|
|
Post by RuggSkins on Apr 21, 2010 10:08:42 GMT -5
When many of us were discussing and debating in the forum the requested features for the UMC-1 and XMC-1, many people did not see the necessity for an Ethernet Connection on the processor...
In the aftermath of the troubles people have experienced trying to update the UMC-1 with the Emotiva Updates, IMHO it is obvious that had there been an Ethernet connection on the UMC-1, this update could have been easily accomplished... automatically!
For those who didn't see the need for Ethernet connectivity on Emotiva Processors... do you still feel the same way?
|
|
|
|
Post by debk on Apr 21, 2010 10:18:19 GMT -5
Is an ethernet connection planned for the XMC-1?
Deb
|
|
|
|
Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 10:23:57 GMT -5
Sorry I missed the debate. I think that in the next generation of Pre/Pros from Emotiva, you'll probably see Ethernet. At the same time, though, would you have preferred a $999+ UMC-1? I know all of these "features" sound trivial, but the development cost of adding USB host controllers, Ethernet controllers, etc., and integrating them to communicate with the rest of the system is not so trivial.
The UMC-1 is an entry-level processor. It shipped with some bugs, hopefully they're worked out. After that, we get a next-level, and then another level. And price continues to increase as the above-mentioned features get incorporated. Eventually, as development cost and integration is amortized, the cost for a Pre/Pro with all of this nifty stuff will come down.
|
|
|
|
Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 10:26:04 GMT -5
Is an ethernet connection planned for the XMC-1? Deb Nope. The XMC-1 is current generation and it looks like it is going to be built on the UMC-1 platform, which means no Ethernet.So I had a brainfart on this one. It does appear the XMC-1 will have some sort of network connection. What we don't know is the feasibility of using that connection for firmware updates. I guess we're all back to that wait and see scenario, huh?  |
|
|
|
Post by Rawhide on Apr 21, 2010 10:42:31 GMT -5
What do use an ethernet connection in a prosessor for? (Pardon if my brain is showing.)
|
|
|
|
Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 10:44:55 GMT -5
What do use an ethernet connection in a prosessor for? (Pardon if my brain is showing.) It can be used for a ton of things. The early implementation were merely used to send Pre/Pros control commands via RS-232 over Ethernet. The next versions allowed updates. After that, we saw Internet-based audio services like Rhapsody, Internet Radio, etc. Now we have Internet-based video on the way to many systems, like you see on a Blu-Ray player. If Pre/Pros have full video engines built in, there's no reason they can't serve as a total media hub for all of your digital content. Of course, all of this, as we have now seen, takes a lot of development and about 100x that in testing. |
|
|
|
Post by mditty on Apr 21, 2010 10:53:38 GMT -5
Nope. The XMC-1 is current generation and it looks like it is going to be built on the UMC-1 platform, which means no Ethernet. Not sure this is true, there was some discussion about adding network media features to the XMC-1 through a 3rd party package. I doubt that this would interface to the rest of the system in a way that you could do firmware updates as like you mention most the platform will match the UMC-1. But I do know there was talk of it having Ethernet for the media features, this could have changed though. |
|
|
|
Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 10:56:50 GMT -5
Nope. The XMC-1 is current generation and it looks like it is going to be built on the UMC-1 platform, which means no Ethernet. Not sure this is true, there was some discussion about adding network media features to the XMC-1 through a 3rd party package. I doubt that this would interface to the rest of the system in a way that you could do firmware updates as like you mention most the platform will match the UMC-1. But I do know there was talk of it having Ethernet for the media features, this could have changed though. Interesting. I'm going off the 'impressions' I got from a recent conversation. Once we get past the latest UMC firmware issues, I'm going to try to get a better, more direct understanding of where the product line stands. No guarantees anyone's going to give it to me, but it can't hurt to ask. |
|
|
|
Post by RuggSkins on Apr 21, 2010 11:08:09 GMT -5
Nope. The XMC-1 is current generation and it looks like it is going to be built on the UMC-1 platform, which means no Ethernet. Not sure this is true, there was some discussion about adding network media features to the XMC-1 through a 3rd party package. I doubt that this would interface to the rest of the system in a way that you could do firmware updates as like you mention most the platform will match the UMC-1. But I do know there was talk of it having Ethernet for the media features, this could have changed though. I looked on the XMC-1 Redux blog and it shows an Ethernet connection on the XMC-1. If my PS3 can automatically update via Ethernet Internet, my X-Box can automatically update via Ethernet Internet, My DirectTv can automatically update via Ethernet Internet, my Escient DVDM-100 can automatically update via Ethernet Internet... why can't the XMC-1? C'mon man... it's 2010! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by robfive on Apr 21, 2010 11:35:46 GMT -5
Accordding to Lonnie's posts in the XMC-1 Redux thread the XMC-1 alwalys had network connections. Based on the drawings of the back panel it will have wifi and/or a physical network jack.
And yes, I still feel the same way about my UMC-1 not having ethernet -> it is fine by me. I see the usefulness but I feel good about minimizing the internals of the unit. If that means having to deal with a more complicated update procedure then I can live with that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nemesis.ie on Apr 21, 2010 11:49:41 GMT -5
Is an ethernet connection planned for the XMC-1? Deb Nope. The XMC-1 is current generation and it looks like it is going to be built on the UMC-1 platform, which means no Ethernet. Although it if has HDMI 1.4 it could have Ethernet over that. |
|
|
|
Post by merlinwerks on Apr 21, 2010 12:21:30 GMT -5
What do use an ethernet connection in a prosessor for? (Pardon if my brain is showing.) Google DLNA, more and more consumer entertainment equipment is complying with this standard. The HW planned for the XMC is DLNA capable, I hope EMO decides to implement it. |
|
|
|
Post by bborzell on Apr 21, 2010 13:39:20 GMT -5
My OPPO BDP-83 has done it's own FW updating via ethernet from day one. Not a single problem to date. My Xbox 360 does the same. Hit a button and come back and it's done.
There's a lot to be said for having the capability to update FW online.
OTOH, if you believe the UMC-1 FW update process is laborious, try updating a Rotel RSP-1066.
|
|
|
|
Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 13:48:47 GMT -5
My OPPO BDP-83 has done it's own FW updating via ethernet from day one. Not a single problem to date. My Xbox 360 does the same. Hit a button and come back and it's done. There's a lot to be said for having the capability to update FW online. OTOH, if you believe the UMC-1 FW update process is laborious, try updating a Rotel RSP-1066. Your point about the Rotel is a good one. I remember the funny RS-232 to 3.5mm cable I had to use to update my B&K Ref50. As far as the automated stuff, it really is an evolution over time type thing. I'm certain Emotiva is going that direction. To put Oppo into perspective, the 980H required you to download the firmware and then load it from a USB key, which was clearly their earlier evolution. I'm not sure where they stood before that. |
|
ratmice
Emo VIPs 
I'm not an actor, but I play one on TV.
Posts: 1,853
|
Post by ratmice on Apr 21, 2010 14:04:11 GMT -5
My OPPO BDP-83 has done it's own FW updating via ethernet from day one. Not a single problem to date. My Xbox 360 does the same. Hit a button and come back and it's done. There's a lot to be said for having the capability to update FW online. OTOH, if you believe the UMC-1 FW update process is laborious, try updating a Rotel RSP-1066. Your point about the Rotel is a good one. I remember the funny RS-232 to 3.5mm cable I had to use to update my B&K Ref50. As far as the automated stuff, it really is an evolution over time type thing. I'm certain Emotiva is going that direction. To put Oppo into perspective, the 980H required you to download the firmware and then load it from a USB key, which was clearly their earlier evolution. I'm not sure where they stood before that. There was no before that. I owned their first DVD player, it was always upgradeable via USB stick, or with a disc in the player. |
|
|
|
Post by flamingeye on Apr 21, 2010 14:09:35 GMT -5
I love the way my oppo 83 updates I have the wireless bridge and as soon as I turn it on if there is an update it asks if I want to load it I`m hoping the XMC will do something like this even if it means it will cost more it just doesn`t make sense to me if it already has ethernet why not use it for updating too , it is the 21st century after all and I think I even saw it on the enterprise
|
|
|
|
Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 14:19:22 GMT -5
I love the way my oppo 83 updates I have the wireless bridge and as soon as I turn it on if there is an update it asks if I want to load it I`m hoping the XMC will do something like this even if it means it will cost more it just doesn`t make sense to me if it already has ethernet why not use it for updating too , it is the 21st century after all and I think I even saw it on the enterprise Here's a hypothetical for you. Let's say that the cost of being able to update via Ethernet is an additional $50 per unit. That buys you nothing but updating. I'm willing to bet that many here would say, "Sure, I'll pay that!". Ok, fine. Now, let's say that the additional development time to implement it is one year past the worst case ship scenario for the XMC-1. Let's pretend the XMC-1 is delayed until December this year. Are you willing to wait until December 2011 for the XMC-1 if all you get out of that delay is the ability to update via Ethernet? I'm not saying it would take an absolute full year to implement this sort of feature, but it very likely could (see my post regarding PS3 vs. UMC-1 update in the other thread). |
|
|
|
Post by monkumonku on Apr 21, 2010 14:37:21 GMT -5
I love the way my oppo 83 updates I have the wireless bridge and as soon as I turn it on if there is an update it asks if I want to load it I`m hoping the XMC will do something like this even if it means it will cost more it just doesn`t make sense to me if it already has ethernet why not use it for updating too , it is the 21st century after all and I think I even saw it on the enterprise Here's a hypothetical for you. Let's say that the cost of being able to update via Ethernet is an additional $50 per unit. That buys you nothing but updating. I'm willing to bet that many here would say, "Sure, I'll pay that!". Ok, fine. Now, let's say that the additional development time to implement it is one year past the worst case ship scenario for the XMC-1. Let's pretend the XMC-1 is delayed until December this year. Are you willing to wait until December 2011 for the XMC-1 if all you get out of that delay is the ability to update via Ethernet? I'm not saying it would take an absolute full year to implement this sort of feature, but it very likely could (see my post regarding PS3 vs. UMC-1 update in the other thread). I think Abraham Lincoln said it best when he stated, "You can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please Emoholics any of the time." Then he worked with Albert Einstein to develop his famous 80/20 and DIYD/DIYD theories. ;D |
|
DYohn
Emo VIPs
Posts: 18,494
|
Post by DYohn on Apr 21, 2010 14:39:00 GMT -5
I like the 50/50/90 rule first coined by Einstein: Whenever you have a 50/50 chance of guessing a right answer, you will be wrong 90% of the time. |
|
|
|
Post by jimsfield on Apr 21, 2010 15:18:41 GMT -5
Your point about the Rotel is a good one. I remember the funny RS-232 to 3.5mm cable I had to use to update my B&K Ref50. As far as the automated stuff, it really is an evolution over time type thing. I'm certain Emotiva is going that direction. To put Oppo into perspective, the 980H required you to download the firmware and then load it from a USB key, which was clearly their earlier evolution. I'm not sure where they stood before that. There was no before that. I owned their first DVD player, it was always upgradeable via USB stick, or with a disc in the player. The original OPPO was a 971H. I still own one. It's currently providing good service for my son. There was no provision to update through USB. The upgrade had to be done with an ISO image burned to a CD as I recall. |
|
