[crazy.neo]

Here is a email I sent wiRe (I hope he doesn't get mad or something about this!). It answers a lot of stuff and gives some news (I think):

From: XXXXXXX
To: wire(a)s1mp3.de
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 11:20 PM
Subject: Development

I'm sorry I am bugging (bugs? God forbid!) you with a couple of questions you are probably tired of answering, but I'm just writing in the behalf of a lot of people... Here we go:

1. wiRe, what exactly is the problem with extracting a working copy off the flash memory? Do these new chips come encrypted? You don't understand their structure?
2. Even though these firmwares can be modded (in my country the manufacture adds it's logo in startup, like some others), why can't we get access to the tools they use?
3. Do you have any support from the Action chipsets manufacturers in your quest? Are they against it? What do they win/loose with they actions?
4. Even though s1Clone can make backups (or not, actually killed a player while restoring, but he was kinda broken, anyway), why does it have to make a entire dump of the memory? Can't you access specific parts of the memory?
5. Can I get some info or tutorials/assistance about your development tools?
6. Do you still think that modding these firmwares is possible? Any more progress?

Hoping for a answer,
Carlos Santos a.k.a. crazy.neo

Here's the (really fast!) response I got:

1) the main problem is to access the device. i wrote giveio for this purpose. but sometimes it doesn't seems to work with v9 devices, while it works fine on other days
2) they have the original firmware. if you have this file too, you could use any older s1res and the usual upload functionality (eg.: s1fwx, upload tool, product tool)
3) there was no reply from actions all the time, and other ppl tried it too. it's china, i don't think they understand the term "support".
4) s1clone just backups the whole flash because i don't know the exact structure of all items stored there. all data is scrambled over the whole chip. if i only would backup the first pages, there would be a good chance the device wouldn't be able to restore from it. maybe someday i will find a way to format a flash on my own, then it's not needed to have a whole flash dump anymore.
5) not more than you could find on the net already (also search the forum and wiki)
6) s1res v3 will get released in aprox. 1/2 weeks. it will work with most v9 devices (i hope so), but it will be a comercial tool.

So, yeah, the hope is not dead for v.9! It's kinda sad it's commercial, but that's okay, since he worked hard to make it...
Just thought I should share this info to you...