WD TV Live Firmware Pre-release Update

[VMware]

Wow. did you pay for windows 7 beta? or for the final?

Remember bios is a firmware, cd roms have firmware, dvd players have firmware. do they offer dvd playback but with audio syncs on all files?

It's easier to fix bugs that are easy to replroduce. The hard thing to do is to fix bugs that happen to 10% of the users.

PS: I didn't install this firmware. Some people are happy to be test subjects.

[DejanRajic]

I am also a programmer... woow.... we could even help WD!?

WD, will you consider to go into open source?

We could all help things to go faster, and better.

We all present our ideas and solutions (programmers), and you accept it or not, make final build, and publish.

Just an thought...

About BETA releases:

They can publish it, or not.

You can choose to install it, or not.

There is ALWAYS  A CHOICE !!!

[PixelPower]

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VMware wrote:

PS: I didn't install this firmware. Some people are happy to be test subjects.

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So why are you posting in a thread that specifies it's purely for feedback on the prerelease by users who've installed it?

I actually agree with your sentiments regarding commercial products that ship with blatantly unfinished firmware but I'm more than a little annoyed by the sheer number of posts in this thread that do not provide feedback on the firmware.

Some of us are still using it and trying to report back bugs we find, yet the thread is full of other people (running different firmware) griping about tangentially related issues.  Take it to the General board.

[Raster99]

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VMware wrote:

Remember bios is a firmware, cd roms have firmware, dvd players have firmware. do they offer dvd playback but with audio syncs on all files?

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Yeah and they offer free updated features all the time.  Right?  You should be thankful that WD does update their firmware to add new features and fix existing bugs unlike many that would rather have you purchase a new device from them to get a new feature or bug fix. And, if it takes Beta testing to get there that's all the better.  Several minds working the problem are better then one.  And as richUK  has mentioned, helping them benefits us.

[williamdelgado]

richUK I am in line with you.

I for one, dont mind beta testing. I mean,  how cool is it to be able to play with updates and technology before anyone else does!? not only this, but by the time the production ready solution is released.. you are a pro!

I do not mind testing since it DOES help me get the best out of my product in the long run.

[sdvshd]

Not sure if these have been implemented in the firmware, so a plug for ideas kudos follows!

Fix YouTube pause video bug

http://community.wdc.com/t5/WD-TV-Live-Ideas/Fix-YouTube-pause-video-bug/idi-p/9741

Access to YouTuve Channels/Subscriptions

http://community.wdc.com/t5/WD-TV-Live-Ideas/Access-to-YouTube-Channels-Subscriptions/idi-p/222

And one just posted:

Fix file transfer number bug

http://community.wdc.com/t5/WD-TV-Live-Ideas/Fix-file-transfer-number-bug/idi-p/14445

Thanks

Download limit was reached by the time I got to this thread, so no testing for me this time.

[meizme]

I couldn't Download the from the WDC website as the DL limit was reached but i found a Mirror on a fan site of the WD ftp/webstore and got this firmware, I only disclose this info to say that there is a remote chance my copy is different from yours. However all the leg work i did to verify its Authenticity would likely prove otherwise.

Benefits / Improvements:

-Folder covers all displayed correctly.

-The addition of preview Mode instead of icons may prove a solution to the network share issue showing the cover and the jpg

New bugs / Undesirable Behavior:

-After install of the firmware several reboots were required along with a restore to the factory settings to make the access to content possible

-No video of any kind worked until restore of factory settings.

-None of the Previews Showed up for video (likely a result of access violations to said media).

-Playback of any MKV file rendered all playback of video unstable.

-Password verification forced for unprotected files(wasn't needed to login using 1.01.24).

-Took several minutes for any video to begin playing(caching? spooling?)

Suggestions:

-Allow the use of a USB devices memory to act as the cache for covers and listings to increase access time and playback smoothness.

-allow the use of headers in file names to determine use, IE: CART_batman.jpg to tell the firmware that it is Cover Art and not to show the jpg in the directory, allowing the obvious need to have pictures music and video files all show up on a network share. Or alternatively use the Header in the folder name to specify whether content will be listed in a share; IE MOV_SD files will show up under Video>Network Share>PC name but PIC_family or SND_Music would not.

And of course have Header not shown; IE MOV_SD files would show as SD files.

- Allow skinning, not that the interface isn’t nice but who doesn’t like customization.

-add Support for Streaming video other than YouTube, like security footage of your house from and IP address or hulu.

-Parental Controls would be great: could also use Folder headers or an interface button to add files to the restriced list.

I love the WD TV Live, although it has a lot of rough edges i think you got a really great product.

[Lmerega]

I have problems with caching. I am using WDTV Live with my Win7 desktop. I can see photos and listen to music (sharing via samba) but I am not able to play any video (sharing via samba). I have to copy them on a 2,5" hdd and play it from USB ports. When I try to stream via smb, everything hangs. I can wait 5/10/20/30 mins without seeing anything.

I have to say my configuraziont is:

WDTV -> Linksys router in client/bridge mode -> WIFI to Linksys main router -> WiFi to my PC.

I can use this setup for my xbox media player, for my ps3 streaming, but not for WDTV streaming. I think it hangs while caching.

[PixelPower]

If you're talking about MKV files, the network share play delay is a known issue.  Also, if you try to play an MKV and cancel, subsequent files of other types will have a loading delay too.

-- NEW NETWORK SHARE BUG? --

When accessing network shares, assuming there is more than one PC / location listed, I'm finding that clicking on the desired location (e.g. ShareA) will result in an error message ("No Media etc").  After OK-ing the message, the UI then shows the other share (e.g. ShareB) as being selected.  

In my case, ShareB has no suitable media, so it seems that despite selecting ShareA, the WD is in fact trying to access ShareB first.

Selecting ShareA once more gains access to the correct share.

This happens pretty much every time I turn on the WD and navigate to my main shares folder.