Creative's Zen Touch 2 gets an Upgrade to Android 2.2!

It didn't take them long.  Creative appears to be serious about the android tablet market.  Their 7" and 10" Ziio tablets have recently received update to android 2.2.  It came with additional features that make them better values than they were when first releases.  The Touch 2 is a pocket player.  It comes in three versions.  I reviewed the one with GPS a few weeks ago.

Enhancements:

• Upgrades the OS from Android 2.1 (Eclair) to Android 2.2 (Froyo).
• Adds the Audible application (for selected regions only).

So how much is the UI improved?  

• No apparent improvements to the Music app. No EQ to be found.
• The Power Widget is buggy.  After three reboots it "almost" works right again.             
• Powered down while plugged into USB shows a nice battery status display with backlight dimmed.
• 5 Home pages now, an improvement over the three available in the last version of the firmware.
• On-screen dots to indicate the current page as well as allow a tap to move to other pages.  
• The BestTube (YouTube) app runs but crashes trying to preview videos and freezes trying to download videos.

As I come across any new or broken features I'll add them here. Leave a comment if you have one. Not sure if anyone but me has bothered.

4D

Archos' Gen8 Tablets Updated. Minor Fixes and Major New Features!

NEW!

On April 21, 2011 Archos release version 2.3.26 firmware for its generation 8 tablets. The Changes include:

• Wi-Fi: fix cannot scan on an access point above channel 11 regression
• Phone tethering: fix TCP/IP header compression setting crash
• System stability: avoid Android reboot in case of missing audio
• Media library: fix media libray not updated on hard drive based A70
• Notification: decrease low battery notification volume
• Application: attempt to solve Pandora application not able to switch songs
• Application: solve music lag in applications using OGG format
• Bluetooth GPS: increase compatibility with 3rd party applications
• Display: avoid white/black screen happening sometimes when switching back the display on.

Download page.

On April 13, 2011 Archos released version 2.3.20 firmware for its generation 8 tablets.  The Changes include:
Version 2.3.20:

• Application: a new Archos remote service and universal Android application to control your Archos device remotely using Wi-Fi. It is intended to operate your Archos using any Android phone/device for instance when the Archos is connected to the TV. The "Archos Remote Control" application is available on Android Market and on Appslib
• Application: a new Archos YouTube application to easily view and play YouTube videos
• Network shares: samba network share transfer speed has been enhanced to support HD streaming
• Network shares: password protected shares are now discoverable
• Media library: improve indexing behavior and robustness
• Media info scraper: more robust poster and information retrieval process for TV and movie shows
• Media library cleaning: all multimedia information (movie/tv shows posters and indexation data) can be cleared through settings->repair/formatting/reset multimedia library entry
• Contacts: fix importation and exportation of Vcards
• Applications: fix sound muted when initiating a call with Fring
• Screen snapshot: fix capture for all screens and TV
• Camera: increase quality of 720P H264 recording (decrease blockiness effect)
• Multimedia: improve UPNP stability preventing hangs when Wi-Fi connection stops
• Multimedia: for shoutcast network streams display url, station, genre on MusicPlayer
• Multimedia: fix next playing video being paused at start in folder play mode
• Multimedia: MMS playback support has been fixed
• Multimedia: MIDI playback support has been fixed
• Multimedia: fix compatibility with Rhapsody player application
• Audio: fixed alarm volume when headphone are plugged (was lowered)
• Video: fix some MPEG2 files not playing correctly on A28
• Video: fix seeking in AVI with layer2 VBR sound
• MusicPlayer: display track number (like "3/10") for A43/A70/A101
• Videoplayer: fix folder play mode with HD video
• Subtitles: auto detect UTF8 codepage
• Storage: remove disk damage notification happening sometimes even after a successful file system check
• Peripherals: display a notification when plugging a USB device that requires more than 100mA current for A28/A32/A70 to provide feedback that it is not supported (e.g. some USB keys)
• Battery: improve prediction of wake up time to shutdown the product when battery is low
• Proxy: http proxy support has been fixed
• Phone tethering: increase compatibility with Blackberry phones (introduction of a setting to enable TCP/IP header compression)

You can find the firmware here:  LINK

One new feature I'm delighted to see is the remote control application.  It allows any Android 2.1 device to control your Archos gen8 device while it is hooked up to your TV. It means you can sit back on the couch and interact with android on your HDTV with no cable between your phone and the Archos device.  You can download the Archos Remote APK here:  LINK

I'm delighted to see Archos providing continued support for their gen8 tablets.  They've made mine even better than it was when I bought them.

4D

Archos' Latest Tablets got a Firmware Update Today.

If you are still undecided about getting one of Archos' latest tablets, then you don't have any more excuses. Today they updated the firmware to version 2.2.1.  It includes 30 individual fixes for the tablets including:

• Video: fix some audio glitches after seeking WMA files
• Video: add support for MTS files
• Video: bring UTF-8 and UTF-16 encoded subtitles format support
• Video: fix SUB subtitles sometimes truncated
• Video: add IDX/SUB subtitle handling
• Video: fix http://.*mpeg playback
• Video: support resume and bookmark for network shares
• Video: fix some FLV files not playing
• Youtube: fix mobile site video not playing
• Multimedia: fix RTSP support for Android applications
• Multimedia: fix some web radio applications by adding basic M3U support
• Audio: apply shorter steps in audio balance tuning
• Audio: fix sound glitch on system notification while playing music
• Music browser: fix album view crash on scroll with a lot of albums
• Music: support samba protected directory access
• Thumbnails: resolve thumbs generation freeze
• Indexing: improve rescan robustness
• Indexing: fix scanning not restarting after connecting device on PC or ejecting SDCard
• Network shares: large files (>2GB) can now be played
• Wi-Fi: fix disabling power saving not working
• Wi-Fi: enable IEEE802.11n support
• Wi-Fi: achieve faster reconnection
• SD Card: fix sd card removal not being taken into account
• Storage: enable EXT3 file system support and migration
• USB keyboard: fix external directional keys layout when rotating the device
• Memory: enable 32MB swap by default and increase it to 64MB after Android reset or full device reformat
• Applications: fix applications disappearing sometimes between reboots
• Applications: fix unit not responsive after Google voice search use
• Power management: allow to define deep sleep mode by default in settings/about device/power management
• VPN: PPTP VPN support has been fixed  

What it means is that Archos is standing behind this generation of tablet devices with all their resources.  The same download will work for their 28it, 32it, 43it, 70it, and 101it. To install it just copy the downloaded file to the uppermost folder on your device. Then disconnect from the USB cable to have it begin the install.   Many users have reported the devices themselves will find and download it directly, as well as install it.

Enjoy!
4D

Cowon S9 gets Widgets!

UPDATE: The english version of the S9's new firmware is now available. For more information the download page is HERE. For a direct download of the 2.10 firmware ZIP file click HERE.

Not to be surpassed by the (upcoming) Samsung P3's user interface, the Cowon S9 is getting new firmware that includes widgets. From my point of view they don't add any new functionality to the S9, but do add visual distraction. The Korean companies (Samsung, iRiver, Cowon) are playing king-of-the-mountain with their touchscreen PMPs. I like it. Competition is a good thing.

The widgets include both digital and analog clocks, an alarm clock, battery level indicator, a mini photo viewer, shortcut menu to media apps, a play control, a recorder button, and memory status.

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The firmware now allows using a photo from your collection as wallpaper/background image in the home and other menus. Also notice the battery level icon in the upper right corner. There are several other small bug fixes and improvements. The U.S. version is not out yet, but usually follows the Korean release (shown above) within a week. I'll post a download link when I see one.

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4D

January Updates for Your Media Player!

I'm not sure what the push was, unless the manufacturers were simply trying to keep to a once-a-month update schedule, but several of the newer media players have received firmware updates this month.

The Samsung P2 is more than a year old, but today I found two new games that work on it. Thanks to theP2Zone.com you can download them yourself. They are Sudoku Champ:

and Bubble Bang:

Released for the New Samsung P3, it is wonderful that Samsung has kept gameplay the same between the new P3 and the older P2. I'm a fan of Sudoku, and this version is very well done with a good touchscreen interface. Bubble Bang will get tiring after a couple of rounds, much in the same way that popping the bubbles of bubble-wrap does.

The Cowon S9 gets new 2.08 Firmware.

This is only a minor update over the previous 2.07 version, but a step forward none-the-less. You'll get:

- Improved page-up and page-down in documents mode.

- Displayed charging status when the device is connected to PC by USB cable.

- Improved low bit rate MP3 playback.

- They fixed the error that auto pivot was irregularly not working when auto pivot is just changed to be on.

- They fixed the error that displaying files abnormally when music in music favorites is playing in shuffle mode.

- They fixed the error that Bluetooth headset was not working when you turn on Bluetooth while some particular music files are playing.

Beyond new firmware the S9 now has a multitude of user-created interface alternatives, and custom versions of most apps that eliminate most of my original complaints about the player.

Iriver goes one step further with the 2.10 firmware update for the SPINN. It adds a Memo app that lets you draw or write directly on the screen.

The photo app has been improved. I can now rotate images easily, but apparently my photos are still not supported by the Zoom function. The Korean version had the capability to scheduled recording off FM radio, but once I changed to the US version that feature disappeared.

Even the iPod Touch gets an update this month. 2.21 firmware fixes some security flaws and a few other things. Minor, but appreciated!

So if you own any of these players, go get the updates. Their ability to be updated after purchase means your investment gets better as you continue to own it.

4D

Samsung P2 4th Bluewave is NOW FINAL

It appears Samsung quietly changed all their download websites from calling the 5.08 firmware a beta, to calling it formal.

Samsung.com
Samsung Korea
Samsung YEPP download site

That's it! No more waiting for a newer 4th Bluewave. Yes, I'm sad too.

Samsung P2 5.08 Firmware

Latest update. This is apparently NOT the final 4th Bluewave from Samsung. It is available on the official Samsung Support Download sites, and is labelled a BETA. No feature changes from 5.05. Primarily bug fixes.

Download it HERE.
You'll need these GAMES.
4.13 UCIs don't work. HERE are replacements.

In case you didn't update to 5.05, this update adds:

- Password lock
- Hold options of entire device or just screen
- Custom UCI creation and sharing via new Emodio Application and Emodio.com web site.
- Voice recording
- 3 User DNSe settings.
- 2 new games, both playable over bluetooth with other P2s.
- hint that it might support downloadable games.

I'm sure I forgot something. Let me know what you find.

4D

EmoDio! Samsung's NEW Software and Website for Media Players!

At this every moment Samsung is putting the finishing touches on it's new push into the portable media business. EmoDio, as best I can tell, stands for Emotional StuDio. The new software will replace Samsung's Media Studio as the desktop interface for their devices. Some great features should be here any minute now including TTS (Text To Speech), a program that will turn text books or blogs or notes into MP3 files. The Samsung P2 gets a User Created Interface (UCI) design tool to allow users to create and share their own icon and background designs. DNSe (equalizer) settings can be associated with each genre, and also shared on the EmoDio web site.

Check it out HERE!