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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler Mobile: Mobile Feature Requests Page: 1 2 3 4 ...8  Previous   Next
Unofficial WP7 app available
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantPeterS
Registered: May 10, 2007
Posts: 11
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I have the plugin installed and finally working, but can't get the server entered into the WP7 app.

First, I am unsure of what to put in there.
Second, it always gives me an error of ";" not a valid character if I try to connect wirelessly.
Third, it does only work when physically connected to the computer.

Thanks!
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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it's:
http://computername : port/virtualdirectory

Notice there should be NO spaces in the URL, I had to include them to prevent ": p" being rendered as by the forum software.

The computername you find by right clicking "Computer" and selecting properties.
The port and virtualdirectory is specified in the Restifier userinterface (defaults to "80" and "DvdProfilerService")

I am not sure what happens with ";" - I have my phone synching over wireless without problems. Are you sure you didn't enter ";" instead of ":"?
Regards
Lars
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantwoodg
Registered: March 21, 2007
Australia Posts: 162
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Quoting lmoelleb:
Quote:
I have my phone synching over wireless without problems. Are you sure you didn't enter ";" instead of ":"?


Mine works when I have my phone connected to my PC. If I try and sync when disconnected I get the error message "The remote server returned an error: NotFound."

Even when I am connected I sometimes get an error: "NotSupportedException". Pressing the Retry button generally starts the sync.

Any suggestions?
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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Quoting woodg:
Quote:

...
Mine works when I have my phone connected to my PC. If I try and sync when disconnected I get the error message "The remote server returned an error: NotFound."

Typically there can be two problems:
1) The name used for the computer is not known by your router - so it can't direct traffic to it. You could use the IP address instead (it can be optained by opening a commend prompt and typing "ipconfig" - the entry with IPv4 Address)
2) A firewall on your computer blocks access to the service (it might allow it when the phone is connected, as the connection is actually originating from the PC itself in this case)
Quote:

Even when I am connected I sometimes get an error: "NotSupportedException". Pressing the Retry button generally starts the sync.

I have no idea, and I would need to add moreerror handling to the app to find out.

I am considering uploading a small update I have now, it improves sync speed a bit (just a few percentage, it is still slow) and makes the app more resistent to broken cover images. I don't think I'll hold this update back to add more error logging, as I do not know when I would find the time to do it. So as long pressing retry works, I guess you have to live with it for the foreseable future.
Regards
Lars
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantwoodg
Registered: March 21, 2007
Australia Posts: 162
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Quoting lmoelleb:
Quote:
I don't think I'll hold this update back to add more error logging, as I do not know when I would find the time to do it. So as long pressing retry works, I guess you have to live with it for the foreseable future.


Don't hold up the update. It works for me 90% of the time and that's 100% better than the official Invelos solution!
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantPeterS
Registered: May 10, 2007
Posts: 11
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Sure about not having ";" in the string, as I get the error if I only enter a single character as the URL.

See my feedback on the Windows Marketplace (TopDownDriver).  I have updated it now that I have it working.  Looks like it could be a great app, but needs more user-testing.  A lot of it needs to be the user-explanation of what to do in order to get it working.  I still can't get it to sync when not connected to the computer.

Whay not have an XML export/import or even a sync with the on-line database made by DVD Profiler?  I would think that this would be much easier than all of this effort.

Also, is it possible to add a sort by Disc type?  In other words, Regular DVDs, BluRays, HD-DVDs, etc.?

Thanks
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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Strange, I can't reproduce the ; issue?

For your feedback:
Quote:

Looks like it could be a great app, but needs more user-testing.

More testing would certainly be good, but I do this for free and have other projects I like to work on as well. So basically it comes down to either releasing as is and then improve the app as we go or not releasing. And beta testers isn't really an option for two reasons:

1) It not allowed by the Marketplace (though a few people with unlocked phones did try it out and report a few defects before release),
2) There are not that many users of the app, so it's typically not easy to find a good set of test cases.
Quote:

A lot of it needs to be the user-explanation of what to do in order to get it working.  I still can't get it to sync when not connected to the computer.

To provide more information, I need very precise feedback on WHAT information I need to provide. If I just add information without knowing where the problematic areas are (and work with users to find the solution), all that will happen is the documentation getting so long no one will read it (I have gone down that route before). So where is the problem? Is it the plugin (which by the way, I consider a separate project from the phone) or entering the URI in the phone)?  I am considering having users enter the server name, port and virtual directory in separate text fields (as this makes it easier to explain how they find find the correct value), but it won't be in any update right away (these things take time to make) and it won't help if it's the plugin that is the problem.
Quote:

Why not have an XML export/import or even a sync with the on-line database made by DVD Profiler?  I would think that this would be much easier than all of this effort.

This was considered (I started out using the XML export), however it was rejected for the following reasons:

1) The XML needs to be downloaded in full, and there is no way to detect if the images have been updated so they would have to be downloaded every single time as well. You already know how slow the initial synchronization is - I do not want it to take just as long every single time you add or edit a few movies.

2) You simply can not read the XML file from the phone except by making a web request to retrieve it of a web server on another system. So that would mean users need a web server running and host the export out of this. They also need to ensure the images are available from this webserver. Some might already have a web server (if one of the PHP solutions are used) but for the majority of users I think this will be way more difficult than the plugin. If someone wants to implement a PHP solution that could run next to the movie collection let me know and I can help - it is relatively simple to do. I already have half an implementation for IIS.

3) There is no open API allowing the app to access your online collection. It could scrabe the website, but this also brings some problems: a) Is it allowed by Ken, b) Same as with the XML import, I would not be able to detect which profiles have changed and would have to download everything which is too slow, c) The cover images are only available in low quality.

Actually the best approach would be to let the plugin synchronize with a cloud service, and then let the phone download from the cloud (basically duplicating the online version Invelos have), but this is more work (and cost) than I am willing to put into this. After all, thuis is only ment to be a temporary solution until Ken gets something running

Quote:

Also, is it possible to add a sort by Disc type?  In other words, Regular DVDs, BluRays, HD-DVDs, etc.?

It was added as a filter as a single profile can contain multiple medias - supporting a sort order where the same profile could appear multiple places is not trivial.

In the review on the app you also write that it is slow. Are you only referring to the sync (which I know is slow, but I am not aware of any solution)? It appears reasonably snappy on my 800+ collection once it is synchronized, but I have not tried with any real large collection, nor have I tried on any other phone than my LG.
Regards
Lars
 Last edited: by lmoelleb
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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Version 1.1 has now been uploaded to the Marketplace.

Bug fixes:

* Potential InvalidOperationException when changing page just as the app is closing.
* Improved handling of defect cover image files in the collection. I can't promise it can handle everything, but at least it's better now.
* Synchronization speed increased by a few percentage (sorry, nothing really noticeable, it's still slow).
* Larger touch area for the expand/collapse box set buttons.
* Fix application crash when pressing Retry on the synchronize page with an empty URL.
* Fix application crash when movies are removed from the collection (not a standard test case for me)

New feature:
A help screen is now available for constructing the URL (slapped on the app in an hour or two just before release, it could use a bit more styling in future releases)
Regards
Lars
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantPhil00
Registered: May 23, 2009
Posts: 1
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Im using this now, and you should charge for this man. Even if its $1.00 or soemthing. Good work. Does what i need it to do. Awsome!
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantEdelasos
Registered: December 10, 2008
Posts: 5
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It's very Complicated....doesn't work...:S
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantwoodg
Registered: March 21, 2007
Australia Posts: 162
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Quoting Edelasos:
Quote:
It's very Complicated....doesn't work...:S


It's a litlle bit complicated....does work....

Remember this is an unofficial app that was written by a user for his own use. He then very kindly allows us to use it at no cost.

What problems are you having? Maybe we can help.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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I fully agree it is too complicated. But it does work.

The obvious fix is Ken realizing which century we are in, and opening up for standard protocols (SOAP/REST) to access our online collections (for a fee if needed).

Until he is doing this, the phone have to retrieve the data from your home PC, and allowing a standard home PC to host a service simply requires more complicated setup than you can expect average users to be able to deal with without problems.

The only way I could make this easier is to host your online collection for you - I am not going to do that for a few reasons:
1) I am not sure I am allowed to host other peoples DVD Profiler data, even if they are the only ones who can access it.
2) Bandwidth/storage cost money. Setting up a model where you can pay me for this would not make sense, as I would discontinue it the millisecond Ken offers anything useful.
3) It is a lot of work. I have enough other projects to work on.
Regards
Lars
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantEdelasos
Registered: December 10, 2008
Posts: 5
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Hey

forget my problem...i'm idiot...mysmartphone was over 3 g on the Web and not have W-lan^^

sorry guys

now is running


thanks
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantwoodg
Registered: March 21, 2007
Australia Posts: 162
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I wonder how many downloads there have been. Lars?
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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850. There is no "phone home" feature though, so I have no idea how many download it before they realize they need DVD Profiler
Regards
Lars
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorCineast
Registered: May 9, 2007
Germany Posts: 7
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Hey,

I tried to download the restifier plugin but the homepage seems to be down.
Is there another download source available?

Bye byte and Happy Coding
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