Hi all,
First, Thank you for your pro-activity either on the previous article’s comments section or on the forum.
So, for this Phoenix v1.5 release, the main improvements are:
- Audio streams management improvement
- Streams with introduction (10- 20s intro, for example: RTE channels)
- More reliable caching/buffering process
- Information message while non supported stream
- Wi-FI management improvement
- Reconnexion is twice faster
- Codecs & Formats
- MPEG-4 ACC Codec
- AAC, MOV, M4A, 3GP, 3G2 formats
- MMI improvement
- Firmware update procedure enhanced
- Security key editor redesigned
- Language coherence between device interface and content catalogue
This firmware will be put into production by the end of the week.
EDIT:
The firmware released last friday was not the one destinated to the live Phoenix Wi-Fi radio products.
Therefore, a new release was made this morning.
The Phoenix v1.5.2 is now the latest Phoenix Wi-Fi radio’s firmware version available.
My Phoenix just downloaded v 1.5.2. The problem with ABC streams is not fixed.
A lot of clicks and re-buffering. Even more, ABC Classic FM has changed from mp3 to WMA and now it behaves like ABC National and ABC Newsradio. Not able to listen with all the interference and stops. Admittedly, with the Classic stream there was some problem because I had begun to get a lot of ’server problem/broadcast interrupted’ messages, but at least when I could connect it would be a reliable stream, mp3 at 128 kbps.
What can we expect regarding this problem with all the ABC streams?
Dan:
I’ve been trying to research this a little on my own. Since so many other channels work well, I’m coming to the conclusion that the fault lies at least circumstantially with the ABC and RNZ channels themselves. If one’s internet service is slow and/or the distance to the wifi trasnmitter is too long, this kind of thing can happen, but it will mostly be manifested by rebuffering. The squeaks and pops in the audio followed by rebuffering most likely point to either errors in the station’s transmission itself (or isomewhere along the transmission path) or some kind of incompatibility between the station’s transmission stream and the Phoenix or its firmware.
It’s interesting that both ABC and RNZ display the same issues. I don’t quite know what that says, but it is interesting.
) I, like you, would still like to hear from Baptiste or Com One tech support on this.
There are also some problems with .swf (Shockwave Flash) streams, but this one is easier to explain. It is no way Com One’s fault that these don’t work on the Phoenix. I got this off the ccrance.com web site in the FAQs associated with another product: “2) Another factor that may be affecting your audio stream is a recent switch by some radio stations (mostly in the United States) to using Shockwave Flash-embedded players. These players do not use a standard streaming protocol and block external audio players. Many of these embedded players use an algorithm to change the URL of their stream dynamically from once a month to once an hour. The goal of these players is to force you to go to the station’s website to view advertisements that help supplement the station’s income. At this time there is no permanent work-around for these type of audio streams, however Reciva is aware of this situation and are working on a solution. In the meantime they are trying to obtain dedicated streams from the individual radio stations that use Shockwave Flash-embedded players.”
John,
If the problems with AU and NZ stations were on their end, wouldn’t there be the same thing from ComOne website? In fact, as I am sure you’ve found, they work well from the website. Last night I listened to AU Radio National for a bit, thought it was okay, but after about 7-8 minutes, just after news, it began to break and re-buffer. That was on the Phoenix. At the website, no problem. I think the Phoenix needs some tweaking.
By the way have you had success with ABC Classic? I have both mp3 stream addresses on my Phoenix and listen to it often. Had connection problem on Sunday, took about 20 mins, but since then connection has been on first try. I listen to ABC Classic a lot, early morning, late pm and late evening, so being able to listen is rather important to me.
I don’t know about .SWF files. Sounds like it’s for the sort of stations I don’t listen to. For me it’s classical and intl news like BBC. Of course, that includes RTE Lyric, which still doesn’t work for me. New stream is .SMIL; I guess not yet supported by Phoenix, and adding WMA results in ’server overload’ message. WMA works on the website, however.
I have to admit that in spite of the problems we have pointed out with particular streams, my Phoenix is now set up to my taste in the main; being able to add the BBC ‘Listen Again’ streams has really simplified my life, and I fell asleep last night while listening to hilarious old comedy re-runs on BBC Seven (an added stream). If everybody is enjoying the Phoenix as much as I am, they have a success.
Dan