New firmware v2.0.5 version(beta) for ZIDOO X9S release

Have anyone notice of a RTD1295 based device that don't have the problems of Zidoo X9S - X10 ?
If true, forget my considerations.

If not, I can suspect that the issues "may" depends on Realtek SDK, and maybe Zidoo is unable to do workaround until Realtek debug its SDK.
But of course is only a conjecture that may explain missing solutions of reported issues... Not a absolution for Zidoo!!!

 

Hello ,when will come out a firmware version with hdmi output auto perfectly working (frame rate and resolution)??

 

Better wait for Dune players, a company that has good reputation regarding support.

 

nikos_a, sorry but your is not an aswer. But OK.
Anyway, interesting thing following Dune developments...

 

Dune serie PRO (HD Pro 4K and HD Pro 4K) will not better than Zidoo devices, they will have the same hardware and they will be more expensive, it's like those who buy a zappiti (more expensive) instead of buying a Zidoo

 

IMO... I think you are wrong about them being the same... The hardware will be the same... but the software development will be much different... Not to mention the tech support in the USA you can get from duneplayer.com

 

Hello litlgi74,

We will talk about it when they will be available

 

I agree

 

The Dune HD Pro 4k is expected to cost around $200. My Zidoo x10 cost me more than that, and has all the same bugs as the x9s. And it's not just a a matter of hardware, as we should all know by now. It's the firmware. I do not think that Zidoo is up to the task of correcting some of these issues, or even that they are interested. The interface is sloppy, and playback is rough. And their silence is extremely frustrating. Dune has a strong reputation for their firmware and interface.

My old Mede8er player used the same buggy 1186 chip that many other players used then, like the HiMedia and the Iconbit (both of which I tried and returned). Most of those players suffered from frame drop issues because by default, the chip only output 23.976 or 24.000, not both. So many 1186 players opted to output 24.000 bafflingly, causing the majority of 23.976 blu-ray content to stutter constantly. The other players did nothing about it. The Mede8er team solved the issue, and allowed it to properly put out both 23.976 and 24.000. The firmware team made all the difference between a usable player and an unusable one. They were able to figure out how to work around the problem, while the lesser companies couldn't/didn't.

So even if the Dune will have very similar hardware, I would expect a world of difference with how it functions. I certainly don't expect embarrassing spelling errors all over the interface, and I bet they will play DVDs properly. I also expect a folder of clips or trailers or episodes to play sequentially, without bumping back to the interface after each one, and in general I'd expect a much smoother experience.

My old Mede8er has 3D image file support (.mpo - just like my LG TV has built-in), custom aspect ratio adjustment and zoom, and a much better image viewer (by much better, it's basically the same - except it allows simple options to zoom in on the image to pan and scan, and playing the image at its full resolution). Plus it can be customized. Don't like the annoying pop-up playback icons that appear as it plays the next video file in the folder, or when you pause the video? No problem - you can customize it to remove those annoying pop-up icons. And it cost less than my x10. I thought my x10 would be a step up, but it's been a step back in most ways due to the bugs and lack of customization and options.

 

Dear ursiel,

The Dune HD Pro 4k is the equivalent of Zidoo x9S, i do not know why you're talking about the X10.

The Mede8er is the creme de la creme...as usual.

As I say above, we will see when they will be available, and i'll be happy for you if I'm wrong

Your messages about the Dune make me think of those who said that the zappiti would be better…than Zidoo.

 

The x10 and the x9s are virtually the same except for the HDD and the front VFD display. Same exact playback, same exact firmware functionality, same exact bugs. You know this. So the Dune HD Pro 4k will be a direct competitor to both the x9s and the x10. The Dune HD Pro 4k won't have the HDD slot inside like the x10, so in that respect, it's close to the x9s. But otherwise the x9s, x10 and Dune HD Pro 4k will all be very similar in class. The x10 does have a much nicer front VFD display, so the Dune HD Pro 4k may have a front display closer to the x10 than the x9s, but it's too early to tell. The x10 has a much more readable front display and gives more information, compared to the x9s. The Dune HD Pro 4k will retail for around $200. The Zidoo x10 cost me $230 on Amazon, direct from Zidoo. Again, similar in class.

 

Update -

I have discovered that the player can, in fact, play all video files sequentially in a folder! To select this, hit the menu button on the remote while playing a video, select "Play mode", then select "Repeat all". That will enable sequential playback for all video files in a folder. It's a global setting, so once you do it once, it's done. You don't have to to do it for each video or folder you play.

The only thing that's annoying about the implementation is:

Just like when you are first starting playback of a video, the player seems to switch framerate and resolution in-between files, except it does it even if the next file is the same resolution and frame rate as the currently playing file. That's annoying because the pop-up icon in the upper-left corner appears at the start of each video. To make it more annoying, an annoying pop-up message appears in the center of the screen in-between each file, with a spinning circle, saying "Loading Video", which appears quickly for a brief moment during the resolution change.

zidoo -

Could you please eliminate the "Loading Video" pop-up message and the spinning circle? It's unnecessary in general and just adds another annoyance during the frame rate/resolution switch. We already know it's loading the video. It's obvious. Also, if the next file is the same frame rate/resolution as the currently playing file, can you make it so the player just plays the next file without trying to switch the frame rate and resolution, as it is unnecessary? It should only need to switch when the frame rate or resolution needs to change. When they are the same, it would be a smoother transition to the next file if it didn't have the pop-up message and switching. Imagine playing a folder of short clips or trailers, all the same frame rate and resolution - they should just play from one file to the next without any interruptions, making a nice, clean transition to the next video, with just a brief black screen between videos (no pop-up messages). It should be like you're in a theatre, with a bunch of trailers or short films playing, not a pop-up message and screen switching to black between each one unnecessarily.

I think that would make video playback a much smoother and more pleasant experience with the x10 and x9s.

Note:

This is a great example of the lack of communication and documentation, as well as some menu options being in sub-optimal locations. I have been complaining for a while about the lack of this basic feature, but all along it was available and I had no idea, even after going through all the quick settings over and over again. If Zidoo had just come in and responded that the player can do this, and explained how, I would have known about this.

The "Repeat Once/Repeat All" option should really be in the "playback" quick setting menu. Currently it can only be seen when hitting the menu key during playback. Zidoo has been making some improvements in the menu layout, from what I've seen in v2.0.15 for my x10, so hopefully they will move these options to a place where it's easier to find for users.

 

dear @ursiel
i think that is you found to many imperfection for your purpose
no offense, why you still stick with this box, i know you thought that this box have a such potential but maybe the ziddo teams did not saw it or care
maybe the best thing for you is buy a new box with a diff soc like hisilicon or other brand like Dune or zappiti

 

Zappiti is out of the question - no 3D mkv/mvc.

I'm looking into the Dune HD Pro 4k, but that may also not play 3D mkv/mvc from what I've heard. And that isn't even out yet. It would be nice to have a player now that works, not wait until summer. I keep hoping that Zidoo addresses some of these issues. There aren't a ton of good choices out there, especially when I need both 3D and UHD support, plus a decent music/image player. My LG TV is a pretty solid media player honestly but it's a 3D TV and since they don't make them any more, I need this one to last me hopefully until the next wave of 3D TVs hopefully hit (I know I'm being hopeful). So I hate to use my TV as a main media player. And the TV player doesn't support playback of lossless audio formats either.

Some of my issues have been resolved. For whatever reason, my X10 does not have the start-up corruption with 444 12bit, like the x9s did. I found the player does play all video files in a folder sequentially (though switching to the next file is a bit sloppy). They have improved the placement and descriptions of some of the Quick Settings options. I have made a thread in the x10 section outlining some of the issues I hope they can check out. Mirror said he'd pass it along and look into them, so I'm still trying to remain hopeful that Zidoo can iron out the big issues. The sloppy way file playback starts is one of bigger gripes, after the obvious frame stutters of course.

 

what about E-great A10 or himedia Q10pro

i realize that v.2.0.13 make me easily notice the stutter or maybe my eyes already became sensitive now
coz before that i cannot see any diff when i used auto switch frame rate with all my 23.976fps movie
but now i should set auto switch on if i dont want to get dizzy
just really dont like the process with this auto switch, very annoying

 

ursiel, the framerate/resolution switch happens because after any video playing it resets framerate/resolution to the previous one. Even I don't like this, but...
For my personal point of view, if Zidoo find a way to do all framerate/resolution change BEFORE starting playing videos (on black screen) is enough.
Of course, if "Repeat all" is set, it shouldn't go back to selection interface, even for a fraction of time (else it may change again framerate/resolution uselessy), but must go diretly to next file, changing framerate/resolution as needed but always before playing adn in a black screen.
About the "Loading Video" popup, I agree that having a loading feedback is useful (else you don't know if its hang or not), a nicer and non invasive way could be something appearing on the front panel display, only during loading (LOAd, or an animation like rotating segments ?).

 

Is there a way to downgrade firmware? If I select a .zip that is older I’m unable to.

 

I looked into the egreat but it has a serious bug where 23.976 is forced out at 24.000 in 3D, breaking 3D playback.

That's the problem. The Mede8er was an awesome 3D player, but it's aging. There aren't many players out there that seem to do it right, and do UHD. Before I bought my MEde8er I tried both a HiMedia and an Iconbit, and both went back to do serious stutter issues (the 23.976/24.000 1186 chip bug). Mede8er used the same chip but solved the issue. The others didn't, at least not when I was trying them out.

We need some kind of auto frame rate and resolution switching, because all players need to have the option of switching automatically when playing a file in a different frame rate and resolution than you're currently in. The trick is getting it to work right. They did change the naming and functionality of this a couple beta firmwares ago, because out of the box the auto switching was very confusing the way it was named and explained in the menus. So I think they are still giving that area attention.

***** I'm not sure auto frame rate is even working right in my v2.0.15 for my x10. I was playing a 59.940 UHD file and I had video output set to auto and "switch frame rate and resolution" enabled, and it output 30Hz, not 60! Can anybody check to confirm if auto frame rate and resolution is switching properly for various frame rates?

 

I agree with everything you said here.

I think we can all agree that the best way to handle the framerate/resolution switching is to do that "behind-the-scenes" so to speak - do it before the video starts playback, like my Mede8er and WDTV does. Then when the video appears, it starts from the very first frame and plays, without needing to flash away again. Right now it's incredibly annoying to start playback, then it flashes black and switches, then continues, losing a good 10 seconds of the video by the time it's all done with switching. When "repeat all" is enabled, it should be a much smoother experience than it is now. As you said, any switching necessary should be before it displays the video. Perhaps if "repeat all" is enabled, it shouldn't reset the frame rate/resolution, so that it wouldn't need to switch each time the next video starts in the folder, unless there's a frame rate or resolution difference from the current file it's playing. As you said, maybe it woulnd't matter if it did the switching more smoothly.

I love your idea of displaying the "Load" message on the front display instead of an annoying pop-up on-screen. That's what the screen is for, after all - giving us information. So instead of an annoying popup, just say "Load" on the front display when it loads a video file. Brilliant idea! I'll mention it in the x10 thread I started.

 

With 3D being ignored by manufacturers there is a lack of motivation for vendors to provide decent 3D playback support. There are basically three options for quality 3D playback: Intel NUC, Zidoo, or raspberry pi. Unfortunately the Pi lacks 4K HDR. Vero looks promising but they still need to iron out their framepacking support. If zidoo can fix their playback problems then it’ll be the only player that can do 3D and HDR properly...