KEAOS (Software) UPDATES

[Gallo24]

We should have an update coming soon correct?

 

[MikeKobb]

Yes indeed! I believe we'll be posting release information here tomorrow.

 

[J.Green]

Before I post the details about what's in the latest kOS release, I should point out a change we have made to our software versioning going forward. For Strato/Terra kOS releases, we will now begin each version number with a two digit year. The first release using this new scheme is kOS 26.0.0, which is being rolled out starting today to every system still running a 10.x kOS version. If your system does not yet show 26.0.0, rest assured the update will arrive shortly.

In kOS 26.0.0, we have implemented a variety of playback improvements, updated HDMI CEC, improved aspect ratio handling, and more. These new features and improvements are detailed below.

Playback Improvements for Strato V, E, and M Players
We have increased playback robustness to account for varying network latency, removed additional video processing in cases where video is passed through unscaled, and fixed onscreen graphics to reduce flickering of Dolby Vision content on some projectors and displays. We have also made improvements to audio and video handling during playback of TrueHD content, correcting channel output and reducing audio dropouts.

Updated HDMI CEC Functionality
Improvements have been made to HDMI CEC power synchronization settings, including the following options:

• Synchronize standby between the player and connected devices (default)
• Player controls standby of connected devices
• Connected HDMI devices control the player’s standby
• Do not synchronize (each device uses its own remote)

If HDMI CEC is disabled and later re-enabled, the previous setting is now preserved. When HDMI CEC is turned on, the volume controls in the mobile app’s remote tab will be enabled, providing an integrated remote control experience. Read our HDMI CEC FAQ for more information.

Improved Aspect Ratio Handling for All Strato Players
The kOS 26.0.0 software update enables all Strato players to display more accurate aspect ratios on the movie details pages. Previously, the aspect ratios displayed were limited to a set of pre-defined values. Alongside the kOS 26.0.0 rollout, updated aspect ratio information will also be displayed on our movie store and in our mobile applications. Movies that switch between aspect ratios within the film will continue to display the “most open” aspect ratio, which will now be more precise (e.g., 1.90 for a film like Top Gun: Maverick). This enhanced aspect ratio information is also used to improve content playback on players that use our CinemaScape feature for widescreen projection.

Performance Improvements and Fixes
We have made several behind-the-scenes improvements to enhance performance, including:

• Updates to parental control behavior
• Network configuration safeguards
• Switching improvements for Co-Star and Strato V
• General robustness for Strato/Terra devices
• Bug fixes

 

[joey_corleone]

It’s fantastic to see improvements explicitly called out for audio drops with TrueHD.

One thing I would give constructive feedback on would be if people report these things (as many here have done with audio dropouts), and they are working on it, just acknowledging that there is a problem and it’s being worked on would go a long way, as opposed to support telling people it’s anything but their K causing it.

Good work!

 

[DLCPhoto]

Movies that switch between aspect ratios within the film will continue to display the “most open” aspect ratio, which will now be more precise (e.g., 1.90 for a film like Top Gun: Maverick). This enhanced aspect ratio information is also used to improve content playback on players that use our CinemaScape feature for widescreen projection.

Many thanks for all of the improvements, and for keeping us informed in general.

Regarding the one point above, for VAR movies, one of the problems I've previously reported is that the otherwise excellent Kaleidescape feature, which keeps the subtitles within the content area for cinemascope content, doesn't work for these movies, and the subtitles appear in the black bar area during the wider scenes.

Has this been addressed in this firmware update? And if not, is this on the "to do" list for the future?

 

[thrillcat]

Many thanks for all of the improvements, and for keeping us informed in general.

Regarding the one point above, for VAR movies, one of the problems I've previously reported is that the otherwise excellent Kaleidescape feature, which keeps the subtitles within the content area for cinemascope content, doesn't work for these movies, and the subtitles appear in the black bar area during the wider scenes.

Has this been addressed in this firmware update? And if not, is this on the "to do" list for the future?

It would also be a great idea to include "VAR" next to the aspect ratio on the UI for those handful of titles where the director couldn't make up their mind. So Maverick would be listed as "1.90:1 VAR" to indicate that it will change during playback.

 

[rafaelsmith]

One thing I would give constructive feedback on would be if people report these things (as many here have done with audio dropouts), and they are working on it, just acknowledging that there is a problem and it’s being worked on would go a long way, as opposed to support telling people it’s anything but their K causing it.

Good work!

I very much agree with this. Something simply notifying folks that something related to Audio Dropouts had been found and being worked on for future release would have gone long way in saving me time trying figure out what it might be since all heard for a year+ was that it had to be something on my end.

 

[rafaelsmith]

Who do I bribe so that I am not the last one on earth to get the update like I have been for several of the recent ones?

 

[thrillcat]

Who do I bribe so that I am not the last one on earth to get the update like I have been for several of the recent ones?

I think bribes go to Marty McFly/Doc Brown to send you back in time to be Kaleidescape's first customer.

 

[MikeKobb]

Regarding the one point above, for VAR movies, one of the problems I've previously reported is that the otherwise excellent Kaleidescape feature, which keeps the subtitles within the content area for cinemascope content, doesn't work for these movies, and the subtitles appear in the black bar area during the wider scenes.

There are no changes to the handling of variable aspect ratio films, except that the aspect ratio shown in the onscreen display will more accurately reflect the tallest aspect ratio used in the film. For example, Top Gun: Maverick uses 1.90 aspect ratio for the IMAX scenes, and that's now what is shown. Previously, it would have been shown as 1.85.

I will never say never, but it is very unlikely that we will change the handling of subtitle repositioning. To have them move with every aspect ratio change, we would have to individually mark the aspect ratios every time they change, so that the player could move the subtitles accordingly. Doing that would require both significant technical changes (to have multiple, time-stamped aspect ratios stored for a movie, and have the subtitle engine respond to them), and a huge amount of manual labor to do the actual aspect ratio recording. Even if we had an automated tool to process the video, it would still have to be individually checked as part of our quality process, for every different version of the film.

It would also be a great idea to include "VAR" next to the aspect ratio on the UI for those handful of titles where the director couldn't make up their mind. So Maverick would be listed as "1.90:1 VAR" to indicate that it will change during playback.

I agree that this would be an improvement. We did not have the engineering cycles available in this release to do more than we did, but perhaps something like this can be added in the future.

 

[Broncowrangler]

My V updated to 26.0.0… 4:30 AM PST.

Awesome

 

[rafaelsmith]

I think bribes go to Marty McFly/Doc Brown to send you back in time to be Kaleidescape's first customer.

Is it really in customer order? lol that seems odd.

K's really long update cycle could stand to be updated...I mean Playstation, XBOX, etc do staggered updates but its only over a few days not a month+ and they WAY more clients.

 

[Broncowrangler]

It’s fantastic to see improvements explicitly called out for audio drops with TrueHD.

One thing I would give constructive feedback on would be if people report these things (as many here have done with audio dropouts), and they are working on it, just acknowledging that there is a problem and it’s being worked on would go a long way, as opposed to support telling people it’s anything but their K causing it.

Good work!

Plus all the exotic HDMI cables we have invested in, just to eliminate the variable. My latest investment was a full fiber cable.

 

[J.Green]

Is it really in customer order? lol that seems odd.

It is not.

 

[DLCPhoto]

I will never say never, but it is very unlikely that we will change the handling of subtitle repositioning. To have them move with every aspect ratio change, we would have to individually mark the aspect ratios every time they change, so that the player could move the subtitles accordingly. Doing that would require both significant technical changes (to have multiple, time-stamped aspect ratios stored for a movie, and have the subtitle engine respond to them), and a huge amount of manual labor to do the actual aspect ratio recording. Even if we had an automated tool to process the video, it would still have to be individually checked as part of our quality process, for every different version of the film.

Yes, I can see the challenge here.

Perhaps another approach would be to provide both the Scope and VAR versions of these movies, since the Scope version would have been used in many/most commercial theaters when first released. I understand that this is likely not totally under Kaleidescape's control, but having something like this would keep both 16:9 and 2.40:1 screen users happy, where otherwise one or the other is unhappy!

 

[MikeKobb]

I understand that this is likely not totally under Kaleidescape's control

Regrettably, it is not. The studio/licensor and/or the director determine what aspect ratio they will offer to electronic storefronts. Historically, some have only offered cropped 'scope versions, and some have offered only VAR versions, but to my knowledge, none offer both.

 

[dinom]

Looking forward to madVR Envy’s Dynamic Subtitle Overlay. That should solve the issue of VAR movies played on scope screens.

 

[MikeKobb]

Looking forward to madVR Envy’s Dynamic Subtitle Overlay. That should solve the issue of VAR movies played on scope screens.

I am very interested to see this feature in action as well.

 

[Transepoch]

Performance Improvements and Fixes
We have made several behind-the-scenes improvements to enhance performance, including:

• Updates to parental control behavior
• Network configuration safeguards
• Switching improvements for Co-Star and Strato V
• General robustness for Strato/Terra devices
• Bug fixes

Can you mention a little more on the also rans, particularly the second and third? (I think the others have been recent questions on here, so won't remove, even if I suspect to personally be less interested in them.)

 

[Airbus320]

“Playback Improvements for Strato V, E, and M Players”

Any improvements for the Strato C Player ?

Del
( Japan )