Movie Archive - Software Project

[dinoroger]

Hello 'Video Help' community. New to the forums but long time HTPCer (if that's a word). Hope to be sticking around for some good discussions.

With the current hard drive prices and the market getting lower and lower I decided to start a new movie playback application. Basically it will launch a movie stored on a hard drive for my HTPC. At an average of 3GB per movie I can store around 333 movies per 1 TB of hard drive space. Hard drive prices are around .19 cents per 1 GB so this would come to around .60 cents per movie to store. This is for today’s prices, tomorrows may be even cheaper. Although it still would have some cost to accomplish this, it is nowhere near as expensive as a few years ago. I am also developing a USB controlled switched surge protector so my application can turn a specific external drive on or off. This way only the hard drive bank with the movie being played is powered up. This should take all fear of running up my electricity bill with 10 external hard drives.

I am coming to these forums today to get your ideas and suggestions into this project. I have a mock up of the software working and am putting the final touches on it in the next couple of months.

Current Features:
-Using TheaterTek as the movie software player.
-Can sort over 2 billion movies (long variable limit).
-Each movie can be assigned to one or more genres for easy genre selection.
-Specified movie ratings can be pass code protected.
-Purdy graphics, sound effects and thingies (Sorry for the technical terms).
-Currenly only runs at 1024x768.
-Easy setup program to add/edit movies.
-Graphics extras, sounds, ratings display can all be disabled or enabled.
-Title font and color can be changed.
-All key mappings can be changed for full remote control capability.
-Virtual keyboard for movie searches.
-Display movie trailer.
-Add/Remove movie to favorites genre on the fly.
-COMING SOON - Display movie information.

Questions:
[Q: What resolution do you run your HTPC at?
Q: Does this type of application have a market?
Q: What other features that would keep the application simple but still improve it?

Below are some screen shots (Click for larger image):







The project is currently a pet project for me. I was tired of trying to make software work for my specifications, so I decided to take it upon myself to write my own and have been programming for about 15 years now. Depending on the type of feedback this project may become open source or have other more marketable paths. I am not going to make any promises or try to dig deeper into that subject matter at this time. I like to handle things as they come along and want to keep the project fun instead of a job (I got enough of that crap at work).

Disclaimer: This project is not for pirating movies but playing backed up movies that I own from my hard drives. I own close to 1000 DVDs and I am lazy and also don’t like scratches ruining my movie experience.

[dinoroger]

Wow must of posted in the wrong spot. 2 days no responses.

[redwudz]

I use a simpler system. I store my video on a server computer in a back room. The one I just assembled uses eight 320GB SATA drives in a full tower case. It connects to the HTPC in the front room via a hardwired gigabit LAN. The servers are switched off and on with Wake-on-LAN over the LAN from the HTPC or my laptop.

For players, I usually use GOM, sometimes VLC for ISO or DVD folders. I don't have a indexing system set up, but it will either be a database or Excel. The HTPC outputs to a video projector at 800 X 600. I plan on updating that in the near future. Sometimes I just use a 15" LCD monitor from my coffee table when it's not dark enough for the projector.

My videos are a mix of Xvid, Divx, RM, OGM, Quicktime, and every other possible format and demension.
Most of my DVDs are on a couple of Sony DVD changers. I use component video from the HTPC and the DVD changers, selected with a remote control component switch.

Your project likely does have an audience. I use my servers and HTPC for other than just video storage, so I don't really want or need a automated HTPC or one that can be operated with a remote control.

[dinoroger]

FlickSilver Alpha is now available for download. Visit http://flicksilver.com for more information and the download link.

FlickSilver is for use with an HTPC system using Microsoft Windows operating systems. FlickSilver Alpha will help you organize your movie collection stored on your HTPC hard drive(s). With the use of your own DVD playback software almost any movie type can be supported.

This ALPHA version was designed to start communication with the HTPC community in hopes of creating a final version of FlickSilver, with all the bells and whistles. Many BETA programs exist only to fix bugs and adjust some minor changes. Our ALPHA is designed to create a final version from scratch using the communication from the HTPC community. So instead of helping to repair software you really do have the ability to help design the final version.



Features:
• Works with most movie playback software (Application must support command line calls).
• Allows you to import your DVD Profiler database.
• Use almost any media player as default movie player.
• Advanced users can assign additional movie players to launch specific movies.
• Use a PC remote control to navigate your movie collection.
• Search for a movie with a built in search feature.
• Navigate though different movie genres.
• Add or remove a move from your favorite's genre with a push of a button.
• View the trailer of a selected movie.
• Restrict movies from showing in the list with parental security password.
• Functions with Microsoft Windows operating systems.
• Zoom in on the movie front and back cover.
• FlickSilver can be used on multiple HTPC systems all sharing the same database and movie collection.
• Easy to use configuration tool to enter movie information, change settings, and button setup.
• Alpha version allows you to communicate your needs to help design a final version.

Thank you for your help with this project,
DinoRoger