2014-08-08, 02:06
Hi All,
Warning: Long post
I've been meaning to make this post for a while, when thinking about the long term future of XBMC and how successfully it will integrate into the lounge room and devices for "the common user". This is specifically a feature / thought which I've thought about for my "dummy" friends, family, colleagues, rather than myself. This could infact already be implemented and I don't know it....
On with the show:
So basically, a lot of users seem to keep their movies and TV on USB drives. I'd like to see XBMC handle USB drives and removable media in an easier fasion for simple users.
So I insert a USB disk into Windows for example, and I've configured it in Windows to be D: the volume label is "MOVIES" and there's a folder called "MOVIES"
I can then configure XBMC to have a library type of "MOVIES" on D:\MOVIES and it will perform a scan, identify the movies and I'll have this lovely library of films all identified and rated, as we all know and love
Now, I unplug my USB drive and I insert my other USB drive, the volume label is "TV" and it has D:\TV\ filled with several TV shows. I can then do thesame as the movies, configure it as TV and scan the library, great.
My questions / issues are as follows.
Ultimately, I feel like the entire UI for adding a folder, setting the media type, "nicknaming" the folder and so on is awkward. I 'get it' obviously - but even my mildly tech savvy friends just put it in the too hard basket and ignore the feature, which is such a waste, they effectively use XBMC as a filebrowser and media player in one, never touching the library features.
This particular thing should be considered to be re-written entirely, I can think of a suggestion already but this post is long as it is...
Does anyone else share any similar thoughts and or concerns? I love the program and hey, unfortunately more users isn't going to mean more revenue - but I feel like this could do with improvement and would be beneficial long term.
Thoughts?
Warning: Long post
I've been meaning to make this post for a while, when thinking about the long term future of XBMC and how successfully it will integrate into the lounge room and devices for "the common user". This is specifically a feature / thought which I've thought about for my "dummy" friends, family, colleagues, rather than myself. This could infact already be implemented and I don't know it....
On with the show:
So basically, a lot of users seem to keep their movies and TV on USB drives. I'd like to see XBMC handle USB drives and removable media in an easier fasion for simple users.
So I insert a USB disk into Windows for example, and I've configured it in Windows to be D: the volume label is "MOVIES" and there's a folder called "MOVIES"
I can then configure XBMC to have a library type of "MOVIES" on D:\MOVIES and it will perform a scan, identify the movies and I'll have this lovely library of films all identified and rated, as we all know and love
Now, I unplug my USB drive and I insert my other USB drive, the volume label is "TV" and it has D:\TV\ filled with several TV shows. I can then do thesame as the movies, configure it as TV and scan the library, great.
My questions / issues are as follows.
- Will XBMC "wipe" the TV stuff from the database, when the movie drive is in and it's done a scan?
- Can we get XBMC across the operating systems to perhaps recognise the USB drive based on serial number or volume label perhaps? Some other identifier rather than just "D:\TV" and "D:\Movies" so it knows which USB drive is in?
- Can we streamline the process of identifying USB devices and media content? Example:
A "dummy mode" option in the settings for a standardised folder layout, eg:
Removable devices with \TV\ and \Movies\ and \Music\ being "auto added" to the library
(Before anyone gets angry, this feature would be optional!)
This would allow us "smart" people to simply teach our friends / family to "Just put it in TV" for example or "Just put it in /movies/" etc.
- Perhaps an autoscan for new content upon insertion of USB / Removable device?
Ultimately, I feel like the entire UI for adding a folder, setting the media type, "nicknaming" the folder and so on is awkward. I 'get it' obviously - but even my mildly tech savvy friends just put it in the too hard basket and ignore the feature, which is such a waste, they effectively use XBMC as a filebrowser and media player in one, never touching the library features.
This particular thing should be considered to be re-written entirely, I can think of a suggestion already but this post is long as it is...
Does anyone else share any similar thoughts and or concerns? I love the program and hey, unfortunately more users isn't going to mean more revenue - but I feel like this could do with improvement and would be beneficial long term.
Thoughts?