Will WD EVER release a firmware that allows MKV/MP4 to work correctly?, WDTV V2 is simply AWFUL Options

[steveex]

Frankly the amount of distain i have for WD over this matter cannot be adequately conveyed by mere words.
I own both the V1 and V2 and the V1 has performed more or less flawlessly for me since release 1.02.07 onwards.
The very same 1280x720 (or close variations of) MP4/MKV that work flawlessly on the V1 (and i am talking about 100's of files!) just stutter and lock-up since day one on the V2.
How can it be that 6 months on we still have a unit that simply is not fit for purpose unless you use 720x480 AVI's.
Frankly i would rather WD just said they are not releasing further updates so that i can throw the thing away and start again than the will they/won't they status that everybody appears to be in.
Utterly Disgusted#1

[WDUser]

Frankly i would rather WD just said they are not releasing further updates so that i can throw the thing away and start again than the will they/won't they status that everybody appears to be in.

WD tends to never talk about their FW release plans (other than maybe for the Live which is the only model I know of with a pre-release FW page), so with them it's always a guessing game of, "When will they stop supporting my model?" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) I'm happy with my Gen. 1 like you, but they never did officially announce end of support for this model, though it's quite obvious that's the state it has been in for quite some time now. So all you can do is what most of us plan to (or at least me), i.e. to keep the current model as long as it works, hoping against hope that a FW release will at least fix most known major bugs (ha!), while at the same time evaluate other players you can better spend money on if you're interested in more such devices.

[casper663]

i have a v2 and i am very happy with it. Installed i have the custom firmware and i play mkv/mp4 @full 1080p just fine.

[j2000]

Hi casper, what firmware do you have please? Do you find the device will lose sync if you use fast foward or rewind?

Myself and many others have sync issues. MP4 is very bad. If you do have a HD MP4 1080P file that scans without sync issues could you please run something like Mediainfo on it.

Many thanks in advance

[axl99]

Yeah Casper I would really like to know which firmware do you use?! I have similar problem; videos lose sync and they freeze approximately between 85-100 minute of the movie. Really frustrating!!!

[WDUser]

i have a v2 and i am very happy with it. Installed i have the custom firmware and i play mkv/mp4 @full 1080p just fine.

AFAIK, the only available versions of WDLXTV-G2 are 0.4.1.7 through 0.4.1.9 and the pre-release 0.4.1.9-6 (with movie sheet support). I highly doubt that custom FW will fix sync issues, but you guys can try any of these versions (or all of them) and report back to us with your results.

[axl99]

I don`t understand; if there is so many poeple haveing same problems (audio sync issues and video freezing), WD still had not released official firmware to fix this?!?!?! Companys 1/10 of the size of WD have way better product support and I think thats just wrong!!

[WDUser]

@axl99: You're assuming that they give a damn about their customers once they have sold their products.

[j2000]

AFAIK, the only available versions of WDLXTV-G2 are 0.4.1.7 through 0.4.1.9 and the pre-release 0.4.1.9-6 (with movie sheet support). I highly doubt that custom FW will fix sync issues, but you guys can try any of these versions (or all of them) and report back to us with your results.

I have tried all available wdtv gen 2 B-Rad CFW and WD OFW and all have the sync probs on mp4 with the HD rips i have used. I have noticed very few issues with mkv. I have not tried AVCHD or Blu-Ray file structures but i did rip some m2ts from an AVCHD and dont recall a sync problem with that.

I have even tried the 10min movie skip function on mp4 and still i lose sync!

All mp4s i have used were encoded from retail blu-ray or HDDVD with ripbot264 and work on ps3.

[axl99]

@axl99: You're assuming that they give a damn about their customers once they have sold their products.

That right; silly me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[steveex]

i have a v2 and i am very happy with it. Installed i have the custom firmware and i play mkv/mp4 @full 1080p just fine.

Yes, and i have had others "telling" me i don't know what i am talking about also.

Trouble is i do know very well what i am talking about, and am very well versed in many encoding, compression variants.
I too am running the latest BRAD firmware.
Without getting all "techy" on the whys and where-fores i repeat: The very same 100's of files that perform more or less flawlessly on my V1 are not handled correctly on my V2, no ifs or buts and REGARDLESS of ANY firmware, hacked or otherwise out there.

Got an AC Ryan Mini and have a machine that is at least the equal of (and in several areas outperforms) the V1.

IMHO for those of you with the V1, under no circumstances be swayed by the appeal of updating to a newer WD unit.
I am not brand loyal, disloyal or otherwise but the whole V2/Live debacle really does leave with me very negative thoughts regarding the WD line-up of media players and i have ACTIVELY gone out of my way to discourage others from buying them.