Evolving Firmware Capabilities

The Dukebox models should not just be thought of as MP3 players. Creative's range, for example, are capable of playing WMA as well as MP3s. WMA files are even smaller than MP3 files with approximately the same level of quality encoded at 96Kbps vs MP3 at 128Kbps.

Firmware, drivers, or just software - whatever you choose to call it. It adds up to the same thing: It's what makes the dukebox work. Not only what makes it work, but specifically, it's what gives the dukebox its capabilities.

The manufacturers are constantly developing the software that runs the Jukebox to allow it to do new and better things. If, for example, a completely new sound compression program came out that was 10 times better at compressing files than MP3s, new software, or new firmware (same thing, different name) would be able to make the Jukebox play those files.

This is part of the reason why the JukeBoxes will not become obsolete anytime soon: the manufacturers are developing new capabilities. In reality, the longer you own your Jukebox, the more features will be added to the device by firmware upgrades. All the owner has to do is make sure that they have the correct upgrades (assuming the upgrades work, that is).

It also makes our job difficult because the capabilities of the Jukeboxes are constantly evolving. Keeping our facts straight is difficult as the goalposts keep moving!