Fast forward too slow + m3u not recognized

[hood]

Hi,

I have just bought an SA3MXX04K/02. Device is quite good, however, concerning its features I have two major issues:

1. Fast forward is extermely slow. When I'm listening to a 3-hour mix (which is ofc one single mp3 track) and I switch off the device and want to continue the mix the next day, it just does not bookmark/memorize the last position so I need to start from beginning and fast forward to the position where I stopped before which can take up to 3-4 minutes (or even more). This is extremely annoying (even my cheap mobile phone does better). Is there any tip or trick for this or is there any firmware upgrade (bookmarking / fast scan etc.) planned in near future resolving this issue?

2. In the shop where I bought the device I was told that this device recognizes and plays Winamp playlists (.m3u). It recognizes them in folder view but it does not play. Am I doing something wrong or was I not told the truth in the shop?

Thanks!
Hood

[SoundWave]

Hey,

Not sure about the FF function, but I guess as it is a fairly basic model it may be slower. Doesnt seem to have bookmark function in the specification.

With regards to the playlists, its not a supported compression format .m3u to get around this maybe you could create a playlist on WMP for example and add to your Mix as a folder? Then shuffle through the folder? Maybe this will help that issue?

Good luck

[hood]

SoundWave, many thanks for your reply!

m3u - yes, you are right, I have a similar workaround to what you suggested (retagging/renaming mp3 files and then putting them to a folder). So I can live with that.

But FF is really an issue for me as 80% of the time I'm listening to 2-3 hour mixes. You are right, this model is indeed more on the basic end of the spectrum but I thought fast scan was kind of a basic feature that could be expected from any branded mp3 player...

[Caveman]

Hi,

Confirmed the Fast Forward issue on long tracks. The FF has a constant speed and not proportional to the track length. This issue also exists on Ariaz2 and Ariaz3 with latest firmware so I suppose this is an universal design of Philips players.

Although the Ariaz remembers the position and can resume to that same position when power off/on. The slow speed of the FF function is still very annoying. I admit that skipping 30 minutes in a 1+ hours track is a discouraging perspective with Philips device.

Philips forum admin: can you please relay this message to the MP3 firmware Dev Team? Asking them to make FF proportional to the track length. Thanks in advance.

[Spike]

Hood: I agree with your Fast Forward observation. I suggest that--regardless of the length of the track--the rate of movement through the track should ACCELERATE the longer the button is held down.

I also listen to multi-hour podcasts of radio programs in the car and the slow Fast Forward is frustrating. Especially frustrating is the use of push-and-hold for Fast Forward while push-and-release skips to the next podcast. In a cheap Hyundai car, one often becomes the other. The dual use of this button is becoming an industry standard, unfortunately.

My observation is that the MP3MXX will remember where it was in the podcast if it was playing when you shut it off. If it was paused, or if you were in the menu system, it will forget where it was. (PS--It will also forget any program (set of songs, and where it was in that set). See thread http://www.supportforum.philips.com/...hp/t-3586.html)

M3U playlists seems to be one of the features that was discarded in the SA3 Mix for the sake of simplification; I think your dealer lied to you.

[kwinnie]

fast forwarding speed is ok for me, not as that slow as mentioned.
for playlist,, this player supported? as i dont see this option in my blue mix device.

[Caveman]

fast forwarding speed is ok for me, not as that slow as mentioned.
for playlist,, this player supported? as i dont see this option in my blue mix device.

Trust me, the day you listen to a track that last about an hour or more. If ever you skip the track by accident and want to go back to the spot where you were. You will cry.

[kwinnie]

hi caveman, happy that you are back to here cuz i think your words make sense to me
yes. if thats just a 5 mins song, it probably will be no prob. but can imagine it s painful if that s a song that last for an hour...
i dont hv a song that last that long, if i had, i would like to test that out with my portable music devices (i hv few philips device, some apple ipods and iphones) to see what s the "norm" there about fast forwarding

[Caveman]

May be some nonstop music compilation could last more than 1 hour. But in the domain of audio books, tracks with duration around 1 hour or more are quite common.

[kwinnie]

yes that s true indeed. if fast forwarding is slow, that s a pain
mxx support audio book?

[kwinnie]

I tried this in my device.
yes it s a bit slow when fastforwarding in the audiobook. but after pressing it longer it starts to ff in a 2X speed.
it s not that bad for me