My device I bought August 2012 and previously used often. I use it to listen to music (MP3 and radio) and in particular videos to watch.
3D is great and so far it worked almost always smoothly. The video quality is very good for my needs, and the Sound.
As far as I was satisfied (not totally happy, but just satisfied). Why? Because I have an older version of firmware HAD as the recent startup of the box took us very long. This I have also addressed the Forum (and other users), which the moderators freezing aside "wiped" have. Statement: you are not happy then keep the older firmware version. And that I did. Side effect: certain functionalities of the box no longer existed. YouTube no longer would not in my version and many podcasts. Since I did not want to update / was, so I had to give it up. Also newer features like a movie directly from the folder out with the Play button to start without having to go inside the folder (which I had picked up) I could not use because I would otherwise have to live with the disadvantage that my box instead of 30 seconds now need 90 seconds to start. And since I often turn on the box on the day, which for me is a KO criterion. So I have to live for 2 years with an older firmware version.
That's not the worst thing for me. Worse is the following situation: Since about 4 weeks I have the problem that if I ansteuere via LAN on my Fritz box contents, the access lasts extremely long. Earlier there were about 5 seconds, now it is about 25 seconds. At first it was so, that when I off the box and have turned back on, everything went back as before. Meanwhile, no longer it will take as good as ever, for ages. I have also tried it without USB drives, the problem persists.
Annoying is the fact that the box now is a little over 2 years old and I therefore have no guarantee. At that time, my box has cost about 185 Euro!
So I thought, try it out with a newer firmware and the firmware should not "cure", then I can go back again (as it was then). Nope!
The problem with the long network access times persists, but the new version starts strangely enough faster (though no evidence could be found in the changelog), but I now have another huge problem.
The overall volume level of voices has become quieter. Now if I angucke a movie, I can barely hear the voices and the action scenes, it is then loudly. Night mode, I have already turned on, but brings in the more recent version hardly anything (with or without). Result: I have to increase the overall volume to which of the dialogues to understand. Then when an action scene, then it is extremely loud and I have to make quieter with the remote control.
So I thought, what is it, you're going back to version 9239 and renounce further on new features (sad but true). Since the download link in the forum was dead, I did the moderators asked to send me a link or otherwise to help me to come to this firmware. Answer? "So definitely no, if a private person there still has something and wants to put you in touch with you via PM only, but here is no longer possible."
Class, just like that time to stand up in the rain. Currently, my fun factor with this box is zero. Not only that the number of hits over the network continues to be extremely slow and I must continue to search for errors, but when watching movies it I do not enjoy constantly with the remote control to make loud and soft.
The main problem with this player in my opinion is the firmware and support policy and tone from the manufacturer support board. Something I've never experienced. There is there a strict tone and because customers are just so in the rain left standing.
In the holiday period (it was last Christmas experienced) if a moderator holiday makes, no postings can be to give up, the Forum makes together with the Moderator and vacation there for weeks, only in a reading function. I have not yet experienced.
I attach great importance to support that one reason is to stop buying equipment from Fantec for me. Finally, such a device does not live by the hardware, but especially of the software.
So hardware hui, software and support Pooh.
Edit 04:12:14
Today I finally found that the hardware is defective. When I turn on the box, then either all is well and liquid or the box is very slow. The start of a movie via USB drive usually takes about 2 seconds, then it needs about 8 seconds. The start of a film over the network needs then instead of 3 seconds for about 20 seconds.
Already have several versions of this holey firmwares where something is grundsäztlich runs reasonable tried. It does not help, nor reseten the box. Is defective and warranty over for about 4 months. Once Fantec, never again Fantec. Especially as the box has cost not little.
