2015-12-21, 03:52
Media Player Firmware Updates & Watchlist:
(updated October 2020)
What is Firmware ?
It's a class of Software that basically provides low-level control of a devices hardware.
Serious bugs in this can cause all manner of headaches for the end user.
If users are going to spend decent $$$ on a media player, especially one that uses Apps. You want to ensure that there are regular, bug fixing Firmware updates from the device manufacturer / seller.
Also it is a VERY good idea to have a well frequented and active English, seller support forum for such device support.
The Gold Standard for Firmware & OS updates:
In No particular order...
The officially LibreELEC, OSMC or CoreELEC supported devices. Firmware (& OS) testing is open to all Kodi users, a testing system is in place before every major LE, OSMC or CE Kodi update.
Any major bugs get quickly squashed with minor updates.
The support forums are very active with knowledgable developers & users. The LE / OSMC /CE developers optimise the OS, Firmware and Kodi for each hardware device supported.
Results speak for themselves.
Apple TV 4/4K - they have a widespread, open to the general public, comprehensive Firmware testing system in place before every major tvOS Firmware update.
Any major bugs get quickly squashed with minor updates.
Apple have complete control over ATV 4(K) hardware, the OS and the Firmware and it shows in the polish of their end product.
Impressively. Firmware support generally continues on for many years with Apple Hardware.
As an example the 7.5+ year old ATV 3 is still getting FW updates.
Perversely ATV's cannot direct install Kodi. The highly modded, Kodi Jarvis based, MrMC App is a great alternative, installed from the Apps store.
Android devices Firmware updates:
For Android TV devices - there is no contest - Nvidia with their expensive Shield TV provides the best ongoing support for 5+ years now.
Downsides are that every major Firmware and Google OS update - whilst bringing OS feature improvements also comes with additional annoying bugs that then needs a user self installed Nvidia Shield test Hotfix image to rectify.
Restricted Beta Firmware testing takes place with Knowledgable users.
Android Kodi devs use the Shield for Android TV - testing and development.
Xiaomi - Mi Box - all Mi Boxes are now on a stable Android TV v9.0 Pie update.
For the 2016 box - this is Quite remarkable for a cheap Chinese produce product.
Restricted Beta Firmware testing takes place with Knowledgable users.
FW support and feedback seems to be Facebook driven.
2020 Google Chromecast (Android TV) Dongle - we are expecting decent Firmware support from Google selling their own Android TV product.
Ematic - Jetstream 4K Ultra HD - also now updated to a stable Android TV v9.0 Pie OS.
Currently a great budget, Google Certified, Netflix approved device, for Android TV OS use available.
Amazon Hardware - Amazon modify the Android OS and call it FireOS and generally rely on 3rd parties to provide the Firmware, which they lightly modify and bug bust.
Overall results are fine for mainstream non demanding users, however recently even demanding users are getting extra Firmware features like auto Frame Rate Matching.
Amazon listen to user feedback - there are regular bug fixing Firmware updates, they are not Android bleeding edge OS releases but focus more on stability.
The active AFTVNews (click) website is the place to go for all AFTV gossip.
Amazon Hardware updates seem to happen yearly at the moment.
Kodi cannot be directly installed from the App Store, but can be easily sideloaded.
HiMedia Q5/Q10 Pro & Zidoo X9S - provide ongoing Firmware updates even if they are not Android bleeding edge releases.
I believe they are up to Android Nougat 7.1 releases.
Focussed on the Android 1080p 3D / UHD - Bluray Rips, HD audio market mainly.
Both have English support forums with passionate (3D) users.
AMLogic devices:
MINIX & WeTek - used to provide very good support for their hardware but this seems to finish after about the 2 year mark.
The root cause of this stems from AMLogic not providing ongoing Android Software Development support for the AML chipsets used in devices.
The MINIX support forum seems to have mysteriously vanished about 3 months ago. No explanation given by MINIX since it's return.
When such support was provided it was great, providing active English support forums with regular Firmware updates.
Still great Android Kodi platforms even with old stable Firmware, because they do auto Android Kodi refresh switching, and...
Can do Android Kodi Leia DD/DD+ - 24p 1080p Netflix, using the new Kodi Leia Netflix Addon.
Android Kodi devs still use these devices for testing and development.
Excellent devices for LibreELEC / CoreELEC Kodi.
Other cheap AMLogic devices in general: ->>taking into account AMLogic seem to update their Chipsets used every 1 - 2 years.
Firmware updates with these devices seem to halt at the 2 year period, which coincides with the best Firmware stability.
This may improve from Android Pie onwards due to Google OS improvements to enable easier updates for device manufacturers.
Android Pie 9.0 on these is snappy and has great performance for the price paid.
Firmware support mostly is with Over the Air updates and English support is left to the community driven Freaktab Forum (click).
Even then it's Buyer Beware as some devices will have buggy WiFi and Bluetooth & other features.
Again consult the Freaktab website - AMLogic S9xx section for user feedback.
AML S9xx series are dirt cheap devices for the excellent community driven 4K HDR HD audio - CoreELEC Kodi OS releases.
W.
(Archived)...
The Buyer Beware List !
The (July 2018) Oreo Firmware update for the Xiaomi Mi Box has introduced a number of serious bugs. Click HERE for the Mini Review
The Freaktab website provides a lot of support for installing improved alternate Android Firmware.
Newer AMLogic Android Nougat 7.1.1 Boxes have some important bug fixes in Android Firmware.
AML S905/S905X/S912 boxes do make excellent 4K LibreELEC Kodi Krypton devices.
The Gotchas - I was unaware of that ! .....
Known issues across various platforms:
(updated October 2020)
What is Firmware ?
It's a class of Software that basically provides low-level control of a devices hardware.
Serious bugs in this can cause all manner of headaches for the end user.
If users are going to spend decent $$$ on a media player, especially one that uses Apps. You want to ensure that there are regular, bug fixing Firmware updates from the device manufacturer / seller.
Also it is a VERY good idea to have a well frequented and active English, seller support forum for such device support.
The Gold Standard for Firmware & OS updates:
In No particular order...
The officially LibreELEC, OSMC or CoreELEC supported devices. Firmware (& OS) testing is open to all Kodi users, a testing system is in place before every major LE, OSMC or CE Kodi update.
Any major bugs get quickly squashed with minor updates.
The support forums are very active with knowledgable developers & users. The LE / OSMC /CE developers optimise the OS, Firmware and Kodi for each hardware device supported.
Results speak for themselves.
Apple TV 4/4K - they have a widespread, open to the general public, comprehensive Firmware testing system in place before every major tvOS Firmware update.
Any major bugs get quickly squashed with minor updates.
Apple have complete control over ATV 4(K) hardware, the OS and the Firmware and it shows in the polish of their end product.
Impressively. Firmware support generally continues on for many years with Apple Hardware.
As an example the 7.5+ year old ATV 3 is still getting FW updates.
Perversely ATV's cannot direct install Kodi. The highly modded, Kodi Jarvis based, MrMC App is a great alternative, installed from the Apps store.
Android devices Firmware updates:
For Android TV devices - there is no contest - Nvidia with their expensive Shield TV provides the best ongoing support for 5+ years now.
Downsides are that every major Firmware and Google OS update - whilst bringing OS feature improvements also comes with additional annoying bugs that then needs a user self installed Nvidia Shield test Hotfix image to rectify.
Restricted Beta Firmware testing takes place with Knowledgable users.
Android Kodi devs use the Shield for Android TV - testing and development.
Xiaomi - Mi Box - all Mi Boxes are now on a stable Android TV v9.0 Pie update.
For the 2016 box - this is Quite remarkable for a cheap Chinese produce product.
Restricted Beta Firmware testing takes place with Knowledgable users.
FW support and feedback seems to be Facebook driven.
2020 Google Chromecast (Android TV) Dongle - we are expecting decent Firmware support from Google selling their own Android TV product.
Ematic - Jetstream 4K Ultra HD - also now updated to a stable Android TV v9.0 Pie OS.
Currently a great budget, Google Certified, Netflix approved device, for Android TV OS use available.
Amazon Hardware - Amazon modify the Android OS and call it FireOS and generally rely on 3rd parties to provide the Firmware, which they lightly modify and bug bust.
Overall results are fine for mainstream non demanding users, however recently even demanding users are getting extra Firmware features like auto Frame Rate Matching.
Amazon listen to user feedback - there are regular bug fixing Firmware updates, they are not Android bleeding edge OS releases but focus more on stability.
The active AFTVNews (click) website is the place to go for all AFTV gossip.
Amazon Hardware updates seem to happen yearly at the moment.
Kodi cannot be directly installed from the App Store, but can be easily sideloaded.
HiMedia Q5/Q10 Pro & Zidoo X9S - provide ongoing Firmware updates even if they are not Android bleeding edge releases.
I believe they are up to Android Nougat 7.1 releases.
Focussed on the Android 1080p 3D / UHD - Bluray Rips, HD audio market mainly.
Both have English support forums with passionate (3D) users.
AMLogic devices:
MINIX & WeTek - used to provide very good support for their hardware but this seems to finish after about the 2 year mark.
The root cause of this stems from AMLogic not providing ongoing Android Software Development support for the AML chipsets used in devices.
The MINIX support forum seems to have mysteriously vanished about 3 months ago. No explanation given by MINIX since it's return.
When such support was provided it was great, providing active English support forums with regular Firmware updates.
Still great Android Kodi platforms even with old stable Firmware, because they do auto Android Kodi refresh switching, and...
Can do Android Kodi Leia DD/DD+ - 24p 1080p Netflix, using the new Kodi Leia Netflix Addon.
Android Kodi devs still use these devices for testing and development.
Excellent devices for LibreELEC / CoreELEC Kodi.
Other cheap AMLogic devices in general: ->>taking into account AMLogic seem to update their Chipsets used every 1 - 2 years.
Firmware updates with these devices seem to halt at the 2 year period, which coincides with the best Firmware stability.
This may improve from Android Pie onwards due to Google OS improvements to enable easier updates for device manufacturers.
Android Pie 9.0 on these is snappy and has great performance for the price paid.
Firmware support mostly is with Over the Air updates and English support is left to the community driven Freaktab Forum (click).
Even then it's Buyer Beware as some devices will have buggy WiFi and Bluetooth & other features.
Again consult the Freaktab website - AMLogic S9xx section for user feedback.
AML S9xx series are dirt cheap devices for the excellent community driven 4K HDR HD audio - CoreELEC Kodi OS releases.
W.
(Archived)...
The Buyer Beware List !
The (July 2018) Oreo Firmware update for the Xiaomi Mi Box has introduced a number of serious bugs. Click HERE for the Mini Review
- Avoid Android devices running Marshmallow 6.x.x Firmware unless they comes from MINIX or WeTek.
- Avoid ALL Rockchip & Allwinner Android boxes for Kodi.
- The included Infra Red only remotes on cheap Android devices cannot control touchscreen Android Apps properly. Kodi OK.
The Freaktab website provides a lot of support for installing improved alternate Android Firmware.
Newer AMLogic Android Nougat 7.1.1 Boxes have some important bug fixes in Android Firmware.
AML S905/S905X/S912 boxes do make excellent 4K LibreELEC Kodi Krypton devices.
The Gotchas - I was unaware of that ! .....
Known issues across various platforms:
- No Auto 1080p/4K resolution switching on 99% of Android OS platforms, except the FireTV2 and the NVIDIA Shield(SPMC 17.6 only). Important for high quality, hands off 1080p > 4K picture upscaling. Manual Android settings fiddling required for optimal picture outputs.
- However after auto 1080p / 4K resolution switching, there are colorspace issues with the Shield.
- Numerous complaints about poor quality 1080p > 4K upscaling picture outputs from the NVIDIA Shield vs what 4K TV's can do.
- Major deinterlacing issues with Android Kodi Krypton and some PVR's - reported on ALL Android devices.
- The NVIDIA Shield's Troublesome - overly touch sensitive mini remote.
- .
- Multichannel FLAC - users beware:
- Virtually all devices using an Android OS (except the Zidoo X9S) have 16bit Multichannel 48/96kHz PCM Audio output limitations (click)
- The No Bullshit NVIDIA Shield FLAC Audio post !!
Read NVIDIA Shield - Multichannel Hi-Res audio limitations for extra information.
- Intel Apollo Lake & Kaby Lake NUC's:
- No HD Audio Passthrough when using Intel Apollo / Kaby Lake - LibreELEC Kodi Krypton 8.x(click) You will lose Atmos and DTS:X for certain.
- However you can use Kodi's 5.1. / 7.1 HD to PCM Lossless Audio decoding instead for no loss in Audio output quality. Mostly Fixed !
- No 24bit/192kHz Audio for Sky / Apollo / Kaby Lake Working with Kaby/Coffee Lake NUC's !
- No working HDMI CEC control - out of the box on any Intel Platforms.
- HDR problems along with various other issues using Intel Kaby Lake Hardware and Kodi.
- .
- Amazon FireTV hardware needs Kodi to be installed via sideloading using various means. Kodi does not Autoupdate. There is no Google Playstore with Amazon's FireOS. Amazon have a blocklist / blacklist of Kodi installer apps in their Firmware to make life difficult.
- To access all the 1080p 3D, HDR, and HD Audio features on the Zidoo X9S and Himedia Q5/10 Pro devices, a wrapper must be used with Kodi that then utilises external media player software. There have been some issues with Subtitles and video playback resume points using this method. Non tech users may find themselves confused when using this device setup. Detailed self research needs to be done.