As much time as I spend reading the Media Browser forums, I don’t know how I missed this little utility posted nearly a week ago.  psouza4 (Pete) has developed another little metadata fetching utility for Media Browser that incorporates many different movie title sources (primarily tMDb and IMDb).  This is nice since I actually prefer info from IMDb, while I grab actors and backdrops from tMDB using MetaBrowser.

The application download, forum thread and complete info is here.  Grab it and see what you think!

Update:

I’ve just been informed that Pete has decided to rename his Media Center Master and he will be registering a domain to host this project.  Stay on the lookout since there is apparently more to come from this application!

I’m not a big follower of Twitter (or any social sites, really), but I realize many of you are.  So, I just installed one of the millions of Twitter tools that Wordpress offers that will automatically update my Twitter account with any site additions or changes.

If you’re one of the few that have already added me to your Twitter, you’ll now get updates from theHTPC.net!  If you haven’t added me yet or want an account, either click here to add me or go to Twitter.com to sign up for a free account.

A few days ago I posted a poll asking you, the readers, what you wanted to see more of.  Concurrently, I was already doing an install of the latest release of MediaPortal with the Moving Pictures plugin and StreamedMP theme.  So, I just want to let those of you who are interested in seeing more of other frontends, that my quick look at MediaPortal is coming.  Stay tuned!

I’ve seen a rash of new tools for grabbing the necessary information that the built-in DVD Library in VMC and 7MC need lately and thought I’d post them here since they’re really quite nice (even though I’ve never used the built-in library).

First, is the DVDXML.com Windows Client by kleinma over at TGB.

It looks very nice, right?  Check it out over at TGB using the above link or download directly here.

Next, we have a utility created for 7MC by Woodbark, also found over at TGB.  This tool is called My Movie Finder for 7MC, and while not as heavy on the eye candy as the previous utility, it can still get the job done well.

Finally, we have the DVDLibraryTool byClever Technologies.  There is a thread for it over at TGB also.  This application, however, is commercialized and NOT FREE! Why anyone would pay for this when we have the previous tools now available is beyond me.  There is also the DVD Library Manager for VMC by taranu that has been around forever.  This utility is also only good for the VMC Library, not 7MC.  Anyway, cost is $20 for the licensed version.

These tools kind of make me want to give 7MC and the built-in library another look…

With yesterday’s merge of the Big Refactor branch into trunk, I’d imagine that the next beta version of Media Browser (12) is imminent.  The latest additions are plenty with some hints and sneak peeks a few posts back.

I’m not making any bets, but I have seen references in the log for provisions in sharing cache, customized root page messages, new future weather forecast (instead of current), complete configuration via the Configurator app (with new advanced option), vod/podcast streaming and many bug fixes and performance enhancements.  Most of these I have already had the priviledge of playing with using SVN builds.

Stay very alert this week…hopefully that new beta will find itself going public soon!