the following (it won't be identical) --
APEX AD-1200 - ZORAN version
Note: If you have found
this page through a search engine,
please visit the main AD-1200 page first.
Zoran-processor AD-1200's
have a setup menu screen that *resembles*
the following (it won't be identical) --
Within the "universe"
of Zoran-processor AD-1200's, there are a number of sub-versions.
The differences between the sub-versions center around whether
the player has VCD support and also whether the player has a
secret menu to allow region-free operation.
SECRET MENU
To determine whether
your player has the secret menu,
eject the disc tray and press DISPLAY on the remote.
You should now see a screen - or line(s) of text - indicating the firmware version.
If you see something that starts with "v2.10" or "v2.12", then your player probably has the secret menu (the procedure for accessing it is described below).
If you DON'T see something that starts with "v2.10" or "v2.12", then your almost surely does NOT have the secret menu.
The procedure for accessing the secret menu is as follows:
1. Eject the disc tray
2. Push 8 4 2 1 on the remote.
3. This reveals the secret menu.
4. Push "ENTER"
on the remote to select the Region.
Select '9' for Region Bypass.
5. To save the settings, close the disc tray.
Note:
Only the Region menu works. The Macrovision option has
NO EFFECT and therefore, Macrovision is ALWAYS ON.
VCD SUPPORT
The
presence of VCD support is not directly related to the firmware
version, with some exceptions. For example, all players that have
a firmware version starting with "v2.10" or "v2.12"
should also have VCD support. However, in the case of, say,
"v2.13", some units have
VCD support and others do not.
From what we have learned...
- Any AD-1200 that includes "VCD" as the list of supported formats (on the front of the player) should certainly be able to play VCD.
- If
"VCD" is not listed, then whether the unit actually has
VCD support is unknown. Looking at the serial number - which
indicates the manufacture date - may provide further clues.
The serial number - which is printed on a small sticker on the
corners of the long sides of the box, as well as the rear of the
player itself, will begin with a letter, followed by the number
"1200". The next 6 digits provide the manufacture date
in YYMMDD format. So a player on which the 6 digits following
"1200" are 020724 was built on July 24, 2002.
Generally speaking, any AD-1200 built between mid-April through the end of June 2002, possibly as late as mid-July 2002, will not have VCD support. These dates may be inaccurate, by a few weeks, in either direction.
Here is a picture of the main circuit board from a Zoran-processor AD-1200:
Ideally, someone who has a Zoran AD-1200 containing firmware version v2.10 or v2.12 (which is the "best" firmware available) will be able to extract the firmware from his or her player and make it available...and hopefully owners of Zoran AD-1200's with other firmware versions will be able to load this firmware to gain its benefits.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to remove and read the chip. What makes it hard is that the firmware chip is soldered directly onto the board and is also a smaller package than older style chips. Therefore to read the firmware off the firmware chip in an AD-1200 it will require someone with both the right de-soldering tools AND the correct type of socket adaptor on a chip reader to do it.
As can be seen in the picture above, the firmware chip in question has the sticker "MPEG 1200-03" on it. It appears that the chip is an AMIC branded type and in this case is quite possibly a flashrom and may even be CDR upgradable. Let's hope someone can get the firmware from a Zoran AD-1200 and see what can be done with it!
WHERE TO GET HELP
Please Note! I do not own an Apex AD-1200 player. All care taken in accurately providing this information which is kindly provided by others who do own these models. Please visit the sites linked above if you require any assistance.
ALSO NOTE I
AM NOT A FIRMWARE PROGRAMMER!!!
So please don't ask me when
other features will be available...
