What method does one use to apply the firmware patch?
Gordon Smith writes:
> I'd just like to make you aware of one important factor if you are
> thinking of buying one of these devices. Well actually, 2 factors.
>
> Firstly, I see the DTR-500HD as a big step in the right direction.
> However, be advised that if you wait just a little while or visit a UK
> high street retailer you could buy yourself one of the other machines in
> the range, such as the DTR-2000HD which has a 2TB hard drive, rather than
> a 500GB which is the only option the RNIB is giving us. You can then
> patch the firmware in the 2000 or the 2500HD with the same patch as makes
> the 500HD talk and, there you go, you have a far more powerful machine.
>
> Also, I have to admit that the absence of a Blu-Ray or even a DVD player
> or recorder in these machines is disappointing. Probably that will come
> in a future generation but for the moment you'll have to use an external
> device. Yes, it does have 2 HDMI inputs as well as output, a scart
> output which can be configured as either composite or RGB video. It also
> has Dolby surround sound and Dolby Surround Stereo audio outputs, which
> every self-respecting device of this nature should have.
Is there an external way to access the files stored on
the hard drive? If so, you could archive shows you wanted to see
again. These are just dedicated computers optimized to store TV
shows.
With all the compression they use, how many hours of
viewing/listening are there on the 500-GB drives?
I certainly hope there is a US version of this device. I
briefly looked at the web site and it looks like there is or
shortly will be.
One other somewhat unrelated comment. BBC1 HD makes me
think of how far things have come in the last 17 years. That AM
audio from BBC1 we used to receive on 41.5 or so MHZ when the
ionosphere was just right was the sound portion of the 405-line
original British monochrome system dating back to around 1936.
The BBC shut those transmitters down in 1985.
The United States had an extremely limited similar
system between 1933 and the end of World War II. It also had AM
sound and a monochrome picture of 440 lines but that all ended
way before I was born in 1951.
Anyway, I smiled a little when you mentioned BBC1 HD.
Believe it or not, the 405-line and 440-line systems were once
actually called high-resolution TV in their day. I guess it was
compared to the even older Baird Mechanical system. That's the
one with the spinning disk and the 2-inch viewing area, oh yes,
and no sound.
It was broadcast over AM radio and shared with normal sound so
you just shut off the speaker when the buzz saw started.
Trust me. TV in the 1920's was a geek thing, not for
general entertainment just yet.
Martin
=======================================
The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and
worm-free
To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated web
pages located at
http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat
You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at
either of the following websites:
http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html
Or:
<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]>
you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. The feed is at:
<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml>
---------------------------------------
