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
Update Process
The chumby will automatically notify you when an update is available. The normal update installation process occurs via your wi-fi connection ("over-the-air") during which your chumby will automatically reboot twice. The update process will take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on your wi-fi signal strength and bandwidth. We recommend that you not do bandwidth-intensive activities (like downloading large files) during the update.
If there's a problem with the over-the-air update, you can install the update using a USB flash drive as a backup measure. The difference between updating over-the-air vs. from a USB flash drive is that updating from the USB flash drive will overwrite your personal settings (you'll need to re-enter information like your time zone, alarm settings, network settings, etc.)
Updating over the air (Normal operation)
- When you see the Update Available screen, press .
- Your chumby should reboot and automatically download the update.
- If you see the Special Options screen ( / / ), select and then select . (If this option is grayed out, it means you aren't connected to the network. Reboot your chumby and try again.)
- The chumby will install an update, reboot, and then install a second update. It's important that you let the chumby install both updates! When it's done, you'll briefly see the message "Update successfully completed" then your widgets should start playing again — this means you've successfully updated your chumby!
Updating with a USB flash drive (If the over-the-air process did not work or if you're instructed by Customer Support)
- Download the software update from our website (http://files.chumby.com/resources/chumby_fw_1-4-0.zip) and extract the files onto the top level of a USB flash drive. (The flash drive must be formatted FAT16 or FAT32. As long as you haven't formatted the drive as HFS on a Macintosh, you should be fine.)
- Once the files are extracted, you should see two directories on your USB flash drive: update1 and update2.
- Turn off your chumby.
- Plug the USB drive into the USB port on the back of your chumby (make sure nothing else is plugged into the other USB port).
- Boot into the Special Options mode by pressing your finger against the touchscreen and then powering on your chumby. Keep your finger pressed against the touchscreen until the screen changes to the Special Options screen.
- Once you've reached the Special Options screen, select and then choose .
- The chumby will install an update, reboot, and then install a second update. It's important that you let the chumby install both updates! When it's done, you'll briefly see the message "Update successfully completed" and then the chumby tour — this means you've successfully updated your chumby! If you don't eventually see the chumby tour, please go back to step 2 and try again.
- Finish by following all the onscreen set-up instructions.
Note: There are a few USB flash drives that won't work correctly on the chumby. If your chumby is having problems seeing a USB flash drive, try a different one. We know that some of the PNY Attache USB flash drives will not work; there may be others. Please contact Customer Support if you continue to have issues with the update process.
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. To receive the control panel v2.6 update turn off your chumby and then turn it back on for the automatic update.
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
Update Process
To receive the control panel v2.6 update turn off your chumby and then turn it back on for the automatic update.
Known Issues
- Some Mediafly podcasts fail to play. Will be addressed in a future firmware release. Fixed in client version 1.4.0.
- Some internet audio streams and music files will "click" at regular intervals. Will be addressed in a future firmware release. Fixed in client version 1.4.0.
- "My Music Files" will not recognize complicated file names — requires firmware update. Fixed in client version 1.4.0.
- Large number of iPod songs support still pending.
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.
