Dune Firmware Zone

Dune HD Neo 4K Plus

This version brings various new features and improvements previously implemented for new Dune HD models (such as Dune HD Pro One 8K Plus), see here for more details: https://dune-hd.com/firmware/proone8kplus/.

Note: because of big internal changes, this update could cause some regressions and new bugs (to be fixed in future updates).

Most noticeable improvements are listed below.

• Fixed various bugs specific for old models.

• Fixed various regressions, which were introduced in the previous r22 update for old models.

• Various fixes and improvements for media playback (fixed a lot of different problems, in particular, related to video playback, audio playback, subtitle playback, A/V sync and subtitle sync).

• Various fixes and improvements for GUI (in particular, related to main menu, file browser, My Collection).

• Some UI translations updated/improved.

• Minor other fixes and improvements. 

This firmware is a major update which brings various new features and improvements previously implemented for new Dune HD models (such as Dune HD Premier 4K Pro and Dune HD Pro One 8K Plus).

Note: because of huge internal changes, this update could cause some regressions and new bugs (to be fixed in future firmware updates).

Most noticeable improvements in comparison with the previous r21 firmware versions, include, in particular:

• Fixes support for online subtitles.

• Media tags (such as 4K, HDR, etc) for files. Media tags are automatically identified based on the actual file content, and additionally can be identified based on file name. Media tags are shown in File Browser and in My Collection. Media tags can be used as browsing filters in My Collection.

• Various improvements related to the video watching marks. The information about playback bookmarks from the "Recent" database is now used in more places to indicate the watching progress. You can now manually mark files and movies as watched and unwatched in POP UP MENU.

• A lot of possibilities to customize the lists of items shown in various menus. You can now customize the top menu and the left menu in the New GUI, the lists of applications, the list of sources, the list of favorite items. You can reorder items, hide items, and change the default item for the top menu. List customization is available in POP UP MENU.

• Additional APIs for Dune HD plugins, allowing plugins to implement various new features, such as: advanced support for P2P streaming, advanced support for IPTV services with huge number (thousands) of TV channels. Support for Dune Extra premium feature which may be required to enable some of the new APIs in the firmware.

• Small changes in the list of preinstalled apps.

• Various other improvements previously implemented in "Dune HD Media Center" app for ATV models (more details: https://dune-hd.com/support/app/versions.html).

This is a small update with small improvements (bigger updates will come with upcoming r22 versions).

• All models: Dune Extra: Added more APIs for next-generation IPTV and Movies plugins. Some other Dune Extra related improvements.

• All models: Improved compatibility with some SMB servers (such as some ASUS routers).

• All models: Improved support for My Collection in China.

• All models: Movies: When viewing person info, the maximum number of shown movies is increased from 64 to 256.

• All models: HDD sleep timer setting now has additional options: 1, 3, 5 minutes.

• All models: Sleep timer setting now has additional option: 20 minutes.

• Ultra Vision 4K, Max Vision 4K: Sleep timer by default is set to disabled.

• S905L2 models: Minor fixes in autoframerate logic.

• Models with front panel display: When playing streams with unknown duration (such as TV streams), now clock is shown instead of meaningless playback position.

• All models: Updated some UI translations.

• All models: Some other internal changes.

This firmware version is the same as the alpha firmware version 230606_0206_r21.

More details: history of alpha firmware versions.

This is a small update with important fixes.

• All models: Bugfix: Auto framerate switching could be wrongly used when playing a video preview in a small window in some cases.

• All models: Bugfix: Interlaced video could be wrongly detected as progressive in some cases, thus causing auto framerate switching to a wrong mode (for example, to 25 Hz insead of 50 Hz).

• All models: Bugfix: When KODI app was automatically installed (for example, as an external player), its audio settings could be set to wrong values and fixed to these values (disallowing the user to modify them). Now the user is responsible for proper configuration of KODI audio settings.

• All models: Bugfix: The procedure of upgrading firmware of Bluetooth remote could allow the user to install incompatible firmware version in some cases.

• All models: Improvement: Important fixes in some preinstalled apps.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Improvement: After factory reset, "digital audio output mode" setting is now set to "Auto" (which automatically enabled bitstream passthrough if the connected TV or A/V receiver supports it).

• All models: Minor other fixes and improvements.

This is a small update with important fixes.

• All models: Updated the list of preinstalled apps in different regions.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Optimized audio buffering and support for A/V sync correction.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Bugfix: DD audio passthrough via MediaCodec did not work in some cases.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Bugfix: GUI could be wrongly shifted a bit relative to the video in some cases.

• RTD1619DR models: Bugfix: Information about DV codec in INFO panel during playback could be wrong in some cases (regression introduced in r20).

• S905X3 models: Power on/off could work wrongly in some cases with some Bluetooth remotes.

• S905X models: BD Lite playback did not work properly in some cases (regression introduced in r20).

• All models: Minor other fixes and improvements.

This is a small update with important fixes.

• All models: Fixed bugs in SMB client/server functionality (regressions introduced in version 220630_0727_r20).

• Realtek models: Bugfix: When playing some BD images in Full BD Menu mode, some menu items could be invisible in some cases.

• Realtek models: Bugfix: When playing some BD images in Full BD Menu mode, timeline bar could be wrongly shown when not needed in some cases.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Bugfix: When playing some Internet streams in engine:1 mode, playback hangup could happen on playback stop in some cases.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models with Hi-Fi audio: Bugfix: When Hi-Fi audio output was enabled, Voice search via Bluetooth remote did not work.

• All models: Improved support for PNG images in PHP plugins and some other cases.

• All models: Updated some UI translations.

• All models: Minor other fixes and improvements.

This is a small update with important fixes.

• All models: Fixed bugs in SMB client (regressions introduced in version 220630_0727_r20).

• All models: Fixed bugs in handling of music file tags (regressions introduced in version 220630_0727_r20).

• All models: Fixed bugs in "Edit Movie Information" function in file browser.

• All models: Fixed bugs in handling of folder settings (sort order and view mode).

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Optimized audio buffering and support for A/V sync correction.

• Traveler model: Optimized handling of lamp power and battery time.

• Real Vision 4K Duo model: Optimized fan handling.

• All models: Updated/improved UI translations for some languages.

• All models: New GUI: Global search function: it now searches not only for movies, but also for persons. Persons in search results can be browsed similarly to movies.

• All models: New GUI: Dune voice search UI: added a possibility to switch the voice recognition langauge between the choosen UI language and English. Useful when searching for English movies and the UI language is not English.

• All models: New GUI: Dune voice search UI: added a possibility to launch Google assistant from Dune voice bar.

• All models: New GUI: My Collection: Automatic reindexing can now be done more frequently than once per day (up to once per 4 hours).

• All models: New GUI: Various improvements for watch progress indication. Watch progress is now shown also for movies which are not part of the movie collection.

• All models: New GUI: Recent menu: improved handling of TV shows; some other improvements.

• All models: New GUI: Movie screen now provides "More.." button when there is more than one to watch a movie.

• All models: New GUI: Restored the possibility to search for movies also when using the old GUI version of My Collection app.

• All models: New GUI: Improved video preview. It could work wrongly and wrongly cause auto framerate function in some cases.

• All models: New GUI: Improved handling of absent or bad Internet connection.

• All models: New GUI: Improved possibilities for hiding uneeded UI functions by disabling built-in plugins in "Setup / Misc / Plugins" menu.

• All models: New GUI: Improved display of long texts in Netflix-like view.

• All models: New GUI: Improved handling of "No Internet" cases. Ensured that My Collection and other local content can be always accessed w/o Internet.

• All models: New GUI: Performance improvements and internal improvements for interaction with applications which embed their data into the new menu.

• All models: New GUI: A lot of other bugfixes and internal improvements in specific cases (various issues found during internal testing).

• All models: New GUI: Internal changes for next planned big improvements (such as media tags) (not ready yet, will come in next versions).

• All models: Added a special support for 2.35:1 displays (such as 2.35:1 projectors). It can be enabled in "Setup / Appearance / Advanced" menu. When enabled, the UI is scaled to fit into 2.35:1 area (with special handling of UI background) and subtitles are by default moved into this area.

• All models: Added a new parental control function: lock schedule (see "Setup / Misc / Parental Control" menu). Allows locking media player access during specified time periods. During these time periods, media player access can only be temporarily unlocked by a parental code (locked again automatically when entering standby or after 10 minutes on inactivity without media playback).

• All models: Online subtitles: Improved handling of episodes of TV shows.

• All models: Online subtitles: Can be searched in 3 languages now: chooses subtitles language, choosen UI language, and English.

• All models: Online subtitles: Many other improvements and bugfixes.

• All models: Improved compatibility with SMB1/SMB2/SMB3 protocols when browsing and mounting SMB shares in specific environments.

• All models: Improved automatic configuration of available services and preinstalled applications based on country.

• All models: Improved handling of country setting in Location menu (both country codes and country names are supported now).

• ALl models: Improved video framerate detection in some cases.

• All models: Music playback: Information from CUE sheet now has bigger priority, than information from the audio file.

• All models: Bugfix: Music banner could be wrongly shown for a short time when starting video file playback.

• All models: Bugfix: When playing video files, photo files present in the same directory could be wrongly shown in Dune Control mobile app as covers for the played file.

• All models: TV plugins: PLAY button on TV plugin in Favorites menu now works the same as in Apps menu (can be used to quickly start TV playback).

• All models: TV playback: added support for HLS streams of type "Event" (available when using "engine:1" playback engine), including the possibility to pause and timeshift the playback.

• All models: Added correct handling of external storage devices formatted as Android storage. Previously such devices wronly appeared in Sources menu.

• All models: Bugfix: Text in Right-to-Left languages (such as Hebrew) was wrongly displayted in Dune Control mobile app.

• All models: Bugfix: Switching IPTV channels via P- did not work in some cases.

• All models: Bugfix: Adjusting subtitle time offset did not work in some cases.

• All models: Bugfix: Shortcuts to NFS folders in Favorites menu did not work in some cases.

• All models: Bugfix: When adding a shortcut to a movie to Favorites menu, movie poster could be lost in some cases.

• All models: A lot of other bugfixes and improvements when playing specific files and streams (various issues found during internal testing).

• Realtek models: SMB server: upgraded to a newer Samba version.

• Realtek models: SMB server: improved compatibility with newest Windows versions.

• Realtek models: SMB server: added new setting: SMB1 support enabled/disabled (by default, it is enabled; when enabled, SMB server supports all SMB versions: SMB1, SMB2, SMB3; when disabled, SMB server supports only SMB2 and SMB3).

• Realtek models: SMB server: added new settings: user name, password, password enabled/disabled (by default, it is disabled; enabling password may be helpful when accesing Dune SMB serfer from newest Windows versions, which prohibit password-less access by default).

• Realtek models: Added automatic firmware update for the new Dune Remote R3 Bluetooth remote (fixed the problem that this function, which was added in previous firmware versions, was not actually working.)

• Realtek models: Improved handling of external USB DAC when used together with USB microphone and in some other cases.

• Realtek models: Added support for user fonts for subtitles (like it was previously available on Sigma models: choose a .TTF file in file browser, press ENTER, and choose "for subtitles"). Removed wrong mentioning of this function from the menu of other models which do not support it.

• Realtek models: Improved compatibility with specific HTTP/HTTPS streams.

• Realtek models: Bugfix: Playback of TS files via HTTP (such as from a streamed torrent) did not work in some cases.

• Realtek models: Bugfix: Auto framerate and auto resolution could work wrongly for Android apps in some cases.

• Realtek models: Optimizations to improve BD Menu playback performance in specific cases. Not well tested, so disabled by default. Try to enable in case of problems.
    • For experimental needs, these optimizations may be manually enabled/disabled using the following DSF utility files (can only be used on the new firmware; effect is preserved till settings reset):
        • http://dune-hd.com/support/misc/dune_service_bdmenu_perf_mode1_enable.dsf
        • http://dune-hd.com/support/misc/dune_service_bdmenu_perf_mode1_disable.dsf

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Optimizations to improve SMB (CIFS) client performance in specific cases. Not well tested, so disabled by default. Try to enable in case of problems.
    • For experimental needs, these optimizations may be manually enabled/disabled using the following DSF utility files (can only be used on the new firmware; effect is preserved till settings reset):
        • http://dune-hd.com/support/misc/dune_service_rtd1619_smb_perf_mode1_enable.dsf
        • http://dune-hd.com/support/misc/dune_service_rtd1619_smb_perf_mode1_disable.dsf

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Optimizations to improve overall system performance; solves performance problems with playback of very high bitrate 4K DV content in specific cases (known to help, in particular, with playback from SMB shares and NTFS HDDs). Enabled by default.
    • For experimental needs, these optimizations may be manually enabled/disabled using the following DSF utility files (can only be used on the new firmware; effect is preserved till settings reset):
        • http://dune-hd.com/support/misc/dune_service_rtd1619_memory_perf_mode1_enable.dsf
        • http://dune-hd.com/support/misc/dune_service_rtd1619_memory_perf_mode1_disable.dsf

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Optimizations to improve NFS client performance. Enabled by default.
    • For experimental needs, these optimizations may be manually enabled/disabled using the following DSF utility files (can only be used on the new firmware; effect is preserved till settings reset):
        • http://dune-hd.com/support/misc/dune_service_rtd1619_nfs_perf_mode1_enable.dsf
        • http://dune-hd.com/support/misc/dune_service_rtd1619_nfs_perf_mode1_disable.dsf

• Realtek and S905X3 models: Extended auto framerate setting with new option "prefer double framerate".
    • When it is used, 25-30p content is played in 50-60p modes; otherwise 25-30p content is played in 25-30p modes (if the required 25-30p modes are supported).
    • Note: it useful only when 4K video mode is used (25-30p modes are supported for 4K resolution on all platforms), and also on RTD1619/RTD1619DR models when 1080p video mode is used and 25p content is played (only RTD1619/RTD1619DR models support 1080p25 video mode).
    • On S905X3 models, this new feature is supported only for internal player; on Realtek models, it is supported both for internal player and for Android apps.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Added support for 1080p25 video mode.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Improved detection of 25p and 50i content for auto framearte.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: The number of volume level steps increased to 32.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Improved subtitles display for some languages (arabic, thai, hebrew).

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Added support for playback for specific MP4 files with huge number of tracks.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Improved compatibility with some Blu-ray images.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Optimized 3D depth effect when playing BD3D (it could be slightly wrong in some cases).

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Added possibility to manually switch "left/rigth eye first" mode when playing BD3D in Menu mode (it was not working before).

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Improved automatic detection of "left/right eye first" mode when playing BD3D in Lite mode.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Improvements in DVD-Video playback engine.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: The setting "Playback / Control / UP/DOWN buttons" is extended with a new option "Fast forward/rewind". It allows using UP/DOWN buttons as FF/REW for file and BD Lite playback (DVD-Video: FF/REW were already available via UP/DOWN; BD Menu: FF/REW were already available via P+/P-; UP/DOWN are reserved for BD Menu navigation).

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR models: Bugfix: Volume control via HDMI CEC did not work properly in some cases.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR/S905X3 models: Warning about Bluetooth remotes which require firmware update but have low batteries is now shown less frequently.

• RTD1619/RTD1619DR/S905X3 models: Bugfix: Google voice services did not update to a newer version.

• All models: PHP API: Improved HTTPS support (SSL libraries updated to a newer version).

• All models: Minor changes in the list of preinstalled applications.

• All models: Updated/improved UI translations for some languages.

This firmware version is the same as the alpha firmware version 220317_0257_r20.

Includes a new version of the user interface (New GUI). More details: New GUI.

The new version of the user interface is used by default. The old version can be chosen in "Setup / Misc / Appearance" menu.

Includes a lot of other bugfixes and improvements. More details: history of alpha firmware versions.

• "Community" section in Dune Store ("Dune HD applications / Add..." menu),
  which provides access to applications and plugins developed by the
  community of users of Dune HD media players: changed the rules of showing
  this section in the menu in order to better match the currently available
  set of community plugins.

• Minor changes in the list of preinstalled applications.

• Minor other fixes and improvements.

• Also includes the following changes (previously added in 200810_1513_r13
  firmware version for some models).

• Bugfix: Improved stability of firmware updates downloading in case of
  problems with Internet connection.

• New feature: Realtek models: Added "Setup / Misc / Display / Brightness"
  setting which allows choosing the desired brightness of the front panel
  display, or switch off the display completely.
   • NOTE: This setting takes effect only after the player starts.

This version is a minor update which only fixes regressions appeared in
the previous version 200331_2121_r13.

• Reverted the changes in auto framerate logic (which were introduced in
  the previous firmware version) for preferring video modes with higher
  framerate (such as 50Hz video modes for 25Hz content), because these
  changes cause problems when using TV's motion smoothing function, and
  because of some other problems with optimal handling of specific сases.

• Bugfix: Playback of audio files could unexpectedly stop in some cases.

This version is a small update which adds Dune-HD.TV application and a few
other improvements and fixes.

• New feature: Added Dune-HD.TV application (available in "Dune HD
  applications" menu), which provides access to Dune-HD.TV TV and VOD
  service.

• Improvement: Various minor improvements in autoframerate logic to better
  handle 4K video modes, to prefer video modes with higher framerate (when
  possible) for more smooth UI (for example 50Hz video modes for 25Hz
  content), and to better support some specific cases.

• Improvement: Realtek models: Improved support for playback of specific
  HTTP/TS streams, including better buffering handling and buffering
  progress indication and better compatibility with specific streams.

• Improvement: Realtek models: Added bitrate detection for HTTP/TS streams,
  improved bitrate detection for HLS streams.

• Improvement: Realtek models: Improved support for video codec detection.

• Improvement: "Skins" section of "Dune Store" (which was missing on all
  Android models) is now accessible via "Setup / Applications / Skins"
  menu.

• New SDK features (for plugin developers):
  • Added a new "dune_param" parameter "frame_rate" (value example: 50000)
    which allows the plugin to specify the framerate of the media stream to
    be used by the autoframerate mechanism when the framerate detection
    built into the player does not work good for some reasons (currently
    needed and supported only on Amlogic models).
  • Improved handling of the case when a plugin shows a GUI dialog on
    "install" or "update" plugin actions.
  • Added files with the information about the firmware version which was
    installed on first boot or after settings reset:
    /config/factory_boot_firmware_features.txt,
    /config/factory_boot_fw_info.txt

• Updated/improved UI translations for some languages.

• Minor other fixes and improvements.

This version is a small update which includes a few improvements and fixes.

• Bugfix: Photos with vertical orientiation were incorrectly shown in photo
  viewer.

• Bugfix: If an auto-updatable built-in plugin was hidden by deleting it in
  "Setup / Misc / Plugins", it was being restored and shown again after
  reboot.

• Bugfix: YouTube and Music apps: YouTube content could not be played in
  some cases.

• Bugfix: SmartBox 4K model: Online Subtitles feature did not work.

• "Dune HD" menu, which was added in the previous firmware update and which
  provides various information related to Dune HD (such as news, videos,
  user manuals and various other information about Dune HD media player
  models) is updated to the latest improved version. Improvements:
  • New items are marked as read immediately when focused (w/o the need to
    open the item).
  • Minor bug fixes and internal improvements.

• Minor other fixes and improvements.

This version is a small update which includes a few improvements and fixes.

• Added automatic use of SmartYouTube Android app instead of the default
  YouTube Android app. This feature is enabled when the new setting "Setup
  / Applications / Android Applications/ Use SmartYouTube as YouTube" is
  set to "Yes". It is set to "Yes" by default on Amlogic models (in order
  to fix the problem with the default YouTube Android app is often not
  working on Amlogic models), and is to "No" by default on Realtek models.

• YouTube support in YouTube PHP plugin and Movies and Music applications
  updated to include some fixes.

• Bugfix: The menu "TV" could not work properly in some cases.

• Bugfix: "DISCRETE POWER OFF" IR code (used in some smart home
  integrations) could be handled wrongly in some cases.

• Bugfix: Realtek models: Fixed the problem that switching the player off
  using Bluetooth remote did not work in some cases.

  Bugfix: Realtek models: Resuming playback of some video files was very
  slow in some cases after playing these files with enabled subtitles.

• Bugfix: Realtek models: Playback error message could be shown in some
  cases when stopping the playback too quickly after time seeking.

• Bugfix: Models with Hi-Fi audio output (Ultra 4K and Max 4K): Fixed
  several bugs in the handling of Hi-Fi audio output and XMOS, which could
  lead to audio not not playing in certain cases (for example after playing
  video in Blu-ray menu mode, or after using Android applications).

• Bugfix: Models with Hi-Fi audio output (Ultra 4K and Max 4K): when
  playing SACD ISO (DSD) files, they could be wrongly played via the
  regular player rather than via Hi-Fi player.

• Bugfix: Pro 4K model (revisions tv292a and tv292b): Fixed the problem
  that USB 3.0 port could work with USB 2.0 performance.

• Bugfix: Neo 4K, Neo 4K T2, Neo 4K T2 Plus, Sky 4K Plus models (revisions
  tv173b, tv174a, tv174b, tv274a): Fixed the problem that storage devices
  formatted into ExFAT filesystem did not work in some cases.

• Minor improvements in the text messages and icon of "Setup / Misc /
  Support" menu.

• Removed some unsupported / non-working items from the setup menu.

• Updated/improved UI translations for some languages.

• Minor other fixes and improvements.

This version includes various new features, improvements and fixes.
In particular, this version includes new "Online Subtitles" feature
(possibility to download subtitles from Internet directly during file
playback).
NOTE: There were a lot of internal changes, so this version probably
includes some bugs (will be fixed in further versions).

• Realtek models: Updated to newer versions of core components of Realtek
  SDK. This makes it possible to implement various fixes and improvements
  for media playback functionality, but also could cause some regressions
  and new bugs (to be fixed in future firmware updates).

• Realtek models: Maximum supported number of audio tracks per one video
  file is increased to 256.

• Realtek models: Maximum supported number of subtitle tracks per one video
  file is increased to 256. (Up to 256 embedeed subtitle tracks, and up to
  64 external subtitle tracks.)

• Realtek models: Fixed problem that some AVI files were playing with
  stuttering when using internal player. Internal player is now again used
  by default for AVI files (instead of SPMC).

• Realtek models: DSD audio playback (ISO, DSF, DFF) is now supported not
  only via "Internal player (Hi-Fi)" playback engine, but also via
  "Internal player" playback engine, and is now supported on all Realtek
  models (not only on Max 4K and Ultra 4K, as before). This new way for DSD
  audio playback is optimized and is recommended for audio output to the
  standard digital audio outputs (HDMI output and standard S/PDIF output).
  Known limitations: only stereo DSD is supported; audio file should not be
  too long (maximum supported duration is approximately 67 minutes).

• Max 4K model: Added correct support for minor hardware changes (power
  control of the built-on fan) in the recent batches of Max 4K (which are
  shipped starting with May/2019).

• Amlogic models: DSD audio playback (ISO, DSF, DFF) is now supported.
  Known limitations: only stereo DSD is supported; audio file should not be
  too long (maximum supported duration is approximately 67 minutes).

• Amlogic models: Improved support for playback of WavPack (.wv) lossless
  audio files.

• Amlogic models (latest generation only: tv174c, tv175e, tv175f, tv175p):
  Added support for launching HTML applications (which can use Dune JS STB
  API) not only via /config/stb_home mechanism (as was supported before),
  but also from PHP plugins.

• All models: Implemented subtitle synchronization correction function
  (same as was previously available on Sigma models, with an improvement
  that synchronization correction is applied to each subtitle track
  individually).

• All models: The setting "Setup / Playback / Control / UP/DOWN buttons"
  now has an additional possible choice "Show playlist menu", which can be
  convenient when watching TV channels, watching TV series, or listening
  music playlists.

• All models: "Movies" menu: Updated per-years categories, added category
  "2019+".

• All models: PowerPoint presentations in PPTX format (.pptx file
  extensions) are now also supported (in addition to previously supported
  PPT format).

• All models: "Android applications" menu now includes a preinstalled item
  for "START" VOD service, which automatically installs and launches
  AndroidTV version (optimized for TV screen) of START Android application.

• All models: Kartina.TV application updated to include some new features,
  improvements and fixes which were previously implemented in Kartina.TV
  STBs.

• All models: Small improvements and performance optimizations for TV
  plugins (improved loading of icons and EPG information).

• Some other minor improvements/fixes.

This version adds a lot of new features such as UltraHD (BD4K) BD Menu (for
Realtek models), Netflix 5.1 audio support (for Realtek models), CUE sheets
supports, improved support for various music formats (WavPack, APE, FLAC),
various improvements in the music player, various improvements related to
the use of Hi-Fi audio output (for Max 4K and Ultra 4K models), "TV" menu
item, initial setup wizard improvements, and various other improvements.
NOTE: There were big changes in the core parts of the firwmare, so some
functions may be potentially broken in this version.

• New feature: A new graphical design for the internal audio player: now it
  shows a bigger album picture, with the information about track / album /
  artist below it (similarly to how "Now Playing" screen looks in the new
  Dune Control mobile app), and uses a new background picture.

• New feature: Screensaver is now supported in the internal audio player
  (same as was previously implemented on Sigma platforms).

• New feature: Added support for CUE sheets (same as was previously
  available on Sigma-based models) in internal player.

• New feature: Added a decoder for WavPack audio files (same as was
  previously available on Sigma-based models) in internal player.

• New feature: Realtek models: Added a support for playback of audio files
  in APE (Monkey's Audio) format (same as was previously available on
  Sigma-based models) for internal player. (On Amlogic models, APE playback
  was already supported.

• New feature: Realtek models: Added a new decoder for FLAC audio files
  (same as was previously available on Sigma-based models) in internal
  player, for improved compatibility with various FLAC file format
  variations. This in particular fixes problems with impossibility to time
  seek in some FLAC files. (On Amlogic models, there were no such
  problems.)

• New feature: Added a new main screen item "TV" which can be used as a
  convenient shortcut for quick start of the preferred TV application. The
  TV application can be any Dune HD application or any Android application.
  Added a feature for automatic searching of suitable community TV
  applications in Internet (similarly to how comminity Movies extensions
  are searched). The new setup section "Setup / Applications / TV" can be
  used to modify reconfigure "TV" item and to hide it.

• New feature: The initial setup wizard now has "auto" and "manual" modes,
  "auto" mode tries to avoid asking any questions and configure everything
  automatically. No questions are asked in case of Ethernet connection, and
  only Wi-Fi network is asked to be configured in case of Wi-Fi connection.

• New feature: The initial setup wizard now allows to skip network
  configuration by choosing "None" option.

• Improvement: Added a special optimization which disables Android feature
  to automatically scan of all the connected user storage devices for media
  files (which can be used by some Android applications). This Android
  feature was almost never useful, but was causing unneeded background
  activities and system load (especially when a huge HDD with a lot of
  files is attached), which could nevatively affect the performance of the main
  functionality of the player.

• Improvement: Added a special optimization which disables Android feature
  to automatically create Android system folders and files (used by some
  Android applications) on the connected user storage devices. This Android
  feature was almost never useful, but was causing unneeded writes to user
  storage devices and appearance of undesired files on the storage devices.
  Now such folders and files are created only on a dedicated partition of
  the internal flash memory.

• Realtek models: New version of BD Menu playback engine:

    • New feature: BD Menu playback mode now supports Ultra HD BD images
      (BD4K).

    • New feature: When using the new Dune Control mobile app, in BD Menu
      playback mode, the name of the currently played file is shown in the
      mobile app.

    • New feature: When using the new Dune Control mobile app, in BD Menu
      playback mode, it is now possible to time seek (change playback
      position) in the mobile app; also the current playback position in
      the mobile app is now displayed more correctly.

    • Improvement: Improved support for remote controls with a reduced set
      of buttons:
        • Playback menu can now be shown by first pressing INFO RC button
          to show INFO OSD and then pressing POP UP MENU RC button.
        • Playback can now be stopped by choosing "Exit player" action in
          the playback menu.

    • Improvement: Optimized the performance of handling of BD Menu for
      some BD images, some BD images and some BD scenes in some BD images
      now start faster.

    • Bugfix: Some BD images did not work correctly in some cases.

    • Bugfix: When starting BD Menu playback simultaneously with the
      internal player working in background mode, a hint about TOP MENU RC
      button could be wrongly displayed on the screen.

• New feature: Realtek models: When using Netflix application,
  multichannel (5.1) audio playback is now supported.

• New feature: Amlogic models: when playing IPTV stream via HTTP/TS or HLS
  media streaming protocol, the user can now record the currently played
  stream to the local storage by pressing "REC" RC button (same as it was
  previously implemented on Sigma based models).

• New feature: Amlogic models: the use can now see the current bitrate of
  the currently played media stream in the INFO OSD menu (same as it was
  previously implemented on Sigma based models).

• Improvement: Amlogic models: Improved playback of HLS streams in some
  cases.

• Improvement: Kartina.TV application updated to include some new features,
  improvements and fixes which were previously implemented in Kartina.TV
  STBs.

• Improvements for PHP plugins and PHP API:

   • Added "style=smart_label" feature for button GUI controls.

• Updated/improved UI translations for some languages.

• Some other minor improvements/fixes.

NOTE: The main feature of this firmware update is the support for the new
mobile app ("Dune Control"). It does not include the support for BD4K menu
and the support for CUE in the internal player -- these features will be
included into next versions.

• New feature: Added support the new mobile app ("Dune Control"):
    • Main new features of the new mobile app:
        • Navigator (new):
            • Browse and choose media content via Dune UI shown directly on
              your mobile device.
            • Access local and network sources, Favorites, Recent, My
              Collection, Movies, Dune HD PHP plugins, etc.
            • The menu shown on the mobile device mirrors the menu shown on
              the TV screen.
            • Enter text into text fields in Dune UI using native keyboard
              on your mobile device.
            • Photo viewer mode: view photos from the Dune HD device on the
              mobile device, control photo slide show.
        • Now Playing (new):
            • See the information about the currently played media content,
              including (when available) movie poster, movie title, music
              cover, music album/artist/track information.
            • Control the playback (play/pause, stop, previous/next,
              playback position, volume).
        • Remote (similar as in the old mobile app):
            • Fully replaces the standard IR remote control.
            • Uses Wi-Fi to connect to the local network.
            • Automatically searches for Dune HD devices in the local
              network.
            • Allows to control multiple Dune HD devices and easily switch
              between them.
    • More information and mobile app download:
        • http://dune-hd.com/dunecontrol/

• New feature: Added support for music tags and covers (same as it was
  implemented previously on Sigma-based models.

• New feature: Added support for chapters in MKV files (same as it was
  implemented previously on Sigma-based models.

• New feature: Added simple parental control mechanism for file browser.
  Put "pin_code = NNNN" line into "dune_folder.txt" file in any folder to
  protect this folder by the specified pin code.

• New feature: It is now possible to add the following items to Favorites
  menu: network folders, storages, "Internal Memory" folder.

• New feature: Recent menu now shows movie posters for files which are
  recognized as movies (works when the file was recognized as a movie when
  the file was added to Recent menu).

• New feature: When viewing Movie description in the Movie screen, it is
  now possible to move focus into the description area by pressing RIGHT
  button, and then scroll through the description via UP/DOWN buttons.
  (Helpful when using remote controls w/o P+/P- buttons.)

• New feature: Realtek models: Added automatic detection of the encoding of
  external subtitles, similarly to how it was implemented previously on
  Sigma-based models.

• New feature: Realtek models: The setting "Setup / Audio / Digital audio
  output mode" now have 3 possible choices: "Auto", "PCM (decode)",
  "Original (bitstream)" (default is "Auto").
    • "Auto": use PCM or Bitstream on HDMI output based the capabilities of
      the connected HDMI equipment (automatically detected via HDMI EDID);
      use Bitstream on S/PDIF output.
        • This choice should be suitable in most cases.
    • "PCM (decode)": use PCM on both HDMI and S/PDIF outputs.
        • This choice is useful to force PCM on HDMI output when the
          connected HDMI equipment works incorrectly and provides wrong
          EDID information, or when the connected S/PDIF receiver does not
          support bitstream audio formats (Dolby/DTS), or when it is
          desired to decode bitstream audio formats (Dolby/DTS) on the
          media player side for any other reason.
    • "Original (bitstream)": use Bitstream on both HDMI and S/PDIF
      outputs.
        • This choice is useful to force Bitstream on HDMI output when the
          connected HDMI equipment works incorrectly and provides wrong
          EDID information.

• New feature: Realtek models: Added new setting "Setup / Audio / Maximum
  digital outputs sample rate" with possible choices "Auto" and "192 KHz"
  (default is "Auto" when "Digital audio connector" setting is set to
  "HDMI", "192 KHz" when "Digital audio connector" setting is set to
  "S/PDIF").
    • "Auto": the system automatically detects the maximum allowed sample
      rate based on HDMI EDID information.
        • This choice usually should be used when audio is output via HDMI.
    • "192 KHz": the system allows output of up to 192 KHz sample rate via
      S/PDIF even if HDMI EDID information does not allow 192 KHz.
        • This choice is useful when outputting video directly to a HDMI TV
          (which does not support 192 KHz) and simultaneously outputting
          audio via S/PDIF to an A/V receiver, given that the used A/V
          receiver and the used S/PDIF cable support 192 KHz.

• Improvement: Movie posters are now always displayed with the
  correct/original aspect ratio (previously movie posters could be slightly
  stretched); GUI layout of the screens with movie posters is slightly
  modified correspondingly.

• Improvement: The special support for launching playback via an external
  SPMC/KODI application can now be used not only with SPMC version 16.x (as
  before), but also with SPMC version 17.x and with KODI of any version. If
  any of these alternative SPMC/KODI versions is installed by the user (and
  no other SPMC/KODI versions are installed), the installed version will be
  used (instead of automatically installing SPMC 16.x, as took place
  before). NOTE: The default SPMC 16.x should not be installed or should be
  deleted (if it was installed) in order to use this feature.

• Improvement: Improved support for USB keyboards.

• Improvement: My Collection: when choosing a folder to add to My
  Collection, "Add to collection" action is now always available via POP UP
  MENU. (Helpful when using remote controls w/o SELECT button.)

• Improvement: RC button presses are now better handled during initial
  setup wizard in some cases.

• Improvement: Kartina.TV application updated to include some new features,
  improvements and fixes which were previously implemented in Kartina.TV
  STBs.

• Improvement: Ultra 4K: In Audio Setup, in ESS DAC source setting,
  "Internal source" renamed to "Media player" for better clarity.

• Bugfix: Ultra 4K and Max 4K: When Hi-Fi audio output (XMOS) is used,
  Hi-Fi audio output may become not working in some cases when using
  HiByMusic external app and after that using another player.

• Bugfix: Ultra 4K and Max 4K: When Hi-Fi audio output (XMOS) was enabled,
  and "Digital audio output mode" setting was set to "Bitstream", Hi-Fi
  audio output did not work for bitstream audio formats (Dolby/DTS). Now,
  when Hi-Fi audio output (XMOS) is enabled, the media player automatically
  decodes bitstream audio formats (Dolby/DTS) not depending on "Digital
  audio output mode" setting.

• Bugfix: Realtek models: Stability improvements. Fixed the problem which
  could cause frequent "Application stopped" errors and other system
  instabilities in some cases.

• Bugfix: Realtek models: When Bitstream audio output was enabled, output
  of AAC audio could not work in some cases.

• Bugfix: Realtek models: It was impossible to configure some 4K video
  modes when using specific 4K HDMI equipment which does not fully support
  all HDMI 2.0a features (such as Epson 8300/9300 projectors).

• Bugfix: Realtek models: Switching subtitles could not work in some cases.

• Bugfix: Realtek models: Some HTTP/TS streams could not be played
  correctly (playback restarts and hangups could happen) in some cases.

• Bugfix: Realtek models: When CEC was enabled, TV wakeup could not work
  properly on exiting software standby mode in some cases.

• Bugfix: Amlogic models: Fixed problem with unneeded CPU usage when CEC
  was disabled.

• Bugfix: Amlogic models: Fixed problem that an external storage could not
  be mounted in some cases (because of a problem when attempting to check
  it for filesystem errors)

• Bugfix: Amlogic models: Fixed problem with DHCP client working
  incorrectly in some cases (network connectivity could be lost after a
  while in some cases).

• Bugfix: Amlogic models: Fixed problems with playback of network streams
  in some cases.

• Bugfix: Amlogic models: Some HEVC video files could not be played.

• Bugfix: Amlogic models: When video mode was set to Auto (EDID), this
  could work incorrectly when auto framerate was used in some cases.

• Bugfix: Amlogic models: Extra unneeded HDMI reinitialization could take
  place during boot.

• Bugfix: Traveler: Battery status could be indicated wrongly after
  power-on in some cases.

• Bugfix: When playback was started by IP Control command and screensaver
  was active, screensaver was not cancelled.

• Bugfix: Errors during playback of catchup TV streams could be handled
  wrongly in some cases (restoring Live TV playback instead of restoring
  catchup TV playback).

• Bugfix: Some HLS streams could not be played.

• Bugfix: Fixed problem that navigation buttons (left/right/up/down) did
  not work via IP Control in mouse emulation mode.

• Bugfix: Fixed problem that long-press of POWER RC button was wrongly
  detected faster than in 2 seconds in some cases.

• Bugfix: POP UP MENU could work wrongly in text edit fields in some cases.

• Bugfix: "Play with..." function could work incorrectly in some cases and
  could crash in some cases.

• Bugfix: When Composite video output was used, Setup menu could crash in
  some cases.

• Bugfix: Office files (such as .xlsx) were wrongly not recognized as
  office files in some cases.

• Bugfix: Icons shown in Favorites menu could become incorrect in some
  cases.

• Bugfix: "dune_firmware.dff" file was wrongly highlighted as audio (SACD
  DFF) file.

• Bugfix: GUI hint about D button could be shown incorrectly in some cases.

• Improvements for PHP plugins and PHP API:

    • New feature: Added support for color button actions without captions
      in control folders and regular folders.

    • Bugfix: Parameters for handle_user_input in control dialogs could be
      handled wrongly in some cases.

    • Bugfix: P+/P- buttons could not work correctly in cntrol dialogs in
      some cases.

    • Bugfix: Restoring GUI state in could work wrongly in some cases.

    • Bugfix: When the playback of the current playlist list item (e.g. TV
      series episode) finished in plugin playback mode, and the main menu
      was shown, the system wrongly did not automatically start the
      playback of the next playlist item.

• Improvements in IP Control protocol:

    • IP Control protocol extended with a lot of new features to support
      the new mobile app. In particular, added support for getting detailed
      information about the current UI state, and for controlling the UI
      state, to allow external applications to implement external browsers
      for Dune UI. For more information, see the description of protocol
      version 5 here:
        • http://dune-hd.com/support/ip_control/dune_ip_control_overview.txt

• Updated/improved UI translations for some languages.

• Some other minor improvements/fixes.

This version is a big update from r12 to r13 development branch and
contains a huge number of changes.

This version includes all general changes (except changes specific or
exclusive to RTD1295-based models) which were previously implemented in the
latest firmware update for RTD1295-based models and which are included into
the firmware version 181123_2042_r13 for Dune HD Pro 4K; see here for more
information:
    • http://dune-hd.com/firmware/pro4k_tv292a/

Besides, this version includes the following Amlogic-specific changes:

• New feature: IP Control functionality, including the possibility to
  control media playback, is now supported also for Amlogic-based models
  (same as for RTD1295-based models and Sigma Designs based models).

• New feature: "Software Standby" standby mode, with OS and background
  services running in background, is now supported also for Amlogic-based
  models (same as for RTD1295-based models and Sigma Designs based models).

• New feature: The setting "Setup / Video / Advanced / Deinterlacing mode"
  can be used to fine-tune picture quality by adjusting video deinterlacing
  mode of Amlogic media processor. By default, it is now set to "Sharp",
  which provides the best picture quality in most cases.

• Some other Amlogic-specific improvements and fixes (related to EDID
  handling, CEC handling, Bluetooth audio output, Volume Control GUI,
  virtual mouse mode, playback of HLS streams, playback of HTTP/TS streams,
  playback of HTTP/UDT streams).

• Minor other improvements/fixes.

This firmware is a minor update which fixes some problems of the initial
factory firmware.

• Bugfix: Neo 4K Plus (tv175f): The media player could spontaneously exit
  standby mode in some cases. (More complete fix than in the previous
  firmware version 180720_1918_r12.)

• Some other minor improvements/fixes.

This firmware is a minor update which fixes some problems of the initial
factory firmware.

• Bugfix: Neo 4K Plus (tv175f), Neo 4K T2 Plus (tv174c): When playing some
  specific H.264 video files, video stuttering could take place.

• Bugfix: Neo 4K Plus (tv175f): The media player could spontaneously exit
  standby mode in some cases.

• Some other minor improvements/fixes.