A post extracted from forum.xtreamer.net by Xtreamer.

Dear Friends and Community members,

A short update as to the current status of our progress of version 3 of our RTL based machines is becoming more eminent and required these days by many community members.

So let us share with you few points in this regard :

(1) Indeed version 3 of xtreamer is taking long time. Too long time. We want to share it with you the soonest possible date. While people think SDK 3 of realtek - code name casablanca - is a unified term - we rather clarify once and for all. it is not. it is a collection of several versions RTL made during the last months attempting to tackle the various points that turned some aspects of your machine to be unstable. Please talk about SDK 3 of RTL in term of a process that we do , unlike any other manufacturer of RTL machine made in china, in a very close relationship with RTL RD.

(2) We will introduce version 3 of xtreamer with same functionality to all our clients at the same time. Xtreamer MK1 will be able to enjoy the same new functions of the device as much as we will do for iXtreamer or Prodigy.

(3) Several key members of this community already being introduced to the xtreamer ver 3 new look and feel and demo. They share with us the same feeling and express same reaction. Your machine will turn to something more modern, elegant and neat. Just like if you bought a new device.

(4) For the purposes of overcoming performance issues that may arise due to the fact that each model has a different memory configuration and capacity , we will introduce version 3 in 2 skins. One with flash one without flash effects and UI sounds. Users will be able to make a choice which version is running better or more suited to their needs.

(5) we made a huge overall change to the system core layout and functionalities. It will look and behave nothing like any SDK 3 versions you can see in our chinese competitors machines. In many aspects it is not the same SDK 3 at all.

(6) version 3 is not an update / upgrade. rather it is more to be a major service pack to nearly every aspect of the machine.

(7) We have every intention to tackle each bug you refereed us until now. We intend to make a several spans of closed beta testings before it will become an official update.

(8) the process of achieving such a high goal is very demanding considering the so many issues we need to address in so many models with different HW configurations. This is the main reason it takes so long. more than we initially expected. we dont want to fail with this update and therefore require the time to do it thoroughly.

(9) until version 3 of xtreamer will be out we will release some updates to your devices based on the current SDK build. these changes will be of course part of the main core of version 3 as well.

(10) We hope we can finish the new version 3 for a first beta release within 6 weeks . It may be little longer or little before. when dealing with development of SoC it is hard to estimate exactly. We will not release the new version officialy before we will be convinced it is good enough and stable. Please be patient.

(11) version 3 of xtreamer will keep compatibility for all community projects.

(12) few nuggets of version 3 :

the new version 3 will introduce :

a) built in movie jukebox .We took the community engine and turned it to be part of the FW flow. We did so to retain compatibility and allow the community to continue its progress on a better performance engine.
b - a new slick music player that supports also playlists.
c) the SDK introduce support for netflix and mediafly as well as few others. We are now doing the licensing.
d) the new version 3 will allow you the benefits of new feature we call control pad. an elegant universal launch screen to your favorites and shortcuts. we will update you about it when time comes.
e) version 3 will allow you to enjoy control of your machine with mouse and keyboard, even 2.4g wireless.
f) version 3 will introduce cache and buffering control for internet streaming.
g) We made opera web browser part of the machine, however we did a webkit based browser as well. We now test performance and will be able to conclude the best option that is providing best experience on RTL .
h) We added support to flash. SWF files will be playable on the machine. Flash is also another big headache for us as it consumes alot of the system resources, and we are limited with what the RTL platform can or cannot do with it.

Version 3 will be our 40th firmware update for 1283 RTL platform since June 2009 (beta and official). We will continue to support it in 2011. as we may reasonably expect it not to be bug free when launched, we will continue to involve you in the process of development and will try to fix as much as we can.

Version 3 will extend the already apparent gap of our machines to anything else offered in the market and is based on RTL or even SMP in its price segment. You dont need to pay more, or buy a newer machine from us or elsewhere. not necessarily doing so will result in better experience that we hope we can offer you soon even on the current xtreamer models. Please dont be taken by the on going trolls party here or elsewhere or get too much impressed with specs sheets of our new models. we aim to introduce you a range of models, all more or less will be able to perform in a similar way or even do the same functions, while only HW , design and connectivity will make the difference for what you prefer. why pay more ?

The bottom line, we are working around the clock to accomplish it asap. Please be patient. it is coming big time.

We will keep this announcement open for free discussion and questions. Whatever we can answer without giving our chinese competitors some ideas we will.