Both the 990 and the 1070/970 require you to access something on the rear panel to initiate a firmware update (reset button on the 1070/970 and a SVC/OPR switch on the 990), so you would still have to get back there with your hand. What I've done is leave a cable connected and tucked away alongside my 990 (USB in my case, although an RS-232 could be left in place the same way) so that all I have to do is get to that switch. The RS-232 port on the 990 also offers a control interface and the USB port on it doubles as an audio input, so both are probably best left on the rear panel.

Having said all of that, if a future product were to rely only on USB for the firmware update and the rear panel switch could be eliminated, it's possible that a USB port could be integrated into the front jack pack without making a mess of the front panel. It's not a bad idea. There might be interest in having a second USB on the back if it provides an audio input - probably identified as USB1 and USB2 or with each restricted to a single purpose - which would mean we'd be looking at some additional cost.

I installed the firmware update a few weeks ago. I am still having no audio problems when I turn on my TV, which feeds into the 1070 AUX inputs for audio, and the 1070 one after the other. I haven't tested whether it happens only when the TV goes on first or the 1070 goes on first, but it's definitely there. If I get no audio and then turn the 1070 off and on again the audio appears.

I have also had a problem with audio dropping out for short periods. I will be watching something, either a DVD or TV, and the audio disappears for a second or two before returning. This usually starts several minutes after I turn on the 1070 and occurs at irregular intervals. Turning the 1070 off and back on seems to fix it. But the problem is irritating nonetheless.

I really hope Outlaw is working on a fix for these issues that really will make a difference.

Granted I haven't run any updates yet, but i found the problem manifesting itself in new ways:

Watching FiOS cable, with it hooked into the 1070 via optical 2 on Video 2, if I switch to On Demand with the FiOS remote to view what's out there, I've lost audio. It starts working only if I power down the Outlaw and power it back up.

Switching surround modes...if I'm cycling the surround modes, I sometimes won't get audio in certain modes like Dolby Digital or Stereo 2.0. But if I cycle through the loop again, it will work the second time around.

These are the new methods I'm seeing the problem. The old method to get it to occur is when I load a DVD into the Xbox to watch a movie. I'll have sound (Optical 1 set to Video 1) all the way up until the DVD initializes, and then it drops. I have to bounce off input DVD and back and sometimes that fixes it, or cycling the power on the Outlaw will fix it. It's a minor nuisance but sometimes a little embarrassing when I'm showboating the system to family

I will be installing the beta firmware in April on my 1070 and will report the results. I'm redoing my system so it hasn't been used since Christmas. When I was using it though, it was very repeatable that there would be no audio the first time it was turned on each day. Cycling the power usually took care of it.

I installed the beta firmware last week and have not had a "no audio" episode since.
Tom

Great, thanks for the update, Tom. I'm hopeful I have the same result.

Well unfortunately I still have the no audio problem. When I turn it on for the first time after being off all night I have no audio, I turn it off and back on, then it is ok.
Tom

Guys, what's going on here? What's the magic Outlaw has that makes us put up with all this?
I couldn't have imagined myself waiting patiently to receive a new flash ROM chip first in order to be able to perform the upgrade.
In the meantime, my unit gives me the "no audio" every now and then, once it swapped front L/R channels with the suround ones and applied a significant delay between the center and right channel, such as I heard an echo. I had to turn the unit off and on from the remote and everything went back to normal. I have it only for two weeks now and only God knows why I haven't sent it back yet...
Could the good sound at the price point explain all these? Hard to tell. And yet, I'm still having the unit in my house.
Could someone explain this to me, please? ;-)

What's worse...is that you might get the famed ''no-Audio'' issue...even once you do the upgrade...
but cheer up...It seems to be better....much better...