Vários proprietários desse player tem feito importantes descobertas a respeito do mesmo. Vou fazer um resumo do que encontrei em outro forum.
O mesmo aparelho é vendido com nomes diferentes, dependendo da localização geográfica:
Zinwell ZP-500: Brasil, Canadá, etc.
Olevia ZP-500: E.U.A., etc.
Astone AP-100: Austrália, etc.
Em relação aos Firmwares disponibilizados para download:
Zinwell ZP-500: no site brasileiro foi diponibilzada a versão 1.6, que trás várias melhorias (não há descrição das mesmas no site), porém essa versão adiciona umas fotos meio ridículas nas telas de background.
Olevia ZP-500: por enquanto só foi disponibilzada a versão 1.4 (estão atrasados), e mesmo assim, é necessario registrar o aparelho para fazer o download.
Astone AP-100: essa foi a grande descoberta dos usuários do outro forum. No site da Astone (Forum), é disponibilzada a versão 1.7 beta, que trás significativas melhorias (inclusive suporte a legendas de Blu-ray em arquivos .m2ts, que é algo muito difícil de encontrar nos concorrentes). Ver todas as modificações no final deste post.
O firmware do Astone AP-100 funciona no Zinwell ZP-500 (vários usuários testaram e não tiveram problemas). Provavelmente o do Olevia ZP-500 também funciona (porém ninguém testou ainda). A única ressalva é que não há opção PAL-M (apenas NTSC).
Pelo que posso entender, todas essas versões de firmware devem ser criadas pela mesma equipe de desenvolvedores, provavelmente localizada em Taiwan. Só devem mudar alguns detalhes, de marca para marca, como suporte a PAL-M/ PAL/ NTSC, etc.
A medida em que os distribuidores brasileros do Zinwel ZP-500 disponibilzam o produto, os estoques tem se esgotado rapidamente. Alguns usuários conseguiram comprá-lo por R$279,00. Fazendo uma pesquisa rápida hoje só encontrei o mesmo disponível, nesta loja (por R$419,00):
http://www.shopgr.com.br/ (não sei se é confiável, etc.).
Aqui está a descrição das modificações das versões de Firmware do Astone AP-100 (link:
http://www.astone.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=32 )
Change log
Version 1.7 Beta
---------------------------
New function
-------------------
1. Support PGS subtitle in the Blu-ray Video M2TS file.
2. New subtitle sub-menu:
During movie playback, press yellow key to open sub-menu for detail options including subtitle number, subtitle encoding, subtitle color, font size (-30 to 30) , delay and position. External and internal subtitle can be choosed in the sub-menu.
3. Add new information including repeat mode, video format and audio format in the movie info.
4. Automatic playback for video and photo.
-The device repeats and plays all movie files in the folder "AD_Video".
-The device repeats and plays all photo files in the folder "AD_Photo".
-If both folders "AD_Video" and "AD_Photo" are found, the device only repeats and plays all movie files in the folder "AD_Video".
-In the initial setup, this function is temperatory disabled until the setup complete.
-When power on even after power disconnection, the device finds the folder "AD_Video" or "AD_Photo" to play.
5. Support PCM audio format for video recording of Canon and FUJIFILM digital still camera.
6. Add Language Support: Janpanese, Korean
Bugfix
----------------
1. Fix the playback failure when the "Resume Play" database is damaged.
2. Fix the occasional pink screen when connecting HDMI.
3. Fix the audio output of MKV movie file within FLAC audio.
New HDMI Debug tool
---------------
1. Build the folder "HDMI_LOG" in the root directory of USB storage.
2. Plug in the USB storage to the device and wait for the USB signal on, and then press "MENU" key.
3. The device will save the information from HDMI port in the folder "HDMI_LOG".
4. Unplug the USB storage after 5 seconds and plug in PC to check if the info exists in the folder.
V 1.6
New function
(1) Add "Search", "History" and "File Copy" functions. The Searched result can be sorting again.
(2) Add new icon for M3U file.
Bugfix
(1) Improve the Wi-Fi connectivity in Ad Hoc mode.
(2) Fix the issue of display and the playback sequence in M3U.
V 1.5.3
New function
(1) Indenpendent page for subtitle setting. New subtitle option includs color, delay (-2000ms~+2000ms, + means delay and - means early display).
(2) Ignore the built-in subtitle when the external subtitle file exists in the same folder. For example, display the SRT file for subtitle instead of displaying the built-in subtitle of MKV.
(3) Support switching media type when viewing M3U media list. ( To do so will exit M3U playlist in the previous or early version.)
Bugfix
(1) Fix the issue of the lower position of display for the single-byte character than double-byte character when the font size is +1 or +2 in 1080i/p display mode.
V 1.5
New function
(1) Adjustable Screen-saver idle time: Off, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes.
Bugfix
(1) Fix the silent HDMI LPCM output when connecting to ASUS VH226H LCD monitor through HDMI.
(2) Fix the HDMI compatibility with SONY Bravia 42" LCD TV.
V 1.4
(1) Change the resolution of OSD to HD for more clear font and better aspect ratio (for OSD).
(2) New audio format support "WMA Pro".
(3) Support playlist format "m3u" and "m3u8" to include media type "movie", "music" & "photo".In Chinese Traditional file system, the m3u8 or unicode m3u is required to include the non-English file path.
(4) Support Time Serach/ Goto function in playback. Press play key while playing a video to open the sub menu to select Title/Chapter/Time to jump to.
(5) Increase the font level to five including -2, -1, Normal, +1 and +2. The deafult level is Normal.
(6) Fixed the black block on screen conducted by certain operation.
(7) Fixed the unexpected white dots shown in a row, in the right side of the screen when playing video with external subtitle in 720p output.
(
Fixed the picture shifted by direction key in Zoom-out mode.
(9) Support NAS function.
(10) Improve the support for Wi-Fi security.
(11) Improve the compatibility of Wi-Fi Access Point.
V1.3
(1) Display the cover image in MP3 ID 3 tag v2.2/2.3/2.4.
(2) Automatically detect and open the default directory of digital still camera and digital camcorder.
(3) Support video format "m2t".
(4) Support the position ajdustment for subtitle by UP/Down key in the video playback.
(5) Support the font size adjustment for subtitle by Left/Down key in the video playback.
(6) Improve the compatibility and stability for video.
(7) Support "Resume play" function. The unfinished movie can be playback continuously even if the power was once disconnected.
(
Support CD/VCD playback for USB external DVD-ROM drive.
(9) Support 1080p 24Hz playback.
(10) Add the option to turn on/off the video preview.