Topic: Version 10: Turning the tables (Read 34937 times)

Matt · « **on:** December 06, 2003, 01:13:43 am »

Several regularly happy & helpful users have been a little sour the last few days since we announced we're going to start working on version 10.

Understandably people want a roadmap of what's to come before buying or latching onto the beta. It's not something we can offer yet -- partly because it's not set in stone.

However, I can say that we work hard to implement the things people would like to see in MC.

Really you should be telling us what you want in MC 10 instead of asking us what you'll get.

So here's your chance. Only list the two or three things you think are the most important. Try to be somewhat specific.

Matt · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2003, 01:26:13 am »

I'll start.

I'd like a list style that showed large album covers with the tracks next to them in details mode so I could double-click on a certain file. I like the usability of details, but I love album grouping and those big pictures.
Some sort of nesting or similar in list-type fields would make organizing my images with people, places, and events easier.
I'm not smart enough for sticky views. I want one view for images, one for audio, and one for video. It's easier on me to switch settings again than to have things keep switching and to have to keep adding some column to every new view I go to. I know I'm alone on this around here.
Everytime I make tag changes, I run "Rename From Properties" to update the filenames. I'm lazy, so some type of auto-synchronize for my main music files would be handy.
I want the "Tag Info" screen to show "Fields With Values" along with "Fields In Current View". I'm always adding or removing a column just to get to something there.
I spent 20 minutes explaining "Artist", "Album Artist" and "Album Artist (auto)" to a fellow programmer the other day. If that doesn't tell you something is wrong, I don't know what does. Still, I love having my mix albums auto-magically grouped so that when I browse the artist list for an artist to play it's not a mess.

jakobluck · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2003, 01:26:18 am »

Full support for MKV (Matroska) and OGM container formats
"Copy all to clipboard" tool for statistics, like in the old Media Jukebox

edit: Ooh, some kind of automatic synchronization tool in regards to posting playlists on the web. Specifiy an ftp address, login/password, and it automatically uploads the chosen playlist to the web.

PhatPhreddy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2003, 02:54:16 am »

Hairstyle to be improved to the level of Music Lobby or other similar TV only front ends.

HairStyle to be created as a network node solution so that is can control a host PC from a TabletPC or other thin client type. Also change HairStyle's name.. It was a nice inside joke but no one else knows that.

The sync all zones (all music to be played on all zones in perfect time) to be fixed. As another way of attacking this consider one master 'server' streaming to multiple PC nodes in sync (then I could use NorhTec silent server fanless, low power, palm sized PC's, in each output zone) controllable via Hairstyle of course... If you fixed this it would be the best multi zone solution as this is now being worked out with WinAmp and a front end.

Offer a solution where you can remove everything but audio... I dont want or need anything else.

Mirko · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2003, 03:03:47 am »

multidrive-support for ripping (parallel), asynchronious encoding (background-processing)
Search images by matching

hit_ny · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2003, 03:10:00 am »

CUE/APL like functionality for mp3s.

This IMO is a major shortcoming of the audio section of MC. Its been asked for ages..

What are the possibilities here Matt ?

Marko · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2003, 03:29:34 am »

1. XP multi user support.
Move the data directory into the ...\documents and settings\[username]\ path allowing us to have our own libraries and settings. Possibly, also allow media server to share each users library, on different ports obviously. Media server runs as xp service?

2. When burning files in the library to data disc, give us the option of having these files automatically flagged as archived.

-------------------

kiwi · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2003, 03:52:18 am »

Artist/Album Artist/Album Artist (Auto)? I love this feature. To me, it makes perfect sense. If you have an album and don't assign an "album artist" to it, it makes an educated guess as to who the artist is. i.e. if there's only one artist for the whole CD, then that's the artist, if there are multiple artists, then that's the artist. If the CD is a complilation of other songs by a different artist. i.e. a DJs CD or something of that nature. Then you put down the compiling artist's name in the Artist Name. Presto.
DVD playback. I would love for MediaCenter to become the only software I need for my HTPC. For this to happen, DVD playback needs to be more refined. It works at the moment, but I've found some quirks. In addition, I'd like to have some reasonable control over the filters that get run. Being able to run things like dscaler would be great. It doesn't have to be complicated, it just has to provide an excellent level of playback.
The Hairstyle interface needs to be improved. It needs to match the other lobby programs.
There should be an easy way of getting DVD information and storing it with the DVD/DVD files on HD... cover art, summary etc. (I'd be happy with an easy way to import from something like DVD Profiler.)
Album Gain. I'd like to have the ability to have an "Album Gain" and "Album Gain (auto)" for options for replay gain.

That's just what I was thinking... now it's time for bed. Will think of more later.

kiwi

DJ_Hazelwood · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2003, 03:53:02 am »

1) Possibility to define own categories for the library-fields (and use them in the 'fields to show'-selection)

2) Possibility to change the fade-times dynamically (via SDK) without stopping playback

3) More commands available in the internal remote-control-system (like rating, minimize, maximize ...)

jleerigby · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2003, 04:01:31 am »

Top priority for me would have to be improvements to hairstyle. I want to be able to add my own buttons for the different ways of playing tracks. I want to be able to navigate easier with my remote. Currently if I'm several levels into a view scheme and want to go somewhere like 'set up' I have to hit left arrow or back lots of times to get back to the main menu. I want to be able to go to the main menu, go to the media library (where I last left it) or go to PN quickly from anywhere.
I'd love to use thumbnails view in hairstyle but it's too slow. I'd like to see thumnbail caching as in mega-me.
I'll keep my main PC upstairs and use for tagging etc. with my HTPC in the living room. I want to be able to make tag changes from the HTPC too (typically ratings) which means I need support for library sharing or media server needs to support writing to the files (library sharing would be my preferred option).
I'd like a 'Tagging' toolbar that I can turn on or off using another toolbar buton (like the drawing toolbar in Word). I don't want it to be dependent on tagging mode because I don't always use tagging mode. The toolbar would float so I could position it where ever I want and of course I would be able to decide which buttons to add to it.

Quote

I'd like a list style that showed large album covers with the tracks next to them in details mode so I could double-click on a certain file. I like the usability of details, but I love album grouping and those big pictures.

I think the problem here is that many of us like to view album based view schemes in album thumbnails mode but we want to view the tracks in a single album without having to change to detials view. I would like to keep album thumbnails almost as it is now but make it automatically change when a single album is selected in the list. At this point it would change to a large thumbnail on the left with the list of tracks on the right. (I can see a few performance and usability issues here but you see what I mean.)

Quote

I'm not smart enough for sticky views. I want one view for images, one for audio, and one for video. It's easier on me to switch settings again than to have things keep switching and to have to keep adding some column to every new view I go to. I know I'm alone on this around here.

I too would like to see some work done on columns in view. I need more than 1 view for audio as different view schemes will show different columns. I'd like to be able to set the columns in view and save it with a name. The saved views would be included in the library backup.

Quote

I spent 20 minutes explaining "Artist", "Album Artist" and "Album Artist (auto)" to a fellow programmer the other day. If that doesn't tell you something is wrong, I don't know what does. Still, I love having my mix albums auto-magically grouped so that when I browse the artist list for an artist to play it's not a mess.

I sympathise with this too but please don't be too drastic as we all know that, despite how confusing it can be, it does work a treat the way it is.

P.s. You'll be glad to know that not all of us have turned sour. I'm really thankful that work on v10 has started and I'm happy to pay for it. I'd say keep up the great work but I know I don't need to - you always do great work!

kiwi · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2003, 04:07:48 am »

Oh, one more thing. I'd love to be able to include more than one image with a file. i.e. both front, back and inside of CDs.

wonmug · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2003, 04:30:38 am »

My main wishes are for simple features found in the free software, QCD.

As an option, clicking on a file outside of MC (e.g., in a newsreader or other download program) adds the track to the playlist at the end without interrupting the current playing file.
A command to stop playing after the current track ends.
Scroll track title in the taskbar icon.
Full FLAC format support.

In addition, I'd like a better interface for queuing up files for burning, more like Nero.
But I must say, these are really things I would appreciate in Ver. 9 and don't see as needing a new version to implement.

AndyCircuit · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2003, 06:45:14 am »

#1. Multi-Langual MC or the possibility to create it by ourselfs.(Not just the extrem limited Ressource.XML)
#2. Multi-Zone with seperate volume and sync (see PhatPhreddy)
#3. Improved Hairstyle (combined with #2)
#4. An wizzard to create view/playlists for the average users. (easy to use as possible so I don't have to train them in database techniques) Depends also to #1

Example: If my wife (barly speaking english) is able to create a list of images with son [Stephan] and [xmas] and from [1999 to 2002] and then send them to wherever she want without calling me from my couch three times...... then you're on the right way ( and I can relax a little bit more

)

This are my needs to spread MC more commercial here

AC

Mastiff · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2003, 07:06:48 am »

1. The ability to send playlists to any given zone, not just the active zone.
Then I don't have to change to the zone the IR remote initiated play list is going to and wait for the change before playing.
2. The ability to automatically assign numbers to albums, so they can be printed out and called from an IR remote. It's a pain in the a** to have to do this manually.
3. Multi-zone sync

retrospek · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2003, 08:39:04 am »

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE improve the radio part of MC as I think this area is now letting this product down...

skeeterfood · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:07:48 am »

1) Make MC work with "Offline Synchronized files". I use WinXP's synchronize feature to synchronize all my music to my laptop, so I can take it to work. Currently, I can't make any tag changes on the laptop at work because MC can't write to an "Offline Synchronized File". The My Computer tree also has issues working with them and so does the Tag info Action Window view. Or alternatively, give me an easy way to synchronized my whole library, including music and coverart between machines within MC.

2) When converting audio using MC add an option to use the replaygain settings when decoding so that I can convert my .mpc files for use on my .mp3 portable that doesn't support replaygain.

3) A screensaver type feature for Hairstyle that switches to a selected full-screen visualization after a configurable period of activity. Oh, and some cool new visualizations to use for this

-John

RobOK · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:22:44 am »

great thread, i like the more positive outlook. I am very happy with JRiver and the money i have spent to date. I think this forum is outstanding and represents a level of interaction that is rarely seen. I do also think that very benefit sets very high (and unreasonable) expectations on end users. Many seem to expect all features requested to magically show up, when in reality there needs to be a lot of prioritizing and choices made by designers and developers.

Having said all that, please implement MY ideas first!!!

1) ability to load PhatBox with music. Search on PhatBox to see my other posts. I would pay $15 dollars to have someone build this for me.

2) I have never really gotten into the swing of photos. More work on the usability of this. I really want saved slideshows. In my mind a Slide show is the combination of a set of songs and a set of pictures that play together. I think I can do this now, but it maybe I just dont know how? You have to start music first then start pictures or something???

3) ability to stream number 2 above to Tivo. That might be a Tivo limitation.

4) I have no idea what Hairstyle is or how to make it work on my TV. I guess that requires an upgrade to my brain. Recommend you rename it and get some documentation that steps people through how to get it working. That may exist, have not looked too hard.

5) A photo list style that shows one thumbnail per row and details off to the right, including an Album drop down or selection and a rating. I want to be able to work in a thumbnail list.

6) nail the iPod integration. Reverse engineering some Apple state-secrets will be goodness. Not sure if that is done yet. (i.e. Dynamic play lists).

7) Simplify menu structure -- there are some choices out there that i have no idea what they are MusicEx, Download Manager, Windows Media Manager -- I know they are under advanced, but I just have no idea what they are.

I guess I am an intermediate user, and i always feel there is a lot more I *Could* do if only I knew how. I think a new Forum section should be opened for things that are specific to learning how to use the product. The forum is so crowded with bug fixes and feature requests. That would help A LOT, to just ask questions about how to get the most out of the product, share SmartList ideas, help on implementing HairStyle.

Will work with photos more today, maybe have some new ideas.

Thanks,
Rob.

sdgrizdan · « **Reply #17 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:23:16 am »

VCD Support

jpd5862 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:24:41 am »

1. True support for client / server. I would like to either be able to rip new CD's & set ratings in MC Client; or to be able to have a single library shared between two MC instances with no worry of database corruption due to multiple accesses / writes.

Cmagic · « **Reply #19 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:24:58 am »

Hi Matt,

As for me I 'm quite happy with what I already have in 9.1 but, well, if you really want to make me happier I'd like :

*Tag Hierarchy as you already said : "Some sort of nesting or similar in list-type fields would make organizing my images with people, places, and events easier."

*Ability to rename destination directories and rename files when acquiring images (possibly based on EXIF data)

*A better interface for column visibility selection, well , you said in another thread that you'll be working on this.

Thanks.

We all know you are working hard at JRiver to make a better product. Don't worry, Matt, I don't know of a better place on the web (except maybe Monkey's audio

)

Have a nice day.

Christian

dragyn · « **Reply #20 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:39:56 am »

The file system is the biggest down fall for me but I don't think that will be changed.

As for other things, I would like MC to remember each view entirely...image size, splitter position, etc.
A longer search bar.
More customizing instead of all being hard coded. Like the presets for example.

Ability to hide the Action Window, Player window (compact), etc. More space for the actual files instead of all the extras. There's a lot more space in MJ8 for files than in MC.

and to keep everything consistent. 9.1 is not.

Doof · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:47:20 am »

CUE Sheet creation & support when ripping.
Album Gain.
Ability to create our own shortcut toolbar buttons to take us to various tree nodes.
An Outlook type navigation where we can navigate MC using an Outlook bar (would be a perfect place for those shortcuts I mentioned), the tree, or both. (both would be hideable)

Squanderbug · « **Reply #22 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:53:33 am »

I'd like tosee an improvement in the visualisations. They aren't a patch on iTunes.

In particular, I'd like a smoother transition when cycling between visualisations, and smoother running in full screen mode on high quality.

parannoya · « **Reply #23 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:53:56 am »

My needs are simple. I am not in the software or computer business. I am just an ordinary guy who likes digital audio-music and spoken word.

My needs are simple.
1. Easy to use. Intuitive, logical interface.
2. Stable and bug free, and works correctly.
3. Ability to import all of my various types of files, MP3, WMA, Audible, AAC and AAC protected into the library quickly and easily with all tags in order.
4. Ability to transfer any and all of the above files to my iPod.
5. No hassles, bugs, or any reason to need support. I expect a product that I pay for to work and be final, not to have to download beta after beta.
6. Make my life easier.
7. To not have to pay again for MC10, when I don't think I ever got a satisfactory product in MC9.
8. Other than that, maybe dancing girls in bikini's for visualizations?

I gave up on the above for MC9.1 and went back to iTunes. There are a lot of things I like better in Media Center in theory, it just has too many little problems, and like others have said, never seems to be quite finished

Thanks for asking.

Rizlaw · « **Reply #24 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:54:45 am »

My wish list for version 10:

1. As an advanced PC user, I love the flexibility and control offered by 9.1.316, but I don't like the fact that much of this flexibility and control is at the cost of intuitiveness. Version 10 should be much more intuitive so that "newbies" and reasonably intelligent people can use all of the powerful features without having to refer to help files and forum support. Perhaps a few "wizards" that can be turned and and off would be helpful for some of the more esoteric functions like creating smartlist searches and new views, to name but two.

2. As an owner and user of Cinemar's beautiful MainLobby/MusicLobby/DVDLobby software, I sure would like to see MC's Hairstyle (a poor name to describe its function) get some serious updating so that it works more like MusicLobby.

3. DVD playback on a par with TheaterTek's DVD Software player and DVDLobby Pro 3 with MLServer type database for cataloging your DVD collection.

As has been been said by others in this thread, it would be great to have one piece of software that installs as easily as MC, and reliably performs all of the functions necessary for a HTPC. I would add that it would be even better if MC 10 would have a HTPC mode (I wouldn't call it 'Hairstyle') that has the beauty,simplicity (user interface) and functionality of Cinemar's add-on software, but at a more manageable price for those who are unwilling or unable to shell out over $200+ for Cinemar's great suite of products.

Thunderbird1 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 06, 2003, 10:17:02 am »

Dear Santa:

I believe most of these have been covered, but I'd like to add my two cents:

1) Ability to sync/import media from multiple, user defined folders and being able to do this per library. Using playlists has been mentioned as a workaround, but I don't want to have thousands of songs in my library database I'll never listen to (we're a multi-user, multi-iPod family).

2) More seamless support (it's not important if it's native or if you use QT 6.1 as an engine) for .m4p, m4a, and any other AAC type format. This would include tag reading. Right now, I've stopped using MC for iPod syncing because of the ongoing issues, though I still use it for all other types of music handling/listening. I would like to stop using iTunes for everything but buying music.

3) Enhanced radio support.

Matt, thanks for asking and, as other people have said, I love MC. I'm just a little down about the iPod situation. I know Apple is not being cooperative, but I know (uhhhh...at risk of sounding sycophantic) you, Steve and the rest of the folks at J River are working you @$$es off to deliver.

Polonio · « **Reply #26 on:** December 06, 2003, 10:49:41 am »

•   I would like to switch between album thumbnails and details view in just ONE click.
•   I would like to have a button for each and every tool. I don’t understand why I still don’t have a button to “Rename from properties”, “Fill properties from name”, “Fill track nb. From order list”, etc. I do not want deep right-clicks for tools I use on daily basis.
•   I would like to switch between panel view and tree view in just ONE click
•   I would like to see an album detailed view (album name, album artist, album duration, album year, nb, of tracks, size, album genre, album path, …). It would be great we could tag from this album detailed view. “Album Artist”, “Album duration”, “Album year” and so on, should auto calculate just like “Album Artist (auto)” does now.
•    I would like to see a better cover art management. Right now, cover art (folder.jpg) stays in the old folder when renaming files from properties.
•   A better interface for column visibility selection
•   I would not like to see actual AW anymore.
•   I would like the other design some one proposed (k…), similar to AW but with details on the view, and organized via tabs. TABS!!
•   I would like the tree just for tag browsing (schemes), but I would like big colorful tabs for switching between scenarios (playing now, media library, etc.)

Polonio · « **Reply #27 on:** December 06, 2003, 10:55:16 am »

And I would like MC9 could coexist with MC10 betas. I don't want live the next 3 months with a buggy product. I want to test it, analyse it, and make suggestions. But I also need to play and organize music confidently with the product I paid for.

lee269 · « **Reply #28 on:** December 06, 2003, 11:11:52 am »

Wow, v10. I turn my back for a couple of days and look what happens...

Generally Im with Rizlaw on the intuitive thing. The features are basically there for what I use MC for, audio-wise particularly. Id like to see a bit more hand-holding at the bottom end of the MC learning curve. Anyway heres a few top-of-the-head things.

1. A 'proper' wizard or similarly easy way to create view schemes and playlists for new users.

2. The ability to concatenate and nest searches.

3. A calendar view for images.

4. More varied templates and options for creating web pges of images to upload.

5. Print support for images.

Thanks for asking.

wickesy · « **Reply #29 on:** December 06, 2003, 11:28:19 am »

I would like to see:

The ability to be able to load a library from a command line, so for example I would have one icon on my Desktop that would load MC with my audio library and another that would start MC with my music videos library loaded.
Some way of automatically sharing smartlists with other users. I see this as working like installing a skin or plug-in.

crowfan · « **Reply #30 on:** December 06, 2003, 11:36:27 am »

To me the most inmportant thing is the ease of use. I consider myself a relatively advanced user, and it took me a while to find some of the features. I think buttons/toolbars would go a long way here. I think right click should be a supplemental shortcut type tool and should not be the only way to do something. One-click (i.e. buttons) is the best IMO. And customizable, so we could have only the buttons we want.

I like Doof's idea of Outlook-style navigation. Maybe like Outlook 2003, with the navigation on the left? I think that's great - powerful yet intuitive. The Media Mode idea is the beginnings of this, but I think those small buttons get lost (I know that this is a work in progress and you may already be thinking about moving them), but since it's the main part of your program, I think it should be front and center a little more.

The other thing I would like is the ability to have a Y/N "checkbox" field type for the database.

And album gain

crow

PS. Personally, I was excited to see development start on v10, I was surprised to see so much negativity and annoyance over it! But as someone else said, kudos to Matt (I think it was) for starting this thread and turning a negative into a positive.

Eiffel · « **Reply #31 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:05:30 pm »

Matt, thanks for 'turning the tables'

Many very good ideas have been expressed here. As I see it, they fall into two or three categories:

1. Bug fixes and minor enhancements (which should be part of the ongoing support for V9.1 - Even microsoft releases usability/bug fix patches!)
2. New features and significant improvments on what is already there (what I was expecting for 9.2, etc.)
3. New paradigms truely worthy of a new version/product

I'm mostly interested in 1. and 2., as 3. is something that JRiver should surprise us with, and probably can't tell us much about.

In category 2, the main things I'd like to see are:

a. Significant polis, usability and flexibility enhancements to Hairstyle (many people, including 'J6P' have seen MCE, myHTPC, *Lobbies, etc... and hairstyle is really not in the same league)

b. Better zone support (mostly, synchronized playback... ideally with adjustable delays between zones to cancel echoes in some cases..., without forgetting about the corresponding SDK)

c. Usability improvements for slideshows (I would like to be able to define a slick looking slideshow which would take advantage of MC's audio capabilities, tagging, playtlists, etc. all with a relatively intuitive interface)

d. Better support for classical music (which would include more relevant tagging options, or ways to customize views/tools to accomodate the required changes, and the ability to switch libraries via command line, or the SDK)

I don't see myself using MC9 for much beyond music and still photography. Theatertek is an excellent product for DVD playback, which goes way beyond the basic (customizable aspect ratios by disk, strong command line support, ffdshow, etc.), and I don't think that MC9 will take care of my needs for HDTV, or even analog TV (the EPG is really not there)

I am very likely to support the MC10 development, mostly because I want to give you guys a chance to improve on where we are, and because it is tough to fight against the likes of Microsoft, in a fast evolving market.

a2hoo · « **Reply #32 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:11:01 pm »

3 things:
1)Better album thumbnail support (to navigate to track list and back without having to read 50 items on the menu to get there)
2)AAC tag support
3)Automatic album art download (Winamp 5 does this.. it loads up album art from web when you play a track)

sraymond · « **Reply #33 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:39:54 pm »

Here are just a few... there are *many* more where they came from.

Improve Hairstyle - compete (on a features basis!) with the new (but not yet released) myHTPC2. Give us the ability to customize the interface from a content perspective, not just a presentation perspective.
Give users more control on presentation. This means something like XML/XSL based view of entries a-la Collectorz (http://www.collectorz.com/movie/features.php). I think I'm talking about presenting the contents of VSs as XML objects.
Web media. This seems like *real* easy low-hanging fruit. There has been lots said on this topic, so no need to repeat here

Scott-

tjobbins · « **Reply #34 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:41:42 pm »

I have rather more than 2, but I thought I'd dump them all down - they're in priority order.

With points 3 (a,b,c etc) I am basically trying to get MC to be fully customisable - in the style of say Word, where you can write macros, assign them to toolbar icons, and have complete control of any functionality. Even if MC couldn't support full macros/scripting, just being able to customise all toolbars and the AW, putting any command on them, would be a great start.

1. Support for Winamp visualisation plugins. That's the only thing I really miss since I became a MC convert - the visualisations in Winamp (particularly Milkdrop) were superb. Sometimes when I have parties I still use winamp to play music, just so we can get cool vis on my TV.

2. Being able to apply a sort to a view list. For example, my Audio tree has two columns: Album Artist (auto), Album. I want Artist to be sorted alphabetically as it is currently, but then I want Album sorted by Date - i.e. I want all albums by a particular artist to appear in chronological order, not alphabetically.

3. More customisation on toolbars/menus. I frequently use the commands 'Move/Copy Disk File' and 'Fill track Numbers From List Order', but can see no way to get these on a toolbar. Plus it would be great to customise the right click menu - it's cool that the last used command always appears at the top of this menu, but it'd be even better to be able to choose what commands would always appear on this menu (or appear there based on context)

3a. Be able to customise the Action window, putting links to individual trees/playlists/drives/etc - i.e. I want the AW to work kind of like the Outlook taskbar, where I can put a shortcut to anything.

3b. Have complete control over the MC left pane (sorry don't know the proper name ), e.g. so that I could have just three entries: Audio, Video, My Computer. Audio and Video being tree views - i.e. I want them to appear on their own, not under Media Library. Other items, e.g. TV Tuner, I would want to hide completely.

3c. Be able to customise keyboard shortcuts, assigning a key combo to any command. Plus add mouse shortcuts - e.g. I could assign a command to a click of the middle mouse button, and/or reassign mouse buttons 4 and 5 on the Intellimouse away from back/forward to something else.

3d. Be able to write/record macros, and assign them to toolbar icons or keyboard shortcuts. The ultimate option here would be a mini programming or scripting language - e.g. I can call a function called TagFilesFromFilename, passing in a parameter of "[Album] - [Artist]", and it would do it without prompting me for any input.

4. An extra 'Fill Track Numbers From List Order' option - 'Start At X'. so that the first track number in the highlighted list is set to X and the rest of the list is incremented from that (useful when joining multi-CD albums into one big album)

5. A FLAC decoder

6. Be able to rip more than one CD at once

7. Be able to use the MC user interface whilst synchronising with a handheld - currently when I sync with my iPod, I cannot minimise the sync window like I can with rip/burn/other windows, so I cannot continue to use MC. MC does keep playing, and can be controlled via the web interface, so I guess it's just the UI that's locked.

8. When using Multi-zones, be able to swap Playing Now between zones and synchronise between zones. Sometimes I queue up a load of files to play on my Zone 2, then I want to go into another room (zone 1) and keep listening to those same songs. Would be great to have be able to select a bunch of files and: Add To Zone X Playing Now, Replace Zone X Playing Now, etc.

9. Option in Media Server to control the format and bandwidth it uses - all of my library is in APE format, and it is impractical to stream this across the net. It would be great to be able to on-the-fly convert to MP3 at a bitrate of my choice.

10. An alternative Media Server mode that allows the client to control the server - the client MC basically becomes a remote control, changing what the server is playing.

11. Synchronise two libraries - this would compare two libraries, and copy/update files such that they both end up identical. Would need conflict management - if one file updated in both libraries, choose which update to keep. I keep a backup of my library on another HD, and periodically I install that HD so I can renew the backup. Currently I have to either work out what has changed and copy those files (laborious and often miss stuff), or nuke the backup and recopy (takes several hours)

kwake · « **Reply #35 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:57:31 pm »

Hi, thanks for asking.

1) A-B Loop

2) Support for Pinnacle PCTV (or a generic) Serial Port remote control (without the need for Girder).

Thanks,
Kwake

mickjp · « **Reply #36 on:** December 06, 2003, 01:31:00 pm »

Update Hairstyle mode to make it easier to use with a Remote - remove some of the layers for track selection, etc.

Share libraries and p laylists with two computers, or at least be able to synch.

Markeau · « **Reply #37 on:** December 06, 2003, 02:51:02 pm »

1) Ability to easily swap or Send-To items between Zones
2) When a track set is too long for a cda burn, have the ability to automatically fade out the last track that will fit.
3) When editing an mp3 in Media Editor, somehow be able to keep the tags that were on the original mp3

bvm · « **Reply #38 on:** December 06, 2003, 04:35:19 pm »

Following your request to stick to 3 items, I'd want

1. Dynamic playlists on iPod.

2. Ability to rip multiple CD tracks as one.

3. Ability to update my tags by importing an edited version of an exported playlist (so that I can more easily make mass changes).

Perhaps it's unimaginative of me that two of these are areas I immediately noticed iTunes surpassing MC (the third being iTunes Radio, but I hope you already know how badly you fall behind there). I have other wishes (e.g., album gain), but these three would make the biggest difference to me.

AussieBill · « **Reply #39 on:** December 06, 2003, 04:45:53 pm »

First of all: as Steve Balmer would say " I LOVE THIS COMPANY, YEAH!"

I will be paying the $10 for the upgrade, (I think thats the price if we upgrade early!)

All I want is Hairstyle to be fully customizable (content, structure and presentation), and look as good as Media Center 2004 or myHTPC, that should be the goal.

In that way, you already have the world's best cataloger, organizer tagger, player, but you'll also have the best full screen nav mode for HTPC people like me.

Thanks guys, I appreciate your work and that you are listening.

salsbst1 · « **Reply #40 on:** December 06, 2003, 06:16:30 pm »

Thanks for asking, Matt. I think these are repeats from above but I'll say them again anyway (in no particular order):

a) Hairstyle improvements, particularly to make it easier to operate and locate things with an IR remote via Girder

b) read/write client/server support. I'm in a real quandary as to which machine on which to host the "server" since it would naturally be my HTPC, but I need to be able to edit the database from my workstation

c) album-based replay gain

) digital room/speaker correction during playback (multichannel would be great!)

Philethius · « **Reply #41 on:** December 06, 2003, 07:29:39 pm »

Not sure if this would be helpful...

Sometimes it's nice to modularize the functionality. MC 9.1 is a big beast. If people don't want certain aspects, maybe it's better to perhaps pull out unwanted features.

Not sure where this would lead, however, and it might raise questions about pricing.

phelt · « **Reply #42 on:** December 06, 2003, 07:52:29 pm »

-Full cue sheet support for mp3 including editing. If free apps can do it, a $40 app probably should too.
-Burner queueing. MMJB has had this so long it's embarassing.
-Simultaneous rip and encode. Seriously...
-ReplayGain implemented properly - 89db target and album gain support. The way that everyone including the developer says that it should be.

LonWar · « **Reply #43 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:27:27 pm »

Well I only really have 2 things that I would love to see.

1. The eq in the action window... Or a mega skin that I can use an eq from.

2. Better Handheld support... I really hate to compare programs but Creative Media Source.. Does this very well..

When using MC9 or xx with a handheld it keeps haveing to rescan all of the tracks. This is very annoying and time consuming. I would also like to be able to play music on my nomad back through mc...

Well that's mine, If you want more specifics let me know and I'll be happy to put it together.

Charlemagne 8 · « **Reply #44 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:45:29 pm »

I'm too lazy to read all of the above posts so forgive me if I repeat something that's been said ...
1. The ability to burn one CD to one track for those albums without pauses like Parts of Abbey Road and In Search of the Lost Chord.
2. A way to build an automated task list for those tasks that you perform to every rip and/or conversion. A Smartlist for Library Tools.

CVIII

graham131 · « **Reply #45 on:** December 07, 2003, 04:57:15 am »

Quote from: Polonio on December 06, 2003, 10:55:16 am

And I would like MC9 could coexist with MC10 betas. I don't want live the next 3 months with a buggy product. I want to test it, analyse it, and make suggestions. But I also need to play and organize music confidently with the product I paid for.

1 - This would be great as it would give us the chance to evaluate (with out paying for for 30 days). Also as Polonio says the software is (of course) going to be buggy for a while. It is after all beta!

2 - Pane resizing

3 - Album Replay Gain

4 - A half price limited period upgrade path for us loyal V8 license holders

5 - Pane resizing.

6 - Pane resizing (Have you guessed yet that i would like this!)

Thanks for the chance to contribute to this Matt.

Graham

Ce.D · « **Reply #46 on:** December 07, 2003, 05:29:04 am »

1. "Re-rip" feature; something like:

http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=16046

2. Programmable playlist/slideshow

http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=16666;start=msg114268#msg114268

3. Rating through remote control

4a. A genuine "web stations" section with better format/bitrate support
4b. Allowing user's local/non-shared customization (I haven't figured out yet how to save my own radio links in MC. I might be dumb though...)
4c. Basically, forcing users to share their radio links in order to populate an extensive radio stations list is a good idea... but look at the mess you got there now... not mentioning links being updated to match one's desires and upsetiting the others (seeing one my favorites "highjacked" from RAM 96k to not-working-on-my-system WMV pretty upset me...)

OT. Funny, no one mentioned music downloads... I might not be that old-fashioned !

(cf. this thread's originating discussion: "What to expect with version 10?")

Sam · « **Reply #47 on:** December 07, 2003, 11:31:10 am »

I guess you feel compelled to add more technical features in every new version. However, my preference would be a focus on usability.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Tree-less navigation bar (except for within view schemes) - so I can switch to any view with one click. View schemes, playlists, and devices could be at the top level, if desired.

2. Customizable Toolbar with an icon for every action and tool - so I can do much more with one click.
Polonio

Quote

• I would like to have a button for each and every tool. I don’t understand why I still don’t have a button to “Rename from properties”, “Fill properties from name”, “Fill track nb. From order list”, etc. I do not want deep right-clicks for tools I use on daily basis.

3. Tabs - so I can hide all the icons and menu items that are not relevant to me. Could be: Audio, Video, Images, iPod, CDs, DVDs, Radio, etc.

4. Knickelfarz's version of the action window - as mentioned by Polonio.

5. Forum for how people use MC
RobOK

Quote

I guess I am an intermediate user, and i always feel there is a lot more I *Could* do if only I knew how. I think a new Forum section should be opened for things that are specific to learning how to use the product. The forum is so crowded with bug fixes and feature requests. That would help A LOT, to just ask questions about how to get the most out of the product, share SmartList ideas, help on implementing HairStyle.

Ditto.

6. Playlist sharing online with other users - because I need help in creating playlists.

dylanstan · « **Reply #48 on:** December 07, 2003, 12:15:19 pm »

Quote from: Matt on December 06, 2003, 01:26:13 am

I'll start.

I'd like a list style that showed large album covers with the tracks next to them in details mode so I could double-click on a certain file. I like the usability of details, but I love album grouping and those big pictures.

Please, please, please!!!!
My question, i'm using v10 right now, but it didn't seem that i'm able to do this. Am i losing something, or has to be developed yet?.
I'll prefer select what music (and songs) to play while see the covers, and the impossibility of select single songs make harder to use the Album View, so i've to change the view from one view to another. Of course, after some changes i stay in the details view :'(.

Some more things for v10?
*What about Overburning possibilities?

I've seen people requesting a guide to make playlists and smartlists. What about a pinned message in the forum where people can post theirs, or what about some webspace where people can up screenshots showing how they work with MC. I'm sure that there's people out there with very well organized libraries that could be really useful for the ones with not so well organized libraries as you can see what other people do and can imagine for yourself how to do it. I know that it's nothing to do with media center as software, but, won't help to people to use it better? I suppose that webspace is a problem but you could keep only the ones that seem really helpfull. (I know that i'm not explainig it well, but someone could explain it a bit better)

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #49 on:** December 07, 2003, 04:18:32 pm »

Been away for a while for various reasons (I was in a show, then moved house and currently don't have proper PC access). I LOVE version 10. I cannot understand why anyone would be unhappy that you guys were moving onto a new version...9.1 is an incredibly stable and robust product and you probably feel you have gone as far as you can without making any more major changes...I say fair play to you. As soon as there is a payment option for the upgrade my cheque will be in the post

As for feature requests for the new version most of what I would like has already been mentioned...I like the idea of a details view showing album cover and individual track details but would like it as an extra view to what we have not instead of what we have...A-B Loop function but combined with a tempo control - would be fantastic for learning those difficult guitar riffs and solos (currently have to use - SHOCK HORROR!! - Winamp for this!)...More control over fades so that we can do more accurate DJ mixes, maybe combined with zones so that one 'zone' could be used to monitor the next track and set cue points etc...

Thats about it...my only other requests would be similar to those mentioned by others for usability purposes...improve the column selection tool with some kind of checkbox...add optional wizards for searches, smartlists and view scheme creation (don't allow this to remove the raw power we currently have)...

Apart from that...keep it up!! This program rocks and you are the best support people I have ever come across...I cannot think of anyother company that would throw the next version open to the end users in this way nor who are so honest with their clients...

Adam

(One VERY happy customer

)

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