I'm sure it's no news to people here that DVDSpot is shutting down. I'm sure that name is taboo here. At any rate, I was devastated.  DVDSpot was all I knew. Well, I did know that DVDAF was just horrible, but 'knew' in the sense that I was used to the interface.

So I searched for an alternative, and it boiled down to the fact there arent a whole lotta credible profilers in the grind. I downloaded DVD Profiler and gave it a shot. At first I didn't like it, like most new things that are foreign to me. After about 20 minutes of tinkering, I saw the brilliance. I was so impressed I grabbed the registered version within the first 24 hours of trying it out(Okay, so partly because my collection is pushing 500). I gotta say: I love it.

Well, the software portion. The other night I decided to make things official and put it online.

In short, I almost dookied me a shooter. How in God's great earth can a software interface look so beautiful and it's online counterpart look completely and utterly horrifying? This looks like a Geocities website I made when I was 10. Am I missing something here? Is there some secret 'skins' option I'm missing? As much as I have company over to my place *cough cough,* most of my DVD viewing done by my peers will be done over the internet. And what better way to say unofficial than a framed layout with some hideous aqua-blue background with no depth.

In short, Congratulations on pulling me in from a competitor. I'm sure you guys will be seeing a lot more of us former DVDSpotters in the next few weeks. But please, please tell me that the online viewing portion is under some heavy redesigning, or that I'm just software ignorant.

First of all, welcome! 

Regarding the online functions, it is a bit lacking at the moment although there are rumours that improvements are being worked on but nothing has been confirmed or denied.

There is an unofficial system available called phpDVDProfiler. I've not used it myself but have seen some from those who do & it does seem better. You do need somewhere to host it though & a knowledge of php.

Again welcome

Edit: For an example of phpDVDProfiler, I've just found this link - http://www.dvdalistic.com/phpdvdprofiler/

Thanks for the welcomes. It is nice to hear that the issue is being remedied, although I'm not too crazy about the whole subscription thing (Let's be honest, who would?). I realize webspace isn't free, I guess I just can't fathom the thought that collections would take up that much space, considering most of the information is a mirror to that already compiled in the online database.

I guess the next question would be, whenever this DVD POP comes out, will there still be free webspace for us lowly people that like to keep some extra cash in our pockets? As I understand, it seems like DVD POP is still in development, so maybe this question doesnt even have an answer yet.

I would, however, if by any stretch of imagination, like to see at least some minor changes to the 'free' interface that stands now. (If DVD POP will be an addition rather than an over-write of the current online system).  I bought the software, but I might not be so quick to jump on some subscription service. I guess the part that gets me is the whole 'continual payment' psychology. Those 2 words just never sit right with me.

So, throw my name in the hat that says interface changes for free! Hoo-rah? I'm cheap, give me a break.

Let's be honest, the most fun part of compiling our collections is seeing those cover scans. If I wanted to catalog my collection with text, I'd crack open MS Word and copy & paste IMDb info. Text is boring. Cover art is more easily recognizable and tells you a lot about the movie (Judge a movie by it's cover, if you will). At the end of the day, my satisfaction of this program is seeing all my DVD covers together, united as one! (/lame). But seriously, it's freakin' awesome and gives me some sort of weird satisfaction that I collect waaaay too many DVDs.

Now I'm not an expert of webspace, actually far from it. But, couldn't something as simple as hotlinking the cover images cut down on the space used? I guess then the problem would switch over to bandwidth usage, but what do I know? I'm gonna take for granted the solution is that simple, because I'm naive.

Quoting Razrslash:

Quote:
Now I'm not an expert of webspace, actually far from it. But, couldn't something as simple as hotlinking the cover images cut down on the space used?

Yeah, and I'm sure that's what will happen if we only get to use the default covers. But what tweeter is saying is that if we're allowed to upload our own custom scans, then it's a different ballgame altogether.

Bottom line is that not too much info has been released about the new online portion. Until Ken gives us more information most of what we have to say will be speculation.

KM

I guess I did forget to touch base on the alternatives to the official online catalog. I appreciate the links. As it stands, phpDVDProfiler looks to be a keeper. Almost exactly what I was looking for, with the exception of one facet. I already mentioned I was cheap; is it too late to say I'm also lazy?

Convenience is really what I was addressing. While I probably will go to an alternative source if an effective, official interface isn't introduced, it pains me (sorry for the redundancy hereafter)  to see such aesthetically pleasing software coupled with inferior site design. I guess that whenever I purchased the registered version I assumed the online portion would be evenly balanced. I'm far from angry or regretful of my purchase, don't get me wrong.

And for the second part of your post Astrakan, I'm not sure I understand uploading custom scans. I know this is going to sound degrading, but it's not: Why would anyone want to upload custom scans? Wouldn't people want the official covers of the DVDs they own? I'm failing to see the merit in custom scan uploads. When you say custom, I seem to think of someone crudely drawing a cover with some Crayons and glitter-glue (< Ok, so that's a bit degrading).

Quoting skipnet50:

Quote:
....Being a two level system, Online coupled to Local Software, the Online serves as a repository dor data following specific Rules froim which we can download said data and then customize it LOCALLY to meet our specific requirements, since no two users have exactly the same parameters for what they want out of the Program.

As Skip says very rightly, everyone may customize his local database, so the online system is not so important. In fact, I even don't use it in the form it is, with rules that don't fit everyone's taste, and it's not a problem for me.

dvdprofiler is , as long as I compared with other programs, by far the best program to profile movies on DVDs or blu-rays, even without the online part.

Am I the only one who had never heard of DVDspot before this week?