ONDA REVIEW
 

the new onda vx85 is alright i give it a 7/10 and all others players i had 3/10. the touch screen really sucks, its has many small matrixs and its like those old fashion palm organizers. the movie player is bad ass and everything looks really good. theres no repeat and play a folder. only has 2 play types for music (intro, repeat, shuffle. repeat is default play mode) pictures look good , doesnt support gif. the radio sucks barley works unless ur right next to the radio station. the settings are fucked up and everytime u you goto the settings everything goes bak to japanese or w/e and back to english when u get out of setings LOl.


its alright 7/10

vx85? I don't think there is a vx85.

Re: ONDA REVIEW
 

What really sucks liqourish is your review :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Anyway give me the chance to share here the review I wrote for www.meizume.com for
Onda VX858 player
As usual... I am no English speaker then I try to do my best writing this...
http://daremos.vtrbandaancha.net/Imagen005.jpg

Having had a M6 for 20 days, having a M3, a Teclast C260, having the chance to test many times an iPod nano, and a iRiver X20, I think I am in position to judge what IS this player also called Honey.

I am an audiophile and I devote lots of my time to listen to music in all the possible ways, I am also capable to distinguish what is a good video or a still picture.

Brief Description. I’ve bought a “compatible Onda VX858” in which I’ve installed the latest original Onda firmware which is 00.00.0017. My VX858 is a Rockchip device of 2Gb, with touch screen and mini SD slot for up to 4 Gb. Touch screen can be played by fingers or through a stylus pen, no stylus pen provided. Screen is QVGA TFT of 2.8” size with resolution of 320x240. I don’t have information about colours but I suppose is above 262k colours.
The device has just 4 buttons: one, for switch on and hold, one to access main menu and two extremely useful buttons to manage volume up and down.
No traces of the manufacturer.

Sound. This version of firmware can play MP3, FLAC, APE (normal set), WMA (no lossless), WAV, No support for OGG yet.
The player uses a Wolfson WM8750 audio decoder, which has been chosen also by Teclast to bring a better sound to their latest players.
All test I’ve done have been without EQ, and listening my favourites songs that I’ve listen in all others devices I have tried.
Playing MP3, APE or WMA the sound is the best I’ve listening in a devices of this type, well defined and precise deep bass sound, crystal clear treble and midrange, superb stereo with no traces of distortion of any kind.
FLAC seems to be in implementation phase, as this is the second firmware version that supports it. Sound are affected by others functions of the device, for instance, it get slower if “save mode” of display is activated. No recommendable if other functions will be used, like watch photos, read e-books, or to navigate.
EQ functions is still basic in VX858, but is announced for next releases Microsoft PlayFX, a function for spatial sound and effects.

Video. This version of firmware can play AVI (xvid/mp2) and FLV.
Play AVI at a resolution of 320x240 up to 24 fps , recommended up to 22 fps for good audio synchronization. The screen of 2.8” brings the best video I’ve seen in an MP4. Size of screen is superb for clips and even for movies with subtitles. I’ve tried AVI at 25 fps but sound get out-of-synch.
FLV seems to be too in implementation phase, this is the first firmware which supports it. It’s definitively not fully implemented yet. Mono sound of FLV can be heard clearly but image get frozen for some moments..

Touch screen. Touch screen can be used through fingers or some pen acting as a stylus or pointer. I’ve choose to use fingers as I don’t want the screen scratched by a hard stylus. For an unknown reason, for me have been easier to control functions holding the device in a hand, pointing with thumb of the same hand.
At first appears as a bit unresponsive, but after some time it gets easier to handle, the system has a useful “calibrate” function that seems to work properly. I’ve noticed that using a soft tone called “bee” to control the device (by hand and ear), is even easier to control its functions.
Selection is done in two touches: one to select and one for action. Thru touch it’s possible to do fast forward and backward in sound and video by keep pressing the icons.
Anyway, touch screen is slower than use of buttons, but it’s not disgusting in any way.
I wasn’t fond of touch screen due to greasy finger prints that are unavoidable, surprisingly the excellent backlight make this mark invisible while in use… sort of coated cover or protector. Anyway it requires constant clean with a soft cloth.

Firmware. Onda is delivering new versions of firmware frequently and all versions are available in Onda site (www.onda.cn) in Chinese with a small portion in English. For a machine not so old in the market actual version is 00.00.0017 which I suppose it has 16 versions before.
When it’s loaded is shown the typical 9 functions of Rockchip devices in icons in vertical position: “music”, “video”, “pictures”, “radio”, “text”, “record”, “browser”, “games” and “settings”. Each function can be accessed by touching it; within each function all information are distributed vertically, except by option “video”, which is turned right to take advantage of its size. Each of this option has on top and bottom, a sensitive area that can allow open a small sub-menu to go back to principal menu, return, go back and forth, go to browser and other related options. This areas disappear automatically when aren’t needed, reappearing when any of the areas is touched. Extra menus are in FM radio to manage station memory. Other difference is option “Music” now without the useless typical rockchip spectrum resulting in a cleaner screen. In option “picture” buttons up and down volume are used to navigate back and forth images. Option “Settings” lead to another set of 9 icons for configuration of the device.
The firmware is fully skinnable, thru RKLogoEdit or other alike.

Conclusion. As a Rockchip device it lacks on automatic ordering of files, like it is sort by artist, album and song, solving this by browsing files thru the “explorer”, doesn’t have date and time, managing of ID3 tags is basic (to be soon both implemented in new firmware versions according to Onda announcements). In other words, is a rather basic operating system but extremely reliable, that do excellently all the functions implemented. Still is needed fully implementation of some functions like good support FLV and stabilize FLAC support.
Onda VX858 brings the best sound and image I’ve found in an MP4, being over passed by M6 just in display of still images.

Re: ONDA REVIEW
 

Thanks for the review Daremo, your English as always is excellent.

This player seems very good, do you have a solution for the settings getting lost problem?
I know that on a standard Rockchip it depends if you do a soft shutdown or a hard shut down after changing the settings.
I found that if you change a setting then turn off with the Play/button, all the settings from then onwards are saved ok.

Also how is the video displayed? do you need to hold the player vertical or horizontal?

Re: ONDA REVIEW
 

I haven't suffer of settings lost in any rockchip... only once in my Meizu.
Anyway I am very careful in all concerning the way i swich ON/OFF my devices or when I plug or unplug them from USB.

Videos are played horizontally in the wonderful 2.8" screen... it's really comfortable.

Re: ONDA REVIEW
 

Daremos,

Thanks for the review; it is nicely detailed and helps us to know the strengths and weaknesses of this model player.

upgrade the firmware to the latest and you will see a lot of improvements in the sensitivity of the touch screen

Re: ONDA REVIEW
 

nice review
over a week i have also a onda 858 :twisted:
i cant wait :(

Hey guyz! I think I got the same player but under a different manufacturers name. Mine is called PTi PMP 22.
Looks the same as the OndaVX858 probably has the same functions aswell. My question is, what are the differences between the VX858 and the LE version?
Can I upgrade my player with one of Ondas firmwares?!
Any ideas, suggestions? :)

Beware... do not mix LE with non-LE. This blocks players... I did it with mine just to test it... and I do have to use hardware method to recover it (open and short circuit).

LE doesn't have Wolfson audio decoder, then is cheaper. The only way to know this is... opening the machine... but first ask your provider. A trustful provider... some ignorant sellers will tell you lies about this topic.

Thanks for the quick reply! At the moment I'm still waiting for the manufacturers answers, hopefully they
will reply soon. The shop where I bought the pmp suggested not to experiment with the onda firmware since if I fail the upgrade I'll lose my warranty =/

Re: ONDA REVIEW
 

I bought myself the ONDA VX878 and the ONDA VX858LE for my sister,

I looked all over the internet for the bestest prices and finally seteled on mp4global.com

I have yoused them a bunch of times and quality is always great and best part was that the shpping was free.

I have an unbranded Onda lookalike. How do I find out if its an LE? and does nay one have a link to the download of the latest firmware from onda.cn - I'm having trouble finding it with babelfish translations...?

The only way is by opening the case. If in there is a Wolfson chip WM8750S then is no-LE... if there is an empty space it's a LE.

This is very important!!!... using wrong firmware LE or non-LE blocks the player. To recover it it's necessary to do the hardware-short-circuit-method.

How do I get inside it, so far all i've managed to do is to rip of the polished outer edge :/

You can also ask your seller if your player has a Wolfson DAC chip.

Anyway to open you just need to separate the case below the plastic around the device use just your nails to not damage the polished metal. there is no screws... it's snap on

Re: ONDA REVIEW
 

The vendor has told me there is no Wolfson DAC chip. So I am assuming this is an LE clone. Is there any reliable firmware available for this version and does any one have any successful experience with this player?

Re: ONDA REVIEW
 

Isnt this Onda mp4 player just a made up name or is it really an onda in china?