HD-DVD Firmware Thread

[Pirate]

Please post the latest firmware news for the Toshiba or any other model HD-DVD players here.

Toshiba HD-A1 / HD-XA1 / HD-D1
TOSHIBAHDDVD.COM Ver 2.3


Toshiba HD-A2 / HD-XA2 / HD-A20 / HD-D2
Ver 2.7

Toshiba HD-A3 / HD-A30/ HD-A35/ HD-D3
Ver 2.0

Xbox HD-DVD Add-On
Xbox.com | How To - How To Get HD DVD Support for the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

[Pirate]

Toshiba has released a new firmware upgrade for its second-generation HD DVD disc players, dubbed Version 1.5.

The upgrade follows on the heels of Version 1.3, which the company issued only just issued this past February. This new download first appeared this week on Toshiba's official support site, and according to the documentation from Toshiba, does not offer any new features or enhancements. However, it does fix certain connectivity and playback issues, according to this statement:

"As part of our commitment to provide world-class service to our customers, Toshiba is supplying this firmware update for use by purchasers of Toshiba HD DVD Player models HD-XA2, HD-A20, HD-A2, HD-A2W and HD-D2. This firmware update addresses certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related problems identified by Toshiba."

Note that if you cannot (or choose not) to download the upgrade directly via your player's Ethernet port (refer to your deck's manual for instructions), you can contact Toshiba directly for a firmware CD, which the company will ship to all registered HD-XA2, HD-A20, HD-A2, HD-A2W and HD-D2 owners, free of charge.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh..._Available/575

["The Dude"]

Does anyone know what the email address is to request an update disc?

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by The Dude

Does anyone know what the email address is to request an update disc?

customer_support@tacp.com

You can also call them (number should be on your manual).

["The Dude"]

Thanks PH. Yeah, I know their number but their hours and my hours don't mesh, so it's kind of a hassle.

[dugpa]

Just to keep this thread updated, the Toshiba HD-A1 / HD-XA1 / HD-D1 players are now up to firmware 2.2. 2.2 apparently is more or less the same as 2.1 but fixes some things 2.1 broke.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by dugpa

Just to keep this thread updated, the Toshiba HD-A1 / HD-XA1 / HD-D1 players are now up to firmware 2.2. 2.2 apparently is more or less the same as 2.1 but fixes some things 2.1 broke.

Updated.

[dkny75]

For those with first gen Toshibas & RCAs that don't want to wait for the 2.2 disc, here's a link for a downloadable version of the firmware in .iso form.

http://209.167.114.38/support/ceg/downloads/#

[Vonner]

Okay, I got my upgrade disc for v1.5 on the XA2, the question is do I need it? I haven't had a problem with the player yet and I'm leary of the consequences of a bad update.

What do you think?

[Wirehed]

Well, if you aren't having any troubles, and you're worried about it, I guess wait it out.


I updated mine first thing, but a large part of that was to play with the Ethernet port. I LOVE that you can just plug the player into your network and update the firmware with a push of a button and I HAD to test that.

[plissken99]

Well after the complete and utter cluster fuck that was 2.1, I hesitantly installed 2.2. So far so good, no more HDMI DVI handshake issues, discs load up as fast as ever. Will try the NIN concert, it was the worst skipper ever.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Vonner

Okay, I got my upgrade disc for v1.5 on the XA2, the question is do I need it? I haven't had a problem with the player yet and I'm leary of the consequences of a bad update.

What do you think?

If you want to watch,

Hollywoodland
Children of Men
The Good Shepard
Smokin' Aces
Alpha Dog
The Hitcher

don't do 1.5.

[Derb]

Downloading 1.6 for the XA2 right now.

[Derb]

Ahem http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/tacpasse...d2firmware.asp

[Pirate]

I just got the 2.2 disc in the mail for my A1. This is the one I should not install, right?

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I just got the 2.2 disc in the mail for my A1. This is the one I should not install, right?

I got mine in the mail Friday too and went ahead and installed it. Everything seemed to go well, though I haven't actually watched any discs yet. I will be doing so tomorrow though so I'll let you know if my player explodes.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I just got the 2.2 disc in the mail for my A1. This is the one I should not install, right?

2.2 is good firmware. 2.1 was the problematic one.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Ruined

2.2 is good firmware. 2.1 was the problematic one.

Thanks, wasn't sure & was gonna pass on the news to a HD DVD owner over at the bits.

..but I can't seem to get to their site at the moment.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Derb

..but I can't seem to get to their site at the moment.

Microsoft probably shut the bits down after Hunt blew the lid on the grand conspiracy that they're supporting hd-dvd.

[Pirate]

Installed 2.2 and watched a film without a hitch.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Installed 2.2 and watched a film without a hitch.

Just watched Happy Feet with 2.2 and all was good (except the awful film).

[ganthc]

You can simply download the ISO and burn the update to CD-R here:
http://209.167.114.38/support/ceg/do.../HD-A2-1.6.iso
(this is a direct link from Toshiba Canada's support website)

If you dont have a burning program for ISOs, grab IMGBURN:
http://imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

This is important info for the hd-a2 for firmware update 1.6

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Ruined

http://www.tacp.com/tacpassets-imag...vd2firmware.asp

You can get it via download from the player's update process or you can call Toshiba for a 2.0 disc. An image has not yet been posted for burning to CD-R, but I'll let you know when it is.

No word yet what features this adds or fixes. At a minimum, though, I believe it fixes some issues with the online content download for titles like Freedom vol.1 and Blood Diamond.

Updated.

[Derb]

Hope 2.0 is only needed for internet bonus junk.

[Sehnzeleid]

Changing the first number of a FW tends to mean a new feature has been added.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Derb

Hope 2.0 is only needed for internet bonus junk.

Firmware 2.0 seems to have fixed some compatibility issues and bugs with internet features but in addition it also fixed the chroma bug when decoding MPEG2 with the HD-A2.

Word is firmware 2.3 is on the way for the HD-A1/XA1 with similar fixes.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Firmware 2.0 seems to have fixed some compatibility issues and bugs with internet features but in addition it also fixed the chroma bug when decoding MPEG2 with the HD-A2.

Word is firmware 2.3 is on the way for the HD-A1/XA1 with similar fixes.

True, a staff reviewer over at dvd review got Blood Diamond with a 2.3v firmware update disc.

[Ruined]

Heads up, firmware 2.0 for the HD-A2/A20/XA2 apparently has some minor compatibility issues with the 1st pressing Weinstein movies (Matador, Derailed, Wolf Creek). Some pausing/pixelization. Hopefully will be fixed quickly by Toshiba.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Derb

True, a staff reviewer over at dvd review got Blood Diamond with a 2.3v firmware update disc.

2.3 for the HD-A1/HD-XA1/HD-D1 came out around the first of the month. I haven't been brave enough to try it though. Word is all it does is some hdmi stuff.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by dugpa

2.3 for the HD-A1/HD-XA1/HD-D1 came out around the first of the month. I haven't been brave enough to try it though. Word is all it does is some hdmi stuff.

You've never had a problem with your A1 & if this is just an HDMI deal, I wouldn't bother updating neither. I dunno how many people have a wireless bridge connected in there HT to benefit from these internet features anyways. Seems like a DOA HD DVD feature. In my case if this internet crap takes off, I should be covered with my HDAO. If not, screw MS.

[dugpa]

Here's what they claim it will do:

This firmware update improves network connectivity for supporting the download of web- enabled network content associated with certain HD DVD discs, improves certain video and audio processing capabilities, and also addresses certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related issues identified by Toshiba.

Agreed, I have no interest in web crap nor am I about to string ethernet cable all over my living room to get to my hd-dvd player.

[esc]

WOW! watch several scenes from some movies, look for facial and costume detail, as well as background 3-dimensionality, then do the update and watch the same scenes again

I'm attempting to upgrade from 2.2 to 2.3 now. I got The Host and the video was twitchy with 2.2. Its the first time I've had an intermittent picture like this on a disc.

I'm having some difficulty upgrading as my router is not wanting to talk to the player today. I'll sort it out and let you know how it goes.
.
.
.
ok, all updated. That was either a huge update or my interweb is exceedingly slow today.

The first thing I noticed on the A1 was that interaction between the remote and the menu is now instant. Before, I'd push a button and wait about half a second for the menu icon to react. There also now seems to be a cache for button presses. If I am scrolling through Scene Selection and hit the Right Arrow five times rapidly, the scene selection will now remember that I hit the button five times and go five scenes to the right.

No more blinking video on The Host I am happy to say

I put in Casablanca and the whites look much brighter and the film even clearer than it was before. I am quite surprised at how the contrast has seemed to be upped in the whites and the blacks seem to be at the same dark level they were at before.

The Matrix look great before but an insane amount of fine detail and facial detail has now been brought out. At the beginning of the lobby fight the camera pans up from Neo's boots which now have a very visible mesh texture on the tips. The pits and bumps of the columns that Neo and Trinity hide behind throughout the fight have come out with amazing detail. I also just noticed a single hair protruding from Carrie Ann Moss's face just before she takes out the cops at the beginning. Looks like she could have tweezed a bit more before that day's shoot. :P

I am very happy that I thought to check for an update today as I am in high anticipation mode for 300's release tomorrow.

I just don't believe that with these updates the A1 keeps getting so much better in the video and sound departments. I was totally pleased with it when the last few updates came out, but this HDMI update is the best yet. I kind of want to downgrade to 1.0, just to see what it was like when I first got the unit.

[Derb]

2.2 for all second-gen players are available now.

http://www.tacp.com/tacpassets-imag...vd2firmware.asp

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Derb

2.2 for all second-gen players are available now.

http://www.tacp.com/tacpassets-imag...vd2firmware.asp

Toshiba has made the updating of firmware much easier, by bundling an iso burner with the iso file. Now you just double click on the icon and off it goes burning the file. Crazy how it takes 30 minutes supposedly to update the firmware.

EDIT: It took less than half that to update the firmware. I guess they just cover their bases on that.

[The Mobius]

v2.5 for HD-XA2, HD-A20, HD-A2, HD-A2W, and HD-D2:
http://www.tacp.com/tacpassets-image...d2firmware.asp

Improvements documents:
XA2/A20
A2/A2W/D2

[Sehnzeleid]

Just released:

Firmware Update v2.7 For HD-A2/D2, HD-A20, HD-XA2 Is Available Now

This firmware update improves support for 1080p/24Hz OUTPUT, improves network connectivity supporting the download of web-enabled network content associated with certain HD DVD discs, and also addresses certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related issues identified by Toshiba. In addition, this firmware update provides High Bit Rate Audio functionality for the HD-XA2 player. When integrated through the HDMI connection to a 7.1 capable multi-channel A/V receiver, High Bit Rate Audio has the potential to offer the latest in high definition surround sound.

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/tacpassets-ima...vd2firmware.asp

[Derb]

High bitrate

You mean the player now outputs a higher sampling rate than whats on the disc? Or is it mixed louder? I need another brew.

[zepherman]

Sorry if this has been mentioned already. But I just learned that the XA2 has a new update to allow all the new audio codecs (lossy and lossless)to be sent via bitstream over HDMI 1.3.

This is great news for XA2 owners that want to be able to let their receiver/pre-pro do the decoding. Apparently it works great and sounds phenomenal!

[Pirate]

Merged.

[zepherman]

Thanks pirate.