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Post by jimsfield on Apr 21, 2010 15:19:43 GMT -5
I'm just glad to have my UMC-1 even though it's not as finished as I trust it will be. I'm also glad there is a firmware option. This means I've been able to enjoy it because Emotiva was willing to release it without it having to be perfect.
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Post by loopinfool on Apr 21, 2010 15:49:01 GMT -5
My DirectTv can automatically update via Ethernet Internet Just to pick nits... Your DirecTV receiver updates its firmware via Satellite-pushed data, not via the Ethernet port. That said, it can "phone home", download VOD, and a number of other things via Ethernet. - LoopinFool |
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Post by moe on Apr 21, 2010 15:59:07 GMT -5
I'd take whatever xtra they give,need it? nope.
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Post by RuggSkins on Apr 21, 2010 17:17:09 GMT -5
My DirectTv can automatically update via Ethernet Internet Just to pick nits... Your DirecTV receiver updates its firmware via Satellite-pushed data, not via the Ethernet port. That said, it can "phone home", download VOD, and a number of other things via Ethernet. - LoopinFool I stand corrected  But it does update automatically! |
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Post by fistofsouth on Apr 21, 2010 19:35:12 GMT -5
Well most of my current CE devices update via a Network Connection (Either Ethernet or Wi-Fi) so I would love to see the XMC have a network connection and as painful as the firmware updates on the UMC-1 seem to be it looks like Emo could have saved themselves and their clients many headaches if a network connection had been implemented. I would image the instances of "user errors" (either real or imagined) while installing updates would disappear. It is 2010 and although I know Emo has a much better price point, the Marantz AV8003, which came out in mid 2008, has a network connection. Their connection can be used to stream music/video from a Computer or a NAS (Network Attached Storage) Device and it also updates firmware. Any posters familiar with Marantz will know that they were notorious for the hoops one had to jump through to get a firmware update. With one product Marantz erased years of nightmare firmware updates for users; I see the XMC-1 as having the same potential for Emotiva.
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Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 20:13:14 GMT -5
With one product Marantz erased years of nightmare firmware updates for users; I see the XMC-1 as having the same potential for Emotiva. While I won't belabor the point, I think you just provided the evidence that Emotiva need not be in any rush to change any existing plans to address this. Apparently, they could go years with a bad update process and when they finally release a good one, it will erase all of them. It sure would be nice if it were much easier. |
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Post by rocky500 on Apr 21, 2010 20:40:29 GMT -5
I am so happy the UMC-1 is $699.
At that price it is a bargain Processor that no other company can match.
The only problem I see is the firmware wasn't ready.
If it was, there were be no one complaining about the update process.
It is just the firmware's aren't completely working for all and there is still bugs to fix. I see it as: not the update process it is a firmware problem.
I know that Emotiva will come through(and are close) to bringing us a fully functioning, the BEST processor at this price point in the world.
I am completely happy with the UMC-1 exactly the way it is.
If it had all the options that people would like it would most probably be out of reach of my budget.
So thankyou Emotiva and I have finally been given the notice that I will be able to buy it now.
I will take it with v6 firmware and update it when ever there is new firmware. As it looks like it is near impossible to "brick it".
As I'm from Australia. Not very cost effective to send back.
Also as I see it, even if it were to updated through .. say Network, it still would be in exactly the same position (with customers) as it is now.
Except might have cost more.
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Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 21:06:47 GMT -5
rocky500, you make some good points. I think there are a lot of people that can just reach the price of the UMC-1 + UPA-5/UPA-7. Keeping the costs in this range make the hobby a lot more fun for a lot more people, yourself included. Have fun with your UMC-1 when it arrives, and be sure to let us know what you think and how it goes for you.
BTW - where in Oz are you?
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Post by rocky500 on Apr 21, 2010 21:26:27 GMT -5
I am in Perth, W.A. Easily the best State over here. |
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Post by fistofsouth on Apr 21, 2010 21:28:30 GMT -5
rocky500, you make some good points. I think there are a lot of people that can just reach the price of the UMC-1 + UPA-5/UPA-7. Keeping the costs in this range make the hobby a lot more fun for a lot more people, yourself included. Have fun with your UMC-1 when it arrives, and be sure to let us know what you think and how it goes for you. BTW - where in Oz are you? I see the point that both of you are making, but are we just going to pretend that Emo did not say some of the firmware issues were related to users not installing it properly? They did say that and if there is a modicum of truth then a Network update option would have erased those issues. It might have added a little cost, but would that cost be greater than what Emo has to pay for shipping to update UMC-1s for users? Probably not. Hindsight is always 20/20, but we are now looking at things in hindsight. |
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Post by rocky500 on Apr 21, 2010 21:35:30 GMT -5
I am sure Emotiva will learn from the UMC-1 and we will most probably not see any of this in the XMC-1.
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Post by fistofsouth on Apr 21, 2010 21:39:29 GMT -5
I am sure Emotiva will learn from the UMC-1 and we will most probably not see any of this in the XMC-1. I hope you are right. I really do want to see the UMC-1 and Emotiva flourish. If only because they are based in Tennessee I want to see Emotiva do well; we Texans have a special place in our heart for the people of Tennessee since many of our greatest heroes and founding fathers (Sam Houston and Davy Crockett come to mind) hailed from the Volunteer State. Back on topic; I'm glad to see that the XMC-1 will probably have a Network option. |
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Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 21:47:39 GMT -5
rocky500, you make some good points. I think there are a lot of people that can just reach the price of the UMC-1 + UPA-5/UPA-7. Keeping the costs in this range make the hobby a lot more fun for a lot more people, yourself included. Have fun with your UMC-1 when it arrives, and be sure to let us know what you think and how it goes for you. BTW - where in Oz are you? I see the point that both of you are making, but are we just going to pretend that Emo did not say some of the firmware issues were related to users not installing it properly? They did say that and if there is a modicum of truth then a Network update option would have erased those issues. It might have added a little cost, but would that cost be greater than what Emo has to pay for shipping to update UMC-1s for users? Probably not. Hindsight is always 20/20, but we are now looking at things in hindsight. Nope, nope, nope. Not at all. I'm certainly not making excuses for the quality of the firmware. I do try to explain a lot of why's and how's on this forum, but I've never tried to defend the lack of extensive testing. I am a strong proponent of a public or semi-public beta program as I believe it would decrease time to solution of a properly functioning UMC-1. As far as added cost of network updated, it would have been more than a little and added more than just a little delay far beyond where we are today. |
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Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 21:50:53 GMT -5
I am in Perth, W.A. Easily the best State over here. I have a friend, originally from Philadelphia, living in Fremantle. I was just over there last year. It looks like I may end up in Sydney for a conference in June, and I might try to get back to the Perth area for a day or two. |
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Post by rocky500 on Apr 21, 2010 22:09:30 GMT -5
I just watched the video of the firmware updating.
Looks very straight forward (for me). I do see a few points Lonnie mentioned that might be why people are having problems.
Being the extra time (1 minute) to wait for the firmware to finish even when the UMC-1 says its complete.
Also the factory resets. Also closing the software between updates.
I have not looked at the PDF, but I'm pretty confident I will not need too. Bring it on.
I think my HK AVR255 was trickier.
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Post by BillBauman on Apr 21, 2010 22:30:52 GMT -5
I just watched the video of the firmware updating. Looks very straight forward (for me). I do see a few points Lonnie mentioned that might be why people are having problems. Being the extra time (1 minute) to wait for the firmware to finish even when the UMC-1 says its complete. Also the factory resets. Also closing the software between updates. I have not looked at the PDF, but I'm pretty confident I will not need too. Bring it on. I think my HK AVR255 was trickier. You may consider checking out the Emonatics UMC-1 firmware page before you get too far into it. Of course, even if it gets messed up, you can always come back and check it out then. ;D |
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Post by fistofsouth on Apr 21, 2010 22:33:18 GMT -5
Nope, nope, nope. Not at all. I'm certainly not making excuses for the quality of the firmware. I do try to explain a lot of why's and how's on this forum, but I've never tried to defend the lack of extensive testing. I am a strong proponent of a public or semi-public beta program as I believe it would decrease time to solution of a properly functioning UMC-1. As far as added cost of network updated, it would have been more than a little and added more than just a little delay far beyond where we are today. Sure I see where you are coming from there. It would have added time and may not have been an option; I have not noticed Network connectivity on any of the Pre/Pros (released,canceled or otherwise) built on the same platform. I'm just thinking about the issues that were present with the LMC-1 and that perhaps back in the design stage Emo could have implemented some sort of network option. Obviously there would be some added cost, but it isn't that expensive at least not from a hardware perspective. My point was that the added hardware cost (a 10/100 NIC can be had for less than $15 for you and I and much less for companies that buy in bulk, my company pays about $3 each) would not be that much. Most of the added cost would have come from software and firmware. Spread out over the entire run it could have been $10 or less and it is likely that Emo pays more than that to ship two ways to install firmware. Some users may send back their UMC-1 every time it needs new firmware and that can add up fast. Again it is all hindsight, but if implemented early enough in the design process the cost might have been negligible and I know Big Dan and Lonnie would have a few less headaches if there was a network option. |
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Post by jtmjnow on Apr 21, 2010 22:42:21 GMT -5
I used an ethernet with my Linksys Lan and the update went smooth and fast on my OPPO 83 Blue Ray. I was blown away on how it quickly updated its firmware in a blink of an eye. I think ethernet may be the way to go.
jtmj
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Post by rocky500 on Apr 22, 2010 2:01:20 GMT -5
You may consider checking out the Emonatics UMC-1 firmware page before you get too far into it. Of course, even if it gets messed up, you can always come back and check it out then. ;D Thanks, that site looks very helpful and a excellent idea! |
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Post by weigle2 on Apr 22, 2010 8:12:09 GMT -5
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 100% Agreed! For the XMC-1 to not be upgradeable over Ethernet, would be very short sighted on Emo's part. Also, my Escient MX-111 has a Web based interface to fully control the unit. That also would be a useful feature on an XMC-1. Especially when it comes to the 2nd zone! Weigle2 |
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