Where's the new firmware?!

[A Subtle Dagger]

I'm really, really disappointed in iRiver...There hasn't been a firmware update since April. Seriously, what the hell is going on. This is BS. Sorry. Had to rant and im sure im not the only one...

[Harry the Dirty Dog]

You might be looking at this the wrong way around.

Are you having any problems that need new firmware? I have an iRiver X20 and apart from the bandname occasionally displaying the bandname of the next song, I haven't had any problems.

Harry.

[pachinkoman]

What do you want out of new firmware?

[nsx_23]

Portrait screen support, fix the sound quality.

[Step666]

Firmware won't necessarily be able to 'fix' the sound quality - if the problem lies with the hardware, there's pretty much f-all difference firmware can make.

[eximido]

How it can be asken, why we need updated firmware?
Really, I disappointed in iriver just when I bought x20. I remember my old good iFP590 with only 256Mb of memory, but which had MUCH MORE functionality, and also much more bright and colorful sound, than 'brand new' (in april) x20.
In that time, in spring, I supposed, that maybe just a part of that will be added to x20 with new firmware. Or, at least, distorting in some cases sound would be fixed. I'm comparing directly to iFP590, and I clearly understand what I'm talking about. But what we've got? No updates, no new features (just which already WERE implemented in iriver flash player series many years ago), and only one message from iriver about their desicion to release a new firmware, that would just FIX the sound problems. This was posted somewhere in this forum, and, as we should think, was fake. Cause nothing was released and nothing changed. And I'm sure, nothing will ever change.

Just. Whan iriver released iFP5xx-7xx series, they were just great. And now I cant say anything good about iriver at all.

[Step666]

Unless your X20 is missing functions that iRiver advertised as having, then the fact it doesn't have the same functionality as a different player is irrelevant.

iRiver never said that the X20 would have all the same features/functions as the iFP-5xx series so, to be honest, the fact that it doesn't do what you want isn't their fault. If there were certain features are important to you, it's your responsibility to ensure that a player has them before you buy it, not the manufacturer's to add them later.

[ryancamcam]

Originally Posted by pachinkoman

What do you want out of new firmware?

For one they could fix the audio sync problem on videos.

[LordMattman]

Originally Posted by ryancamcam

For one they could fix the audio sync problem on videos.

That isn't a problem with a player but the program you use to convert videos.

[devyanks90]

I wouldn't be complaining. H10 users have been waiting for a firmware update since late 2005.

[A Subtle Dagger]

Originally Posted by devyanks90

I wouldn't be complaining. H10 users have been waiting for a firmware update since late 2005.

Wrong. We can and we will.

Firmware can be updated with bug fixes, extra features and/or things that would be beneficial to the user.

I for one, would love a home key when in the menu screen(s). I don't like the fact that you have to scroll to the "Now Playing" icon in order to get there. The home key can easily be the menu button.

[mixin]

Originally Posted by A Subtle Dagger

Firmware can be updated with bug fixes, extra features and/or things that would be beneficial to the user.

Emphasis on can. They don't have to update anything but if they did it'd probably only be bug fixes. The only thing you've mentioned you wanna change in this thread so far isn't a bug, more a feature request.

[Step666]

Mixin's right.

Firmware is unlikely to be written just to grossly change the UI, even less so just because a small number of users would prefer it to work differently.
As per the comments comparing the X20 to other players earlier on, personal preferences are not the same as the player being faulty or buggy or anything like that - so long as iRiver have provided the functionality that they advertise, then there's nothing more they are responsible for. They are not obligated to change the firmwares for changing's sake and if you're unhappy in some way, well, that's kind of just tough.

[A Subtle Dagger]

Are you guys under the table with iRiver cuz it sounds like you guys are thoroughly enjoying it trying to argue with the consumers of iRiver's products. Do you guys own an x20? Can you guys honestly say you know the dap like the owners do? If not, then you guys wouldn't know the frustrations the player can relieve with simple fixes in a firmware update. On the "now playing" screen, they should also put the artist and not just the song name for the "next" song to play. They can also put the songs in order when you press up on the "now playing" screen. The songs are not only not divided by Artist but the song names are scattered everywhere rather than actually being in the order the user put them in or in the order of in the album and artist. Quite frustrating when you're trying to find a certain song within the bulk of the songs for the "Now Playing" list.

[Step666]

Originally Posted by A Subtle Dagger

Are you guys under the table with iRiver cuz it sounds like you guys are thoroughly enjoying it trying to argue with the consumers of iRiver's products.

We're merely correcting flaws with your arguments and pointing out some basic facts of life, as it were.
And at least one of the people you accuse of being 'under the table with iRiver' has moved onto a different brand of DAP.

You start by moaning about the lack of a new firmware but then your only reasoning behind the need for one is that you would prefer the UI to be different, which is a far from adequate reason for iRiver to update the firmware.
You then go on to cite two more reasons why the firmware should be updated but again they are nothing more than superficial changes to the UI, there being no flaw that would warrant iRiver's time and effort.

At some point you have to realise that there is no perfect DAP and that whatever you buy is going to have it's own little quirks and annoyances. You either learn to live with them or get something else.
But to blame iRiver because you would prefer things to be different is pointless.

[BBD]

Originally Posted by A Subtle Dagger

...then you guys wouldn't know the frustrations the player can relieve with simple fixes in a firmware update.

You cannot be serious with that statement.... Why do you think so many H100, H300, and H10 owners switched to Rockbox!?! Just because they like to tinker...? No--RB offered better functionality than the stock firmware, which iRiver (and every other DAP brand other than Insignia) has long been famous for not changing/updating except for bug-fixes.

You really want the UI of the DAP you own changed? I have a solution: go to the RB site and offer your services. Then open up the player and do the work to write a new FW.

Whining at such length about something as relatively minor as FW on a luxury item is unseemly at best. See the bottom of my sig, take that sage advice, put your BigBoy/Girl Panties on, and STFU. You have a nice DAP. People in Darfur should have such (*aherm*) "problems."

Jebus.....

[A Subtle Dagger]

Originally Posted by BBD

You cannot be serious with that statement.... Why do you think so many H100, H300, and H10 owners switched to Rockbox!?! Just because they like to tinker...? No--RB offered better functionality than the stock firmware, which iRiver (and every other DAP brand other than Insignia) has long been famous for not changing/updating except for bug-fixes.

You really want the UI of the DAP you own changed? I have a solution: go to the RB site and offer your services. Then open up the player and do the work to write a new FW.

Whining at such length about something as relatively minor as FW on a luxury item is unseemly at best. See the bottom of my sig, take that sage advice, put your BigBoy/Girl Panties on, and STFU. You have a nice DAP. People in Darfur should have such (*aherm*) "problems."

Jebus.....

Let me check...was I serious? Yup. I was. Do you own the x20? If not, you wouldn't know firsthand of its faults (like every other player has). Why go RB when the simple fixes can be improved by the creator, iRiver.

There will never be a perfect dap. To assume there will be or to believe someone believes there should be, is just ignorant. It's about improving.

I see you "big boys" love to take things out of context and blow things out of proportion. For being large contributers to the board, you sure do like arguing a lot instead of just letting the situation extinguish and perhaps just "STFU" and let the people who own the actual DAP rant or praise. Me and other OWNERS of the x20 do see the need for an upgrade. Firmware upgrades aren't solely for fixing bugs but to also better the player which other DAP companies do for their customers. iRiver has been going downhill (least here in the states) for a while now and you would think they'd be trying harder to make some of their current lineup even better instead of churning out new players with the same ol ingredients. It is not out of line or "whining" for wanting a firmware upgrade as a consumer. So please, save your egotistical and holier than thou attitudes (mainly BBD)

[mixin]

Originally Posted by A Subtle Dagger

Do you own the x20? If not, you wouldn't know firsthand of its faults (like every other player has).

The only time I've seen the X20 is on photos on the net so it's safe to say that I don't own one.
I can say that I have owned (and still do for that matter) 2 other iRiver players, the H340 and the S10. Both have their faults but i've learnt to live with them because they are both amazing players otherwise. I never expected iRiver to ever update the firmware on them to add new features. Why should they have to add new features after they've already marketed and sold the device with a certain feature set?
Ultimately iRiver and any other company are more likely to put more effort into developing new players than existing ones. After all, that's where the money with new sales lies. They can't make a buck from firmware updates if they've already sold it, and even though their customer service will suffer, i'm betting the profits from the new players they release will be far greater than the sales they possibly lose by existing customers migrating to other brands.

And for the record, Green ≠ Moderator

[Step666]

Your player works, right?
Then why do you need a firmware upgrade?

Nothing you have mentioned falls under the category of a 'fault' - the player is not malfunctioning, it's just not how you would prefer. They are two very different things.
Unless there is an actual problem with your player, you have no grounds to demand a firmware upgrade from iRiver.

Originally Posted by A Subtle Dagger

Me and other OWNERS of the x20 do see the need for an upgrade.

They do? Because so far it seems to be just you who has decided that the UI is sub-par.
Anyway, not that that makes any difference. Weight of numbers doesn't change the fact that you have no basis from which to demand new firmware.

At the end of the day, when it comes to UI, if you don't like it, you shouldn't've bought the player.
Your complaints are tantamount to buying Windows then demanding Microsoft releases an update because you don't like the start menu. It doesn't work like that, it's not their problem.



Nothing in this thread has been taken out of context.
You are criticising iRiver for not releasing new firmware when there is no reason why they should and we have called you on it, it's as simple as that.

[BBD]

And the lame-assed, limp-noodled whining about FW on a DAP that works continues....

Boring...and still unseemly....

BTW, as to saving my "egotistical" and "holier-than-thou" attitude--no.

[WaterWolf]

I don't think iRiver is going to release any new firmware for the x20. The simple reason is this : economists. Any of the major mp3 player brands could easily produce fantastic players which we'd never complain about. But of course if they did that then we'd never need to buy another player again and they'd go out of business. Instead, all mp3 players released will always be slightly stodgey.

So there's no profit in them adding extra features on a player they've already sold. They'd rather we bought the next model that comes out instead. This applies to all electronics manufacturers, not just iRiver.

The only way I can see new features being added to the x20 is if they bring out a 16gb version with new features and the firmware for that is compatible with earlier models. I'd personally like to see support for SD cards above 2GB but I don't think that's going to happen...