With the advent of the 550D/T2i, Canon pretty much proved that the 500D/T1i/Kiss X3 always could handle so much more in the video mode, as the 550D has the same DIGIC 4 processor and seemingly same memory as the 500D. With Canon's release of the new 500D firmware, a hack finally is possible. The ideal would maybe be if Canon would have to release some slight update for the new 550D, as well, so its firmware can just be more or less ported to the 500D, but even in such a situation, there are other upgrades that even the 550D is missing. Since getting my 500D, I've written a list of the upgrades or corrections that I think should be added. I'll be posting them below... hopefully a hack will see the light of day. I myself would be so happy over a good video upgrade; I have some ideas for a horror movie I may make in the future but the video of the 500D just isn't good enough for that. Other than that, however, an addition of auto ISO would be exceptionally good, too... seriously something I would love seeing.

If others here have other suggestions, maybe use this thread to post them. 😀 Anyway, below is my list that Canon just ignored when I sent them... instead we got pretty much the same camera with upgraded firmware. -_-; I've put them in the order of what I think is the most to the least important.

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Functioning auto ISO in the manual mode (when auto ISO is selected, the camera puts the ISO at a default of ISO400). This is of great importance when taking photos of quickly moving subjects.

Microcalibration software for focus.

Addition of the refresh rates 24 (or, rather, 23.976, which the true standard actually is) and 25 fps in 1080p video recording. Considering that the EOS 500D has the same DIGIC 4 processor as the new 550D, and same or very similar memory, the addition of 30 fps, as the 550D can handle in 1080p, should be a possibility, as well.

Manual override of the aperture, shutter speed and ISO value in the video mode.

Possibility to select ISO between the full stops.

Possibility to choose the maximum and minimum ISO during the use of auto ISO.

When using LiveView, the AE lock only is enabled for a few seconds. This makes it very difficult to get the right exposure when using a tripod. It should be possible to extend the activation of the AE lock up to a much increased or indefinite time.

You should be able to format the cards in better file systems than FAT32, so the size limit of 8 GB on video files can be removed. However, for compatibility, you should not just be able to, for instance, use the Windows NTFS, but Linux and Mac file systems, as well.

The time limit on video files should be removed or at least increased.

Different framerate options for recording video in 720p, such as the lower, standardized 24 fps (or, rather, 23.976, which the true standard actually is), and 25 fps, should be added. This would be of great use during editing. Considering that the new 550D also can handle 50 and 60 fps during 720p, that should be possible to add, as well.

Possibility to record video in an even lower resolution than 720p, but in a much higher framerate.

It should be possible to view a photo's highlights on a full screen and not just as a thumbnail.

...And after mentioning that, it should be added that completely dark areas in a photo should be able to be pointed out to you by the camera, just like in the case with regular highlights. Blue would be a good colour to point out such completely dark areas, and this, too, should be able to be viewed on the whole camera screen.

Additional aspect ratios in video mode (1.85:1, 2.35:1).

Intervalometer for easy creation of timelapses.

An option of a 16:9 mask for the still shot modes.

(This may have been corrected in the new firmware): When using LiveView, the message that tells you to perform autofocus with the AE lock button has a misspelling. It says "'Peform' autofocus with AE lock button".

(This may have been corrected in the new firmware): Poor grammar in the Swedish menus (so called "särskrivning").

Possibility to use one of your own photographs as a background in the camera's main menu.

During Full Auto, the displayed values are usually incorrect.

More menu themes than the current four available.