The public beta firmware of Android 5.1 for FiiO X7(FW3.0beta) is coming!

 
X7 supporting Android 5.1 had actually already been a must-do mission way before X7's launch. Back in the middle of 2014, we had already started the software development of X7. However, for consideration of stability of the system and the sales plan of X7, Android 4.4 was the only and the best choice back then.
 
In March 2015, Google released the Android 5.1. But at the time, it's much harder to develop the Android 5.1 than Android 4.4 and it certainly would be more time-consuming. RK did not provide technical support for RK3188 to run with Android 5.1 until July 2015, so we didn't have much time left before X7's launch. Besides, our software team will have to take care of the software upgrade of other models. Therefore the Android 5.1 for X7 is a bit left behind. We're so sorry for keeping you waiting.
Today, the Android 5.1 finally can be realized on X7! To better satisfy the need of our customers, we have improved the underlying framework and design a brand-new audio architecture which will bring you excellent music experience. However, since the underlying design of the firmware is very different from the Android 4.4, the firmware upgrade can only be realized by burning with the desktop upgrade tool. Also some functions might be different after the upgrade, please find the following introductions for your reference.
 
 

1. Statements before upgrade:

 

1. Though this firmware is based on Android 5.1, it still needs time for perfection. Therefore, we have defined it the public beta version. You can choose to upgrade or not according to your personal preference. Also you're welcomed to share your opinions and suggestions about this firmware with us.
2. This firmware upgrade can only be realized by burning with the upgrade tool. All data on X7 will be erased after upgrade. So please backup your important data stored on X7's internal storage and remove the SD card before the upgrade.

 

1. The FW3.0beta (Android5.1.1) solves the problems left from the FW2.0 (Android4.4.4) and adds the following functions:

 

1. No SRC for third-party music applications
2. Adopted the incremental media lib update (only new songs will be updated), and added recently played playlist
3. Added sorting by alphabetical order (among different languages)/file name/track number /number of tracks in album. (Both ascending and descending are supported)
4. Added the Maximum volume and customized volume setting in FiiO music
5. Added the continuous volume adjustment when screen-off
6. Added the manual OTA upgrade(Technical support->Firmware Update->Online Upgrade, OTA upgrade will be available next time)
7. Added instant switch between Android mode and Pure music mode (no reboot required)
8. CUE tracks can be added to the playlist directly
9. Press the Play button to wake up X7 from hibernation, press again to play music without lighting up the screen.
10.  Improved the USB DAC delay
11.  Improved the power consumption of standby and music play, playtime can last for 90 min longer.
12.  Improved the pull-down menu, where common used functions can be switched directly
13.  Improved the stability of Google Play.

 
C. However, there are still some unsolved bugs on the FW3.0 Beta version:
1. No sound output when using as USB DAC for MAC computers;
2. Gapless playback is not available on this version owing to its imperfection;
3. ISO tracks cannot be added to media library, currently it can only be added to Playlists or Folders to play;
4. The speed of transferring files to the internal memory is not very fast;
5. There is short delay on playback when operating fast forward and rewind;
6. Small ratio of playback noise at certain operations (can be fixed by changing tracks or replay); App might exit abnormally (can be fixed by opening the App again);
7. Impulsive sound might be heard when turning off the X7 with AM2/AM2A;
8. Unnatural swing of pointers in the VU meters.
 
 
 
D. FAQ when upgrading to the new firmware with Android 5.1:
 
1. Why does the progress bar at the upgrade tool menu not move while in the process of upgrade?
 
Please make sure the upgrade tool had been installed correctly; you may try to run the burning tool program ("RKUpgradeDllTest.exe") again as administrator after installing the driver following the provided instructions.
 
2. Why does the "play through folders" function not work?
 
It is based on the file sorting when changing tracks through folders; if there is any problem on the sorting, it might cause the operation of "play through folders" invalid or incorrect; please try to fix it by resorting the files. 
 
3. Why do some folders not appear in certain folders?
 
Please try to fix it by resorting the files.
 
4. Why some songs can't be supported or play with noise?
 
Some files that are not well compatible with the system would be blocked out; for tracks with noise, please kindly send the files to support@fiio.net.
 
5. Why is there no sound output when using X7 as USB DAC?
 
The Android 5.1 system comes with only one audio channel. In case that the channel is occupied by other operation, there would be no sound output; please try to unplug and replug the USB cable to fix it.
 
6. Why is the system response slow when using third-party input methods?
 
The Android 5.1 system comes with one audio channel. The system prompt tone of the third-party input method would conflict with the audio path of Android 5.1; it can be fixed after closing the system prompt tone of the third-party input method.
 
7. Why are the Hiby Music/Foobar Android not supported?
 
The Android 5.1 adopts the brand-new audio architecture, and the audio channel of Hiby Music/Foobar Android would conflict with the middle service of the 5.1 system and makes it unusable; it awaits further amendment.
 
8. Why is there no settings option when pulling down the settings menu?
 
The Android 5.1 system comes with two levels of pulling down; pulling for the first time to display the notifications bar and pulling for the second time for the settings shortcuts.
 
 
9. How come that every time I play songs in FiiO Music it would exit abnormally?
 
Please try to reset the database (FiiO Music->Settings->Reset database), scan for songs and play again (playlists and My favorite list wouldn't be deleted after resetting the database). If the above operation is non-effective, please go to System Settings->Apps->All, click the FiiO Music app, click "CLEAR DATA" and then try again (Clearing the data will empty the playlists/My favorite and other media lib data, but wouldn't delete any music in internal storage/SD card)
10. How come that every time I enter FiiO Music it would exit abnormally?
 
Please go to System Settings->Apps->All, click the FiiO Music app, click "CLEAR DATA" and then try again (Clearing the data will empty the playlists/My favorite and other media lib data, but wouldn't delete any music in internal storage/SD card)
 
 
Here is the firmware 3.0Beta and the firmware upgrade tool:  click here
Here is the instruction of how to upgrade to FW3.0Beta: click here
 
If you want to go back to the older version firmware, please click:
Upgrade tool with FW2.0
 
Looking forward to your feedback!

Awesome! Downloading now...
 
---Edited---
 
Update went smoothly and now reformatting my microSD and doing factory reset, wipe cache partition (just to be sure)
 
Feedback:
 
- Settings, Button Mapping, Button Mapping - Why is there an extra menu step to go into for this? (Same as with the previous firmware) I think it's better if this was changed to Settings, Button Mapping (Only)
- Start-up seems faster now.
- SERIOUS ISSUE - in both Pure Music and Android Modes, when the screen is off, only the Power Button works - the rest (Volume Up and Down, Next and Prev Track and Pause) physical buttons doesn't work! So you have to turn on the screen to change volumes and/or tracks and/or pause music.

R E P L A Y G A I N ???

Hi, how to revert back to android 4? Thanks

Hmm, people on the X7 thread are saying there's reduced bass response?

Can't get it to install

have window 10

mochill said:

  have window 10

Click to expand...

 
1. Open PC settings
2. Go to Update & recovery
3. Click on the Recovery
4. Click Restart now under Advanced startup
5. After reboot select Troubleshoot
6. Advanced Options.
7. Startup Settings.
8. Restart
9. Press 7 or F7 for to select "Disable driver signature enforcement" option.
10. Try updating your X7 again.

All my music is in an 1 TB. Kingston HyperX pendrive.
 
1. Navigating through folders in my OTG device is very slow compared with FW 2.0. and when i click on any sound file on any kind the Fiio music exit with "Ooops..." error message. I can't play any file if access through folders. Only plays accesing from media library or recent music files.
2. Updating the entire media library for the first time takes more than 30 minutes. In FW 2.0 only 3 minutes.
3. Can't equalize DSD files. I think i can do it in FW 2.0.
4. Not detect, in my case, Spanish characters of folders or files names.
5. Not estable. Constantly crashing.
6. The Fiio App player is the same. Same UI, same theme, same features. No new features or improvements except two: Change the order of folders and no white background on m3u8 playlist.
 
Expected and not see in this new release:
1. No posible to see or read the entire folder or file name if it is more long than the screen.
2. Not detect more than one genre, artist, etc. in the ID3 tag separated by semicolon ";".
3. Only searchs song, no genre, artist, albums, etc.
4. Mark a song to be the next to play and then continue to play the order of the marked song like the next song of that song album.
5. Subtitles of folders continues to be in a dark gray color imposible to read.
6. No read lyrics in tags. No sync lyrics.
7. White Text without shadows on the album image like quality or lyrics imposible to read if the album image is much lighter or white.
 
I expected in this new version at least all the features and customizations options of apps like Neutron or JetAudio. 

Has anyone rooted the new firmware yet? V4A working? Can we downgrade? Thanks in advance.

As far as mojo stacked with X7, not worth the trouble for me as in carrying a stack around. I have to give it a good listening session again to see if I hear a major difference. Problem is I'm so damn happy with the sound of the X7 I have no desire to compare them anymore. I've basically relegated my mojo to watch movies.

In Fiio Musip app, go to Settings - under the Play menu, there's a strange option for "@2131427632" - what's this for Fiio?!

rusnak666 said:

  Hi, how to revert back to android 4? Thanks

Click to expand...

 
Hi, rusnak666.
 
Here is the firmware and instruction for the X7's FW2.0: click here, and please follow the instruction step by step to downgrade your X7 to Andriod 4.

classicgod said:

mochill said:

 
have window 10

Click to expand...

1. Open PC settings
2. Go to Update & recovery

3. Click on the Recovery

4. Click Restart now under Advanced startup

5. After reboot select Troubleshoot

6. Advanced Options.

7. Startup Settings.

8. Restart

9. Press 7 or F7 for to select "Disable driver signature enforcement" option.
10. Try updating your X7 again.

Click to expand...

thanks bro☺

To me and my X7, sound quality decreased from v1.8 to v2.0. It felt like the veil was put on the sound.
But with this v3b - sound quality increased again, even to the level better than it was before! Bass quality, detalization, separation, wide and deepness of the scene, clarity, resolution, tonality and overall perception is much much better and become pleasurable again!!
So, I really glad I updated, because sound quality and music is the priority for me.I will highly recommend to do the same for the one who in the highest piroritize the music and the sound quality.
 
So far, I discovered next glitches, bugs:
-inability of using any physical (external) buttons while the music is played and screen switched off. I press buttons - no reaction at all. Only power button works.
-no gapeless playback.
-some songs a played, but there is no sound.At all.Even though timing is passing - no sound...currently it happens with some mp3. Never happened on previous versions.
-power saving regime switches off when I connect x7 to laptop.

On the update:
-Now lines separate tracks.Becomes very comfortable to choose the track.
-the whole system become more readably and pleasant for eyes.
-the regime of energy saving is now colored with orange strips in the top and the bottom of the theme.
-amount of themes and standard pictures for theme reduced - no autumn,no fog/mist. All my favourite one are reduced ((( Fiio, please return them back!!! And add more if it is possible))
-the name of music jerks while playing in Fiio music full screen regime.
-DSD AGAIN is not supported in Fiio music
-X7 does not work as external DAC (( I guess, the driver on laptop just does not make it recognizable! 
 
Russian language;
AM1
LO+Alo Rx
FiiO app music player
   
I WILL REPEAT - SOUND QUALITY IS THE BEST AMONG ALL 3 PREVIOUS VERSIONS!!! NO BASS REDUCTION IN MY CASE - ONLY ITS IMPROVEMENT!!!

p.s: when can we expect the final complete version with bugs removed AND, FINALLY, DSD SUPPORTING??
Thank you so much Fiio for the device and great effort in its development  

fiio-shadow said:

   
Hi, rusnak666.
 
Here is the firmware and instruction for the X7's FW2.0: click here, and please follow the instruction step by step to downgrade your X7 to Andriod 4.

Click to expand...

You need to put this link in the first post so it doesn't get lost when this thread gets to big.