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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Desktop Feature Requests Page: 1 2  Previous   Next
Media Center Intergration?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantlar
Registered: May 18, 2007
Posts: 7
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Just wondering if there is any plans to integrate DVD Profiler into Vista Media Centre?
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
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Lar:

Some users have developed a plug-in for the program. I would say this beyond a user created plug-in. Looking at what this program and it's cost relative to the cost of programs that are designed for HTPC, not likely, such programs are generally quite costly relative profiler, some of them even license their data from Profiler.

Anything can happen, but I would not hold my breath, beyond a plug-in.

Skip
ASSUME NOTHING!!!!!!
CBE, MBE, MoA and proud of it.
Outta here

Billy Video
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributor?
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Registered: March 14, 2007
Posts: 3,830
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Sources for one or more of the changes and/or additions were not submitted. Please include the sources for your changes in the contribution notes, especially for cast and crew additions.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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You can try this one:
http://www.mymovies.dk/

I have not used it for a long time, but when I did it could import the XML export from DVD Profiler, and my guess is that it can still do that.

Personally I have given up on fancy solutions as I can't be bothered to program it. I made a program that will organize the cover images in a folder structure according to genre. This allow me to browse the movies with the standard picture viewer... not ideal, but all I have the time for.
Regards
Lars
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registranttmb4016
Registered: March 14, 2007
United Kingdom Posts: 45
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I'm using My Movies mentioned in the Imoelleb post. Works really well including with Media Centre Extenders. However I currently choose to maintain two DBs although I used the import / Export functionality to originally populate the local My Movies DB.

I regard the data quality of DVD profiler better - mainly due to more detailed contribution rules. But I must say that recently I have been changing the source of many of my titles to the My Movies online db and dropping the data imported from DVD Profiler (which cannot be contributed anyway)

I disagree with Giga Wizard - the LoadDVD, whilst being a great plugin, is not a Windows Media Centre integration which I think is the question behind the post.

The My Movies product whilst it has it's drawbacks is rapidly becoming an via alternative to DVD Profiler and if the developement rate continues ithe the point at which when I had to make a choice of one or the other and pick My Movies is fast approaching.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributor?
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Registered: March 14, 2007
Posts: 3,830
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Quote:
I disagree with Giga Wizard - the LoadDVD, whilst being a great plugin, is not a Windows Media Centre integration which I think is the question behind the post.

My Movies: runs on:
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate
and so is DVD profiler, with the plugin you can run media files from your harddisc or NAS (even .iso files) what more of integration would you want?
Quote:
Purpose: This plugin allows the user of DVDProfiler to load the current selected (highlighted) DVD from a Sony VAIO VGPXL1B1/2/3, Sony CX995V, Dacal™ Carousel, Sony CX777ES, USBURT device or  from an arbitrary location in the user’s network environment. This means that an ISO,  avi, jpeg or other file can be loaded in response to selecting the LoadDVD menu item. The file will be opened just as though the user had double-clicked on the file in Windows Explorer.
Sources for one or more of the changes and/or additions were not submitted. Please include the sources for your changes in the contribution notes, especially for cast and crew additions.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registranttmb4016
Registered: March 14, 2007
United Kingdom Posts: 45
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I correctly or incorrectly assumed that Lars was referring to the Windows Media Centre product/interface. DVD Profiler does not sit inside this User Interface.

Now I know why i do not bother to post in these forums - Why is everybody so touchy..
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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Quoting tmb4016:
Quote:
I correctly or incorrectly assumed that Lars was referring to the Windows Media Centre product/interface. DVD Profiler does not sit inside this User Interface.

Now I know why i do not bother to post in these forums - Why is everybody so touchy..


I don't think Giga was touchy.... I just think he doesn't know what Media Center is.

Giga,

The Media Center interface (available in a special version of XP called Media Center Edition as well as a standard part of Windows Vista Premium and Ultimate) is designed to be displayed on a TV and operated with a remote control. It provide a single interface to watch TV (with typical HDD recording features), listen to music, watch photos and watch DVDs. A number of streaming services also integrate with it (I have on-demand access to the productions from a Danish TV station through it).

Dropping the remote to use the keyboard/mouse to play DVD's when everything else is done though the remote control isn't very appealing, specifically not as DVD Profiler doesn't really like running with large fonts, and the standard size is just too small on my 40" Full-HD TV (not to mention, my wireless mouse is already lost behind the sofa or something).
Regards
Lars
 Last edited: by lmoelleb
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributor?
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quoting lmoelleb:
Quote:
I just think he doesn't know what Media Center is

Well there is a difference, running dvd profiler on a Vista Media Center or giving it a Vista Media Center Interface. There are al ready users running dvd profiler on Vista Media Center and playing dvd's from
harddisc from within dvd profiler.

So I don't know if the possibilities from within a layout can solve the font issue and can give the look and feel of the Vista Media Center Interface. I'm not a programmer or a layout designer.

Change fontsize
Sources for one or more of the changes and/or additions were not submitted. Please include the sources for your changes in the contribution notes, especially for cast and crew additions.
 Last edited: by ?
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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Quoting Giga Wizard:
Quote:
quoting lmoelleb:
Quote:
I just think he doesn't know what Media Center is

Well there is a difference, running dvd profiler on a Vista Media Center or giving it a Vista Media Center Interface.

You can't run DVD profiler on "Vista Media Center". Media Center is a program you can start in Vista (premium and above), it is no longer a OS version like it was with XP. You might be able to start DVD Profiler from Media Center, but that wouldn't be an integration, just starting a program.

Quote:

There are al ready users running dvd profiler on Vista Media Center and playing dvd's from
harddisc from within dvd profiler.

Strictly speaking they run DVD Profiler on Vista, not on Media Center. They might launch DVD Profiler from within Media Center, but as soon as they start DVD Profiler the Media Center user interface is no longer in use.
Quote:


So I don't know if the possibilities from within a layout can solve the font issue and can give the look and feel of the Vista Media Center Interface. I'm not a programmer or a layout designer.

It would be hard to do, and it still wouldn't be what we want. We simply want - well - a Media Center integration.
Regards
Lars
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What you are asking is a new program made with these tools:
Windows Media Center Software Development Kit That is a total other ballgame.

Quote:
Evaluating Usability

Users expect applications for Windows Media Center to be very simple and intuitive to use—like their televisions, not their computers. As enhancements to home life, these applications are enjoyable but optional. If an application is too difficult to learn or use, the user may simply quit using it.

Usability evaluation is a key activity in designing the user interface for your application. It is nearly impossible to be immersed in application development without forming at least some false assumptions and misconceptions about how users will respond to and use the finished product. Evaluation almost always leads to important discoveries about usability and creates opportunities for valuable design improvements. Plan to include usability evaluation in your budget and schedule and to conduct usability studies several times during design and development.

If you do not have the time or budget to conduct full lab evaluations with real users, you can still gain some of the benefit and spot potentially serious usability problems by conducting "discount" usability studies. Discount studies are conducted from the user's perspective, but are done by members of the product team who pose as users. The following topics give a brief description of two such techniques, along with tips to help maximize effectiveness.
Sources for one or more of the changes and/or additions were not submitted. Please include the sources for your changes in the contribution notes, especially for cast and crew additions.
 Last edited: by ?
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registranttmb4016
Registered: March 14, 2007
United Kingdom Posts: 45
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Thanks Imoelleb you explained better than I did. The idea that Giga was not familiar with Media Center did not occur to me.

The other area where DVD Profiler does not work is with a Media Extender. I have one PC but linked to Linksys Media Extender(s) which displays the Media center Interface to my TV screens. (It is not an additonal PC). All PC recorded content, photos, music and DVD Information both for online and offline discs.

It works great. And currently I am happy to live with two data sources. Adding New DVD's to two programs is not such a big deal.

Lars:
Based on other threads in the forums I doubt a Media Center integration is likely as the interest seems low - I was / am hoping to look at this as a plugin but time does not allow currently ( not sure MCE aip/my knowledge is up to it yet either).
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
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Quoting Giga Wizard:
Quote:
What you are asking is a new program made with these tools:
Windows Media Center Software Development Kit That is a total other ballgame.

It might be another ballgame from what you where thinking of, but it's not really another ballgame from what was requested, and it is exactly what we want.

If DVD Profiler would simply expose it's data we could build it ourselves, but DVD Profiler is pretty outdated at this point (unfortunately it means the value of the program is rapidly apporaching zero - what is the purpose of the most accurate DVD data on the internet if you can't get to it?)

Personally I think I'll wait until My Movies ship a native Media Center interface (the current is done though the HTML plugin architecture), then buy a couble of TB disks with the best of my movies. If I drop DVD Profiler at this stage I don't know - if it doesn't become easier to get data out of it, then I probably can't be bothered maintaining my database.
Regards
Lars
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorMithi
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting lmoelleb:
Quote:
if it doesn't become easier to get data out of it, then I probably can't be bothered maintaining my database.

Pardon?
The XML-Export carries everything(!) you need. Any other format (CSV) or direct access to the DB would be 'outdated' at this moment.


cya, Mithi
Mithi's little XSLT tinkering - the power of XML --- DVD-Profiler Mini-Wiki
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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Quoting Mithi:
Quote:
Quoting lmoelleb:
Quote:
if it doesn't become easier to get data out of it, then I probably can't be bothered maintaining my database.

Pardon?
The XML-Export carries everything(!) you need. Any other format (CSV) or direct access to the DB would be 'outdated' at this moment.


cya, Mithi


That is like saying a Ford T is all you need because a horse would be outdated. Yes, the horse is outdated... but so is the Ford T.

Yes, CVS and direct DB access are more outdated than the XML export, but today we expect SOAP and/or REST interfaces to access data.

If you could set DVD Profiler to automatically maintain the XML export as data is changed it would help. I tried writing a plugin, but did not have the needed events (or at least, I couldn't find them), even though all I needed was; DVD added, DVD deleted, and DVD changed.
The direct DB access would at least always be up to date, and we could easily build a SOAP/REST interface on top of it ourselves.

Another alternative would be a nice domain model we could load and access the data through, but that would be language specific (so either Java, .NET, or something else), hence the typical approach is to expose the data though SOAP/REST, then you can build a small client side domain model on top of this if you need to do anything fancy.
Regards
Lars
 Last edited: by lmoelleb
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantlar
Registered: May 18, 2007
Posts: 7
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Thanks for all the replies ...... I've been away. Looks like I opened up a bit of a can of worms. I guess my inital question was Is there any plan to get DVD Profiler to work in media centre as  alternatve to My Movies. I just don't get on with my movies, it just feels clunky (if you know what I mean). In the mean time I've found a programe call Movie Collector MCE which displayes what I want in media centre, I think it's better than My Movies. I'm now using two data bases. DVD Profiler for all my movies and movie collector MCE for the movies I put on my media centre PC. A real pain, but until Movie Collector improve the data base side of things or DVD profiler include a media centre interface I'm stuck.
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