2015-09-16, 15:39
The new firmware fixes some problems but not all and creates at least one new problem.
Fixed bugs:
- The video stutter/audio sync issue on H.264 HD seems a lot better. I haven't watched enough stuff to feel confident in saying it is 100% fixed but I can say it is a definite improvement.
- H.265 no longer seems to have an audio sync issue and it does not seem to crash the player as it did before.
- It appears the intermittent hanging on initial boot may have been fixed. I need more time using the unit to say it is 100% fixed. At least it hasn't happened to me yet with the update.
Existing bugs that are not fixed:
- Severe stutter/strobing on some 480i with 3:2 pulldown. This seems to happen with the external player and with the internal Kodi player. This is actually worse than before. Prior to the update, the internal player worked fine. I have some test files I plan to share to illustrate this problem.
- 1080p24 mode seems to downgrade all 24fps content (regardless of resolution) to 720p 50Hz inside the player but it outputs 1080p24 to the display. This includes 4K content as well. I have confirmed the loss of resolution using a custom 4K test pattern I created which I will make available. I will also create a custom 1080p test pattern to help confirm that everything is actually being downscaled to 720 inside the player. If everything is being downscaled to 720p, it basically makes 1080p24 mode useless for 90% of my library.
- Annoying 'External player active - Click "OK" when playback has ended' Pop up when watching anything using the external wrapper. I am told this is a feature and not a bug but since it is intrusive and there is no way to disable this behavior, I still consider it a bug that I would like to see fixed.
New Bug:
- If the Q5 output is set to either 2160p 24Hz or 2160p 30Hz, upon reboot, it will automatically default down to 720p. This is really annoying for people who purchased this box for the ability to play 4K. It means after every reboot, you have to go back and reset the output resolution to 4K. Personally, what I would like to see is an option to have the output of the Q5 automatically switch based on the content it is playing. If a 480i file is being played, automatically switch the output to 480i, same with 1080p24, same with 2160p. If this is possible, it would be ideal.
At this point, I am starting to think this box may never live up to it's full potential. It definitely has the potential to be the best player on the market and do everything correctly but as it ages and new products become available, it looks less and less likely. I am not completely giving up yet but I am seriously looking at the OpenHour Gecko which appears to do everything the Q5 can do: http://www.cloudmedia.com/products/open-...hour-gecko I have owned OpenHour products in the past so I am not under any false illusions that it will be a perfect player either. Still on my quest to find the perfect player that can play Full 3D, 4K H.265, 1080p24, SD, and bitstream lossless audio. I want all of this without annoying bugs that destroy the picture and sound. The quest continues.
Fixed bugs:
- The video stutter/audio sync issue on H.264 HD seems a lot better. I haven't watched enough stuff to feel confident in saying it is 100% fixed but I can say it is a definite improvement.
- H.265 no longer seems to have an audio sync issue and it does not seem to crash the player as it did before.
- It appears the intermittent hanging on initial boot may have been fixed. I need more time using the unit to say it is 100% fixed. At least it hasn't happened to me yet with the update.
Existing bugs that are not fixed:
- Severe stutter/strobing on some 480i with 3:2 pulldown. This seems to happen with the external player and with the internal Kodi player. This is actually worse than before. Prior to the update, the internal player worked fine. I have some test files I plan to share to illustrate this problem.
- 1080p24 mode seems to downgrade all 24fps content (regardless of resolution) to 720p 50Hz inside the player but it outputs 1080p24 to the display. This includes 4K content as well. I have confirmed the loss of resolution using a custom 4K test pattern I created which I will make available. I will also create a custom 1080p test pattern to help confirm that everything is actually being downscaled to 720 inside the player. If everything is being downscaled to 720p, it basically makes 1080p24 mode useless for 90% of my library.
- Annoying 'External player active - Click "OK" when playback has ended' Pop up when watching anything using the external wrapper. I am told this is a feature and not a bug but since it is intrusive and there is no way to disable this behavior, I still consider it a bug that I would like to see fixed.
New Bug:
- If the Q5 output is set to either 2160p 24Hz or 2160p 30Hz, upon reboot, it will automatically default down to 720p. This is really annoying for people who purchased this box for the ability to play 4K. It means after every reboot, you have to go back and reset the output resolution to 4K. Personally, what I would like to see is an option to have the output of the Q5 automatically switch based on the content it is playing. If a 480i file is being played, automatically switch the output to 480i, same with 1080p24, same with 2160p. If this is possible, it would be ideal.
At this point, I am starting to think this box may never live up to it's full potential. It definitely has the potential to be the best player on the market and do everything correctly but as it ages and new products become available, it looks less and less likely. I am not completely giving up yet but I am seriously looking at the OpenHour Gecko which appears to do everything the Q5 can do: http://www.cloudmedia.com/products/open-...hour-gecko I have owned OpenHour products in the past so I am not under any false illusions that it will be a perfect player either. Still on my quest to find the perfect player that can play Full 3D, 4K H.265, 1080p24, SD, and bitstream lossless audio. I want all of this without annoying bugs that destroy the picture and sound. The quest continues.
