically every second dvd or avi disc is showing these symptoms almost like a black n white version of laser rot. Its not power its not the discs and its not the TV. Anyone else having any problems like this ?

I always get some two part epoxy thermal compound (I highly recommend Arctic Silver), and attach a heatsink to the video rendering chip. In this case its an ESS Vibrato II (ES6688FAD). This chip is the brains and grunt of the entire unit, and produces considerable heat. For every degree reduction, you add @ 10-15% life to your chip.

I do not recommend this for the inept, and also bear in mind that it voids your warranty. You may want to do this after the 12 month warranty expires. MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT OVERDO THE COMPOUND, AND THAT ESPECIALLY YOU DO NOT GET THE STUFF OVER THE CHIP PINS AND SHORT THEM OUT. A very thin even smear is all that's required.

To illustrate, I have a AD-600A Hiteker close to 6 years old. Everyone I know that bought one and didn't put a heatsink in it (it has an ESS Vide.o Drive ES4308F chip) had problems with them inside 2 or 3 years. One mate spent $180 fixing the thing up (including upgrading firmware etc) and 7 months later it started playing up again. It doesn't play MP3's at all anymore, and plays DVD's sporadically.

Mine, with heatsink installed, is as good today as the day I bought it. I give it a yearly polish (grease up the tray arms) and that's it.

[andw]

I notice that the Philips DVD737 also has subtitle support.
It has the same complaints about things as others, subtitle in .avi's in a horrible yellow colour (same as Yamada) no sound on low bit rate audio, no ogg support (same as XMS)
Interestingly even on the 'name brand' Philips, people are hoping for firmware updates to fix their problems. (also complaining of no long filename support (11 chars only))
Sounds like ESS maybe should be sending out a more refined 'base' firmware for the manufacturers to start with.

[pepito]

Interesting to see the similarity between our XMS-888 and the Philips DVD737 player.

I wonder who will be the first person to throw caution to the wind and flash their XMS with Philips firmware? :dD

[andw]

There's a few bugs in the Philips, if you go to the dvdrhelp.com site, you can find them.
There was at least one thing that ours does that their's doesn't (although I can't remember what it was.).
Interesting, if you look on Philips site, for the info on the latest firmware, it tells you how to find what version your one is...
"setup - stop - |<< (prev) - >>| (next)" - now that sounds strangely familiar.

[jokiin]

Interesting to see the similarity between our XMS-888 and the Philips DVD737 player.

I wonder who will be the first person to throw caution to the wind and flash their XMS with Philips firmware? :dD


That's a sure way to kill your player, don't assume that firmware is useable just because the menu functions are the same

[andw]

That's a sure way to kill your player, don't assume that firmware is useable just because the menu functions are the same
I agree, I posted many, many pages back on my experiences with that.

[andw]

Why is the XMS-888 still not listed on Strathfield's website?
It's been sold for a couple of months now.

[jokiin]

Why is the XMS-888 still not listed on Strathfield's website?
It's been sold for a couple of months now.


Only a very small percentage of the range is listed on the site, which is decided by the marketing department.

[[w00t]]

anyone know if this ill read 3iVX movie codec? i did some tests and found out its betetr than Divx 5.1.1 and Xvid 1 Beta3in quality level and speed encording

[buts]

I read before in this thread how to access menu on DVD with firmware 1.1
Could you remind me, guys ? If you stop in the middle of the movie, the
"menu" button doesn't work.