software updates

chumby client version 1.6.0

Release Date: July 24, 2008

These Release Notes refer to the chumby client version 1.6.0 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.

This update is for the following chumby versions:

  • HW: 0.0 SW: 1.5.0 FW: 565
  • HW: 3.6 SW: 1.5.0 FW: 565
  • HW: 3.7 SW: 1.5.0 FW: 565
  • HW: 0.0 SW: 1.4.0 FW: 533
  • HW: 3.6 SW: 1.4.0 FW: 533
  • HW: 3.7 SW: 1.4.0 FW: 533

What's New

We will continually change and improve chumby to benefit our users. This new client release improves the overall chumby stability and video playback performance.

Improvements and Fixes

  • Improved audio quality for widgets with short-burst sounds
  • Improved long runtime audio stability
  • Improved overall Flash® Lite&trade Player performance and stability
  • Ability to play iPod AIFF and .WAV files
  • Updated Daylight Savings Time files to current standard timekeeping
  • New Blue Tune Player to support 8 bit .WAV files and OGG metadata
  • Some video widgets will now play smoother and have better audio synchronization
  • Photo widgets with large photo albums or higher resolution photos will load and display photos more consistently
  • Improved alarm system infrastructure

Noted bugs fixed

widget features or playback

  • 1899 - Widgets with streaming video of 4 minutes or longer will play until complete
  • 1730 - Flash Player correctly plays widgets with many progressive jpeg, animated gif, or png images
  • 1850 - Flash Player now supports widgets connecting to a socket server
  • 1853 - Flash Player support for loading HTTPS URLs defined in XML
  • 844 - Reconnect for broken HTTP connection for RSS feed

audio

  • 1677 - Fixed choppy audio after 36 or more hours of chumby runtime
  • 1832 - New version of btplay to support 8 bit .WAV files
  • 2030 - New version of btplay to support OGG metadata
  • 780 - Fixed crackling audio for Facemaker and Monster Stomper widgets
  • 1087 - Fixed crackling audio for Simon widget
  • 1831 - Support for iPod AIFF files

clocks and alarms

  • 1492 - Fixed alarm playback after btplay crash

general

  • 126 - Update timezone files for new Daylight Saving Time rules
  • 1349 - Fixed out of memory error if Update screen is not answered

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)

  1. When you see the Update Available screen, press Now.
  2. Your chumby should reboot and automatically download the update.
  3. If you see the Special Options screen (restart to normal operation / install updates / restore factory settings), select install updates and then select Install from network. (If this option is grayed out, it means you aren't connected to the network. Reboot your chumby and try again.)
  4. 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)

  1. Download the software update from our website (http://files.chumby.com/resources/chumby_fw_1-6-0.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.)
  2. Once the files are extracted, you should see two directories on your USB flash drive: update1 and update2.
  3. Turn off your chumby.
  4. 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).
  5. 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.
  6. Once you've reached the Special Options screen, select Install updates and then choose Install from USB flash drive.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.

More details on updating
FAQs

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.
  • 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 optimal 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 http://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 may 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: If you use too large of an area of your finger when pressing the touchscreen, the touchscreen may not accurately register the action. 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.
  • 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 2.6 (control panel)
Release 1.5
Release 1.4
Release 1.2
Release 1.1
Release 0.9