Pioneer To Release New (Avatar) Firmware for 51/05/09 Players!!

[HD Man]

It's being reported that Pioneer Blu-ray players like the 51/05/09 can't play Avatar and in response Pioneer has released new firmware (ver 1.65) in Europe to address this problem. Call it the Avatar firmware update!!

If you own one of these players, you wouldn't know, until you get Avatar which is being released on 4/22. The European firmware will work on US machines but ver 1.65 should be available in the US soon after Pioneer clears it for US release.

The European change history says the new 1.65 firmwre will:


Enhances stability of BD-ROM/BD-R/BD-RE playback

Performance improvement"

Here is the link if interested!!

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/content/...grade/BDP.html

[oppopioneer]

Originally Posted by HD Man

It's being reported that Pioneer Blu-ray players like the 51/05/09 can't play Avatar and in response Pioneer has released new firmware (ver 1.65) in Europe to address this problem. Call it the Avatar firmware update!!

If you own one of these players, you wouldn't know, until you get Avatar which is being released on 4/22. The European firmware will work on US machines but ver 1.65 should be available in the US soon after Pioneer clears it for US release.

The European change history says the new 1.65 firmwre will:


Enhances stability of BD-ROM/BD-R/BD-RE playback

Performance improvement"

Here is the link if interested!!

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/content/...grade/BDP.html

Will that firmware update be just for Avatar or is to improve the player's function for all bluray discs in general and all the other hiccups?

[wafi]

Originally Posted by HD Man

It's being reported that Pioneer Blu-ray players like the 51/05/09 can't play Avatar and in response Pioneer has released new firmware (ver 1.65) in Europe to address this problem. Call it the Avatar firmware update!!

If you own one of these players, you wouldn't know, until you get Avatar which is being released on 4/22. The European firmware will work on US machines but ver 1.65 should be available in the US soon after Pioneer clears it for US release.

Thanks HD Man! They have an upgrade for the 320 at the UK site as well. Looks like I'm gonna have to upgrade all 3 of mine this weekend!

[HD Man]

Originally Posted by oppopioneer

Will that firmware update be just for Avatar or is to improve the player's function for all bluray discs in general and all the other hiccups?

It should help with the stability and loading of other Blu-rays as well but had heard that these machines had a specific problem with Avatar which releases on Thursday. Some people had problems loading/playing 2012, so the hope is it speeds up the loading process, but I will have to wait until I download the updates to evaluate.

Didn't want anyone with one of these players to get Avatar and then not know they may have problems playing the movie.

Since I have two of these players, naturally, I follow firmware updates, etc.

[HD Man]

Pioneer Blu-ray Firmware Updates: UPDATED LINK!!

Here are the links for the firmware updates to play AVATAR on the 51/05/09 and 320.

Please note that this firmware works fine on US players and the firmware file is identical to US firmware - the region/etc is stored independently of the firmware. Process to update is also same as the US firmware.


Pioneer BDP-51FD/05FD update for AVATAR
http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/content/...grade/BDP.html


For those waiting for the files to hit the US site, hopefully it will be in the next couple of days.

[wafi]

Originally Posted by HD Man

Pioneer Blu-ray Firmware Updates:

Here are the links for the firmware updates to play AVATAR on the 51/05/09 and 320.

Please note that this firmware works fine on US players and the firmware file is identical to US firmware - the region/etc is stored independently of the firmware. Process to update is also same as the US firmware.

Pioneer BDP-320/23FD update for AVATAR
http://www.pioneer.de/error.html

Pioneer BDP-51FD/05FD update for AVATAR
http://www.pioneer.de/error.html

Pioneer BDP-09FD update for AVATAR
http://www.pioneer.de/error.html

For those waiting for the files to hit the US site, hopefully it will be in the next couple of days.

Thx HDM! I guess hotlinking isnt allowed! Cos they are all coming up as error pages. I just downloaded the 320 firmware from there but any idea what the UK or DE model version is for the 51FD?

[HD Man]

Originally Posted by wafi

Thx HDM! I guess hotlinking isnt allowed! Cos they are all coming up as error pages. I just downloaded the 320 firmware from there but any idea what the UK or DE model version is for the 51FD?

Sorry for the bad links
Updated link http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/content/...grade/BDP.html

LX71=BDP51FD and LX52=BDP320

Site even lists the US versions and the European version.

[ryan4blu]

Originally Posted by HD Man

Sorry for the bad links
Updated link http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/content/...grade/BDP.html

LX71=BDP51FD and LX52=BDP320

Site even lists the US versions and the European version.

Thanks guys, should i try the update for my 23fd with the bdp320 version? it shows it being the same??

[ryan4blu]

just did the UK version 3.65 firmware and it DL perfectly, now to test avatar when i get it. thanks again guys for the links

[wafi]

Originally Posted by ryan4blu

just did the UK version 3.65 firmware and it DL perfectly, now to test avatar when i get it. thanks again guys for the links

Keep us posted Ryan!

[wafi]

Originally Posted by HD Man

Sorry for the bad links
Updated link http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/content/...grade/BDP.html

LX71=BDP51FD and LX52=BDP320

Site even lists the US versions and the European version.

Thx HDM. Will do the updates tonight for all the Pios.

[HD Man]

Originally Posted by wafi

Thx HDM. Will do the updates tonight for all the Pios.

Glad to be of assistance to all of the Pioneer fans out there

I have two of their players and when something doesn't work, I have no other Blu-ray options, so I follow Pioneer updates closely.

Updated my players this morning while having dryer repaired. Everything loaded fine without any issues. Don't know why the US Pioneer site is so slow to get updates.

Makes you wonder what people do who don't know about firmware updates. They probably sell their machines real cheap or return the player/movie.

[wafi]

Originally Posted by HD Man

Makes you wonder what people do who don't know about firmware updates. They probably sell their machines real cheap or return the player/movie.

Yeah I was thinkin about gettin the 320s for my mom & dad and the in-laws but decided against it when I realized they weren't tech savvy enuff to do firmware updates on a regular basis. Pity tho, I'm sure many people decide against BD players because of the constant firmware updates.

[oppopioneer]

Pioneer is the only bd player I have owned (23FD) so I'm not familiar with the customer service and response times of other companies with customer support and firmware updates. How is Pioneer compared to others when it comes to it's firmware updates, are they slower to release their's or quicker than average? From what I read so far it seems the best bd company out there for customer support and quick response is Oppo, they're a much smaller company obviously so that helps. I personally have sent Oppo some emails to ask them questions and they always responded back within anywhere from a few hours to 3 days tops. I've never had to wait longer than 3 days for an email. One time I sent them an email on a Sunday morning and later that day I got a email response back from them.

[HD Man]

Originally Posted by wafi

Yeah I was thinkin about gettin the 320s for my mom & dad and the in-laws but decided against it when I realized they weren't tech savvy enuff to do firmware updates on a regular basis. Pity tho, I'm sure many people decide against BD players because of the constant firmware updates.

Since you already have the 320, you could get them the same machine, and everytime you download updates, you send off the burned CD to them. All they have to do is load it and they're good to go!!

[HD Man]

Originally Posted by oppopioneer

Pioneer is the only bd player I have owned (23FD) so I'm not familiar with the customer service and response times of other companies with customer support and firmware updates. How is Pioneer compared to others when it comes to it's firmware updates, are they slower to release their's or quicker than average? From what I read so far it seems the best bd company out there for customer support and quick response is Oppo, they're a much smaller company obviously so that helps. I personally have sent Oppo some emails to ask them questions and they always responded back within anywhere from a few hours to 3 days tops. I've never had to wait longer than 3 days for an email. One time I sent them an email on a Sunday morning and later that day I got a email response back from them.

Pioneer is the only BD player I have owned as well. I had a problem with my 51FD that I took for repair under warranty, and the local authorized repair facility fixed the problem under warranty in about one week.

I also know you can call Pioneer and they will mail you a CD with the firmware updates at no charge, but this is the slowest method for updating your player. The European Pioneer site seems to get updates prior to the US, and their updates for US players. Someone told me they were the same updates that are released later in the US. Not exactly sure why though.

When a big release comes out like Avatar (ver1.65), 2012 (ver 1.39), T2, etc, I start to look for Pioneer updates out of habit

[oppopioneer]

Do any of you get firmware update notices on your screen when the Pioneer is turned on when there is an update available the way the Oppo does? I've never seen an update notice from Pioneer. Is there a feature in the player to activate it?

[wafi]

Originally Posted by HD Man

Since you already have the 320, you could get them the same machine, and everytime you download updates, you send off the burned CD to them. All they have to do is load it and they're good to go!!

And if they screw it up then they would have a brick for a BD player. Besides, in-laws are in ATL GA, and my rents dont live Stateside. To top it all I dont have the patience to walk them thru it! Sucks to have me as a son/son-in-law!

[wafi]

Originally Posted by oppopioneer

Do any of you get firmware update notices on your screen when the Pioneer is turned on when there is an update available the way the Oppo does? I've never seen an update notice from Pioneer. Is there a feature in the player to activate it?

Wouldnt that require said player to be online? Is your Pio BD player?

[HD Man]

Originally Posted by wafi

And if they screw it up then they would have a brick for a BD player. Besides, in-laws are in ATL GA, and my rents dont live Stateside. To top it all I dont have the patience to walk them thru it! Sucks to have me as a son/son-in-law!

Well a Pioneer would definitely not work for them.

Not sure what the most consumer friendly, minimal updates player would be.