View Full Version : Firmware V1.89 has appeared
janbemel
03-19-2007, 08:17
COWON seems to have renewed attention for the A2. A week or two after V1.87F has been released, V1.89 is now here. The main new feature is the support for the Musepack file format. It is also referred to as MPEGPLUS or MPEG+. The file extention is .mpc. For those who want to upgrade the firmware, get it at:
http://download.cowon.com/data/C08/A2_V1_89.zip
sushy1937
03-19-2007, 09:10
COWON seems to have renewed attention for the A2. A week or two after V1.87F has been released, V1.89 is now here. The main new feature is the support for the Musepack file format. It is also referred to as MPEGPLUS or MPEG+. The file extention is .mpc. For those who want to upgrade the firmware, get it at:
http://download.cowon.com/data/C08/A2_V1_89.zip
I wonder if this new version corrected the main defects found on 1.87F, the timer functions, including all types of recordings and alarm clock.
As there is no mention in the notes about correcting these major bugs (maybe not to expose Cowon for sending out defective firmware tagged as FINAL, without a BETA), I would recommend to anyone NOT to upgrade until we check that these functions are OK.
S.
ok....FW upgrade was successful
it's now 1.89F
set the alarm to music mode and it is working.
havent tried out the other timers...
so...no need to sue COWON!!! :D
MCSmarties
03-19-2007, 10:10
Hey mssx, thanks for sticking out your neck for us! Glad to see they ironed the alarm clock bug out. For shame.
Besides for the support for .mpc (which I will never use) and the possibility to tweak system text more (which I won't use either),
is there any particular reason to upgrade from 1.85 (or even 1.81)? Do you notice any other changes at all?
(such as FINALLY an improved PHOTO function...)
So far I'm distinctly underwhelmed with the new features touted for these 2 newest FW.
Unless there's a good reason to upgrade I think I'll keep my 1.85, thank you very much...!
are you kidding...a new PHOTO viewing function? i don't think Cowon cares about that. nothing significant (NOTHING,really) different from 1.85. i upgraded cos i didnt like the feeling of being stuck at a FW. i don't know if downgrading is still possible, though.
i think upgrading from 1.85 was a bad idea for me, so i suggest you don't upgrade.
btw...not a big fan of .mpc as well...oh well...thanx COWON for getting us out of this fix
Packgrog
03-19-2007, 11:59
These new features just don't make sense to me AT ALL. Custom document readers? Musepack (which no one in their right mind would use if FLAC is available. There's so much existing basic functionality that still doesn't work correctly. Why the hell aren't they fixing the things that people are actually asking for (like an improved Now Playing Screen for audio, gapless playback, multiple playlist support, and the biggest flaw, IMO: LAME VBR-NEW SUPPORT, which almost EVERY other player can handle properly)?
*boggles*
-Packgrog
sushy1937
03-19-2007, 12:48
ok....FW upgrade was successful
it's now 1.89F
set the alarm to music mode and it is working.
havent tried out the other timers...
so...no need to sue COWON!!! :D
OK, I tried some of the Timer based recordings (FM and Video In), and they seem to work.
S.
Hairback357
03-19-2007, 15:37
Hmmm to upgrade or not to upgrade that is the question. [laugh]
I figure the 1.87 early (blind) adopters will upgrade. If something is fundamentally broken in your A2 that you need.. perhaps you can try upgrading. Mine works fine.... so I'm staying put.
Hello
Strange that there is no reference on the cowon website to this new firmware.
Yours
Filip
sushy1937
03-20-2007, 07:52
Hello
Strange that there is no reference on the cowon website to this new firmware.
Yours
Filip
It is published on the Korean site.
S.
Can't we just sign a petition or something like that, to "demand" Cowon to start working on fundamental fixes. I think it's an absolute shame that a player which is marketed as a player that can play nearly every filetype, can't play LAME VBR-New. Almost every album I download is in this format, so I first have to convert to a CBR MP3 file...very annoying! Even my old IRiver could play these files...
Come on Cowon, just add this essential functionality.
(for the record: gapless isn't gonna happen, ever. Improved Now Playing screen isn't essential. Multiple Playlists are my second bet...)
Packgrog
03-20-2007, 10:00
The A2 plays --vbr-old LAME MP3 files, just not --vbr-new. But yeah, --vbr-new is the recommended setting now, and since MP3 is the most common compression, it really should be working without these kind of problems. For them to ignore fixing this issue in order to add some questionable new features seems... foolish.
-Packgrog
one word
rockbox
if the devs of rockbox decided to port it to the cowon, which i think they may do in the future then from there on gapless playback, multiple playlists come easy for us. Cowons firmware may eventualy fix the major issues and we will probably end up with a completly stable version of cowon firware in which all features work to the best of cowons ability. From tehre we move to rockbox. unfortunatly i nor anyone i know has the knowledge and skills needed to port rockbox to the A2. So we must wait untill teh devs decide to
Packgrog
03-21-2007, 08:52
Rockbox isn't an option because the drivers for the DSP are closed-source, and the CPU isn't powerful enough for doing the decoding. There's details about this on the Rockbox website.
Would be nice, though. I love Rockbox.
Packgrog
could you please provide a link to this information as i cant seem to find it any where.
I also upgraded to the new firmware and will test and see if it is possible to downgrade to the older versions released before 1.87. ill let you guys know
unfortunatly due to internet shaping a new firmware download takes about 20 mins
Rockbox isn't an option because the drivers for the DSP are closed-source, and the CPU isn't powerful enough for doing the decoding. There's details about this on the Rockbox website.
Would be nice, though. I love Rockbox.
That does not make sense. My H320 iriver can load Rockbox 100% fine. And it is 100% closed source. Also the CPU is much much less sophisticated than the A2. On top of all this, A2's loader is open sourced! If they can get a ancient archos to run on rockbox, I'm sure they can get the A2.
That does not make sense. My H320 iriver can load Rockbox 100% fine. And it is 100% closed source. Also the CPU is much much less sophisticated than the A2. On top of all this, A2's loader is open sourced! If they can get a ancient archos to run on rockbox, I'm sure they can get the A2.
thats what i was thinking as i also have an iriver H320 which runs rockbox fine.
i believe they have video running at about 15fps now but im not sure if thats with or without audio as i gave my h320 to my brother who doesnt use rockbox.
also on the rockbox site i found no mention that it was not possible to port it.
And yes the A2 has a lot more power than the 320.
although im not too sure about all the stuff so i may be missing something. also on the rockbox site many threads ask if it will ever come to the A2 and the responce always tells the topic started that when someone has the time to get all the info about the player then it is likely a rockbox port will happen. as in, someone must make a schematic of teh circuit board and check connections and everything and then it is time to port it.
besides, they need an actual A2 to test it on which would mean they would have to code an emulator or get one. i did see someone in the classifieds selling a faulty one for 15 bucks plus postage and that would be perfect for rockbox guys to test on. i dont think any of them want to risk a 400-500 dollar piece of equipment.
BACK ON TOPIC
what firmware version stopped us from downgrading to a previous version
if i find this out i will test to see if 1.89 allows us to downgrade to firmwares released before the faulty on.
i believe it is 1.87 that was faulty but id like to check to make sure. if so should i attempt to downgrade back to 1.85 or something?
janbemel
03-22-2007, 05:20
Well folks, if you want to get the official answer from COWON about downgrading and about the timer bugs, just take a look at:
http://www.cowonglobal.com/zeroboard/zboard.php?id=C08&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&bmenu=download&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=headnum&bmenu=download&desc=asc&no=264&bmenu=download
Rockbox is completely possible on the A2, the DSP drivers are closed but Neuros (which uses the same HW and is open sourced) has them as binaries.
The work done on Rockbox, however, is based on people who own the device and work hard and long to port Rockbox to it, in the A2's case, no one has picked up that glove yet.
The fact that some of the A2 code has been made open source is a big plus but still, until someone with the know-how takes this project up, no Rockbox...
Packgrog
03-22-2007, 14:56
Yes, it's possible to port Rockbox to the A2, but it may not be completely usable.
The closed-source libraries are meant for use with Linux. Rockbox is a ground-up replacement for any existing firmware, and thus wouldn't necessarily be able to make proper use of the closed-source libraries.
I've always believed that it would make more sense to try to somehow leverage the Neuros OSD source, and somehow add support for the hardware that the A2 has but the OSD and the 442v2 don't (ie: the screen). But I haven't the time or know-how to pull that off.
*shrug*
-Packgrog
So, has it been confirmed that the issues with certain VBR mp3s haven't been fixed? I know it's usually safe to trust the changelog, but has anyone checked to find out for sure? I too am getting tired of converting files, or just seeking out the 320cbr version of an album, because the player fails to support the most widely-circulated command line for VBR files these days.
Nightwing
03-26-2007, 21:55
Notist on the upgrade that there is a > in the upper left hand conner.
Any one know what it is. Screen is in small icon mode. Tnks!
omjeremy
03-26-2007, 22:15
It means that you are at the Root of the file system.
Nightwing
03-26-2007, 23:29
It means that you are at the Root of the file system.
Thank you. [biggrin]
Surfeur-des-Rêves
03-27-2007, 10:38
Don't know for you, but I've recently noticed that when playing a non 16/9 video file, the right side of the screen shows the 'Cowon' logo instead of being black, as it used to be as far as I can remember. Maybe it is not an addon from firmware 1.89, but some of you may not have noticed it yet so I felt like mentioning it here [smile] .
Nightwing
03-27-2007, 11:01
Just tried that. Its black on the left right for me.
Did know it totally reset everything when it installed.
Don't know for you, but I've recently noticed that when playing a non 16/9 video file, the right side of the screen shows the 'Cowon' logo instead of being black, as it used to be as far as I can remember. Maybe it is not an addon from firmware 1.89, but some of you may not have noticed it yet so I felt like mentioning it here [smile] .
When using JetAudio to convert videos it adds a COWON watermark to the first few seconds of the video on the upper right corner, do you mean that?
So, what is the verdict? Should the rest of us at 1.85 upgrade to 1.89? It seems like there are rumblings that it may be a downgrade rather than an upgrade.
Surfeur-des-Rêves
03-28-2007, 12:25
When using JetAudio to convert videos it adds a COWON watermark to the first few seconds of the video on the upper right corner, do you mean that?
I'm sorry, I got confused because the file I was talking about was in fact a promotional trailer from Cowon. I'll double-check next time instead of posting something stupid [blush]
jimgordon
04-10-2007, 11:37
Hello All
I have just tried to update the firmware on my brand new A2. I followed the insrtructions faithfully.However, on checking I have noted that the systems info. says Application 189F, Firmware 167F. Should'nt thay both be 189F.167f was the firmware the A2 was shipped with. Is it ok to leave the A2 like this or should I try again?
Thank you all
Jim Gordon
Assuming you did everything according to instructions, it may be a case where you have to upgrade to some in-between version before upgrading to 1.89...
I would try upgrading to 1.81 first... but then again, I would not upgrade to 1.89 at this point since it doesn't add that much on top of 1.85 and is non-downgradable...
So up to now, any real good reason to upgrade from the 1.85 to the 1.89 ?
A simple yes or no would suffice, but I'll be more than welcome to hear explenations to either way. :)
that can really only be decided by you. check out the report from the link on the first page of this topic and then decide.
philadiophile
04-13-2007, 21:17
*walks in to see if there's multiple playlist support of anykind*
*sees none and strolls out of thread*
[no]
~FIN~
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