New firmware v.0112 for Philips dvp630 (AKA dvp642 in usa)

[etab]

Today Philips posted a new firmware version 0112 to support site.

FW 0112 features DIVX subtitles in Windows codepages on the semi-transparent background. And it really works! Russian subtitles for example can use CP 1251.

FW update for 642 is not published yet at the moment.

[metapy]

Firmware update works fine on a DVP642.

[giannid]

Firmware Update Instructions link

Firmware Update DVP630_0112.zip

[javierperezch]

Does anybody know how do subtitles look compared to Huffyk's firmware?

[HyperYagami]

"Enhanced performance for DivX/MPEG-4 video files"

I wonder if it's significant...

[wongnog]

North American owners beware! I had some problems using this firmware on my 642 because it resets your machine to PAL video mode. I had my player hooked up using component cables, and after the upgrade my screen went black. I had to switch to RGB cables in order to see a garbled black and white menu that was barely legible -- but enough to navigate the setup menu to switch it back to NTSC mode.

I noticed in that same screen it shows how to manually set your player up for PAL mode (press OPEN then '3' on your remote). Does anyone know the same command to manually switch the 642 to NTSC mode?

[canadateck]

For North American owners there really is no need to set it to Pal ,Only region free and the Player will convert Pal to NTSC , But I know what you are talking about ,I dont know if there is a remote hack to do it.

[wongnog]

For North American owners there really is no need to set it to Pal ,Only region free and the Player will convert Pal to NTSC

I'm not quite sure if you understand... If I flash the new firmware, it resets my player to PAL mode. But since I have an NTSC only tv, it can't display the PAL signal! It's not the same as watching a PAL movie which I understand the player can convert to NTSC while playing. I'm saying that the menus are unreadable because they are in PAL not NTSC. So I'm hoping someone out there knows a remote "trick" to manually set the machine to transmit an NTSC signal.

[canadateck]

setup menu to switch it back to NTSC mode.

So when you said Setup menu you mean the DVD Menu? Or the DVD Players Menu? Can you see the confusion?

[Zisguy1]

Sheesh, just wait for the 642 update. You's guys are impatient as effin hell .

[canadateck]

My 642 works great.

[princebe]

you notice any differences CanadaTeck?

[MurphGuitar]

I'm confused by all the different models and regions and stuff. I'm hoping someone can take pity on me and just give me instructions on my specific situation. I have a DVP-642/17, I think "M" type, in Ohio, in North America. I have the version 1109 firmware, but already there's an MPEG4 file I'd like to watch that the player can't play right; the sound is fine but the video is badly distorted. So should I try this firmware 0112 or not? Is it only recommended that people with the DVP-642/37 try this firmware, and therefore not me? I see Zisguy's point about waiting for an official update for my player, but who knows how long that's going to be. Thanks for any help.

[princebe]

Did you try to hit the menu/system button twice? That seems to work most of the time to get the video to work properly..

This group on yahoo has great info if you're looking for it:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/philips_dvp642/

enjoy

[Sphinx1984]

i ve a problem, ive philips dvp630 02, and i instaled the new soft, and when i try to change to 4:3 PS and 4:3 LB it keeps always 16:9 it doesnt change, only 16:9 remains, how can i solve this prob?

[zorro22]

this IS NOT the official upgrade for the dvp 642
PERIOD

if you don't believe me, check the latest official version.
It is still 1109

http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?ctn=DVP642/37&scy=&slg=ENG&searchtxt=dvp642
(check software)

[giannid]

I have the latest firmware 0112 on my dvp642/37 and it works fine! The 630 and the 642 are the same machine. The differences are in how they are set for default menu languages and video standards.

[andy1001]

Just tried this firmware on my DVP642/37 and it works OK. I have the impression that subtitle appearance is somewhat better, and they indeed added cp1251. Now scrolling through subtitles shows CP1250 / CP1251 / CP1254 instead of LATIN-1 / LATIN-2 / CYRILLIC. This alone is worth upgrade.

I had a slight hope that they would fix colors but it did not happen. Still the same green cast in shadows in almost every scene.

Also thanks to the posts above I discovered that my cheap TV (also Philips) is indeed multisystem! Cool, I'd never guess, even though I have many PAL DVDs I never tried to watch them in PAL before.

[jbreaker]

Has anybody noticed if the multi-angle icon is fixed with this firmware, by which I mean that you can turn it off, or it goes away on its own?

[james039]

as this is my biggest annoyance with the player, I too am curious if they've fixed the not-going-away angles indicator. I am waiting for the US release of this firmware as it is the model I am using, a DVP642/37, but I can't see the point in upgrading if all it does is add cyrillic subtitles, as I never use anything except english subtitles.

[james039]

Just to answer my own question, since I just upgraded my firmware. The 0112 firmware does NOT fix the angles icon problem, it STILL remains on screen the entire movie!!

[kabanero]

I have two 642/37 players. One at 1109, another one at 0112. I just checked both uniths with "Tarzan" dvd and both players are ok with angle indicator. It appears and then disappears at some points on its own. So, no problem here.

[james039]

I have two 642/37 players. One at 1109, another one at 0112. I just checked both uniths with "Tarzan" dvd and both players are ok with angle indicator. It appears and then disappears at some points on its own. So, no problem here.

It really shouldn't be appearing *at all* since DVD players aren't supposed to be visually reporting when angles are available. *ideally* it should come up when you push the angle button, and then disappear from the screen. I suggest with this tarzan dvd, when the icon is gone, press the angle button, does it come back up? does it stay up? also, when just playing the movie, the angle indicator comes up for the *entire duration* of an angle.

This is unacceptable behavior and in the case of DVD's where the alternate angle is used to provide an alternate language version (e.g. Japanese/English) then for every scene that is altered, the angles icon stays up until that scene is over.

By what you just described, I'd say you have the same problem we all do, and that this is a perhaps an aesthetic issue that Philips made a bad call by decided to have the angles icon displayed. It would be a snap to fix this in firmware, but philips would have to be convinced enough of us are unhappy the way it is. At the very least the option should be provided to disable the "angle availability indicator".

[DrJOnes666]

Anyone knows if this firware fixes the BLUE SKIN TONES that we experience in some Divx clips?

Thanks,

[PegasoLabs]

No, it does not....

[dgreekman]

Im trying to make my DVP642 mulit region. I entered some recommended settings after the ol 5, 6, 9, ok menu and now the screen just scrolls down and down. of course i was given the wrong settings but the question is.....how do i get it back to the way it was. I can even see the screen properly to make more adjustments. I have tried some firmware updates hoping this would reset it but nope. Any suggestions?

[jman98]

dgreekman - Welcome to the forums, but we VERY STRONGLY discourage people from doing 2 things you did.
1) You dug up an old thread whose last post prior to yours was on May 5, 2005. As a general rule if a thread hasn't had a post in more than a couple of months it's best to just start a new thread unless the information you have is absolutely pertinent to the thread (ie. somebody wanted a region unlock code for a player and nobody ever posted one but you know it).
2) You are also guilty of "thread hijacking" as the original thread was about firmware for this player, not making it region free.

Is your video display from the player in black and white? It may possibly be in PAL mode. You can try to set the video output to NTSC through the menu and see if that helps. If you have a video capture card on a PC try connecting your DVD player video output to that. I've had to use that method when fooling around with settings on a DVD player messed up the display.

[dgreekman]

My bad. Sorry but i was up late trying to get the player going. thank you for your help and i will try your suggestions.