More > Media Center 12 (Development Ended)
Ready for wider testing?
glynor:
--- Quote from: JimH on July 19, 2006, 08:55:38 pm ---Our traditional end user revenue isn't a factor.
MC12 is the basis of several players we're building for business partners. A record label and a large traditional media company among them. We have to get it to a stable point. More testers will help.
It isn't ideal, I know. We're not thrilled about it either. It's just a fact we have to live with.
--- End quote ---
This worries me. I've always been extremely impressed with the quantity and quality of the features added to each new release of MC. You guys all work hard for us and spend the time it takes to make it right.
Just keep on keeping on and I'll shut up. ;)
glynor:
Just a question but ....
Do you have a person who works there whose primary job function is to try to break the program? A MC programming Red Team if you will?
Us beta testers are great, but our utility is somewhat limited (for example, I've got my Short Course thing right now sucking up my time). Marko does seem to have endless time (and I thought he was independantly wealthy, because of his seemingly infinite amout of time to devote to MC, until I saw the car thread ;) ), but still...
Someone who is a programmer, who has access to the source code, who sits there for all (or at least the vast majority) of their time testing and beating on it could be extremely helpful. Probably well worth the paycheck (especially since you wouldn't have to necessarily hire a super-experienced programmer, you could pay someone at the "entry level, still learning" phase for this).
datdude:
If you had a test or two, I have no problem running through it, I mean I got a free license...
I would say that overall MC 12 is less stable currently than MC 11 was. It is much faster overall, and easier to use in some area's, but less usable in others.
Lets help JRiver get through this transitional period so MC prospers annd we can get back to adding features that not everone wants or thinks they want, but are ultra cool when implemented in MC!!!!
GHammer:
I think it is ready for some additional testers.
Otto is working well here. I can add and exclude directories and Otto obeys well.
* I do not have network drives
* I do not have an online video library, though I do have a few videos
* I do not right click import media. I used to do a manual add, Otto now does it.
I am pretty happy with image support.
I have added 100s of images to my test library and so far, so good.
* I have just begun tagging and comparing data and image with another tool
* I never work with original files anyway, only copies. I can re-rip tunes. Events happen only once.
I like the new display screen. But I am not real happy with how a slideshow starts anytime I click on music and start playback from a playlist. Then I have to close the display window and go back to the playlist again.
The handheld portion is MUCH smoother/better than the last builds of 11.1
I had pretty much quit using that to sync to a local directory and to my wife's machine. Too many times it would simply stall or fail to convert.
It now works well for me converting APEs to MP3 and simply copying existing MP3s. Just what I want it to do.
I also think that we should keep in mind that while MC does have great advanced features, the wide audience is not the dual monitor, fiber networked, outboard DAC, 103 inch plasma screen household.
It is gonna be the "I have a new portable player and want an easy way to get music on and off of it" crowd. The things that that crowd will use are either working well or need little tweaks. A few more testers would be a good idea along about now.
Were it me, I'd fix what is broken (not what works differently than others expect) in this version, let this group test it a bit then open up to a few more testers.
I do think this group should come up with a test script.
Enable this
Do that
Check this
Not overwhelming IMO.
JimH:
--- Quote from: gpvillamil on July 19, 2006, 09:53:02 pm ---However, this implies that MC12 (or products derived from it) will soon be entering a market broader than the current enthusiast/music collector market. So usability is key... Esp. if a lot of the market will be non-native English speakers, or non-English speakers.
--- End quote ---
The flavored versions we're building often have a radically reduced set of features. Theater View, for example, isn't a concern for a company who needs to compete with iTunes.
Here's an example of a player based on 11.1 but radically different:
Screenshots of two skins:
http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2006/skins/MNSkin1.jpg
http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2006/skins/MNSkin2.jpg
Download:
www.performerdigital.com
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