Software Updates

chumby client version 1.4.0

The update below is for the following chumby versions:

  • HW: 0.0 SW: 1.2 FW: 396
  • HW: 3.6 SW: 1.2 FW: 396
  • HW: 3.7 SW: 1.2 FW: 396
  • HW: 0.0 SW: 1.1 FW: 312
  • HW: 3.6 SW: 1.1 FW: 312
  • HW: 3.7 SW: 1.1 FW: 312

These Release Notes refer to the chumby client version 1.4.0 and cover new and existing features, known issues, and workarounds for this version. This version is a stability release of improvements and fixes to the chumby system. If you have feedback or questions, contact us at Customer Support.

What's New

Release Date: February 21, 2008

Major Features

  • Open source based software
  • Multi-format audio playback capabilities
  • Flash® animation player
  • Interact with other chumby owners
  • Automatic software update mechanism

Improvements and Fixes

  • chumby Flash® Lite™ Player updated to Version 3.0.3. This version contains fixes directly from Adobe® and chumby contributions to the Linux version of the Flash Player.
  • Updated chumby BlueTune player. The update contains fixes for playback of streaming MP3 files, mono recorded audio files, plus other minor fixes from BlueTune.
  • The Over The Air Update (OTA) sub-system has been rewritten to be faster using HTTP as the primary update mechanism. Note: you will not be using the new update mechanism until your chumby has updated to client version 1.4.0.
  • Improved audio play quality of built-in alarm tones: bugle, klaxon, and beep.
  • Improvements to the overall system stability:
    • Fixed issues with the audio subsystem
    • Made enhancements to the networking subsystem
    • Improved Flash Player stability
    • Improved reliability of working with USB storage devices
    • Improved the automatic software update system
    • Improved searching for available wi-fi networks

Noted bugs fixed

wi-fi/networking

  • 1055 – ASCII passphrase entry field for WPA/WPA2 keys extended to allow key completion
  • 1061 – Network configuration missing ` and ~ characters for SSID and passphrase entry
  • 1155 – Network configuration missing | (pipe) character for SSID and passphrase entry
  • 1057 – SSIDs and passphrases with trailing backslash are not properly applied
  • 1060 – Special characters are not handled properly in SSID and passphrase

audio/music sources

  • 1348 – Turning off an alarm halts audio playback in YouTube videos
  • 1141 – 22 kHz MP3 files play too fast
  • 1388 – 44 kHz MP3 files play as if sound is underwater

video

  • 1070 – YouTube videos prevent iPod song advancement

clocks and alarms

  • 118 – Alarm volume to override audio mute
  • 1099 – Month not set correctly in manual time mode
  • 979 – Built-in alarm tone audio stutters during widget playback

OTA update

  • 709 – Progress bars during software updates do not complete

general

  • 1387 – Update Special Options screen text to inform the user of what process is occurring
  • 976 – Some widgets destabilize and restart the Flash Player after extensive runtime
  • 484 – Restore Factory Settings does not reset all configuration files
  • 1286 – chumbyflash does not handle sequential bad blocks in NAND flash

Known Issues

  • The Wireless Network Connection screen displays a blank SSID and fails to connect to a wireless access point using extended ASCII chars (e.g.: Æ Ç Ø ï ). The chumby does not properly support the extended 8-bit ASCII character set which does not have an industry standard for wireless network interoperability. The chumby does properly support the common special characters (e.g.: !, *, \, |) that fall in the range of the 7-bit ASCII Unicode character set (chars 32 to 127).
  • The chumby is not currently compatible with the Apple iPhone® or iPod Touch® as an audio playback source through the chumby control panel.
  • Audio playback on the chumby may abruptly stop. Since Flash Player initiates the audio and video capabilities of the chumby, if the Flash Player stops functioning the audio will stop as well. Flash Player will be automatically restarted by the chumby if it detects the Flash Player has stopped. Afterwards you can restart your audio playback by using the chumby control panel music feature.
  • We are continually working to make the chumby an improved always-on device, and to reduce potential poor audio and video playback due to system constraints we have enabled a system check to restart the Flash Player if needed. The chumby Flash Player will allow the unit to stay in night mode if restarted.
  • Certain streaming videos may not play well or the audio may not keep in sync with the video. Not all videos use the same encoding or bit rate/resolution settings. Some of these videos may result in poor playback, with symptoms including dropped frames and hesitation. The current chumby video playback profile for Flash 8 video is 320 by 240 pixels, 12 frames per second, with a maximum video bitrate of 220 kbps and a maximum audio bitrate of 32 kbps. We have selected some YouTube videos that do play well — they are located in the Entertainment category of the widget section of our website at www.chumby.com/guide.
  • The chumby iPod player will not load any DRM files purchased from iTunes as we are not licensed by Apple to play this music (we may license with Apple in the future). You can play any music imported from CDs or any non-DRM music files.
  • After several hours the chumby will not recognize the iPod. The iPod screen will show the green battery charger full. Disconnect your iPod, wait a few seconds, reconnect your iPod, and then use the chumby control panel to reload your iPod playlists.
  • The chumby will not update software from a USB flash drive if both USB ports are occupied. Remove the USB device that does not contain the software update and restart the update process.

If you need more details on these or other issues, or have any questions, please contact Customer Support or post to the chumby forum.

General Troubleshooting

Please first refer to the FAQs for information on possible workarounds for any of the issues mentioned. If the problem still persists, contact Customer Support or post to the chumby forum for additional help.

  • The chumby feels hot after running for a long time: This is normal. The chumby may feel warmer than other gadgets with an LCD screen but it is operating within its normal temperature range.
  • The touchscreen on the chumby seems to be unresponsive at times: The touchscreen of the chumby doesn't detect screen presses well when using too large of an area of the finger. Press the touchscreen using just the tip of your finger or your fingernail.
  • If your widgets play slowly or do not show content (i.e., weather widget is blank): The chumby may be out of the wi-fi signal range or disconnected from the network. Try moving the chumby closer to your wi-fi access point.
  • The chumby only shows a clock and is not able to show any of your widgets: The chumby is not connected to the network.
  • When starting the chumby the downloading progress bar does not move, does not switch to the next screen, or after downloading shows a black screen: The most common problem is a weak wi-fi signal. Try moving the chumby closer to your wi-fi access point.
  • Certain streaming videos may not play well: This is a known issue and a more detailed description has been listed in the Known Issues section of this document.
  • The chumby stops playing a video or a channel does not complete after viewing a streaming video: This is a known issue and a more detailed description has been listed in the Known Issues section of this document.
  • Your chumby repeatedly shows the "Downloading the control panel" screen: Disconnect the AC adapter for the chumby from the wall, wait 10 seconds to plug it back in, and then turn the chumby back on.
  • Your chumby sits on the "Downloading the control panel" screen and the progress bar has not moved in a long time: The chumby may have a very weak wi-fi signal or may be disconnected from the network. Try moving the chumby closer to your wi-fi access point.

chumby Control Panel Version 2.6

The control panel update is for all current chumby owners.

These Release Notes refer to the chumby control panel Version 2.6 and cover new and existing features, known issues, and workarounds for this version. This control panel version introduces a host of new audio and alarm features in addition to improvements and fixes to the chumby system. If you have feedback or questions, contact us at Customer Support.

What's New

Release Date: February 14, 2008

Major Features

For a more detailed description of control panel features please visit http://www.chumby.com/help/control_panel

  • Listen to multi-source internet streaming audio and podcasts
  • Custom Alarms to wake to internet streaming audio, podcasts, music on a USB drive, or preferred widgets
  • Custom alarms to set end action events that include selecting channels or mode setting
  • Multi-tone Quick Alarms
  • Channel menu simplifications

Improvements and Fixes

  • Improved audio selection interface
  • Virtual keyboard for audio source search entry
  • iPod detection process has been improved
  • Post alarm events have been added
  • Improved alarm reliability
  • Clearer sounding built-in alarm tones: Beep, Bugle, and Klaxon
  • Alarm audio sources by default play for 30 minutes
  • Better Night mode system management

Noted bugs fixed

wi-fi/networking

  • 1031 - detect network loss and show default blue clock

audio/music sources

  • 1304 - Flash Player restarts when attempting to play certain MP3 files
  • 1193 - Cannot pause Mediafly
  • 1219 - Stop button does not work on the Music screen
  • 1465 - My Music Files does not play filenames with spaces
  • 322 - Flash Player exits on MP3 rapid forwarding
  • 1281 - iPod pause button causes track to stop playing completely
  • 763 - iPod fast forwarding does not fast forwarding when paused
  • 1445 - Changing iPod playlists can make audio choppy sounding
  • 1204 - SHOUTcast player cannot play mono streams
  • 1214 - The active playing music source should stay highlighted when returning to the Music list
  • 966 - Pause, rewind, unpause does not resume playing
  • 1250 - SlimServer streams (not mp3s) do not play

clocks and alarms

  • 627 - Alarms should play for 30 minutes
  • 1225 - Post alarm actions do not work
  • 1224 - Unable to set time manually
  • 1634 - Committing a date using TODAY will not work for One Time Custom Alarm after alarm time has passed
  • 1271 - In Custom Alarms pressing the TODAY button in DATE panel causes the TIME to set to the current time
  • 1379 - "dont show alarm screen" checked produces no alarm audio with SHOUTcast
  • 1009 - Alarm sounds skip while watching webcam widgets
  • 546 - Alarm clock fails to continue to snooze after Flash Player restart
  • 537 - An Alarm in Night Mode does not return user to normal mode
  • 1332 - Alarm's audio duration of "0:00" should be renamed "audio off" for clarity
  • 1408 - If there is an error with the selectable alarm tones the default "Beep" alarm tone will sound
  • 1421 - Alarm volume settings remain in effect after alarm is dismissed
  • 1420 - Snoozing should not exit night mode
  • 1407 - Mute must be restored after an alarm event
  • 775 - If Flash Player dies Night Mode should be restored
  • 1228 - Alarm audio change forgotten when also modifying playback length

general

  • 983 - Intro replay exits prematurely when played from control panel
  • 824 - Add hardware serial number report to control panel info screen
  • 1287 - Pressing the Later button on the Update panel causes the chumby to not load the first widget
  • 1114 - Enable touchclick feature for touchscreen press
  • 1022 - Booting or rebooting the chumby does not play first widget in playlist

Known Issues

If you need more details on these or other issues, or have any questions, please contact Customer Support or post to the chumby forum.

General Troubleshooting

Please first refer to the FAQs for information on possible workarounds for any of the issues mentioned. If the problem still persists, contact Customer Support or post to the chumby forum for additional help.

  • The chumby feels hot after running for a long time: This is normal. The chumby may feel warmer than other gadgets with an LCD screen but it is operating within its normal temperature range.
  • The touchscreen on the chumby seems to be unresponsive at times: The touchscreen of the chumby doesn't detect screen presses well when using too large of an area of the finger. Press the touchscreen using just the tip of your finger or your fingernail.
  • If your widgets play slowly or do not show content (i.e., weather widget is blank): The chumby may be out of the wi-fi signal range or disconnected from the network. Try moving the chumby closer to your wi-fi access point.
  • The chumby only shows a clock and is not able to show any of your widgets: The chumby is not connected to the network.
  • When starting the chumby the downloading progress bar does not move, does not switch to the next screen, or after downloading shows a black screen: The most common problem is a weak wi-fi signal. Try moving the chumby closer to your wi-fi access point.
  • Your chumby repeatedly shows the "Downloading the control panel" screen: Disconnect the AC adapter for the chumby from the wall, wait 10 seconds to plug it back in, and then turn the chumby back on.
  • Your chumby sits on the "Downloading the control panel" screen and the progress bar has not moved in a long time: The chumby may have a very weak wi-fi signal or may be disconnected from the network. Try moving the chumby closer to your wi-fi access point.

Additional Information Sources

chumby forum
chumby wiki

Previous Software Updates

Release 1.2
Release 1.1
Release 0.9