sent my 744 in last week for warranty repair - it's back w/ a 2.0 ready sticker. Justin said 4 day turnaround in the shop - it was more like one day.
email from yesterday:
Sound Devices, LLC7-Series 2.0 Software Next Week!
Sound Devices is please to announce the availability of our "2.0" release of 7-Series firmware on September 25, 2006. This release consolidates several significant features into one release and brings several powerful features to the 702, 702T, 722, and 744T portable digital recorders. The links below provide additional information about the features of this 2.0 release.
* 7-Series 2.0 Software Press Release - provides an overview of the 2.0 update
* 2.0 Software FAQ - provides information on often-asked questions regarding the 2.0 updates
Available via Download
No differently than any other firmware update, we will be posting 2.0 as an available no-charge download from sounddevices.com. All 7-Series recorders in the field can download and run 2.0 and take advantage of its many new features (see Hardware Update for limitations).
Hardware Update
In order to take advantage of recording to and playing back from external FireWire storage volumes, such as hard drives and DVD-RAM drives, a 7-Series recorder needs to be 2.0-ready. Without 2.0-ready hardware external FireWire writing is not available.
Sound Devices has been shipping 2.0-ready hardware since early September 2006. Units produced that are not specifically labeled as 2.0 ready (next to the serial number label on the battery mount and on the outer box) will require a hardware update to be fully 2.0 ready.
The hardware update process involves the units being sent to a designated Sound Devices Authorized Service Provider to have the updates performed. The updates cannot be performed by an end user.
U.S. 7-Series Customers
Sound Devices will perform 7-Series 2.0 hardware update at no charge. Contact us by phone at (800) 505-0625, by e-mail at support@sounddevices.com, or use our web form at
www.sounddevices.com/contact_support.htm and provide your contact and product information. We will issue you an RA number and confirm that your unit is scheduled for the update. Since we believe that a great many 7-Series customers will take advantage of external FireWire storage we need to schedule units for updating to minimize the amount of time your recorder is in service.
Sound Devices will perform the updates at no charge, and will apply any other hardware updates to bring your recorder to present production specifications. We pay for return freight to U.S. customers using UPS ground. Premium freight, freight to customers outside of the U.S., and inbound freight is the customer's responsibility.
Non-U.S. 7-Series Customers
Customers outside the U.S. should first contact their Authorized Sound Devices Distributor for the 2.0 upgrade. Contact information for our distributors is at
www.sounddevices.com/resellers. In many cases the distributor will perform the update, or they will arrange for units to be updated. Again, the actual upgrade is performed at no-charge.
If you have any specific questions on the upgrade process please contact Sound Devices at support@sounddevices.com.
Warmest Regards,
Jon Tatooles
Sound Devices, LLC