Mede8er released a firmware (v4.0.5) for their product on 30th November 2011
Which improved the subtitle quality by alot!

Changelog

1) Fixed Screensaver showing when 'off' in Setup Menu
2) Improved text based (SRT) Subtitle image quality.



While PlayonHD are plagued with issue and still fairly unstable after years of release. From SAMBA, GUI responsiveness with the remote, video playback issues with certain codec.

I know most media players cannot handle MKV with ASS subtitles (styled subtitles) like what it should appear on PC's video player. But it's ok, but normal subtitles via SRT shouldn't be like what was shown on the bottom half of the screenshot.

I know we are not suppose to discuss about other mediaplayer's firmware, but please understand that a smaller company are doing better in their development. If GUI2.0 isn't responsive for PlayonHD, please do something like that will be lower the GUI latency.

Not everyone need fanciful interface. Most of the time will be on the video playback and cycling through menus or files.

Initially, I picked up the PlayonHD to use it as a media player and a NAS. But both of them aren't performing as good as dedicated devices. Like a entry desktop/notebook with HDMI. Media player wins this with the remote control, the start up speed, the power consumption, price and size/weight.

I avoid playing my MKV anime on the PlayonHD unless it's XVID with hard sub as I want my subs to be pretty and readable. Especially where fansub use 2 lines of subtitles, example, 2nd dialog/public announcement/television in the scene or fansub's notes. It will look squeezed and unreadable.

With GUI 2 you can use a custom font and that also changes the font for your subtitles for improved readability. See http://www.acryan.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=15032.

I had tried it before. It just too edgy and rough. And this subtitle is the default Arial.

That's the only thing I want changing, the subtitles. Everything else is fine for what I use the player for.
But I need the change making on firmware 4318 as that is the fastest most stable firmware i've found.

The subtitles are white on this firmware, I would just like to adjust the border size.

Is adding a border size to firmwares impossible? What programs are used to decompile/edit/recompile acryan firmwares?

As to your last question: I do not think this ever appeared in one of the English sections, so you will have to learn German.

Tool to unpack and repack your firmware: http://www.box.net/shared/egzekxj7gv4vnfzaa3vb

1. Unpack hdp3.0.rar File to your roof of your HDD. (path not to contain "spaces")
2. Copy the Firmware and unpack the file (install.img) to the root of HDP in the root (\hdp) in step 1.
3. Run 'open-squashfs.bat'.
4. The Firmware will be unpacked. The folders will be called "install" and "squashfs-root". Under /squashfs-root, edit the files as needed (Extracted install.img will be renamed to install_old.img)
5. To recompile simple run "make-squashfs.bat" it will create a new install.img.

What is the file that contains the fonts settings? How do I improve the quailty of the displayed fonts? Like improving the edge and font smoothness?

The default font is in the /usr/local/bin/Resource directory. I successfully replaced the standard arialuni.ttf by a different font, which I named arialuni.ttf again, because I did not know if the complete filename would be checked or the ttf extension only. You have to do this by unpacking and packing the install.img file. Once the firmware has been installed on your Playon, you cannot change anything in the /usr/local/bin directory, not even the persmissions.

is there a way to change the colour of the subtitles to the correct tone? white seems grey.
and the shadow or font border isn't very pretty.

fonts are jagged and not crisp enough. is there a way to change this?

I've ever changed another fonts type. it still lack details and quality.
I'm testing mede8er firmware at the moment, both firmwares has it pros and cons.

I choose mede8er's over the font quality, SAMBA, GUI and time zone implementation.

I really hope PlayonHD can really improved on these areas.