New Dune HD Max and HD Smart anticipation thread Q3 2010 - Page 315

Where is the fun in that

Separately, in regards to the Downmixing of HD audio on the current Dunes (Downmixing instead of multi PCM), I believe there was an unofficial patch (similar to the TV Series patch for DTSHD) thrown out there, did anyone ever try to see if it fixed this?

more info on the Intel based player that won't be out until summer would be great! Was planning on a base 3d but if those will be "better", i may wait.

+1!!! I've been using Fab for years!! Don't like the UI of v9 either.

I've been trying to get a straight answer on the Downmixing issue for almost a year and still haven't figured it out. Any chance the new players will actually decode to multi-PCM?

Multi ch PCM was removed with a fw update (not sure if this affects all models, it may only affect the D1/H1, I will try to confirm with my H1).

Supposedly installing this patch should fix the issue:

http://dune.do.am/dune_service_enable_multichannel_decoding.dsf

Dbone,

I have tried the patch and it works fine. Remember that the dunes i have tried (D1) do not decode 7.1, but 5.1 works great.

Here is some additional follow up info on the new models (might not be new news, but I wanted to confirm a few things before posting):

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2013/01/17/a-quick-follow-up-to-the-dune-hd-news/

kinda sad the news on the intel bit makes it sound even more vaporware, they dont know they chip they are going to use yet but have a price and a time set, they same its going to be custom yet still sounds like xbmc with external players set. but time will tell hopefully it will come to light as sounds like an interesting bit to play with.

Don't quite agree with your "sad" assessment tbh. There are several Intel chips being looked at of which they will settle down to one (looking at a June - Sep release, so still plenty of time, not like they said they were going to release tomorrow)

Not sure I follow your XBMC + external comment since to me it sounds exactly like that is what it is. XBMC will be the front end, with a separate engine handling the file playback. Why would you expect different? There are plenty of things Dune could be able to do on the playback side (video enhancements, audio, etc...) that are outside the scope of XBMC. Obviously all hypothetical until an actual player comes out, but what else would you expect from this type of player (XBMC front end based)?

Because real world says if they are planning a Q2 or even early Q3 release they have not even start testing press boards unless they are going to use off the shelf boards that they dont need custom made, If its a custom board they would have to know final product specs around this time in order to get one sent off and made and back in for testing. Then on top of that. If they switch chips come June who is to say everything they tried on a different model would still be good.

And the xbmc comment, was about this "It is NOT an HTPC. XBMC is simply being used as purely the front end, there will be a separate playback engine that will handle playback of all file types (so disregard anything you know about how XBMC handles file playback)" That is exactly how xbmc does handle video, If you set xbmc to use an external player it will use whatever you want it to use be it vlc or MPC-HC w/ MadVR. Still does not take away the fact its an htpc. They are pushing very hard that its not an htpc not sure if it was your wording or theres. Same with the Disc playback tell xbmc to play disc in power dvd you have cinavia driven disc playback. And while some could say because its running a SoC its not an htpc its still based off a non SoC cpu. Given the i3 has the same specs as the CE line minus the PQE engine in the higher end, but with the added speed you could run MPC-HC w/ MadVR for any of your PQ needs

Halfelite always likes to subtly diss on Dune as he high on PCH products and a mod on their forum, but you already knew that...:-)

Im not dissing on anything. Just looking at it and you always say im a mod everyone knows that lol DBONE met me on the pch forum. You can already see from my past post I already said even if its an htpc and they run a custom player across all the same things, So the remote matches and its flawless I would buy it. Lol i even recommend Dune as one of the top 3 players on the pch forum http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=63890&pid=583077#pid583077

I just call it as I see it. If it comes to be, I will be one of the first in line to pre order it. and I will give me full thought on it.

No one is saying they will suddenly switch chips last minute. The point was simply that the Berryville chip that has been rumored may or may not be the chip. They may already have custom boards that they are testing, they may be working closely with Intel, I unfortunately can't say for sure. At the end of the day I am sure they will go with the chip they feel gives them the best player

Yes and no. Most people equate an HTPC with the ability to install your own O/S, software, etc... For example, look at the Xtreamer Ultra, which runs XBMC as an install, but you can run a dual boot Windows O/S, etc... that is what I am talking about specifically in regards to an HTPC, and I think that is what most people think of (which when the discussions first started about this player as expected people started talking about what else they could install, etc...).

Secondly, you mention MPC, MadVR, etc... which yes in that respect that is external playback. However, and once again imo what I consider an HTPC, the user will not need to do any of that stuff. They will not need to install and configure MadVR, MPC, make sure they are using the right filters for video or audio codecs, etc...

It is meant to be a plug n play player, just like a Dune, PCH, etc...

I have talked with Halfelite many times, no issues here having a discussion as it is always good to see different points of view. I don't even hold it against him that he is a mod on NMT

Ok So different terms in how we see HTPC, I think in the day dual boot was the way to think but with things like openelc its turned into you just boot into your htpc "enviroment" and be done and really no more installing external software. If it is a custom player that handles, single file, as well as disc and its seamless/ plug and play, while keeping the remote control commands the same across all the players, "which is the major challenge in xbmc with external players working" Its something I would pay a little bit extra for, Hopefully they go with a beefy intel cpu, that also allows software decode for us 10bit anime watchers.

Damian - How confident are you that the new Base 3D actually decodes HD Audio? The description quoted below is the same as the verbage for the Smart line and we know it is no longer supported there... at least officially.

I personally cannot say with any certainty since I don't have a unit myself. I know that may not be the best answer. Hopefully units will start hitting consumers soon enough and we will know then (and of course I hope to get my hands on one soon enough as well to confirm)

I pre-ordered the Base 3D on duneplayer.com but wondered if i should order a zapitti player when available? whats the difference?

Also should I buy a second base 3d for a none 3d tv that i just want downmixing of mkvs with 5.1 or 7.1 to stereo or secure a d1?

Zappiti and base 3D are same hardware and should be same underlying fw. The Zappiti player will have the zappiti jukebox intergrated from the start and my guess they may add other features only available for their player (maybe a music jukebox, etc...)?. Since you will be able to auto launch any jukebox you want with an upcoming fw I don't quite see the need for a Zappiti branded player

Either would be fine. The D1 would be the most stable option. You could also look at the TV303d since you only want stereo output. Only issue, it is not clear exactly how the 303D will handle HD Audio (will it be able to downmix everything, including TrueHD in mkv). I should have my TV303d around Tuesday so I can mess around with and get a review up.

Any clues how the new players will handle MC-FLAC via PCM? I doubt that they will downmix to stereo....I hope.

Lighten up Francis! It was a joke, see the :-) at the end.
Oh, and I notice the PCH is listed BEFORE Dune in your list! :-) :-)
(I put the smilie faces TWICE this time)
I, too am looking forward to this player. Still running a pch200 in one of my systems as well!

I think all the players now (not just Dune but the others that will downmix HD Audio to 2ch stereo), PCM/FLAC is usually passed thru

Dune was pretty much the last company that allowed 7.1 pcm of HD audio. But when they took it away from some models I think they might not have paid licensing for it but then covered for the top models, So seems everyone is 2channel now, and flac is always multichannel PCM, same with things like AAC and WMA most brands still support 5.1 PCM on them.

So order two base 3d or a base 3d and a 303d? just incase youd want hd audio at some point

Was the Zappiti suppose to be listed at same price as the base 3d? Its now up for pre order and its $50 more. I understand the "difference" with the Zappiti version, but $50 for cataloging software? I don't get it.

Also does the zappiti version lock to their software?

no, you can use whatever jukebox you like with it. But you can't use a Base 3D firmware to flash the zapp player, or use the zapp player firmware to flash a Base 3D.

It's been a while since I used Zappiti. Will it scrape information from IMDB now instead of the other database? Can't remember what it was but I was constantly having to manually edit movie information. Also, if this Zappiti player eventually gets an Android app like it says it will then I might be interested in that.

Hi Dropzone, The version I use allows you to select either IMDB or TMDB for the movie information, but only allows TMDB for cover-art and fan-art. Switching between IMDB and TMDB is awkward (you need to go back into the "configuration" menu each time), but it has allowed me get most everything scraped correctly. There are still a few that I can't scrape at all, like "Body Heat", but it was easier than my NeoTV and much much much better than my Boxee.

Does any body know if the new dunes base 3d will play 3D BD ISO? I am not seeing it under their spec.