I have been primarily using VMC and XBMC on my HTPCs. I recently installed Media Portal (StreamedMP w/ Moving Pictures) as a possible alternative using the following instructions (MediaPortal Install Guide - AVS Forum). All my media files are saved on my HP MediaSmart Server and streamed to my HTPCs (x2). I had a few questions I was hoping someone could answer as I am trying to decide if switching to MediaPortal is the best option:
- For XBMC/VMC I use an external scraper (myMovies for VMC and Movie Info Plus for XBMC). All info gets saved in the folder of each movie on my server (fanart, coverart, nfo, etc...). I assume that MP does not use any of that info since when I set up MovingPictures it appears that MP uses its own scraper to create its own SQL DB, is that correct? If so, is there an external program I can use to maintain my video library in MP similar to myMovies or Movie Info Plus (I am not crazy about using the scraper through MediaPortal Configuration -> Windows Plugin -> Moving Pictures -> Configuration)
- When I go into Moving Pictures from StreamedMP, the layout only appears as list view, I cannot choose different views (I selected "Fan art oriented" when setting up). Is that simply a limitation of using Moving Pictures with StreamedMP? I would prefer to be able to choose my layout such as filmstrip, coverflow, etc...
- Any recommendations on a few good skins to test out (would want 16:9)
- Is there anything else you can think of I should be testing out to get a good feel for MP? I currently don't watch tv on my HTPCs but will be changing that soon. WAF is also important as well. And of course the WOW factor!! I like watching Apple Trailers in XBMC, and I think there is a similar plugin for MP but I have to tinker around with. I should mention although I don't think it should matter, both my HTPCs are Vista x64 and my desktop pc where I do a lot of testing as well is Vista x32. Appreciate any feedback.
- For XBMC/VMC I use an external scraper (myMovies for VMC and Movie Info Plus for XBMC). All info gets saved in the folder of each movie on my server (fanart, coverart, nfo, etc...). I assume that MP does not use any of that info since when I set up MovingPictures it appears that MP uses its own scraper to create its own SQL DB, is that correct? If so, is there an external program I can use to maintain my video library in MP similar to myMovies or Movie Info Plus (I am not crazy about using the scraper through MediaPortal Configuration -> Windows Plugin -> Moving Pictures -> Configuration)
- When I go into Moving Pictures from StreamedMP, the layout only appears as list view, I cannot choose different views (I selected "Fan art oriented" when setting up). Is that simply a limitation of using Moving Pictures with StreamedMP? I would prefer to be able to choose my layout such as filmstrip, coverflow, etc...
- Any recommendations on a few good skins to test out (would want 16:9)
- Is there anything else you can think of I should be testing out to get a good feel for MP? I currently don't watch tv on my HTPCs but will be changing that soon. WAF is also important as well. And of course the WOW factor!! I like watching Apple Trailers in XBMC, and I think there is a similar plugin for MP but I have to tinker around with. I should mention although I don't think it should matter, both my HTPCs are Vista x64 and my desktop pc where I do a lot of testing as well is Vista x32. Appreciate any feedback.
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