Firmware 2.0 for A3/A30/A35 out (dont update if you use 1080p24 it causes jaggies!)

[barmonkeyx]

Originally Posted by BasicBlak

Just a general FYI... Toshiba has revamped its US customer support site and has removed v2.0 from distribution (as well as v2.8 for the XA2), referring only to v1.3 as its current firmware for the A3/A30/A35 (http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/customersupport/). Contrary to the b.s. their CS reps have apparently been feeding some of us, clearly someone over at the ne'er-do-well company is aware of the problems with v2.0 otherwise they wouldn't have taken it down. IMO, the fact that they pulled it is a clear admission on their part of its sub-par performance. Now, the upside to that is, there may still be hope yet for a "v2.1" or even a v2.0 redux.

Keeping my fingers crossed....

This is false...I am downloading the 2.0 update for the HD-A30 from Toshiba's site right now. From what everyone is saying...I will first install 1.3 which I downloaded from the sticky on this forum...1.1 clearly isn't up to par for me.

[BasicBlak]

Originally Posted by barmonkeyx

This is false...I am downloading the 2.0 update for the HD-A30 from Toshiba's site right now. From what everyone is saying...I will first install 1.3 which I downloaded from the sticky on this forum...1.1 clearly isn't up to par for me.

Not "false"...just incomplete, apparently. As post #658 indicated, it looks like you can also access the old f/w via the old "Recent Notices & Updates" path, which I didn't notice or peruse initially. However, as my link also indicates, if you follow Tosh's revamped path (starting with the "Seach By Product Type") it only references v1.3. Clearly, as Hankus aptly put it, the end of the format war has indeed lead to Tosh providing contradictory or confusing information both on their website and via telephone. Still, the point is the same: Even though v2.0 is still on the site in one location, someone at Tosh did in fact make some changes to the Customer Support page and pulled v2.0 on another part of the site.

[cws_kahuna]

For those that are not aware this may be available.
My Hd-D3 and A35 both just updated to v3.0 firmware.

[JMarin]

Originally Posted by cws_kahuna

For those that are not aware this may be available.
My Hd-D3 and A35 both just updated to v3.0 firmware.

Toshiba's download site still downloads v2.0 file for HD-A35. Helps us out - where/how did you obtain v3.0?

[jdmac29]

Originally Posted by JMarin

Toshiba's download site still downloads v2.0 file for HD-A35. Helps us out - where/how did you obtain v3.0?

I downloaded through the ethernet connection on the player. I think that is all that is available right now. I never downloaded 2.0 but I checked chapter 5
out on bumblee and I did not see any jaggies with 3.0. My tv accepts 1080p/24. Some are saying the XA2 is not fixed with 3.0.

[cws_kahuna]

Ethernet as jdmac29 said.

[Latin-Man]

Originally Posted by jdmac29

I downloaded through the ethernet connection on the player. I think that is all that is available right now. I never downloaded 2.0 but I checked chapter 5
out on bumblee and I did not see any jaggies with 3.0. My tv accepts 1080p/24. Some are saying the XA2 is not fixed with 3.0.

Can anyone with an ethernet connection confirm this new 3.0 version on thier A35's?

I just checked the Toshiba site, and they still have the 2.0 version available for DL

[joe221]

I'm trying it. Will report results...

[HB GAMER]

Originally Posted by Latin-Man

Can anyone with an ethernet connection confirm this new 3.0 version on thier A35's?

I just checked the Toshiba site, and they still have the 2.0 version available for DL

I downloaded 3.0 for my A-35 and A-2 last night.

[joe221]

Originally Posted by joe221

I'm trying it. Will report results...

It sent me 3.0 for my A35!!

Now we see what it helps!
Or hurts!


Update:
Well I still see Jaggies and imperfections if I use 1080p 0r 1080p/24 vs. setting the player to 1080i. This is on the HQV test disk. My TV is a Mitsubishi 65833. Maybe it's just that TV is better at deinterlacing than the player??

[94SupraTT]

Does the 2.0 firmware update the HD-A3 to 1080p?

[spongebob]

Originally Posted by 94SupraTT

Does the 2.0 firmware update the HD-A3 to 1080p?

nope

[Latin-Man]

Originally Posted by joe221

It sent me 3.0 for my A35!!

Now we see what it helps!
Or hurts!


Update:
Well I still see Jaggies and imperfections if I use 1080p 0r 1080p/24 vs. setting the player to 1080i. This is on the HQV test disk. My TV is a Mitsubishi 65833. Maybe it's just that TV is better at deinterlacing than the player??

still seeing jaggies....hummmm....that is good to know, and thanks for reporting once again

Joe221,

Did you have jaggies before (@1080/24p w/ v1.3)?

[spongebob]

So how do we get it if we aren't networked?

bob

[DEIFan]

Wait for Toshiba to put it up, or if you've registered with them, then wait for the disc to arrive.

[joe221]

Originally Posted by Latin-Man

still seeing jaggies....hummmm....that is good to know, and thanks for reporting once again

Joe221,

Did you have jaggies before (@1080/24p w/ v1.3)?

I'm pretty sure I did. I seem to remember the same results using this HQV test disk. I have Transformers among others in my small collection. What scenes or movies should I use to test outside the test disk??

I find it amazing that the image is almost perfect forcing 1080i but breaks up at 1080p or /24. Oh well.

[Brian Hinther]

After trying four different brands of ISO burning software, I finally found one called BurnQuick that would make a CD with my Lite-on burner. However, shortly after I began the update process, my A3 returned the error message "2007 c00f." Does anyone know what in the world that means? I sure would appreciate a translation, if so. Thanks.

[overthetop1]

Originally Posted by Brian Hinther

After trying four different brands of ISO burning software, I finally found one called BurnQuick that would make a CD with my Lite-on burner. However, shortly after I began the update process, my A3 returned the error message "2007 c00f." Does anyone know what in the world that means? I sure would appreciate a translation, if so. Thanks.

Did you trying burning the iso at the slowest speed possible? I had problems when I let the iso burning software burn at 48x.

[finsmaniac02]

Originally Posted by joe221

It sent me 3.0 for my A35!!

Now we see what it helps!
Or hurts!


Update:
Well I still see Jaggies and imperfections if I use 1080p 0r 1080p/24 vs. setting the player to 1080i. This is on the HQV test disk. My TV is a Mitsubishi 65833. Maybe it's just that TV is better at deinterlacing than the player??

What if the source is 1080p? (i.e. HD DVD) Shouldn't it NOT need deinterlacing? Please confirm with maybe Transformers on HD DVD (if you have it) The scene where megan fox looks stunning as she is looking under the hood of bumblebee. The very beginning of that scene has a pan that goes across the grill of bumblebee and there is (with the 2.0 firmware) VERY noticable jaggies. On 1080p/24, is this still the case with the 3.0 firmware?

[Robert George]

The problem introduced in the 2.0 firmware is related to 24p playback of AVC encoded content. Paramount released several titles using AVC, including Transformers and Next. The problem shows up very obviously on the Paramount Pictures logo at the beginning of these films. Look at the stars as they "fly" in around the mountain. The new firmware does NOT fix this problem.

[spongebob]

Originally Posted by Robert George

The problem introduced in the 2.0 firmware is related to 24p playback of AVC encoded content. Paramount released several titles using AVC, including Transformers and Next. The problem shows up very obviously on the Paramount Pictures logo at the beginning of these films. Look at the stars as they "fly" in around the mountain. The new firmware does NOT fix this problem.

I have the problem w/ AVC discs playing at 720P! Major jaggieson planet earth. 1080i is better but softer.


bob

[joe221]

Originally Posted by finsmaniac02

What if the source is 1080p? (i.e. HD DVD) Shouldn't it NOT need deinterlacing? Please confirm with maybe Transformers on HD DVD (if you have it) The scene where megan fox looks stunning as she is looking under the hood of bumblebee. The very beginning of that scene has a pan that goes across the grill of bumblebee and there is (with the 2.0 firmware) VERY noticable jaggies. On 1080p/24, is this still the case with the 3.0 firmware?

I have the movie but haven't watched it yet (long story). Could you tell me the chapter etc.? I don't get why 1080i is looking better than 1080p, maybe a more knowledgeable guru can help? When I set the A35 to 1080p and or /24 jaggies run rampant and test patterns pulsate. If I set it to 1080i patterns are smooth and jaggies mostly disappear. This is on the HD-DVD HQV Test desk.

Also my TV is 1080p (DLP) and capable of 24Hz and 120Hz. I've tried turning advanced picture settings on and off to no avail.

[BasicBlak]

Originally Posted by joe221

...I don't get why 1080i is looking better than 1080p, maybe a more knowledgeable guru can help? When I set the A35 to 1080p and or /24 jaggies run rampant and test patterns pulsate. If I set it to 1080i patterns are smooth and jaggies mostly disappear. This is on the HD-DVD HQV Test desk.

Also my TV is 1080p (DLP) and capable of 24Hz and 120Hz. I've tried turning advanced picture settings on and off to no avail.

Hi Joe!

Not that I consider myself a "guru" by any means, but in a nutshell, the player has a problem deinterlacing AVC-encoded HD DVDs at 24Hz (and, for some, at 60Hz) with v2.0 (some say with v3.0 as well); hence, all the "jaggies." With 1080i, there is no deinterlacing being done by the player, in which case the deinterlacing is being done by the display, which may or may not improve things depending on how well the display deinterlaces.

[joe221]

Originally Posted by BasicBlak

Hi Joe!

Not that I consider myself a "guru" by any means, but in a nutshell, the player has a problem deinterlacing AVC-encoded HD DVDs at 24Hz (and, for some, at 60Hz) with v2.0 (some say with v3.0 as well); hence, all the "jaggies." With 1080i, there is no deinterlacing being done by the player, in which case the deinterlacing is being done by the display, which may or may not improve things depending on how well the display deinterlaces.

Then the big Mits is doing a fine job deinterlacing 1080i. When the HQV test moves the SMPTE test patterns nothing strobes and the titles are clear. At 1080p some of the pattern boxes strobe and some of the title text is cut off. This was happening in 2.0 and continues at 3.0.

Does anyone else here have the HQV Benchmark HD-DVD?? If so what are your results?
http://www.hqv.com/benchmark.cfm

[Josh Z]

Originally Posted by BasicBlak

Hi Joe!

Not that I consider myself a "guru" by any means, but in a nutshell, the player has a problem deinterlacing AVC-encoded HD DVDs at 24Hz (and, for some, at 60Hz) with v2.0 (some say with v3.0 as well); hence, all the "jaggies." With 1080i, there is no deinterlacing being done by the player, in which case the deinterlacing is being done by the display, which may or may not improve things depending on how well the display deinterlaces.

If it was a problem with deinterlacing, it should affect all discs identically regardless of compression codec. The deinterlacing chip can't tell what codec a disc was compressed with. By the time the video gets to the deinterlacer, it's already been decoded. Also, the HD-XA2 has the exact same problem, and that uses a completely different deinterlacing solution (the Reon).

Whatever is at fault here must be happening at the decoder. The player no longer decodes AVC discs correctly when set for 1080p24 output (which should read the data directly from the decoder without going through the deinterlacing or scaling).

[BasicBlak]

Originally Posted by Josh Z

If it was a problem with deinterlacing, it should affect all discs identically regardless of compression codec. The deinterlacing chip can't tell what codec a disc was compressed with. By the time the video gets to the deinterlacer, it's already been decoded. Also, the HD-XA2 has the exact same problem, and that uses a completely different deinterlacing solution (the Reon).

Whatever is at fault here must be happening at the decoder. The player no longer decodes AVC discs correctly when set for 1080p24 output (which should read the data directly from the decoder without going through the deinterlacing or scaling).

Certainly makes sense to me, Josh. But, since you're a professional, help me understand something so I can get it straight in my own head: If it were just an AVC decoding error (or an error with any other codec, for that matter) sans any deinterlacing issues, wouldn't it manifest itself on AVC titles using the deinterlaced and interlaced output? The problem seems to correct itself when using the interlaced output. There have been some who complained early on that v2.0 gives jaggies on everything they play, 1080/60p included. It just seems to me that, knowing Toshiba, the specific cause could stem from practically anything. The fact that this problem even exists--and that we continue to go without a definitive fix--puzzles the sh*t out of me. (By the way, I'm a big fan of your contributions over at HighDefDigest.com )

[spongebob]

Originally Posted by The problem seems to correct itself when using the [I

interlaced[/i] output. There have been some who complained early on that v2.0 gives jaggies on everything they play, 1080/60p included. It just seems to me that, knowing Toshiba, the specific cause could stem from practically anything. The fact that this problem even exists--and that we continue to go without a definitive fix--puzzles the sh*t out of me. (By the way, I'm a big fan of your contributions over at HighDefDigest.com )

I've been complaining of 2.0 causing jaggies @720P on AVC discs for months.

IT"S NOT JUST 1080/24P !!!!!!!!!!!!!



bob

[Josh Z]

Originally Posted by BasicBlak

If it were just an AVC decoding error (or an error with any other codec, for that matter) sans any deinterlacing issues, wouldn't it manifest itself on AVC titles using the deinterlaced and interlaced output? The problem seems to correct itself when using the interlaced output.

Two possibilities:

1) The scaling chip is somehow correcting this jaggie problem after decoding. I find this unlikely, because the A35 and XA2 use very different processing chips.

2) Changing the resolution output in the player's setup menu affects more than just the resolution output in the scaling chip, but also has some side-interaction with the decoder.

Considering how screwy the audio settings are in the player (e.g. changing the SPDIF output format from Bitstream to PCM also turns on and off speaker and bass management in the multi-channel analog connections), option 2 seems the most likely.

(By the way, I'm a big fan of your contributions over at HighDefDigest.com )

Thanks. Pick up an issue of Home Theater. They pay me better.

[BasicBlak]

Originally Posted by Josh Z

Two possibilities:

1) The scaling chip is somehow correcting this jaggie problem after decoding. I find this unlikely, because the A35 and XA2 use very different processing chips.

2) Changing the resolution output in the player's setup menu affects more than just the resolution output in the scaling chip, but also has some side-interaction with the decoder.

Considering how screwy the audio settings are in the player (e.g. changing the SPDIF output format from Bitstream to PCM also turns on and off speaker and bass management in the multi-channel analog connections), option 2 seems the most likely.

Very interesting hypotheses. Either way, there's no doubt that the A35 (if not all the Tosh HD players) is indeed a rather quirky bird.

Thanks. Pick up an issue of Home Theater. They pay me better.

LOL... Will do! One of the best quotes I've ever read in all my years in this hobby (and I may be paraphrasing you somewhat): "...Those who complain that high-def media costs too much clearly never bought a $100 special edition laserdisc." LMAO!!! Classic...just classic!

[johndn]

I've been running 1.3 fw since I've had my players (A35's for 8 months), and have had issues with only two discs...up until three weeks ago.

Becasue of the sales I've purchased dozens of discs, and over the past three weeks, I've had one disc that could not be read, and five others that started, but then froze and I could not bypass via ff/skip/pause...anything. I've also had two discs that froze, but that I was able to ff past (the freeze).

Can anyone ascertain that 2.0 fw will resolve some of these problem discs (btw: they are all new), and if so, can I still have Toshiba forward me a copy? Thanks.