CHANGES

• Added: Parental Controls Facility
  • Can control media based on metadata rating, or conversely block everything
  • PINEntry, added support to match diamond theme when user has diamond theme enabled.
  • Option to unlock entire library on first PIN entry this is consistent with most other PC systems but can be turned off.
• Added: Support for music plugin.
• Added: Retrieval of runtime data from mediainfo.dll if no Metadata present.
• Added: Ability to disable weather on EHS, by entering a blank weather location.
• Added: Mouse friendly tweaks to tame mouse enter/exit from scrolling data all over the place.
• Added: Descriptions for options in Config page.
• Added: Tiered Backdrop support (not extender friendly).
• Added: option AlwaysShowDetails (Default true) will always show the details page for all content (Episodes or Movies)
• Changed: Priority of aspect ratio to take metadata if there over mediainfo.
• Updated: Runtime data now stored in minutes to mitigate re-calculations.
• Updated: The default poster size to rectangle instead of square (220×330).
• Updated: EHS, Recently Added now scrolls back to page 1 when transitioning between folders.
• Updated: Information control to support recurring messages for ‘X’ cycles.
• Updated: Cleanup for media delete mechanism (only movies and episodes support deletion at this time).
• Updated: Seasons and Episodes inherit parental rating from their Series.
• Updated: Diamond Theme v0.2 Revamp
  • Diamond supports Episode View combined with ‘advanced commands’ + ‘enable delete’ allows for episode deletion.
  • Diamond – new mini-mode for movies and episodes details page.
  • Changed Title to automatically scroll across screen if text is longer than display area.
  • Diamond added information bar to all views.
  • Due to popular demand changed diamond bottom fade from white to black.
  • Diamond compatible with custom fonts.
  • Coverflow: Radically improved spacing which now allows for large covers without spacing issues (within reason).
  • Movie/Episode Details, Command Buttons no longer overlap poster preview.
  • Modified media info icons.
  • Diamond details view added scrollable overview.
  • Fixed date display for titles with no dates.
• Removed: Classic Theme taken out of Media Browser it is no longer supported.

BUG FIXES

• Fixed: Standard filters so they now display images correctly (visible in genres).
• Fixed: Play All,queue and random.
• Fixed: Remember index-by state.
• Fixed: Auto enter single directory option.
• Fixed: MediaInfoProvider Video Codec
• Fixed: Issue where A|An|The were not being ignored during sorting.
• Fixed: Vanilla season count mistakenly defaults to 0
• Fixed: Crash that would occur in folder validation when a folder has been moved
• Fixed: Patched autoscroller code from sending negative sizes.
• Fixed: Episode sorting now correctly sorts items.
• Fixed: Adjusted positioning of elements on config page
• Fixed: Incorrect Breadcrumbs for actor(s)/genre(s)/director(s).
• Fixed: Data duplication of actors for individual episodes.

Direct download is here. Remember to take any and all bug reports to the Community Tracker. The forums bugs section is closed.

CONTEST: Create a Video of Media Browser in Action
Create a video of Media Browser in action, maybe show off your customizations. Or teach the new generation a thing of two about Media Browser and get your video posted on Media Browser’s homepage.

Prize

• If selected your video will go up on the homepage of http://www.mediabrowser.tv
• Media Browser VIP access
• First ever Media Browser VIP badge

Bonus Points

• Display use of the configurator application as well

How we Judge the Entries

• Presentation
• Originality
• Value Learned (How well did you communicate your experience)

The Rules

• Create a video of your Media Browser setup in action.
• Video runtime must be approximately 2 to 3 minutes in length (some leeway here).
• Videos that breach copyright rules will be disqualified – NO EXCEPTIONS (i.e. displaying ‘The Simpson Season 20′ when the box set hasn’t even been released yet will get your video thrown out)
• Contest is open to all, multiple entries are accepted. Top 5 videos will be chosen by Media Browser team with a final vote by the community to determine the winner of the competition.
• Winner(s) will be contacted and asked for their name and a blog link or other.

How to Enter

• Post your videos on youtube with a link back in this thread to your video.

Personally, I’m waiting on Mikinho‘s offering which is supposed to be released sometime tonight. His application is supposed to allow for menu manipulation without any resource editing as in Media Center Studio. You can track its development at TGB here.

I do plan on giving both a try, however, so check in sometime tomorrow for some screens and maybe a quick comparison.

There’s a video on the page I’ve linked to. If you want to watch it, skip ahead about 1 hour to get to the parts you actually want to see.

I’m not going to repeat everything that was announced, so run on over here and read it yourself. This is some terrific, TERRIFIC news!

I have been doing some research for this on my own over the past week or two and the amount of conflicting information available is really starting to confuse (and annoy) me. What I mean by this is that there appears to be numerous fixes, tools, etc. for almost every RC release that we have encountered and it is making it extremely difficult to find what is actually the preferred working one to use.

Once I can get a good list going, I’m going to compile this into a centralized document so you don’t have to search the entire Internet to find what you’re looking for. You’ll be able to just go down the list and pick how you want your own customized 7MC to behave. I need your help in this, however.

So, far all of you running RTM versions of Windows 7, what are your methods in getting results for your HTPC experience? I want to hear about codec configuration and installation, the registry entries you have to use, utilties available, plugins that you just can’t do without, etc. If you can provide a link to other sites that provide walk-through’s, that’s great…I’ll be sure to give them proper credit. I’m just looking to make a centralized repository of information for you. Leave comments with your best stuff!

Jon
theHTPC.net

For the past year and a half, I’ve maintained my small blog and have come up with a few popular tips and tricks that have made life easier for those who have a passion for HTPCs, home networks and other geeky stuff.  Last week, I was invited to start writing for this site and I’m excited about getting started.  I have been in a bit of a lull lately, but with Windows 7 approaching RTM release (Ultimate, anyway…Pro is going strong already), a recent flurry of activity going on with the Media Browser team and tomorrow’s pre-release of MyMovies 3.0, I’m sure there is going to be a lot to talk about in the coming weeks.

So, check back often for some new Media Center and HTPC-related news, tips and tricks and how-tos!