Hej456

[Hej456]

Any new mods coming up these days..... ?

I haven't been working on anything mod related for quite some time now, kinda' sad... but I haven't got any new ideas...

Are you modders working on something?

Hej456

[techflaws]

In case you're interested in doing some more modding there's actually a lot that can be done to improve the MT13x9 chipset. Please note that I'm just an avid user looking for a userfriendly device and that I have no clue of programming whatsoever so I don't know much work implementing my suggestions will need.

I'm currently testing a Philips DVP3260 using vb6rocod's great hacked firmware. The following list is ordered according to my preferences and I'd be willing to donate depending on what features are being implemented (some of which already have been by New_Age for Cyberhome standalones, maybe his code can be reused):

• ifo/DVD playback from USB-HDD
  
  According to New_Age this is next to impossible without having the ARM source code but I'm wondering why. I mean, obviously a standalone has DVD-Video playback capability as it can playback DVDs from discs so why not from USB since the files have the same structure? I guess to resolve adresses in the ifos (disc filesystem vs HDD filesystem) there would be some mapping necessary but why can't this be done without source code and isn't it attainable somehow?
  
  
• 'play all'-mode on mp3 playback and/or use Menu/Title to navigate folders
  
  I've ordered my mp3s like this
  /album1
  /album2
  /album3 etc.
  
  When this mode is selected I would like the player to start playing the first mp3 of album2 automatically as soon as the last mp3 of album1 finished playing. That way one could listen to mp3s without having to turn on the TV to navigate between folders.
  
  Cyberhome implemented a workaround: pressing 'program' on the remote would display all files in one long list without any folders so one could play continuosly without the need for navigation. Better than nothing but impractical with an increasing amount of files (especially on USB-HDD). So how about using the title/menu keys to go one folder up/down?
  
  
  
• use left/right for pageup/pagedown in file browser
  
  Navigating long lists of files would be significantly faster.
  
  
  
• use display button on remote to cycle display
  
  With a puny 5 digits the hardware display is undersized. Would be nice to switch from elapsed time to folder number/track number (again to enable navigation with TV turned off).
  
  
  Code:
  
  1:32:27                 -:05:15
  | |  |- seconds         | |  |- track number
  | |---- minutes   -->   | |---- folder number
  |------ hours           |------ special char to denote different mode
  
  
  
  
• increase filebrowser char limit
  
  vb6rocod said on the forums that matching the USB filebrowser's char limit to the one on discs would be difficutl. How come?
  
  
  
• Disable User Prohibitions (P-UOPs)
  This way you can skip FBI warnings/trailers and go straight to the menu or movie. Sometimes referred to as DVD Quick Play.
  
  
  
• First to last and last to first filelist patch
  
  
  
• A/V synching
  

[Hej456]

Good to hear your response techflaws. Many of the mods you are requesting could quite easily be added, the pageup/down should be working with the '>|' '|<' buttons already. And I have written doc's about the first to last and AV sync.

I will not be making mods for a player I do not have myself, many times the player need to be brought back to life with cable in the modding process and wouldn't risk a dead player for anyone else but myself....

Hej456

[techflaws]

Thanks for your reply. So what's your take on play all, folder navigation and of course DVD playback from USB?

What cable are you talking about? Can one use it to revive a bricked player that's had some problems during flashing? Do you think a newbie like me could do this? How much does it cost?

I know I'm clutching at straws here but I want to get those features implementd. Unfortunately my initial polite requests have not been answered by vb6rocod so I hope to find someone else (here) to do it.

[Hej456]

About the play all / folder navigation it sounds interesting, I guess it is possible to implement by modding a bit in the source-codes we have available. I will study the issue a bit.

i have not been working with USB-supported players before, none of the ones I have modded has this feature, but I see many great possibilities in a player with USB.

For DVD playback from USB, I beleive New Age is the most experienced to tell if possible or not.... but maybe you can trick the player to beleive your USB unit is a DVD.... dunno.

With a certain serial cable you can manually reflash a dead player. It happens quite often that a player dies during modification eg. when you write new mods.

... If you gather some people and donate me a DVP3260, I would do the modding, else it is almost impossible.....

Regards

Hej456

[techflaws]

Haven't seen any plug for it so is it an USB cable? How much does it cost? I guess it would come in handy anyway since I'm a frequent flasher.

Do you know where to get the cheapest 3260 in the US? Costco has the 5990 for 40 $ but no 3260.

[Hej456]

The serial cable are fittet directly to the mainboard of the player. Here is one of the guides to build such a cable... there are others out there: http://leoricksimon.blogspot.com/2007/02/upgrading-divx-player-firmwar e.html

I live in Denmark, and I don't know where to buy the cheapest player or the difference between the newer Philips models, are the 5990 and 3260 the same? If I should mod a specific firmware I should need the correct player.

Hej456

[techflaws]

I guess you do have some equivalents to WalMart or Costco in Denmark that offer those players comparatively cheap? A friend of mine is good with electronics and could make the cable for me so I would be the beta tester for your mods if you're fine with it. Cause I don't know how soon and how many donors I can find. You know how people like to get anything for free...

From what I've read so far the only difference between 3260 and 5990 is that the latter has HDMI and plays wmv media.

[Hej456]

I believe the 3260 uses the cheaper MT1389L chipset while 5990 uses MT1389S. So I guess the firmwares are not compatible... do you have both players?

[techflaws]

Nope, I've tested both but now I have only the 3260 cause I'll be one of the last to swtich to HD, I guess. Someone posted a screenshot of the 5990 chipset which identifies as MT1389DXE. As soon as you've answered my cable question I'm gonna open mine and rip off the cooler to see what's what ;) Cause somehow I'm under the impression I won't be able to raise enough money to donate both players.

[Hej456]

I have downloaded both firmwares - from those I can see, that the chipset are different DSP codes differ, same firmware can't be used in the players.

Hej456

[techflaws]

Mmh, I'm wondering how vb6rocod did it then cause in one of the threads he said he does only own the 3260? Anyway, I hope some readers come over from the other forums and donate, I've compiled a little FAQ in the meantime.

[Hej456]

Maybe vb6rocod can tell us... ?

[techflaws]

Don't get your hopes up. When I started posting to Softpedia I was simply asking similar question in a polite way. One got answered, the rest ignored which I think is annoying. I mean, there's no difficulty in saying: no, I don't know, can't do it, don't have the time, or something.

I've openend my 3260 and put screenshots on my blog, it has a MT1389DE chipset (no heatsink, btw) instead of the MT1389DXE the 5990 uses.

[jmaraujo]

Hi. I've been absent a couple of weeks, it's good to see a post with ideas for mods... :D

I have no many ideas for new firmwares. I'm not a coder so I don't know what's possible and what's not... :oops: I think I made a good job with my latest firmware*, thanks to your help, guys!, but now I'm stalled too.

What I can suggest you, Jakob, is to try to check the latest source code to see if you can find how the usb upgrade is done. If I recall correctly I read a post where you said that your player didn't update through usb.

I think it is a modification that will make easier the firmware upgrade proceeding for you guys. (Not my case because my *old* player doesn't have usb, he-he!)

I don't know if it is possible. (Hey, you asked for suggestions, I'm suggesting! ;) )

About your discussion, the DVP5990 has a MT1389S (DXE? model S series), and the DVP3260 has a MT1389L (model DE serie L). Vb6rocod has made firmwares for both. You can find them in my forum:

> Firmware for DVP5990/DVP5992 (announcement post, in english)
> Firmware for DVP3254/DVP3260 (announcement post, in english)

Off-topic: I made a small list of dvd players with DivX support, so if you can help me to add models not listed there I will be very grateful. Just PM'me the details of your player. (By the way, I also made a topic on how to identify a MT1389 chipset here. The post is in spanish but I think it will give you the idea. Those details are provided by Mediatek on one of their datasheets)

Thanks and have a nice day, guys!

Juan M.



(*) Only the subsync is not working on my latest firmware. I tried to patch it by comparing firmwares. The 8032 is correct, but the changes in the ArmCodes are not, so as usual I will ask for your help later, but on a new topic because this i not the place.