Media Browser for Windows 7 & Vista Media Center

By | March 5th, 2009 comments icon (4) Comments


[VIDEO]

Recently I’ve highlighted a few Mac OS X apps that provide users a convenient way to manage and playback their stored movie library on their computer (here and here) – some offering slick collection view options like cover flow and stadium view. Well, if you’re a Windows Vista Media Center user, you might want to take Media Browser for spin (formerly known as Video Browser). The VMC add-on is the creation of Jas Manghera, a fulltime developer at Embedded Automation who’s responsible for developing the mControl home automation product that many of you are familiar with. Quick warning: Media Browser is currently in Beta and is constantly adding new features and configuration options that may work as expected but may require you to do a little tweaking to setup up properly. Your best bet is to follow Jas’ blog for updates and discuss any technical issues in the Media Browser Forum.

UPDATE: I just got word that Video Browser was originally written by Sam Saffron and is currently being developed now as Media Browser by a group of at least 24 open source developers. Just to give credit where credit is due. (Thanks, Ogre for the info!)

Description @ Google Code
Formerly known as Video Browser, Media Browser is a personal media aggregator that takes your recorded, digital, or ripped media and presents it in a simple, easy to use interface. Media Browser prides itself on delivering a fast, intuitive, media rich experience for the whole family. Media Browser is written in C# and Media Center Markup Language and runs on the Microsoft Media Center platform, found on Vista Home Premium, and Vista Ultimate OS. At the moment Media Browser supports a number of core functionalities, such as automatic metadata retrieval, customizable views, resume play functionality, automatic updates, themes, and much more. To obtain the latest version of Media Browser please refer to the Featured Downloads section on the right. Further information can be found on the discussion board at http://www.mediabrowser.tv. Thank you for your interest in Media Browser.




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  • Ogre

    Heya, just dropping you a note to clear up a few things. Media Browser was actually originally written by Sam Saffron. The code is open source (GPL) and hosted by Google Code. The team has grown to include at least 24 members although only about five or six are currently active. (Anyone with some decent C# or MCML skills is welcome to join the team.) Jas is currently one of the most active contributors but Paul Haley is the author of the current “engine”. Sam, myself and others do still contribute code when we have time and Robert is working on some new MCML views. Anyway, thanks for the writeup!

  • http://www.ehomeupgrade.com Alexander Grundner

    Thanks Ogre! It was hard trying to sift through the info that was available. I’ll add an a note on the points you brought up.

  • Ogre

    We know our web presence isn’t exactly stellar. One of the issues of being a FOSS project is that no one gets paid and thus no one gets paid to make a website. We contribute to the project when we have time. There is some good news though, rumor has it that we’ll have shiny, new website “when it’s done”. :)

  • http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/2009/05/08/sneak-peek-upcoming-features-for-media-browser/ Sneak Peek: Upcoming Features for Media Browser | eHomeUpgrade

    [...] more. Overall, it seems, Media Browser is progressing at a rapid pace (compare it to the Beta we previewed back in March). While there’s no set release date, Sam hints that it we’ll see the latest update [...]

  • Nathaniel Kabal

    Phenomenal app with much promise. it was exactly what I’ve been trying to find. It may even make me return to WMC on my main media station.