iAudio 6 - Firmware 1.20

[Martinp]

Cowon has released some new firmware for the iAudio 6. Here it is:

Improved Features & Fixed Bugs:
- Support MS DRM10(JANUS)
- Support MTP(Media Transfer Protocol)
- Music Browser feature

Warning:
After firmware upgrade, connect iAUDIO6 to your computer using USB cable.
Open "My Computer" on Windows and select "iAUDIO6" mass storage drive.
Format "iAUDIO6" drive.
(Warning: All of the contents will be erased. Please backup before you format iAUDIO6 drive.)
After format, disconnect USB cable from your computer.

Installation steps

1. Download the latest firmware and unzip it.

2. Select all files (Ctrl + A) in the firmware folder and right click to copy.

3. Connect iAUDIO 6 to a PC via USB cable. When connection is made, open the root foler in iAUDIO 6. Right click to paste files to the root folder in iAUDIO 6.

4. Click "Safely remove hardware" icon in the tray at the lower right corner of your computer screen to disconnect iAUDIO 6 from a PC.

5. Make sure that iAUDIO 6 is turned off. Press and hold Jog button on iAUDIO 6 and press power button.

6. iAUDIO 6 will automatically start firmware upgrade. iAUDIO 6 restarts after finishing upgrading.

7. You can check the upgraded verion of firmware in System Information under Settings menu.

[qxvy]

Thanks for the heads up.

I just upgraded. It takes 2-3 minutes for the firmware upgrade to take place. All user settings are reset, so you'll have to spend a few minutes replacing them.

Things seem to work fine - the main addition is the music browser. This allows you to browse music by artist, albums, favourite, tracks, year, new music, favourites, genre and so on. It seems to work very well but I haven't explored it fully yet. You can switch between the music browser and the old file browsing mode in the settings menu.

The other addition is JANUS/MTP support. This doesn't interest me so I haven't tried it.

Startup time doesn't seem to have decreased. In fact, it seems to have become more sluggish to start up. Perhaps this was due to the change of setting to the music browser more (requiring a re-index of files?) but time will tell.

[DrLEON]

WOW ID3 Tag Browsing is what i was waiting for.
I feel about 50% or even more speed improvement when skip or waiting for next song.

[roger767]

can more people confirm that the GUI is faster after installing the new firmware?

[Deeply Disturbed]

Yes.
There is definitely improvement.
Startup is faste - 5 easy seconds.
And the GUI also working faster.

[roger767]

Can you guys tell if the i6 skips when you run with it. Or when you shake it hard.

[Chriss01]

I upgraded to 1.2 as well, and went through the full reformat. Performance on mine too is much improved, boot-up time a respectable 9s, gap when shuffling down to about 3s, or less than 2s for consecutive tracks. Very relieved, as I really didn't want to send it back. Now I can get down to enjoying the great little screen and full range of features:bigthumbs

[addz]

so whats up with having to format the device again?
are you saying that the format HAS to be done with this firmware upgrade?

[Chriss01]

Don't know, but it was recommended in the top post here, so I did it. It felt right to get a fresh start, given the problems I had at outset

[etlgfx]

so whats up with having to format the device again?
are you saying that the format HAS to be done with this firmware upgrade?

what's the big deal man, just copy the contents to your hard drive, format, upgrade, then copy it back.

[addz]

what's the big deal man, just copy the contents to your hard drive, format, upgrade, then copy it back.

no big deal, just asking.

[mrw]

I feel that the upgrade has slowed my 6 down a lot. the boot is slower and the song change is slower. I like the ID3 tag browse, but I am not sure that it is worth it. The boot after having it connected to update the files is very long.

[etlgfx]

mrw: did you format the player before updating?

[narco]

The boot after having it connected to update the files is very long.

Same problem, slapped 522 mp3's in the root of the music folder (no sub folders) and it took 2+ hours to boot up.... I kid you not :-/ But there after, would boot in ~ 10-12secs

Formating before/after a flash made no difference

[etlgfx]

huh that really sucks... they should build the tag database whilst uploading, have the player automatically process the information right after it's copied onto the player... but that wouldn't be as easy to accomplish with a USB mass storage device as a proprietary transfer model... wait to they just have to attach the functions to file writes and deletes... I should work for iAUDIO... I'd make wicked firmwares... :P

[hobo]

I should work for iAUDIO... I'd make wicked firmwares

THE BEST MP3 COMPANY EVER!

[mrw]

dame right you should, that would be a great idea. I did re-format and that helped a little, but I still feel that it is slower after the upgrade than before. I would do the upgrade anyway. I like the way Cowon allows you to go between ID3 viewing and folders so easily.