Front End?

[todd3835]

Ok, so I tried using uiMimic and lack of support has me looking at other options. I was about to click the buy button for BM then saw all the rants about waiting on the much awaited integration of BM and BTV. If I could buy the BM Basic for like 20 bucks or something (I don't need the DVD playing part, nor do I need the Firefly remote, I have the mini), I wouldn't mind. But for me, spending 50 bucks on software is a big deal. Not to mention, spending 50 dollars on a software thats pretty much dead in the water! So I'm looking for suggestions. I looked at J River, but looking at thier forums, they didn't seem to have much userbase for people using BTV with it (a search for Beyond TV brought up almost nothing). The same for "Xlobby". Meedio is no longer being sold/developed due to being sold off to yahoo. And finally, the 100 dollar price tag on MainLobby seems like a bit much. It's getting to the point of thinking about moving away from BTV. SageTV offers everything BM and BTV offers as far as I can see, and it's fully integrated. There was also a Linux PVR software I was looking at, but I've never done networking with linux (as in sharing files and such with winblows machines) and I store my MP3's and Movie backups on this PC, not that HTPC.

So once again, the question is, What's a good frontend? I'm using PowerDVD for my dvd's, I'm mostly looking for something that plays nice with BTV, and gives MP3 support. DVD, Weather and System status would be good +'s though.

-Todd

[RiderFan]

I use J River Media Center with BM. J River isn't a HTPC frontend, but the theatre view in J River is absolutely the best for music and it is what all HTPC front ends should strive for, for music anyway.

I have tried many other front ends but I always come back to BM. It is a very good 1.0 release. The only problem is that by now, it should be on at least 2.0, instead of 1.0.2 or whatever it's at now. Snapstream just released it and forgot about it.
If you buy BM, buy it for what it is now. Not what you think it will be because these forums are littered with dissapointed people waiting 2 years for an update.

[todd3835]

Buying BM and J River just isn't an option. Can you customize J River to Launch BTV? Or are you using BM to control J River?

[cfaslave]

Todd,

If you haven't already, you might want to check out this thread. Similar discussion where many of us are struggling over what front-end to use. I already own Beyond Media and JRiver Media Center. While it's not perfect, I like BM best with my setup. I use a plugin made by cncb that integrates BM with JRMC. There are many other options out there and you might want to give the free ones a try before you bite the bullet on one of the commercial ones. If Snapstream begins supporting Beyond Media again, I personally think it would be the best option.

Brent

[todd3835]

Personally, I think they should either add plug-in capability to BTV, as well as Music/Pictures or finish the "integration" of BM. I'm seriously considering SageTV because it has everything built in. I don't think it has DVD functions, but I personally don't need that. I suppose that it's nice to have your entire dvd library on your HD, but I honestly don't watch DVD's all that much to worry. 90% of the DVD's I watch I won't watch again for a long time. Be nice for some kids movies, but that's about it. I don't need music/pictures enough to spend 50 dollars on a product that everyone is complaining about, which looks like it won't get updated. I could spend 80 bucks on a new PVR software that has the additional features I would like, and keep using PowerDVD to play dvd's on the occasion I play them. Some people say "buy it for what it is now, knowing it might not get fixed" and to that I say, "Why encourage them by buying an inferior product?" It'll just tell them, hey, people are still buying it so it must still be good.

[RiderFan]

Originally Posted by todd3835

Some people say "buy it for what it is now, knowing it might not get fixed" and to that I say, "Why encourage them by buying an inferior product?" It'll just tell them, hey, people are still buying it so it must still be good.

I wasn't encouraging anyone to buy BM. I said "if" you buy BM, and it was meant as a warning. If you are buying BM because you hope that they are going to fix this and that, then you will be dissapointed. Obviously, you fall into this category so I don't think that you would be happy with BM.

Also, with the theatre view of J River, you can open other programs, web pages etc. I have tried it, although not with BTV. Again, that program is a lot of money. It does do pictures, videos and DVD's, and you can have it open other programs as well.

They have a free trial if you would like to check it ot.

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by todd3835

Personally, I think they should either add plug-in capability to BTV, as well as Music/Pictures or finish the "integration" of BM. I'm seriously considering SageTV because it has everything built in. I don't think it has DVD functions, but I personally don't need that. I suppose that it's nice to have your entire dvd library on your HD, but I honestly don't watch DVD's all that much to worry. 90% of the DVD's I watch I won't watch again for a long time. Be nice for some kids movies, but that's about it. I don't need music/pictures enough to spend 50 dollars on a product that everyone is complaining about, which looks like it won't get updated. I could spend 80 bucks on a new PVR software that has the additional features I would like, and keep using PowerDVD to play dvd's on the occasion I play them. Some people say "buy it for what it is now, knowing it might not get fixed" and to that I say, "Why encourage them by buying an inferior product?" It'll just tell them, hey, people are still buying it so it must still be good.

In my opinion, Sage has many of the same problems as BTV/BM. I like BTV's functionality and stability better than Sage personally, but there are many who like Sage too. If you own BTV already, try Media Portal for the front end. It's free and it does have these things you are wanting:

So once again, the question is, What's a good frontend? I'm using PowerDVD for my dvd's, I'm mostly looking for something that plays nice with BTV, and gives MP3 support. DVD, Weather and System status would be good +'s though.

[todd3835]

Originally Posted by RiderFan

Also, with the theatre view of J River, you can open other programs, web pages etc. I have tried it, although not with BTV. Again, that program is a lot of money. It does do pictures, videos and DVD's, and you can have it open other programs as well.

They have a free trial if you would like to check it ot.

J River is only 40 dollars. That's 10 bucks cheaper than BM!

Originally Posted by cfaslave

In my opinion, Sage has many of the same problems as BTV/BM. I like BTV's functionality and stability better than Sage personally, but there are many who like Sage too. If you own BTV already, try Media Portal for the front end. It's free and it does have these things you are wanting:

What kind of problems does SageTV have? I was looking at Media Portal. I even tried the new Yahoo GO TV! but quickly abandoned that idea. Trying to use the Yahoo Radio channels apparently screws up something with my network. I had to unplug and re-plug in my router. After it tried to use a Yahoo Radio channel (and fail), i couldn't get to any internet sites (not even google!) without resetting my router. I understand it's a beta, but jeeez!

-Todd