Special Release - Firmware Version 3.03.16 for WD TV Live Hub (4/4/12)

[yuppicide]

I'll pass on download. I don't watch MLB or any sports for that matter.

We keep saying the same thing every time firmware comes out.. fix the simple things, stop adding new things for now.

[dfrench]

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architectonic wrote:

Now I wonder why WD have not thought to do so in the release notes??

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Pick your answer:

1) This release was supposed to have just the MLB fix only. We didn't mean to put that untested change in this release.

2) We don't know why those thumbnails broke in the first place and don't know why they work now.

3) We thought we'd toss a bone to the themers and others that have been complaining.

4) Huh?

I was not going to update to this release since I don't need MLB on this device. I "assumed" (knowing all that that means) that WD was diligently working on a "real" update that fixes multiple issues and this "Special" rush release of the MLB fix was a solo change due to the hard target deadline of MLB's Opening Day. But if there are real changes (for the better this time) under the covers then I will update (hesitate to call it upgrade) today.

"Not Richard"

[Tinwarble]

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DeVicious wrote:

Special Release doesn't necessarily mean it contains something special it can also mean that it was released to fix a particular area.

This however wasn't the only change in the firmware, there has been a major undocumented change for thumbnails/coverart. They are no longer compressed or cropped. Thumbnails are still archived in the thumb folder but they are now identical copies of source file which improves the display quality and opens a door for themers again.

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Nope, I'm stil seeing cropping &  thumbs are still being compressed at least for .png files.

Thumb file                                                                Actuall image

   

FW still converts .pngs to compressed .jpg images.  Jpgs are not compressed or cropped but this only opens the door if you were using jpg's to begin with.  Without true .png support this still leaves you in the same boat.  Also the .png/.jpg extension trick still does not work.

[architectonic]

@ Tinwarble

Thanks for the heads up on this TW ! (I never bother with FW upgrade, I tend to just read other peoples findings- too lazy I suppose to rollback) 

Not sure where DeVicious was coming from..?... Perhaps she can clarify her findings? Hope so.

[mzaur]

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yuppicide wrote:

I'll pass on download. I don't watch MLB or any sports for that matter.

We keep saying the same thing every time firmware comes out.. fix the simple things, stop adding new things for now.

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Exactly

[Tinwarble]

@architechtonic,

I believe Dev is coming from the issue of it happening with jpg's. However, from what I could tell even with jpg's it is still compressing the images because the HUB with the recent FW will still take the image that you have for your thumb and if it's larger it will compress it for caching to the size(s) that you have in the view xml. It just seems to do a better job in compressing the image and the cropping issue for jpg's at least have been addressed.

Png,'s though are a separate issue altogether. It is still taking true png's and converting them to jpg images and it doesn't handle those correctly, (still cropping) and png's with the extension changed to jpg doesn't display at all.

[DeVicious]

@ Tinwarble and Architectonic

JPG files do not get compressed, cropped or resized, I know this because I am working for 2 days on a new movie sheet solution and I have tested it with all kinds of dimensions. I tested this until i passed out.

It still makes puts images into the thumb folder with the dimensions in the name but in fact it is the source file.

I told this Joey the day the firmware was released, he found that too but said there are still alignment issues and of course PNGs arent working so he reverted his firmware back....

I am gonna upload you some files as they are generated in a bit

[DeVicious]

Now i tested it with a PNG and JPG

JPG remains the same and PNG gets resized and compressed like mad.....

here are the actualy files, source file and generated files by the livehub

THUMB TEST DOWNLOAD

in order to open them you need to assign them to a program.

On another note I am wondering why we need PNGs with the recent developments...

TinWarble I am sure you can fill in the piece that I am missing.

with the mirror code and a diffusor and an overlay mask for rounded covers we can achieve the exact same result as with a transparent png.

I have never dealt with PNGs so I don't know how they are generated but I would assume if they come with transparency they are at least 3 times the size per thumbnails as a native jpg image.

Again I want to stress the point that I have never tested this but based on common sense (which I don't claim to have) the overall loading time is supposed to have a greater lag as with a jpg image. Let's say it doesn't and it takes the same time as with a PNG, why not using the new findings and make the thumbnails interchangangable with other themes and don't have to get a sour stomach everytime they release a new firmware that doesn't feature native png behavior.

Please fill me in that I can understand it.

[Kazgor]

call me crazy.. but if the images in the Thumb folders are just renamed .jpg etc... what would happen if we manually replace those files with our own resized images..?

If this crazy idea works and the HUB decides NOT to replace them with its duffed up version then a simple program could be created to scan for the .jpgs in the movies and generate the thumbs..

Although not sure what sizes it creates from a quick scan it look very random sizes.

[DeVicious]

That's actually worth a shot and especially for the PNG files.