Topic: Media Center 9.1.194 beta (Read 26443 times)

Matt · « **on:** June 06, 2003, 01:37:26 pm »

Please read VERY carefully.

This is a BETA version of 9.1. If you expect things to work, please download the latest 9.0 build from this thread:

http://www.musicex.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=MediaCenter;action=display;num=1054751628

but if you're patient and willing to help us work out some of the bugs, you can download 9.1 here (recommended for experts only):

Backup your library before installing

Switch to the PixOS skin while still running 9.0 (before installing 9.1).

ftp://ftp.jriver.com/pub/downloads/music/MediaCenter91194.exe

Please report any 9.1 problems in this thread. Keep a list of problems and if they aren't fixed in the next build, please post the list again.

Changes are discussed here: http://www.musicex.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=MediaCenter;action=display;num=1054926807

Gatobrit · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2003, 01:54:56 pm »

Errr. Downloaded and installed on top of 9.0.180.

No window surrounds (menu / tool bar / etc.
No way to exit the application because there are no window surrounds.
No player window or controls.
Logitech keyboard works great.
No list of tracks in any view - just black lines with a little note icon on the left of the window.
Sounds pretty good.

Thanks,
John

JimH · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2003, 01:58:57 pm »

gatobrit,
Are you using the PixOS skin? It should be forced to PixOS.

Try deleting the registry key for the skin if you're using another one. I think it's this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\JRiver\Media Jukebox\MegaSkins

Jim

Matt · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:03:45 pm »

If it starts with no frame, you'll need to regedit this:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\JRiver\Media Jukebox\MegaSkinConfigFile (3)

to:

[MC]\MegaSkins\PixOS

where [MC] is your MC directory... like C:\Program Files\JRiver\Media Center\MegaSkins\PixOS

Gatobrit · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:05:49 pm »

Hi,
Just reinstalled 180 (had to restore the library from the backup). 180 is using the PixOS Mega-me skin. Looks like black on black text - however, the lack of a toolbar etc. make further debugging tough.

It's obviously a skin issue but I don't know how to select / brow skins if I can't see the toolbar etc.

After restoring 180 I can get my system info which is...

Media Center Registered 9.0.180 -- C:\Program Files\J River\Media Jukebox\

Microsoft Windows 2000 Workstation 5.0 Service Pack 3 (Build 2195)
Intel Pentium 4 1539 MHz MMX / Memory: Total - 523 MB, Free - 329 MB

Internet Explorer: 6.0.2800.1106 / ComCtl32.dll: 5.81 / Shlwapi.dll: 6.00.2800.1106 / Shell32.dll: 5.00.3502.6144 / wnaspi32.dll: Internal ASPI Layer

Ripping / Drive D: Copy mode:ModeBurstBigBuffer CD Type:Auto Read speed:Max
Digital playback: Yes / Use YADB: Yes / Get cover art: Yes / Calc replay gain: Yes / Copy volume: 32767
Eject after ripping: Yes / Play sound after ripping: No

Burning / No burners found.
Test mode: No / Eject after writing: Yes / Direct decoding: Yes / Write CD-Text: No
Use playback settings: No / Normalization: None

Thanks,
John

Gatobrit · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:09:22 pm »

Sorry - didn't stick around to see if you were monitoring the board. I reinstalled 9.1 and had the same problem.

The registry had "Metal" at the skin not "PixOS" although 9.0 was using PixOS. Anyway, changed the registry and 9.1 now looks to be working fine.

Off to play...

KingSparta · « **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:11:50 pm »

Quote

If it starts with no frame, you'll need to regedit this:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\JRiver\Media Jukebox\MegaSkinConfigFile (3)

to:

[MC]\MegaSkins\PixOS

where [MC] is your MC directory... like C:\Program Files\JRiver\Media Center\MegaSkins\PixOS

That works

JimH · « **Reply #7 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:12:10 pm »

gatobrit,
Even with 9.0.180, you don't have a toolbar?
Jim

Gatobrit · « **Reply #8 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:15:47 pm »

I guess I have confused everyone. 180 worked fine and I was using the PixOS skin.

9.1 is now working fine after the registry hack Matt provided. :-)

Michael Horton · « **Reply #9 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:18:29 pm »

No problems with the install--I like the new look--playing aroud with it now . . . .

MachineHead · « **Reply #10 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:23:09 pm »

Had to hack registry here as well. Looks - different...

More later.

MachineHead · « **Reply #11 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:24:52 pm »

View schemes do not hold over from 180. Media Library shows the files but nothing from old set up.

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #12 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:36:45 pm »

Just giot back from my rehearsal tried to download and it has gone from the ftp... Has it been pulled? I was really looking forward to trying this

Adam

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #13 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:37:54 pm »

LOL It is working now. I swear I only had one pint!!

Adam

JimH · « **Reply #14 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:40:30 pm »

I switched files just now. This one should work. Please tell me if it loads OK and you see a good skin.

MachineHead · « **Reply #15 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:41:23 pm »

Whatsup with DirectX Host? Clues, tips...

Gatobrit · « **Reply #16 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:43:26 pm »

Hi,
Lower Left skin worked fine and then I had a metamorphosis error and now it won't load. Lower right works fine.

John

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:50:32 pm »

Works fine Jim. Just having a little looksie. Gonna be a bit wierd to get used to the new layout. Will you be adding any of the other calculated fields that people menioned or will those be all for now?

Adam

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:54:23 pm »

First couple of things Ive noticed. HS is much faster and the new option to choose between a list or thumbs is very good...however the option does not appear under playing now at the moment...

Second...dbl click in HS no longer returns to MEGA ME (This was only added a couple of builds back I think)

Adam

Gatobrit · « **Reply #19 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:55:32 pm »

Hi,
I use the Slide Show display plug in but can't seem to get to the controls to configure it. If I right click on the slide show I get a menu full of square characters instead of text.

John

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #20 on:** June 06, 2003, 02:56:53 pm »

New search box is a bit small for doing anything but the most simple searches. Not easy to edit searches with multiple entries

Adam

MachineHead · « **Reply #21 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:01:46 pm »

Refuses to minimize from taskbar.

ADDITIONAL:

Clicking on the Player display window(?) does not allow changing what is displayed.

Toolbar needs work. Adding items get buried under status bar.

KingSparta · « **Reply #22 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:03:17 pm »

Quote

New search box is a bit small for doing anything but the most simple searches. Not easy to edit searches with multiple entries

Adam

I thought the same thing hard to get and do complex rules.

If you go to ply lists you can see something a bit longer to play with.

AndyCircuit · « **Reply #23 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:06:10 pm »

Have to edit the registry too although in PixOS
MC shuts down with an error message after restoring the libary but works fine after re-start (seems to).
A lot to check but it's 1:00 am now

Listening to: 'Hanazono (piano: Hajime Yoshizawa)' from 'In Between' by 'Jazzanova' on Media Center 9.1

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #24 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:08:31 pm »

With the toolbar being at the bottom if you are not careful when you click on the Mode button it jumps you straight to Hairstyle without giving you a choice(you expect to click and the menu pop up on release but it pops up over the button so releasing auto selects HS.

The drop target seems to be smaller than ever. So many people are not aware of this useful feature already

The new info display at the top is no longer customisable...this was one of more my fave features as I could set the timer up how I wanted it (I usually favour a reverse counter to a forwards one so I know how much the track has left to run...)

The recent playing nows is a nice feature... I can see a lot of work has gone into the date stuff. Any chance that a calculated field Year Album could be created so the tree can sort chronologically by Album or is that in the works anyway (I saw Jimsaying that Months would be sorted chronologically meaning that the tree theoretically will no longer be restricted to Alphabetical anway so I live in hope

)

For a first beta release this is look darn good and remarkably stable...

We like

Adam

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #25 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:17:55 pm »

Task bar icon has no right click menu eg Minimize, Maximize etc. Just had a crash as a result of trying to minimixe using task bar button. Button remained but could not switch back to app...had to close

MachineHead · « **Reply #26 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:21:10 pm »

Quote

If you go to ply lists you can see something a bit longer to play with.

Create a new Smartlist and you get the same thing.

DocLotus · « **Reply #27 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:25:29 pm »

I like the direction this version is going.

Pluses
* Cover Art on left pain makes more room for viewing database.
* Like the big open area at the top for playing now song title & other info.

Minis
* Icon bar in very non-standard location & is taking up too much room. There is plenty of room at the top right of the menus (where it was before.

Changes Desired
* Put the Icons back where they were.

Items That Need Fixing
TV...
* Hot key controls for basic TV functions loose focus when in full maximized mode.

DVD...
* There are no basic hot key controls.
* Does not seem to be an associate DVD disc under Options/File Associations.

Cover Art...
* Image jumps around. It changes size slighty from big to small to big for no reason.

Can't wait for the next update... Keep em coming

MidPack · « **Reply #28 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:27:22 pm »

Worked fine for me on the first try. Tried all the basic audio stuff without any problems.

Old layout was fine with me, but new layout/graphics much better - like it a lot. Excellent!

Only problem - played a DVD (new Led Zepp in case you're interested), but it will not FF through chapters. Just plays from the start of the DVD no matter what I do unless I go to menu and select. In WMP9, which I'd rather not use, FF works to skip through songs. Not important for movies so much, but nice for long concert videos. However, it might be something I'm doing wrong as 9.0 wouldn't FF on a DVD for me either.

Nonetheless I love MC9, youse guys are tops. Keep up the good work.

TimB · « **Reply #29 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:37:41 pm »

Feeling brave and probably one of the more novice users you'll get at this point.

Installed fine, no problems at all.

Feels faster, tho' still some delays (with 12,000 files) in right mouse on Smartlists. (Tho' now I can't replicate.)

I like the "up top" look. I'll try it with my iPod tomorrow (if I'm still feeling brave.)

-=Tim=-

DocLotus · « **Reply #30 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:43:53 pm »

Just got a bright idea

While you are switching things around, I would like to see this...

* Switch locations of Visualizations & the database .

Benefits...
* This would put the Cover Art in a line with the Visualizations.
* This will also put the database in a line with the left pane music list.

I believe this will greatly enhance overall ease of viewing & use. It will also provide a more consistant appearance.

JimH · « **Reply #31 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:48:28 pm »

Quote

I'll try it with my iPod tomorrow (if I'm still feeling brave.)

No guarantees at all on what will happen with iPod at this point.

TimB · « **Reply #32 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:51:54 pm »

Quote

No guarantees at all on what will happen with iPod at this point.

That's a given.

-=Tim=-

Kurt Young · « **Reply #33 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:52:01 pm »

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE the new look! WOW!!!

OMG, much respek, much admiration! I don't have the net at home, so I get to play offline all weekend... but.... nice. Very nice UI work indeed.

Naturally, requests are going to pour in. I hope that you will consider a "floatable" Now Playing window or similar solution that will allow me to browse the library while seeing the contents of Now Playing at the same time. It would be a boon.

Thank you for the re-work. Just awesome, guys. Have a great weekend.

Kurt

PS: I installed it over the current stable version. Freaked-out GUI until I implemented the above reghack. The MC beta has imported my existing library perfectly, as far as I can tell. Playcounts and all that stuff too.

Kurt Young · « **Reply #34 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:52:52 pm »

Quote

No guarantees at all on what will happen with iPod at this point.

Hehe, aye, we'll let ya know.

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #35 on:** June 06, 2003, 03:57:07 pm »

Found a lot of the old customisation features are missing in this build....hoping this is just cos it is beta. The best thing about MC was that it was sooo customisable. I would not want to see it take a backwards step in this area...

Adam

JimH · « **Reply #36 on:** June 06, 2003, 04:04:30 pm »

It's still rough. Lots of things aren't hooked up.

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #37 on:** June 06, 2003, 04:09:28 pm »

I guess that was the case. Have enjoyed playing but now must really go to bed as it is 1:10am here

Keep up the good work. This is looking great. I look forward to the future builds!!

Adam

JimH · « **Reply #38 on:** June 06, 2003, 04:14:09 pm »

Mouseman stays up until 3:00, at least.

Zevele never bothers to go to bed.

gkerber · « **Reply #39 on:** June 06, 2003, 04:26:12 pm »

I'm not an expert, so I won't be loading 9.1 yet. but if anyone were to post a screenshot, I'd love to see what it all looks like.

JimH · « **Reply #40 on:** June 06, 2003, 04:48:59 pm »

Quote

I'm not an expert, so I won't be loading 9.1 yet. but if anyone were to post a screenshot, I'd love to see what it all looks like.

Good idea -- sorry I didn't think of it.

Full size here:

http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/misc/mc91.jpg

Hit F11 in IE to get full screen. The image may look better. F11 again returns.

Timmy_Yak · « **Reply #41 on:** June 06, 2003, 05:30:14 pm »

First time on these boards. Hey Kurt it's Timmy!

Well i've been an MC9 user for a while now so I decided to be brave and download. Worked out fine.

I did find one problem though. I have my task bar on auto-hide. When MC is maximized, my task bar will not pop up.

rocketsauce · « **Reply #42 on:** June 06, 2003, 06:21:01 pm »

Quote

It's still rough.

Is using the PixOS skin (or any other skin) going to be required for this new version, even after beta? Scrolling, switching between different views and opening dialogs (like clicking on the Options button on the toolbar) really bogs down whenever I have skins enabled. With skins disabled, the interface flys.

Rob

Media Center Registered 9.0.180 -- C:\Program Files\J River\Media Center\

Microsoft Windows 98 SE
Intel Pentium III 731 MHz MMX / Memory: Total - 261 MB, Free - 109 MB
Resource Info: System - 34 %, GDI - 34 %, User - 47 %

Internet Explorer: 6.0.2800.1106 / ComCtl32.dll: 5.81 / Shlwapi.dll: 6.00.2800.1106 / Shell32.dll: 4.72.3812.600 / wnaspi32.dll: 4.60 (1021) , ASPI for Win32 (95/NT) DLL, Copyright © 1989-1999 Adaptec, Inc. / Aspi32.sys: N/A

Ripping / Drive E: Copy mode:ModeBurstBigBuffer CD Type:Auto Read speed:Max
Drive F: Copy mode:ModeBurstBigBuffer CD Type:Auto Read speed:Max
Digital playback: Yes / Use YADB: Yes / Get cover art: No / Calc replay gain: No / Copy volume: 32767
Eject after ripping: Yes / Play sound after ripping: No

Burning / Drive E: PLEXTOR CD-R PX-W1210A Addr: 0:0:0 Speed:8 MaxSpeed:12 Use MJ Engine:Yes
Test mode: No / Eject after writing: Yes / Direct decoding: Yes / Write CD-Text: Yes
Use playback settings: No / Normalization: None

ashawley · « **Reply #43 on:** June 06, 2003, 07:25:36 pm »

What GREAT work guys. This is amazing. All these changes and I haven't had one issue.

iPod sync'ing and uploading and deleting worked perfectly by the way. Just amazing. I'm still trying to find bugs---

With all the great eye-candy enhancements, can I just make on really nit-picky request. The "updating" dialog boxes look really out of place as they don't match the skin. Example: change the artist on 10 songs and the "Saving Tag Changes" status box is still "old style".

Yes, I know it's probably at the bottom of the list, and I know Jim is saying "form follows function", but it looks like this build is really about form, so I thought I'd point that out.

Thanks for the great work and what a welcome surprise.

Someone at the 'lounge has already pointed out the similarities to iTunes in terms of layout. That's quite a complement to the UI team as far as I'm concerned.

Adam(S)

Oh, hey Timmy! Welcome to the other fun forum!

Omni · « **Reply #44 on:** June 06, 2003, 07:48:20 pm »

Excellent! Adding duplicate entries to a playlist is now supported as promised! (Saying goodbye to WM9... FINALLY!)

I just installed this five minutes ago, so I have no new bugs to report, but my nit-pick the rating icons remaining highlighted is still present. (see last post in this thread)

Omni

gkerber · « **Reply #45 on:** June 06, 2003, 08:05:39 pm »

Thanks for the screen shot. I *LOVE* the new player arrangement. I asked for a larger set of transport buttons about a year ago. The larger display of the current track info is good, very good. (aging, eyes going bad, ever bigger monitors with smaller resolution....).

The tool bar on the bottom is just fine - can we get text and icons back like v8? ( I know, I sound like a broken record.... I wonder if there are any users that NEVER played a record?)

Swordsman · « **Reply #46 on:** June 06, 2003, 10:03:24 pm »

I haven't played with Mac iTunes for awhile, but if memory serves me, you're looking ALOT like it with this new layout...
Plus the PixOS skin is Mac-ish....

I like it, but I hope you guys don't get a stern letter (or worse) from Apple...

Swordsman · « **Reply #47 on:** June 06, 2003, 10:14:05 pm »

Correction! It looks more than similar!

http://www.apple.com/itunes/

Is this your way of telling us JRiver has been bought out by Steve Jobs?? From the bottom toolbar, to the search field, to the cover art on the left pane, to the colored dot icons on the top bar, you just emulated iTunes 4 for us PC users!

?

sirshambling · « **Reply #48 on:** June 06, 2003, 10:44:11 pm »

Getting CD ripping error messages, and problems updating tags.

On CDs that YADB doesn't find I get 2 errors, one after another:-

"Cannot copy 07 - track 7. The filename, directory name or volume label syntax is incorrect"

and

"Failed to update the following files..."

relating to the track in question.

On CDs that YADB does find the same errors are intermittent, no pattern that I can find. Some tracks/CDs work others don't.

The tracks themsleves seem to be ripped fine however - can play them quite happily in MC9.

R/clicking on these tracks to update info - can only get track name highlighted if a number of tracks are selected - and that only sometimes. Other times the field flickers briefly and doesn't highlight. F2 doesn't work at all.

This problem applies not only to these tracks but all tracks in my library.

If I select only one track then if I can get R/Click to work to highlight track name, then I can Tab accross normally. F2 still has no effect.

Good luck with the new look - I like it a lot!

John

John

RhinoBanga · « **Reply #49 on:** June 06, 2003, 11:12:26 pm »

Quote

Correction! It looks more than similar!

http://www.apple.com/itunes/

Is this your way of telling us JRiver has been bought out by Steve Jobs?? From the bottom toolbar, to the search field, to the cover art on the left pane, to the colored dot icons on the top bar, you just emulated iTunes 4 for us PC users!

?

LOL ... I feel a lawsuit coming along.

INTERACT FORUM

Author Topic: Media Center 9.1.194 beta (Read 26443 times)

MachineHead

MachineHead

MachineHead

MachineHead

MachineHead

gkerber

gkerber