aziz 10 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Hi, This is feedback to help the community understand why MB2.x users are not upgrading into MB3.x..... I have been using Windows Media Center since 2003, and started using Media Browser from almost the first few releases (it was better than the inbuilt Movies function!!). I have installed both the MB3 Sever and the MB3 Classic today, and un-installed both 30 minutes later. The reason I did that is, it does not Co-Exists with the old version of MB2.x. If you have an old version of MB2.x, don't install version MB3.x as it will over write the old one, and if you don't have a backup, then you are screwed. in any case, here is my feedback on both, keeping in mind, I had only a short time to work with both. MB3 Server: Installed nicely and easy enough, and can co-exist with the old MB2.x. However, I could not find Parental Control as it existed in MB2.x it might still be there, but I did not find it, and it should be easier to find. MB3 Classic: Installed nicely, but it over writes the old MB2.x without any warning or upgrade (sucks). My main issue with it is: it tried hard to break the seamless interface of WMC on Win7. When I choose the program from the start menu, it insists on welcoming me as a user to Media Center 3. (I already know I am using media center 3, I chose the item, and clicked the button, didn't I?? duhh...). It also insisted to ask me to confirm before I quit MB3 back to WMC, but luckily there was a config option to disable that!! Since both those items are show stoppers, and I needed to recover my system from backup before the kids are back, I trashed MB3, and went back to my trusty MB2.6.2. At the end, Media Browser team, you have done good work in the past and in your latest production. What is broken in your team seem to be lack of understanding why there are over 8 million users of Windows Media Center (8mil users @ $30 each = $240,000,000 business potential for anyone to convert them) and why some people are still on Win7 for their home entertainment system. As a user of Windows Media Center for the last 11 years, and since I can see that Media Browser team are trying to recreate the Windows Media Center experience, I will be happy to assist you in any way I can.. One of the reason I am still a WMC user is, my TV can follow me to any room in the house and I have over 5 different rooms with TV. I only have 1 media center PC and 4 different extenders... (large number of users keep the old WMC for the same reason!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebr 14910 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 My main issue with it is: it tried hard to break the seamless interface of WMC on Win7. When I choose the program from the start menu, it insists on welcoming me as a user to Media Center 3. (I already know I am using media center 3, I chose the item, and clicked the button, didn't I?? duhh...). It also insisted to ask me to confirm before I quit MB3 back to WMC, but luckily there was a config option to disable that!! Since both those items are show stoppers, and I needed to recover my system from backup before the kids are back, I trashed MB3, and went back to my trusty MB2.6.2. So you are saying that the sole reason you didn't like MBC was because there was a splash screen? The only other thing you said was a "show stopper" was easily changed via configuration. As for parental control, it is user-based now so much more powerful and flexible and also follows you to any device that supports MB 3 (phones, tablets, streaming boxes, tvs, etc.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke 37060 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aziz 10 Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 Hi Chief B. Washer (I like that name :-) ) First, I did not mean the above to be criticism, if anything, I just wanted to let you guys see it from the other side.... 1- Ok.. The splash screen is not the show stopper.... Breaking the seamless interface of WMC is the show stopper.... I felt I was not in WMC anymore, and MB3 had taken me somewhere else, and I should be concerned. You and I know that a person would get used to it after few times, but it is still ugly!!! It also adds zero value (unless you care about which account you are signed on as, and I will come to that next!!) 2- Parental Control appears much more extensive now, which is brilliant for portable devices. But you still need to cater for "old type" devices like TV's, and I can assure you they are not going anywhere in the next 5 years, they will still stay with us. You need to put the old Parental control method in addition to this more granular method, so when a child comes to watch tv, they just switch it on, and watch, and when an adult wants to watch grownup movies, they just enter some code, and it just opens up for few hours... Just like it did in the MB2.6.2. You guys have enhance it, but maybe overlooked an important part, which is communal TV don't have a log in per user... it is just there and you do something additional to get more access.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aziz 10 Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 By the way guys.... my question is not about parental control only.... I started this topic to let you know what is not working for a chunk of population in your community... renaming it will not make the issues go away..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebr 14910 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 We have thought very much about TV and shared device usage and have attempted to design the system to account for all usage scenarios (within reason). You can still have the basic workflow you had before. Here is how: Configure MBC to automatically log in as your user with minimal access. When an adult wishes to see more content, simply click the user icon and choose the user to switch to. MBC will automatically log out of that user at the configured auto logoff time (in the advanced config page) if enabled. That is basically the exact same thing as the old single PIN system but provides much more flexibility including different levels of control for different aged users and personal views of the library and personal tracking of play states, favorites, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebr 14910 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 As for the splash screen it mimics the splash screen on the XBox One - which is Microsoft's replacement for WMC. So it is an attempt to bring our program into the decade and away from the very old design of stock WMC. The alternative is to have a blank screen there for some indeterminate period of time which is very bad UX design. The default theme also attempts to break ties with the old WMC design because it is very dated and will never be updated (unless you count the Xbox One which, as I mentioned we are mimicking a part of). However, you can still use the old "Classic" theme if you simply do not want to leave the old WMC design but you will give up some newer features as we are no longer updating that theme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aziz 10 Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 Thanks ebr, It sounds like the parental control is not a show stopper if what you write above will work. I will get a second pc and try it out once I get a hold of trakt for mb 2.6.2. The seamless interface is still an issue. I see now why you need to see the user logged in, but I suggest you skip that in the interest of not making it look broken (or at least make it a config option just like when exiting), especially since the user logged in can still be seen if you click on the user icon..... Put another way, my kid will not care about that on the tv.... My eldest might while using their iPad. To be honest, majority of WMC users want an alternative to what Microsoft is offering, but there are none out there... Plenty of streaming options, but none that have the basics that wmc has.... Pvr and tv that follows you, plus everything else.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latchmor 584 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Wow. I wish I could slap the devs in the face quite as easily as you seem to have. Good luck. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aziz 10 Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 Hey Latchmor, First, let me apologies if I am sounding like I am slapping anyone out there in the face... English is not my first language, and I might come across as rude, but that is not my intention. My interest is to have a Home Entertainment System that I can use with my family. I currently use Microsoft WMC only because there is no alternative. Media Browser today is complementing WMC, but there is nothing stopping it from becoming the next "WMC". The only thing stopping Media Browser is... listening to users feedback.... I am not slapping anyone in the face.. I am provide feedback... it maybe useful, and it may be not, but I suggest, after 11 years using Home Entertainment System in a family environment, I might know one or two things about this. To Tell people at Media Browser that they are doing a good job is nice, but that will not bring better products... Telling people at Media Browser what is missing from their products is the only way to improve their products, makes them richer, and makes their customers (including me) happier... By the way Media Browser team.. you are doing a good job, keep up the good work... :-) p.s. Companies like Microsoft and others would pay people to get feedback on their products.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke 37060 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 We value everybody's opinion and we do take all of it into consideration. Just look at what is happening throughout the community here. Everybody is helping to shape the software's evolution process. So we thank you for pointing out areas where you think improvements can be made and we will take them into consideration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheShanMan 34 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 The one thing that I think is fundamentally different from 2.x (and maybe I'm remembering wrong because it seems like forever ago since I switched to 3) is that with the new user system the "watched" status isn't shared. Much of my collection is shared between my adults and kids users, but when we watch something as a family using the kids user, it doesn't appear to be watched when logged into the adults user. Don't suppose an option could be added to make watched status common to all users? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebr 14910 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheShanMan 34 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 What does "Also Here" mean? And why does it say "switch to..."? I assume switching to that user is implied by the very nature of it being a user menu. I'm not home at the moment so I can't play around with it but this popup dialog looks confusing as heck to me. If you're suggesting that this provides the functionality I suggested though, I'm excited to try it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebr 14910 Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 ...when we watch something as a family using the kids user, it doesn't appear to be watched when logged into the adults user... When you do that, mark all other users that are in the room as "Also Here" and it will update their playstates as well. "Switch to..." switches to that user (logs you out and logs them in). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheShanMan 34 Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Woah. Super cool. I will definitely use that! While I don't have an alternative to suggest, I have to say it is not a very intuitive dialog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceboy 2493 Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Ahhh that's what that does, alway wondered! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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