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Page Revision: 2009/09/01 09:41


Introduction

What is My Movies 3?

Start Menu and Extras/Program library

In My Movies 2, users were prompted if they would like to access My Movies from it's own start menu strip, in the program library or as an icon in the TV+movies strip under Windows Vista. Since we have tried to cut down on the amount of required configurations to make everything work, and to avoid asking questions to not advanced users that they may not be able to reply to, this integration question have been removed.

My Movies 3 will instead always integrate both into the Extras/Program library, as well as create it's own strip in the start menu, while the option to integrate into the TV+movies strip have been removed, also because this option is not available under Windows 7, and not having the option overall avoids confusion and is better for consistancy on both Vista and Windows 7. The extras/program library icon, and the start menu strip have been created as two seperate entries in the library, giving users who do not want the strip the option to remove it using the extras/program library editing.

My Movies does not replace the "Movie Library" strip in Windows 7 by default, but an option to remove it will be added during the pre release period.

The start menu strip will have a different look, with different icons under Windows Vista and Windows 7. Windows Vista's SDK does not allow the usage of the wide icons used by Media Center's own menu icons, which Windows 7 does. This means that the start menu icons under Windows 7 will look better, and more integration than we have the option to under Windows Vista.

Blu-ray and HD DVD Integrations

Users of My Movies 2 will remember that My Movies had it's own integration of HD players, which My Movies 3 only have to some extend. Previously, the ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre 2 and PowerDVD 8 only had integrations that did not work well, or did not have integrations with Media Center at all - because of this, My Movies 2 had a HD Integration setting with it's own application as a middle layer.

The latest versions of these players, ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre 3 and PowerDVD 9 have well functioning integrations for both inserted original discs, and image files (ISO, IMG, ect.). Because of this, My Movies 3 no longer creates it's own integration, but instead, ArcSoft and PowerDVD's own integration will be used directly by Media Center's autoplay, while My Movies detects and uses them automatically when you press the "Play Disc" button in the My Movies strip.

For playback of BDMV and HV_DVD folders (Blu-ray and HD DVD folders), My Movies 3 now automatically detects ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre 2 or 3, and launches this player directly without the middle layer that My Movies 2 had.

The unfortunate outcome of this new approch is that My Movies is no longer involved in the playback process of original Blu-ray or HD DVD discs, and is only involved in mounting image files, not in the playback process of these. This also means that the option to unmount an ISO file after playback no longer exists, and the option disable AnyDVD before playback of a HD title is removed also. For image files, it will not be problematic in the user interface, as the image mounting drives will be ignored, and not be displayed as an inserted disc.

Image File (ISO, IMG, ect.) Integrations

Users who have previously been using image files in My Movies 2 will see some changes in My Movies 3. We recommend using Virtual CloneDrive for mounting image files, but the usage of Daemon Tools Lite is also possible. The major change from My Movies 2 to My Movies 3 is that the programs will now be identified on a per-usage basis, meaning that you no longer need to configure anything regarding these.

Should you try to play an image file, without having a supported image mounter installed, the system will simply let you know about this. Secondly, images mounted in Virtual CloneDrive or Daemon Tools will no longer show up as part of the "Disc In Drives" in the start of your movie title list, as they are considered as titles you can start from the title in your collection.

External Player Integrations

For playback of inserted DVD's, mounted image files (ISO, IMG, ect.) containing a DVD, as well as both VIDEO_TS and other file structure playbacks, My Movies 2 have had the option to integrate TheaterTek, but unfortunately not any other player for external playback, except for the Blu-ray and HD DVD disc integrations.

The option to integrate TheaterTek have been temporary removed in the My Movies 3 Pre Release, since it is during the pre release period being replaced by a new and more generic external player integration option, where the user is able to integrate more external players, and prefer the players based on the playback content. This integration was at pre release time not fully done, and is therefore not available within the first pre release.