[mb011b]

I am looking for a program to help me browse through my movies. Say I have a directory with some avi, mkv, and wmv files. They always have the movie name and year as the title; and I want to be able to browse through them and see cover art and synopsis. I want the program to go find this information from online like amazon, not making me enter things locally.


*note, the following two paragraphs were inserted after several comments were posted*


I am looking for something that behaves like windows explorer, not with a 10-foot interface. Where can delete movies that I don't want anymore... and have zero effort involved in creating the catalog.


Even a simple tool that showed me my list of files on the left frame and then upon selecting one displayed google's "i'm feeling lucky" first page result (after a little text transformation) in the right frame would work.


Is there any such software?

 

[pheare]

There are all kinds. I personally use Windows Media Center 7 with the Media Browser plugin.


Check it out:

http://www.mediabrowser.tv/

 

[justinm0424]

Also theres mymovies they're at mymovies.dk

 

[mike_311]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mb011b /forum/post/18221775



Is there any such software?

the entire premise of the htpc relies on the existence of this software, so yes, it exists, and you have a boat load of choices.

 

[ndoggac]

YAMJ (Yet Another Movie Jukebox) is another software package written in Java so it's cross platform, but geared towards the Networked Media Tanks such as the Popcornhour.

 

[aducrejr]

check out this threed

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1094009


it has a lot of info and is very active

 

[bryansj]

I see MediaBrowser recommended, but how does that solve the OP's desire to delete movies that he no longer wants?


I just use both MediaBrowser/MetaBrowser and Windows Explorer for file management.

 

[Karmyna]

You could look into XBMC and Media Portal also. Both are free.


Personnaly I was a fan of Mediabrowser before but now I'm hooked on XBMC. The plugins alone make it a dream to use.

 

[Leffe67]

Mediabrowser for me. It takes a little work getting your metadata and folder structure set up, but it looks fantastic.

 

[mike_311]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj /forum/post/18222926


I see MediaBrowser recommended, but how does that solve the OP's desire to delete movies that he no longer wants?


I just use both MediaBrowser/MetaBrowser and Windows Explorer for file management.

personally im glad that feature isnt there, if i want to delete a movie im glad iave to exit MCE to do it. It keeps the accidental deletio.ns from other members of the family at bay

 

[pheare]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj /forum/post/18222926


I see MediaBrowser recommended, but how does that solve the OP's desire to delete movies that he no longer wants?


I just use both MediaBrowser/MetaBrowser and Windows Explorer for file management.

The original post only contained the first paragraph - has been edited since. Me thinks the OP should have added the edited info in another post - I wouldn't have even seen the additions if you hadn't mentioned him wanting to delete.

 

[pheare]

Doesn't windows media player behave somewhat like what you want? Though not sure if it will grab cover art and metadata - probably not. With your updated requirements, I don't know of any software like that.


I have no issue just using windows explorer if I want to move/copy/delete my movies.


And then use Media Browser to view and play them.

 

[sxr71]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mike_311 /forum/post/18223326


personally im glad that feature isnt there, if i want to delete a movie im glad iave to exit MCE to do it. It keeps the accidental deletio.ns from other members of the family at bay

100% agree. These programs should be read only. I manage my library and embedded metadata with other programs.


It scares me enough that WMC lets you change metadata and delete files. There should be a way to disable that. (except maybe for recorded TV only).

 

[Karmyna]

XBMC lets you erase a title from its database but it doesn't touch the original file.

 

[cm11599ps]

I just use winamp for my music videos and movies.,

 

[mb011b]



Quote:
Originally Posted by pheare /forum/post/18223435


The original post only contained the first paragraph - has been edited since. Me thinks the OP should have added the edited info in another post - I wouldn't have even seen the additions if you hadn't mentioned him wanting to delete.

Sorry, I see how that caused confusion. I'm marking the edited part above. Right now I am using windows explorer to launch movies. I have a big screen and a wireless keyboard and it's just me controlling it. I often have multiple shows running with a kids' show using about 1/3 of the screen and a show for myself (headphone audio on that one) using the other 2/3's. So I need a launcher that fits in a window. I have many different media players and I find myself using various players depending on the bitrate, or depending on where I want the sound to go. Mostly I am back and forth between GOM Player and VLC player.


Explorer works fine for me launching, but I just wish it wasn't so many steps to see a cover and a synopsis. (switch to browser, lookup in google, imdb etc.)

 

[Karmyna]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mb011b /forum/post/18224291


Sorry, I see how that caused confusion. I'm marking the edited part above. Right now I am using windows explorer to launch movies. I have a big screen and a wireless keyboard and it's just me controlling it. I often have multiple shows running with a kids' show using about 1/3 of the screen and a show for myself (headphone audio on that one) using the other 2/3's. So I need a launcher that fits in a window. I have many different media players and I find myself using various players depending on the bitrate, or depending on where I want the sound to go. Mostly I am back and forth between GOM Player and VLC player.


Explorer works fine for me launching, but I just wish it wasn't so many steps to see a cover and a synopsis. (switch to browser, lookup in google, imdb etc.)

Windows Media Center and Media Portal both can run in a window.

 

[pheare]

^yep, WMC runs in a window no problem. I'd give one of them a try. WMC and Media Browser is quite easy to use - there is a bit of upfront work as your movies need to be in a particular hierarchy. you can use the MB's built in metadata grabber, or better yet use Meta Browser to get full control of your meta data.


If you need to delete something, then just use Windows Explorer

 

[candre23]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mb011b /forum/post/18221775


I am looking for something that behaves like windows explorer, not with a 10-foot interface.

I think people are missing this part of your request, as everything suggested so far has been of the 10-foot variety. I would suggest one of the media managers / scrapers like Media Companion or Ember .