nessMediaCenter 1.6.2 available in AppStore

nessMediaCenter 1.6.2 is now available in the AppStore - with the following changes:
1.) Preferences: Choice of the media center selection color
2.) modernized display of the selection
3.) optional presentation start from the current entry

In addition, "Open MediaCenter at startup" was renamed to "Open MediaCenter at application start", because "startup" has been interpreted by the review team as computer startup and this renaming is better understandable for the user as well.

Actually, this version corresponds to version 1.6.1 from 20.1., which was unfortunately rejected because of the ambiguous wording. By a faulty XCode upload, we had unfortunately to upload a corrected version as 1.6.2 on 28.1. - and therefore the release by Apple lasted this time 2 weeks.

The improved DLNA availability is not available in this AppStore version but will follow in the next AppStore version.

MediaCenter: start a presentation from the current entry

During the preparation of the AppStore version of nessMediaCenter 1.6.1 we found a missing feature in the media center: starting a presentation from the current entry.

Although it has been able to select multiple entries by "+" and then start the presentation (by PLAY or RETURN), this solution is not optimal to start a presentation in the middle of a longer list - to select all following entries would be too cumbersome for many entries.

If you want to start a presentation from an entry, then now simply keep holding "PLAY" on the remote control for a short time (PLAY holding). Or at the keyboard hold down the Option key (ALT) when pressing the RETURN key.

With the keyboard you can also press "+" with the Option key to add all entries from the current entry to the "virtual playlist" (and "-" with Option key to remove them again). As a result, it is now easy and quick to present the middle entries of a long list:
1.) Use the arrow keys to select the desired entry (and thereby possibly hold down the Command key)
2.) Press "+" with the Option key to add all entries from the current entry to the "virtual playlist"
3.) Use the arrow keys to select one of the next entries
4.) Press "-" with the Option key to remove all entries from the current entry from the "virtual playlist"
5.) Start the presentation by pressing RETURN

The 32-bit versions have already been adjusted and can be downloaded - tomorrow the 64-bit versions will follow. And as soon as possible the AppStore version ...

nessMediaCenter 1.6.1 & nessViewer 3.6.1 for Mac available

These updates include the last two pre-release versions and changes since the last version.

The modernized selection display in the MediaCenter has been recorded more than positive - and who really missed Front Row, can set the selection color to blue ...

The fullscreen presentations on multiple screens has been improved and now just makes addicted - who (still) does not have 2 screen should upgrade for that reason alone.
At "Tips & amp; Tricks" we have added an instructions how to start multiple fullscreen presentations.

Unfortunately, the modernized selection display could not be adopted in the AppStore version because we have uploaded it on 1/1/2015 - this time Apple needed over a week to test and approve the version.

nessMediaCenter 1.6 now available in AppStore

nessMediaCenter 1.6 is now also available in the AppStore:
1.) New icons including Retina icons for Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite)
2.) Improved handling of (fullscreen) presentations on multiple screens
3.) Improved handling of (secured) folder access
4.) Bug fix at Miro video podcast playback

The folder access permissions determine which folders can be accessed: the picture and movie folder is accessible by default, all other folders - for example symbolic links that are in the picture and movie folders and link to folders outside these folders - must be granted by the folder access permissions.

So far, the folder access permissions have been granted after opening the media center, so they were not available in "movie info". Therefore, they are now being granted right after the start of nessMediaCenter.

In this version, videos of the supported internet providers can be presented which are collected in media shows or Miro video podcasts.

Apple has increased the prices in the Euro zone, so nessMediaCenter would cost 16.99 (mysterious: the AppStore had shown 19.54 Euro; display or calculation error?) instead of 14.99 Euro. We have therefore reduced the Apple price of nessMediaCenter to offer it for 14.99 Euro again - even if this means that we get less. For countries outside the Euro zone (e.g. USA) especially pleasant (for the customers): there nessMediaCenter costs now only 14.99 instead of 16.99 Dollar.

nessMediaCenter 1.5.2 & nessViewer 3.5.2 for Mac available

In this version we have internally overworked the MediaCenter completely: for all media center content (DLNA, Internet, Aperture, iPhoto, iTunes, Miro, pictures and movies folders and volumes), there is a separate class now that manages the access to its content.

Thus, the program code is not only clearer, but also easier to customize and extend: because Apple will apparently stop to support Aperture and iPhoto in the future, "Photo in the Cloud" will probably soon be added as new content. Our opinion on it should be known... but we will continue to support future technologies.

Another major internal change affects (currently only) the iTunes control (both the movie playlists and the music control): so far iTunes was controlled by AppleScript, which was now (for Intel computers) replaced by ScriptingBridge.
In addition to a better and faster control - among other things the start of purchased and rented movies and TV shows (DRM) - we primarily prepare ourselves so to further innovations that Apple might bring us with Mac OS X 10.10.

But we have worked on the user interface in this version too:
1) The search for DVD covers - if no cover and description is specified by "Movie Info" - is now executed in the background so that the scrolling is not delayed anymore.
2) Due to a new provider - FreeCovers - better and more appropriate DVD covers are now displayed. Even if we still prefer manually setup of covers and descriptions by "Movie Info".
3) For folders (e.g. picture and movie folder or volumes) a "combined" preview of the included media will be displayed. The creation of this preview is running in the background too.
4) The "combined" preview in iPhoto albums or iTunes movie playlists will also be running in the background.

In addition, the display duration of pictures in media presentations has been improved - not only for little slower computers, but also for NRW images (Nikon camera RAW format), which are a challenge with almost 30 MB, even with fast computers.

And once again very clearly: DVDs are DVDs and should be stored this way too (and not as movie files). And covers are only searched automatically for DVDs - in contrast to movie files, because their contents and especially filenames might be private. Privacy has absolute priority!

For movie files there is "Movie Info", which allows it to setup manually a cover and description for DVDs, (EyeTV) movies and media shows - without sharing their file names automatically with the global "world". Sadly true: privacy sometimes also has disadvantages - manual editing of covers is of course less "comfortable". But also safer ...

Many thanks to Erik not only for various bug reports in pre-releases, but also for the reference to NRW - unfortunately, this format  is only supported by Apple with 10.7 or newer.

Finally, a note on compatibility: with a heavy heart, from now on our applications are "only" compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 or later for Intel computers - but we would recommend for these computers at least 10.6 anyway. For PowerPC (PPC), however, 10.4 is still supported.

And for those who like to use the latest, there are on request of course still the 64-bit versions which require Mac OS X 10.9 and are based on "AV Foundation" instead of QuickTime.

nessMediaCenter 1.4 & nessViewer 3.4 for Mac available

In the past the media center and media presentation were (only) controllable by keyboard, Apple remote control and "NV Remote" on iPhone and iPod touch.

Now the media center and media presentation can additionally be controlled by trackpad, (magic) mouse and mouse / scroll wheel.

The media center can be controlled by swiping up & down, clicking the left mouse button to select (or open / present) the current entry or moving up one level by clicking the right button.

The media presentation can be controlled by swiping right & left to select the next & previous media entry (or to jump forward & backward if just one movie is selected) or by clicking the right mouse button to show the presentation menu.

More of these (gesture) events - like rotating and zooming - will be implemented in the 64 bit versions.

QuickTime (32 bit) for Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)

If Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) is installed by updating a older Mac OS X version, then QuickTime (32 bit) is usually available. The 32 bit versions of nessMediaCenter and nessViewer are based on this.

But if Mac OS X 10.9 is installed by a "clean install", then QuickTime (32 bit) might not be available and must be installed manually. Apple has written a manual for this.

We are working on a 64 bit version of nessMediaCenter and nessViewer since Mac OS X 10.7, which is based on "AV Foundation" instead of QuickTime. But these 64 bit versions are only available on request because we are not satisfied with the scope of features at the moment.

With Mac OS X 10.9 it is possible for the first time to identify incompatible movies and to convert these movies. We added the functionality to edit movies within nessViewer as well.

But we are still working on 2 solutions:
1.) The movie presentation of incompatible movies without conversion.
2.) The presentation of QuickTime VR (panorama) movies.

nessMediaCenter 1.3.5 available

At DVD presentation the default language can be set now in the audio menu of the menubar by selecting "Set As Default". If DD 5.1 or DTS and passthrough (digital audio output) is available for the default language, then this audio stream will be selected automatically.

The default language overwrites any language selection in the DVD menu of the DVD window - in other words: if a default language has been set, then selecting another language in the DVD window will be ignored.
By selecting "Remove Default" the default language will be removed and any selection of a language in the DVD window will work again.

The Apple crash report (in case of an unexpected error) has been replaced by a self developed crash report to send these reports to us instead of Apple. Even if crashes do not occur as far as we know (or at least very rar).

The update of nessViewer will take some time since we are still testing the DLNA player. The pre-release can be downloaded if interested.

nessViewer & DLNA

The pre-release of nessViewer now integrates DLNA as a first step.

After opening the DLNA window by the toolbox or file menu, a window is displayed which allows it to start DLNA. If the firewall is activated then incoming connections for nessViewer must be allowed.

After the DLNA start, all available DLNA devices are shown in the drop down menu.

If the selected device supports media (e.g. a media server like Serviio or NAS volumes), then "Browse" will show the root content. Folders can then be opened and media like movies or pictures presented.

Particularly pleasant is the feature to select multiple media and then to present these media continuously.

So far the following devices have been tested (and work):

• Fritz!Box NAS Media Server
• PlexMediaServer
• PS3 Media Server
• Serviio Media Server
• Twonky Media Server (modificated nessViewer version from 3/21/2013 13:35)
• XBMC UPnP Media Server (modificated nessViewer version from 3/21/2013 12:10)

At the moment we are testing further DLNA devices like BluRay player. If beta tester will find problems, we will updated the pre-release just in time. Experiences or problems can be send to us by email.

For the future further features like a DLNA media server or DLNA remote control are imaginable. An integration in the media center might also be possible.

nessViewer App 1.3 available

Pictures can now be rotated via touches and pictures and PDF pages presented.

The iternet offer is extended by movie trailers (in various languages) and english/france podcasts.

The GUI is prepared for iPad - as soon as iOS 4.2 is available a new version will be posted.

nessViewer App 1.2.1 for iPhone/iPod touch

After longer diskussions with Apple the nessViewer App is now available in the App Store.

We would like to thank explicit the several Apple employees/teams at this point!

The main focus of nessViewer App are the various internet video offers and the media shows (playlists).

The internet video offer contains momentary videos from DailyMotion, German television (podcasts), movie trailers (en/de), cinema movies from Free Movies Cinema, music videos from LastFM and videos from YouTube.

These videos can not only be presented but also collected in media shows, which can be saved and presented again later.

Via "Open URL" a web browser can be opened for the supported internet providers which allows to browse safely, play the videos and collect them in media shows.

The supported media (media shows, Office documents like Word or Excel, PDF documents, pictures, videos) can be transfered to the iPhone/iPod touch via iTunes.

For registered users we offer further internet video providers.

nessViewer 2.6.1 available (Web Browser)

Inspired by the nessViewer App (for iPhone/iPod touch) we integrated now a web browser in nessViewer.

The web pages of supported providers (e.g. DailyMotion, YouTube) can be loaded by a pop up. Movies will not be presented by plugins but rather in fullscreen mode by pressing "Present". Links to these movies can be added to a (new) media show by pressing the "+" button.

Registered users have access to more supported providers.

Another advantage is that web content, which is not from the provider, will be filtered.

In the near future we will extend this browser e.g. for downloads of movies.

nessViewer 2.4.4 available (media improvements)

This version stands for media improvements: the switch between MediaCenter and presentation is now on various user requests without visible desktop and the media presentations have a menu (only visible if cusor in menubar).

Internal all internet provider classes has been redesigned - this means less code and easier adaptions in the future.

Since various internet providers (DailyMotion, LastFM, RTL, VOX) were not working anymore the code for these providers were adapted.