 Announcing Zoom Player v4.00 RC1, Give it a try |
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 May 30 2004, 02:08 AM
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#1
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 Lead Developer  Group: Admin Posts: 7704 Joined: 17-April 04 Member No.: 1  |
Lots of changes, fixes and new features introduced in this release candidate. This is also the first release to introduce Zoom Player WMV Professional which is a new separate version of Zoom Player allowing for DRM encoded Windows Media file playback.
An upgrade path between Zoom Player Professional and the new Zoom Player WMV Professional versions is available. CODE * New Stream Selection Interface (Only for the Professional Version) allowing you to automatically select Audio and Subtitle streams according to Language Codes, Stream Name text matching and specific stream numbers. * Zoom Player will now try to load JPEG image files outside of DirectShow. It seems that DirectShow is very resolution-limited and even the best display hardware doesn't support a video-surface with the resolution captured by recent Digital Cameras. The new JPEG Module uses a software bilinear scaler to resize the images, so quality should be better than standard image viewers, although a bit slower. You can disable the JPEG Module and let DirectShow try to load these images under "Advanced Options / Filter Control / Settings". * New TCP/IP external control interface. This interface is still experimental. The interface is similar to the SendMessage code currently in use, but allows you to send control information to Zoom Player and can be accessed accross a network. By default, it is set to off and can be enabled at "Advanced Options / Values / Interface" where a connection port can also be selected. * Customized Media Playback Splitter, Audio and Video profiles can now blacklist themselves according to the file extension being played (previously you could only whitelist extensions). * New Toggle (Advanced Options / Settings / Toggles) allowing you to choose how text is truncated to fit the desired space. This effect a lot of text elements within Zoom Player such as the Navigator display and ID3 display. The default setting is to "Vowel Decimation" which tries to remove vowels so that more text remains readable. The alternative is to cut the end of the text. * The DVD AutoAR feature can now execute an external program when a DVD Aspect Ratio mode changes. * New "/LOCKFS" command line parameter which locks Zoom Player in fullscreen mode (useful for Kiosk-Type operation). * New Setting (Options / DVD Setup) allowing you to hide the Audio/Video decoder profiles that are not currently registered on your computer. * New Settings (Advanced Options / Settings / Windows Media) allowing you to use AC3 Filter as an Audio Post-Processor for Windows Media DRM content. Make sure you have PCM input enabled in the AC3 Filter property page, otherwise it won't work. * New Setting (Advanced Options / OSD / Navigators) allowing you to select whether the Left Pane on the File and Media Library navigators is visible. When the Pane is invisible, the top-directory box will show additional details about the media category and drives. * New Color Selection for Navigators Internal, External and Select Framing Colors (Advanced Options / OSD / Navigators). * New Button (Advanced Options / Filter Control / Management / Registered Filter Manager) on the Registered Filter Manager allowing you to Re-Register the DirectShow filters that come as default with windows. This should help in such cases where a 3rd party program can destabilize the default system or in case you want to unregister all filter and restore your system to a default state. * The LCD interface has been extended and can now be used to call Zoom Player standard and extended functions. * Two new ID3 display tags "<Length>" returning the length of the currently playing file and "<PlayListTotal>" returning the total duration for the entire play list. * The ScanCode button (Options / Keys) now shows you when a multi-media key is pressed so you can now identify such keys and add support for them in the keyboard file using the "mcAddKey" function. * New Keyboard Macro (Shift+"V") to enable/disable the Internal Screen Saver. This macro uses the new "fnSSaverToggle" function. + Zoom Player can now acquire WMV DRM Auto-Licenses as long as WMP has individualized the system (usually happens when originally playing DRM content). + Zoom Player now supports VMR7 Windowed playback in Customized Media mode. If you previously used a customized renderer, make sure to update your setting. + You can now use VMR7 and Overlay Mixer when playing WMV DRM content. + Subtitles can now be viewed with WMV DRM content using DirectVobSub. + The External Audio Track support has been greatly expanded. You can now specify an alternative search path for External Audio Tracks (Advanced Options / Values / Other), audio track naming is now more flexible, for example: MyVideo.avi MyVideo.english.mp3 MyVideo.spanish.wav MyVideo.japanese.mpc All are valid names now. You can use any file format specified as an audio extension under "Advanced Options / Values / Extensions". + The Customized Media Playback configuration dialogs should now be a little easier to understand. + The System Overview now lists the filter version numbers when the filter files contain them. + The Alt+"A" macro will now also open the AC3Filter property dialog. - Playing multiple VIDEO_TS.IFO file through a play list should now work again (as long as the IFO files are not looped in a DVD Menu). - Clicking on a missing format link on the Basic Options dialog would throw a protection fault error. - The /OpenDrive parameter would open a dialog asking you to insert a disc if a CD drive has been ejected and the drive then opened. - The "/TRAILER", "/KEY" and "/KEYDVD" command line parameters were broken. - The gradient skin functions were giving bad results. - Custom Media Playback should now work with WMV file that use internal scripting code. - With Random Play enabled, items would play that were previously removed from the play list. Download Zoom Player v4.00 RC1 here. -------------------- Have you read the FAQ?
Have you read the Usage Guides? Have you read the Media Setup Guide? -------------------------------------------- When I am pointing you to an Options Dialog setting, I'm always referring to the Advanced Options Dialog. |
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May 30 2004, 09:22 AM
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#2
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 14-May 04 Member No.: 367 |
Think I found a huge bug..
When in Customized Media Playback and changing a decoder then the window will not close after hitting ok |
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 May 30 2004, 10:54 AM
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#3
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 30-May 04 Member No.: 502 |
I may do a bit of calc here:
- bought ZP Pro : $19.95 - want to upgrade to ZP Pro WMV : $11.95 - total: $31.9  - Problem: ZP Pro WMV is $29.95... have I been played?  - Answer: yup, it seems 
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May 30 2004, 12:38 PM
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#4
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 13 Joined: 22-April 04 Member No.: 120 |
Heeee...the new media interface looks great. Especially now the left pane is (de)selectable. Readability is very much improved on my television. An no problems anymore with errors when not adding anything to catagories
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May 30 2004, 12:56 PM
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#5
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Adept Group: Members Posts: 77 Joined: 20-May 04 From: Atlanta Member No.: 418 |
QUOTE (Benjy @ May 30 2004, 10:54 AM) I may do a bit of calc here: - bought ZP Pro : $19.95 - want to upgrade to ZP Pro WMV : $11.95 - total: $31.9 - Problem: ZP Pro WMV is $29.95... have I been played? - Answer: yup, it seems Almost any time you upgrade or add options to any product from any industry or company (software or a car) after you have made the initial purchase the upgrades or options will cost more. Just stop and think about this. Blight has to pay to have each of your purchases processed. That means he pays his service provider twice. Is he being played? Of course we are talking about a whopping $1.90 so maybe Blight could lower this amount for you to a more bearable $1.50 or so. 
-------------------- William
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May 30 2004, 01:49 PM
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#6
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 30-May 04 Member No.: 502 |
QUOTE (William @ May 30 2004, 12:56 PM) Almost any time you upgrade or add options to any product from any industry or company (software or a car) after you have made the initial purchase the upgrades or options will cost more. Just stop and think about this. Blight has to pay to have each of your purchases processed. That means he pays his service provider twice. Is he being played? Of course we are talking about a whopping $1.90 so maybe Blight could lower this amount for you to a more bearable $1.50 or so. My point merely was: we are old customers, we've been supporting the soft for a long time now, and again the rule is proven that the oldest customer you are, the more played you get to be so new customers can have cut prices... Don't worry I perfectly understand Blight's point  but an explanation from him would have been kind 
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May 30 2004, 02:03 PM
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#7
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 Adept Group: Members Posts: 66 Joined: 18-April 04 Member No.: 27 |
CODE * The DVD AutoAR feature can now execute an external program when a DVD Aspect Ratio mode changes. The path doesn't seem to get stored. Everytime I enter something the boxes are empty after I reopen the options. -------------------- |
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May 30 2004, 02:41 PM
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#8
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Guru Group: Members Posts: 339 Joined: 17-April 04 Member No.: 13 |
QUOTE I may do a bit of calc here: - bought ZP Pro : $19.95 - want to upgrade to ZP Pro WMV : $11.95 - total: $31.9 - Problem: ZP Pro WMV is $29.95... have I been played? - Answer: yup, it seems oh come one, thats just 2 $ roughly. Just buy one icecream less this summer and think of the wonderful things you can do with Zoomplayer which you wouldnīt be able to if Blight didnīt constantly listen to wishes from HTPC folks ... we would still be using the WinDVD or PowerDVD Interfaces ...... 
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May 30 2004, 03:14 PM
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#9
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Adept Group: Members Posts: 70 Joined: 26-April 04 Member No.: 167 |
QUOTE I may do a bit of calc here: - bought ZP Pro : $19.95 - want to upgrade to ZP Pro WMV : $11.95 - total: $31.9 - Problem: ZP Pro WMV is $29.95... have I been played? - Answer: yup, it seems QUOTE ".......but an explanation from him(Blight) would have been kind " Benjy: I have no words for your childish-cry-baby behavior. Let me tell you something. I pay $22.00/month for XY company(I don't wont to mention their name because I don't wont to advertise their product) for their so called technical support and I am lucky if I get an answer in a week. But, we have here, Blight, who is so dedicted in the forum, he answers our questions and problems in less than 24 hrs. And you think it is the end of the world because the new product is $1.90 more? Shame on you. |
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May 30 2004, 03:27 PM
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#10
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 Guru Group: Members Posts: 339 Joined: 18-April 04 Member No.: 23 |
nice new features....
 I have some questions regarding the jpeg display. Although "image Slideshow" is set to 0, the pictures are shown 5 sec. (Shouldn't it be if 0 is selected that ZP is waiting till I push "next track" ? ). The slideshow works great if "Maximaze Window" is selected. But if "Fullsreen" or "Zoom mode" is selected, the first image is locked and ZP doesn't jump to the next image, although the controlbar displays the name of the next images one behind the other. Cu filewalker -------------------- Here's my functional icon collection for Zoomplayer.
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May 30 2004, 04:06 PM
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#11
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 Greenhorn Group: Members Posts: 33 Joined: 4-May 04 From: Germany Member No.: 270 |
Great stuff Blight!
You constantly amaze me when i see what features you keep on adding to this wonderful software in no time. Iīll just have to decide if i want that upgrade from Pro -> WMV Pro, because at the moment itīs not very useful to me (almost no files i have require WMV-support). The price for this feature is quite fair and i hope you keep on developing both Pro and WMV Pro on this high level, i really enjoy what you are doing with it. PS: Even if i donīt need WMV support, iīm probably gonna upgrade anyway, just to show you that your time you spend on this is appreciated a lot. -------------------- Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 | Intel Core i7 920 | Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 | Corsair Dominator 6GB CL8-8-8-24 (DDR3-1600) | EVGA Geforce GTX260 Core 216 | Seasonic M12-D 850W | Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium | Western Digital WD6400AAKS | Iiyama VisionMaster Pro 510 22"
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May 30 2004, 05:46 PM
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#12
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Greenhorn Group: Members Posts: 35 Joined: 18-April 04 Member No.: 20 |
great work as usual. but today i have to post a short list of some issues i came across. (not only in RC1 but also in previous versions):
1. A Mouse Cursor problem: Start a Video and go to Zoom-Mode. Close the player via Alt+F4. Double click on a video file in explorer to let ZP play that file (t should open in Zoom-Mode). Exit Zoom Mode via "Z". Now if you move the mouse cursor over the video- or timeline area it disappears. Enter and Exit Zoom Mode again: Mouse Cursor behaves normally (visible over video area). Can anyone confirm this? 2. I think this is something connected to my settings/filters: If i enter "Fast Play", the video starts playing "fast" but the audio remains in 1x speed. It will sync again after i hit "play". Someone knows what causes this? 3. ZoomPlayer is lovely to control via the keyboard but: The TabOrder in the Options dialogs is a complete mess. If you navigate with the keyboard (Tab) the focus jumps from one end to another and there are no accelarator keys for the various fields. Ok, one can argue that you should use the mouse in the dialogs but it would be nice if the TabOrder would be corrected... Thx and have a nice day! |
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May 30 2004, 07:38 PM
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#13
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 30-May 04 Member No.: 502 |
QUOTE (Suzi @ May 30 2004, 03:14 PM) Benjy: I have no words for your childish-cry-baby behavior. Let me tell you something. I pay $22.00/month for XY company(I don't wont to mention their name because I don't wont to advertise their product) for their so called technical support and I am lucky if I get an answer in a week. But, we have here, Blight, who is so dedicted in the forum, he answers our questions and problems in less than 24 hrs. And you think it is the end of the world because the new product is $1.90 more? Shame on you. Read my post completely before replying it. The problem isn't the price, it's the lack of explanation that came with it (why implementing DRM [great idea btw], why it isn't the same price, etc.). That's all. Although I do agree my first post might have seem a little money-oriented, my bad. NB: as for the icecream problem, I don't have it, I'm not one of those fat americans
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May 30 2004, 08:12 PM
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#14
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 30-May 04 Member No.: 507 |
I totally agree with Benjy. Getting penalised for making an extra transaction sounds very mean & silly to me. We'll be paying for this guy's Big Macks next.
Maybe we should charge for our suggestions and recommendations which help improve his product. He gets a lot of free advice and ideas from us which he is glad to accept but does not seem to appreciate it when he charges those who support his product - extra - more than newcomers have to pay. It's not the money but the principle. If he has chosen as part of his business to upgrade a product then at least charge the same price for everyone. Make newcomers pay - they've put no work into his product like many here. Totally unfair and outrageous. Couldn't agree with you more Benjy. Dave |
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May 30 2004, 08:45 PM
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#15
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Adept Group: Members Posts: 77 Joined: 20-May 04 From: Atlanta Member No.: 418 |
QUOTE (worldcitizen @ May 30 2004, 08:12 PM) ...We'll be paying for this guy's Big Macks next. Maybe we should charge for our suggestions and recommendations which help improve his product. He gets a lot of free advice and ideas from us which he is glad to accept but does not seem to appreciate it when he charges those who support his product - extra - more than newcomers have to pay... Dave ...And you are an old time member who's advice and ideas Blight has shamelessly exploited for profit (Lots of Big Macks (Big Macs maybe) what ever that is) and does not appreciate. But you joined the forum yesterday and this is your 1st post. How is that possible? 
-------------------- William
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May 30 2004, 08:55 PM
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#16
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Guru Group: Members Posts: 264 Joined: 20-April 04 From: Sofia, Bulgaria Member No.: 89 |
ooooohhh
come on, guys! It's not Blight who profits from this. It's the fees that Micro$oft made him to pay to aquire the DRM License that makes this necessary. If you look at the big companies like Adobe or Corel that make you pay almost the whole price for the upgrade what would you say to them? If you think of ZP WMV Pro as a separate product you should be gratefull that you are allowed to get it with a discount None of the big companies give you upgrades for free. With ZoomPlayer you get all the version from the same package/product for free. So be gratefull that's only my two cents
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May 31 2004, 12:33 AM
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#17
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Lead Developer Group: Admin Posts: 7704 Joined: 17-April 04 Member No.: 1 |
Everyone:
I actually addressed the upgrade path before, when the original WMV preview was released and people asked how much it would be. But I will go over it again: Every credit card transaction costs Inmatrix money, when you pay $19.95, we don't get $19.95. The DRM License cost money, not directly to microsoft, just a lot of authentication certificates and legal paperwork. And I would like to give an example of how other companies operate. For example, take Photoshop or ACDSee as prime examples. These programs require you to upgrade EVERY SINGLE VERSION. Do you get the same support level as with Zoom Player? NO? How much do these programs cost? A lot more than Zoom Player. Do the authors of these programs listen to your feature request and actually bother implementing a lot of them? NO. Could we have just set the WMV version as a totally separate product with NO UPGRADE path? Yes, we could have, but we didn't. Bitmonster: Confirmed, will get fixed. Filewalker: There's an issue with the length, if slideshow is set to 0, it shouldn't switch frames, i'll look into it. But I have no issue with it working fullscreen... seems to be switching images just fine here. Pagat: I'll look into #1 #2 sounds odd, maybe a problem with the audio decoder you're using, maybe the sound card. Regarding the tab order... I try to keep it in check, but the GUI is constatntly changing and sometimes things are thrown out of whack. worldcitizen: Your logic is twisted beyond belief. -------------------- Have you read the FAQ?
Have you read the Usage Guides? Have you read the Media Setup Guide? -------------------------------------------- When I am pointing you to an Options Dialog setting, I'm always referring to the Advanced Options Dialog. |
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May 31 2004, 02:06 AM
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#18
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Greenhorn Group: Members Posts: 33 Joined: 4-May 04 From: Germany Member No.: 270 |
QUOTE (QTips @ May 30 2004, 09:22 AM) Think I found a huge bug.. When in Customized Media Playback and changing a decoder then the window will not close after hitting ok I can confirm this "little" (in terms of easy to fix) bug. Blight: ZP -> Player Options -> Filter Control -> Customized Media Playback 1. Source Filters & Splitters OR Audio & Video Decoders 2. Press Configure 3. Your newly done dialog opens (this is where the bug seems to be located) 4. OK, Cancel and [x] do nothing, Advanced and Verify are working fine 5. Havenīt looked through all dialogs yet, seems to be limited to (1.) -------------------- Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 | Intel Core i7 920 | Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 | Corsair Dominator 6GB CL8-8-8-24 (DDR3-1600) | EVGA Geforce GTX260 Core 216 | Seasonic M12-D 850W | Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium | Western Digital WD6400AAKS | Iiyama VisionMaster Pro 510 22"
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May 31 2004, 02:33 AM
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#19
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Lead Developer Group: Admin Posts: 7704 Joined: 17-April 04 Member No.: 1 |
sunrise:
someone already posted this and I fixed the code locally. The workaround is to double click the entry instead of selecting and clicking on the configure button. pagat: Just tried recreating the mouse-hide issue and couldn't reproduce it. -------------------- Have you read the FAQ?
Have you read the Usage Guides? Have you read the Media Setup Guide? -------------------------------------------- When I am pointing you to an Options Dialog setting, I'm always referring to the Advanced Options Dialog. |
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May 31 2004, 03:11 AM
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#20
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 Moderator Group: Members Posts: 1209 Joined: 17-April 04 From: Purgatory's Shadow Member No.: 5 |
the regesterd filter manager screen has some alignment issues of some kind or something. causing the buttons on the bottom to be partally cut off. Not so important but still a bug.
-------------------- Windows XP Professional SP3
Athlon XP 1900+ 1.60GHz (Palomino) 1280MB DDR RAM GeForce4 Ti 4400 (93.81 beta) |
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