MediaPortal Version: 1.2.0 Final
MediaPortal Skin: StreamedMP v1.7.1.2953
Windows Version: Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU Type: Intel i3 530 @ stock
HDD: Zalman S Series SSD0032S1 32GB 2.5 inch SATA II SSD
Memory: 2x2GB OCZ 10666 DDR3 @ v1.65
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H55-DS2H
Video Card: Sapphire ATI HD 5450
Video Card Driver: ATI CCC 11.2
Sound Card: ATI Integrated HD audio
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card:
1. TV Card Type:
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: FFDShow Video Decoder
MPEG2 Audio Codec: LAV Audio Decoder
h.264 Video Codec: LAV Video Decoder
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Moneual MonCaso 312B
Cooling: 3x 40mm Scythe Mini Kaze Ultra
Power Supply: Enermax ECO80+ 400W Modular PSU
Remote: Logitech Harmony One
TV: Sony Bravia KDL40Z4100
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI
I just had a fairly bad discovery when I realized that the Folder.jpg (recommended) function in the Music Database setup doesn't describe exactly what that function does and how it can be destructive to people who meticulously maintain their music collections. It seems that when this setting is turned on, it writes a 200x200 folder.jpg to where your music is being stored... so for instance an album's folder will be given a folder.jpg holding the album cover. This is all good and dandy provided nothing already exists there, however, I and probably many other users meticulously catalog our collections. I hand pick album artwork that I write to my album folders and, thankfully, embed into the ID3 tags. When this setting is turned on, at least in my case, it seems that it overwrites any previously existing folder.jpg's that may have resided in that folder. So my nice 1400x1400 album artwork gets replaced with a 200x200 less than stellar thumbnail.
For the past few years of using MePo I've always assumed that this setting meant that thumbnail creation (in the ProgramData folder for instance) would be completed using any folder.jpg's found in the album's folder. Obviously this assumption is wrong and I'm sure many other users are misunderstanding it too. There needs to be a better description (at least an 'on mouse over' display box) that describes exactly what this function does... and furthermore it needs to be turned off by default. I was surprised to see that this setting was turned on by default.
I've had over 250+ albums get their folder.jpg's overwritten due to this setting and I am a little frustrated with it. As I said before, thankfully I've also embedded the artwork into the ID3 tags but still this should not have happened in the first place. There must be a better common ground to meet the user friendly needs. I understand why this feature exists, but there needs to be better protection against those who already have their collections setup the way they want them to be.
MediaPortal Skin: StreamedMP v1.7.1.2953
Windows Version: Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU Type: Intel i3 530 @ stock
HDD: Zalman S Series SSD0032S1 32GB 2.5 inch SATA II SSD
Memory: 2x2GB OCZ 10666 DDR3 @ v1.65
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H55-DS2H
Video Card: Sapphire ATI HD 5450
Video Card Driver: ATI CCC 11.2
Sound Card: ATI Integrated HD audio
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card:
1. TV Card Type:
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: FFDShow Video Decoder
MPEG2 Audio Codec: LAV Audio Decoder
h.264 Video Codec: LAV Video Decoder
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Moneual MonCaso 312B
Cooling: 3x 40mm Scythe Mini Kaze Ultra
Power Supply: Enermax ECO80+ 400W Modular PSU
Remote: Logitech Harmony One
TV: Sony Bravia KDL40Z4100
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI
I just had a fairly bad discovery when I realized that the Folder.jpg (recommended) function in the Music Database setup doesn't describe exactly what that function does and how it can be destructive to people who meticulously maintain their music collections. It seems that when this setting is turned on, it writes a 200x200 folder.jpg to where your music is being stored... so for instance an album's folder will be given a folder.jpg holding the album cover. This is all good and dandy provided nothing already exists there, however, I and probably many other users meticulously catalog our collections. I hand pick album artwork that I write to my album folders and, thankfully, embed into the ID3 tags. When this setting is turned on, at least in my case, it seems that it overwrites any previously existing folder.jpg's that may have resided in that folder. So my nice 1400x1400 album artwork gets replaced with a 200x200 less than stellar thumbnail.
For the past few years of using MePo I've always assumed that this setting meant that thumbnail creation (in the ProgramData folder for instance) would be completed using any folder.jpg's found in the album's folder. Obviously this assumption is wrong and I'm sure many other users are misunderstanding it too. There needs to be a better description (at least an 'on mouse over' display box) that describes exactly what this function does... and furthermore it needs to be turned off by default. I was surprised to see that this setting was turned on by default.
I've had over 250+ albums get their folder.jpg's overwritten due to this setting and I am a little frustrated with it. As I said before, thankfully I've also embedded the artwork into the ID3 tags but still this should not have happened in the first place. There must be a better common ground to meet the user friendly needs. I understand why this feature exists, but there needs to be better protection against those who already have their collections setup the way they want them to be.