Toshiba Releases Firmware Update for First-Gen HD DVD Player

#1 bucko on 05 Apr 2007 - 22:16

*waits for blu-ray fanboys*, least they are fixing the issues.

#2 Lee® on 05 Apr 2007 - 22:39

It's just a standard update, nothing for blu-ray fanboys to pick at.

#3 Blaxima on 05 Apr 2007 - 23:08

This is why they insisted on an ether port instead of rendering a player you bought already crippled by changes to the format *cough cogh*blu ray. No different than downloading patches for your OS.

(1 reply) #4 rIaHc3 on 06 Apr 2007 - 08:47

Question: Do the firmware updates that come thru the ethernet port have to be digially signed or something? If not, I see another reason to buy HD-DVD; Custom/hacked firmwares

Once again

HD-DVD +1
Blu-Ray 0

#4.1 PeterTHX on 07 Apr 2007 - 03:28

Once again Neowin brings out the ignorant on the next gen formats.

BOTH formats have updateable firmware. Samsung, Panasonic, & Sony all have had updates for their units, either you can download them from their websites and burn to CD-R, or order a disc.

PS3 is updateable thru ethernet, wireless, CD-R or flash.

AACS security will not allow custom firmwares. Go ahead, hack it and see if your discs will play. Doom9 hacked the 360 add-on and now they are going to implement BD+ on Blu-ray. Good luck in EVER getting companies like Fox or Disney to support a format that has been stripped of copy protection. One reason for lack of releases lately in both formats has been getting new AACS keys implemeted. Good luck on seeing any new releases for HD DVD since they have no more copy protection to fall back on (Blu-ray can implement BD+ and ROM-mark).

(3 replies) #5 Havin_it on 06 Apr 2007 - 13:44

I stopped reading after "mandatory Ethernet port"... Godalmighty, the content mafia are getting scary. Why the hell are we, as consumers, permitting such intrusive practices to worm their way into the hardware we buy?

I should point out I haven't missed the point of the article (I didn't really stop reading

) -- it is nifty that shortcomings in the firmware can be fixed in such a user-friendly manner, but we all know that's not the real reason the port is there. It's so they can push out the patch for DVD Jon's latest 'workaround'. Being able to easy-fix firmware flaws (actual real usability flaws like the above, I mean, not playing whack-a-mole with the crackers) won't stop these formats being superceded and new hardware/media being needed just as quickly as the last format was. And then we all ride the content/hardware carousel again.

The PC/Networking/Storage Revolution could have put an end to all those nightmares of our treasured media being obsoleted every few years, but instead the content cartels were allowed to call the shots, and here we go again. I hope to god that consumers find their voice before much longer and remind these a-holes that *they* work for *us*.

Uh... back on-topic, this to me has all the hallmarks of a product that was rushed to market before it was nearly ready.

#5.1 rIaHc3 on 06 Apr 2007 - 14:16

Quote - (Havin_it said @ #5)

I stopped reading after "mandatory Ethernet port"... Godalmighty, the content mafia are getting scary. Why the hell are we, as consumers, permitting such intrusive practices to worm their way into the hardware we buy?

Are you a Blu-Ray supporter or a HD-DVD supporter?

Quote - (Havin_it said @ #5)

it is nifty that shortcomings in the firmware can be fixed in such a user-friendly manner, but we all know that's not the real reason the port is there. It's so they can push out the patch for DVD Jon's latest 'workaround'.

Someone is paranoid...

Honestly I doubt that it has something to do with they spying on us or anything. I agree with them being able to patch flaws but I believe that homebrew firmwares will also appear and allow us to view Xvid and other types of media.

#5.2 Havin_it on 06 Apr 2007 - 15:14

I support neither format; I don't know a huge amount about either of them, but I understand that both are designed to keep the content providers in the driving seat. I don't want to think about how much resources -- which could otherwise have been pumped into ensuring the product didn't hit the shelves with horrendous bugs like these -- were diverted for this sole purpose.

I don't know enough to suggest that there's any 'spying' going on; that's not what I meant by intrusive. What I mean is that this kit comes saddled with a lot of baggage that is only there for the benefit of the content-pushers and their greed. Had this not been the case, I'm certain the result would have been a better product, if only from an efficiency POV.

Yes, I agree that both formats will be 0wn3d time and again, as this is the nature of such things. But this is an illegal activity in many countries, probably including my own, and the real meat of my argument is that the whole climate that makes this so, needs urgent revision. With the recent EMI/Apple announcement there's a faint glimmer of hope that that revision is beginning, but I won't be holding my breath.

#5.3 rIaHc3 on 06 Apr 2007 - 16:59

Quote - (Havin_it said @ #5.2)

I support neither format; I don't know a huge amount about either of them, but I understand that both are designed to keep the content providers in the driving seat. I don't want to think about how much resources -- which could otherwise have been pumped into ensuring the product didn't hit the shelves with horrendous bugs like these -- were diverted for this sole purpose.

I don't know enough to suggest that there's any 'spying' going on; that's not what I meant by intrusive. What I mean is that this kit comes saddled with a lot of baggage that is only there for the benefit of the content-pushers and their greed. Had this not been the case, I'm certain the result would have been a better product, if only from an efficiency POV.

Yes, I agree that both formats will be 0wn3d time and again, as this is the nature of such things. But this is an illegal activity in many countries, probably including my own, and the real meat of my argument is that the whole climate that makes this so, needs urgent revision. With the recent EMI/Apple announcement there's a faint glimmer of hope that that revision is beginning, but I won't be holding my breath.

Im sorry but if you do not know about either format you should read about both of them before making statements like that:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-Ray

#6 dr spock on 11 Apr 2007 - 02:06

Why aren't all TV's, Sound Systems, Set top boxes etc all connected to together with a single Cat6 ethernet cable to a hub? It would be far cheaper and less complicated than expensive AV / HDMI cables and the like.
Surely manufacturers can put a NIC into their products for only a few dollars extra.

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