Page 1 of Question about Samsung 709 Firmware

Hello,
Can anybody help? I brought this player on 30/11/99 and I`ve checked inside to see what bios version is was. It says 3.24 and the date 18/10/99. This player can play The Matrix. Does anybody know if this version can play The Matrix or has it been software updated. The reason I`m asking this because of version 3.27 which lets you use the remote hack but will only play region 2 discs. I had to use the cold start hack and it seems to work, the macrovision is disabled but I don`t want to buy region 1 movies if it will not play them. Thanks for any help in advance.
Davedoubledecks

I believe 3.23 is the firmware update to fix Matrix problems, 3.24 cures the anamorphic bug, and no idea what 3.27 does.

Hello again,
I got the following news report below from dvd-debate.com

December 23rd

Concerns Raised Over Latest Firmware Patch For 709

After one reader alerted us to the possibilty of a problem with the latest revision of the Samsung 709 firmware, we have uncovered a major disappointment for 709 owners who have yet to take advantage of the free firmware upgrade.

Until now, all replacement firmware patches have kept the region free coding intact. Due to a bug in the replacement chips, some users experienced problems with widescreen switching, prompting yet another software revision. This version, v3.27, disables the region free capability of the 709 and reverts it to a pure region 2 only player.

The known region free handset hack still activates the onscreen messages in the player, but the machine refuses to play anything other than region 2 discs.

So far we`ve received two independant reports of this chip causing problems after being installed in readers machines, so be very careful before you take your player in. If you can, try to find out which revision of the firmware the engineer will be installing and at all costs avoid v3.27.

I know my chip says version 3.24 on it so hopefully it hasn`t been upgraded.
Davedoubledecks

Hack for V3.24 :-
Set the AUD or CD key on an all for one remote to device 0121 (121)
press the Magic key and type 079.
Adjust should appear and the tray open.
Insert DVD.
Hack for V3.27 :-
Set the AUD or CDd key on an all for one remote to device 0121 (121)
Press and hold the Magic key untill AUD/CD flashes twice.
Type 994, AUD/CD will flash twice.
Press Magic, AUD/CD will flash once.
Type 078 and press the key you want to assign this function to.
Now point the remote towards the DVD player and press this key twice.
Adjust should appear and the tray open.
Insert DVD.