PICStep now has a V2.0 firmware available.

It has a new 1/16 mode (1/16, 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2, lost full), a 5 1/2 minute auto shutdown and the direction line bug fix.

The motor should sound exactly the same in either direction.

http://www.fromorbit.com/projects/picstep/

Alan.