3.2.1x vs 3.5.3x

[osmo12]

I have a nano clone MP4 player with firmware version 3.2.16. I did a number of attempts to upgrade it to version 3.5.35 or 37, but all of them failed. Such upgrades resulted just in black or blue screen and no reaction at all, though the player was still recognizable by the PC thru the usb which allowed me to roll back to the original 3.2.16 each time the upgrade did not work. Well, I did not check my board id, but could it be so that players that come with the v3.2.1x firmware are just not compatible with the ones having v3.5.3x and any attempts of such kind of upgrade do not make sense by default? Did anyone have a successful experience of changing over from one f/w version to another (3.2 -> 3.5)?

[tadad1]

osmo12,
I know of a couple of instances where 3.2.16 version firmware with the Lotus Flower theme have successfully been upgraded to 3.2.35 using this firmware DOWNLOAD although there appears to be no difference to the two versions.

[osmo12]

tadad1,
thanks for the tip, I have tried the 3.5.35 firmware you placed the link to, but unfortunately it didn't work for me. It is getting a bit weird since regardless the fact that I also have the Lotus Flower theme in my firmware (the full version info reads as SC85032C, 2006/01/11, ACT_v3.2.16), I keep on receiving the same effect upon the upgrade: black display and no sign of life other than having usb connection with the computer. I feel like I should either stop those risky experiments, or at least open the player to find out its board's id to make the further f/w search more

osmo12
I think you are right pehaps time to stop, there are no advantages to updating to the 3.5.35 version as it is exactly the same as the 3.2.16 version you currently have.

[admin]

osmo12

I think you're very lucky for starters to still have a working player after firmware updating with a different firmware. *phew*

Here is my thoughts about the different firwmare versions.

1. There are three main chip manufacturers: Actions, Sunplus and Sigmatel

2. MPx manufacturers buy these chips from the manufacturer, parts, buttons, casing etc... from someone else and 'manufacturer' (more like assemble) them together.

3. There is some customisation that is needed as not all button configurations are the same and not all shell casings are the same.

4. So, what the chip manufacturers (Actions, Sunplus or Sigmatel) would do is 'modify' the firmware slightly to cater for these different button configurations. Maybe also update the loading screen, main menu etc.... as well while they're at it.

5. They would then 'release' this and tell the mpx manufacturers what shell casing it is compatible with depending on the button configurations....

6. What, what you see is as new models of MPx players are released with different shell casings etc... there would be a slight change to the firmware.

Personally, I don't think they would put in the time and money (China we are talking about here) to try to fix any bug issues or improve the firmware of existing boards that are already out there.

I know that I have tried to push for my manufacturers to try to update the firmware with suggestions, but they say they will have to go back to the board manufacturers and charge for it to be changed. So they won't bother about it as long as it's working.

This is my reasoning behind it. I don't know for a fact this is true, but I've come to this conclusion after speaking with a few manufacturers and their thinking behind it.

[razzer001]

I think people are being mislead, when you change the firmware, your not really upgrading much, no new features are added, exsisiting features aren't really improved. The only change is that the theme is changed.

From reading this forum almost every person that changed their firmware did it for one of the above reasons and, as they're on this forum, screwed their player up because of it.

So those who read this, keep your firmware as you have it, if you hate the way your menu looks, then get the program that allows you to edit your menu (i forgot the name, but its in the download section), using that program to change menus takes a little longer than straight changing your firmware, but atleast you don't risk getting a dead player.

[admin]

Agree with razzer001.

Updating your firmware won't give you any new features. This is mentioned as part of the 'licence agreement' before people download the firmware from this site.

Updating your firmware won't give you any new features.

that's WRONG
the new firmware 3.5.37 has some new functions:
*HOld-Funcion
* Folders in Folders
*Browsing single files (you can select the song you want in a list)

[admin]

Originally Posted by fabdn";p=&quot

that's WRONG
the new firmware 3.5.37 has some new functions:
*Hold-Funcion
* Folders in Folders
*Browsing single files (you can select the song you want in a list)

Not necessary.

If the board on your player is older, it won't have the ability to have these new functions.

Some players with v3.5.37 doesn't have the Hold function either. It's dependent on your board and chip in your player. That's why I say "Updating your firmware won't give you any new features", I should have aded "...that your player is already capable of".

You can't magically 'unlock' new features like the HOLD function if it doesn't have that ability on the board itself.