Mediaportal 0.1.3 Prerelease review
I’ve finally got around to installing the latest release from the team behind the open source Media Portal project, 0.1.3 prerelease version, and despite some great expectations I’ve got to say I was disappointed with it, but before I go on this is a pre-release version and as such its not the final release, and you’d expect some issues, its just unfortunate that 0.1.3 prerelease had so many.
Installation:
Installation was easy in terms of downloading and installing, but it doesn’t upgrade the last version so if you’ve got 0.1.2 installed you’ve got to uninstall it first, which might seem all very well and good until you realise that all the work you’d put into getting the last version to work disappears as a consequence: TV tunning and other bits a pieces. The only thing that did seem to carry across was folder settings for recordings and the like. The config menus are laid out the same as in 0.1.2 so those familiar with the layout will have no problems. The setup installation option is there as well to walk you through the options if you are using it for the first time.
Compatibility:
I rid myself of my Leadtek card on eBay, the person who bought it still hasn’t left positive feedback, and rightfully so, so I no longer have that to test. I did however test on the remaining three tuners in my collection: the Hauppauge WinTV PVR500 MCE, a Dvico DVDB-T tuner and the Hauppauge WinTV USB tuner. The PVR500 was the easiest of 3 to get working, the dual tuner capability was picked up nicely and tuning easy. The USB tuner wasn’t to bad either. The Dvico tuner however just didn’t want to play, despite having working perfectly in 0.1.2, the tuner would scan and register a signal but not actually bring the digital channels in. Why I’m not sure but its a worry when a card doesn’t work in a new edition that worked in the last one.
XMLTV
The same problem in the new version as in the last: XMLTV support is poor for those outside the US and Europe. Well, I say poor when I mean it just doesn’t work, and it won’t import my external programs file either, whereas other products such as GBPVR and Showshifter do without any problems as well. I understand that there are differing standard in XMLTV files but this is one of the main reasons why I haven’t shifted across to using Media Portal in preference to GBPVR, despite the nicer interface and features in Media Portal, but more on this shortly.
Use:
This version was meant to load quicker than the last, but it doesn’t. It’s still as slow as a wet weekend unfortunately. Users familiar with 0.1.2 will immediately recognise the interface, as will MCE users because its basically the same look, and to be honest I couldn’t really pick up on much that had changed from 0.1.2, everything looked pretty much the same. I noticed in installation an ability to lookup internet radio stations on Shoutcast so I managed to get a few installed quite easily, but strangely instead of presenting as a one click stream they open into multiple stream options (Club977 80’s channel was my test subject). Radio tuning still has similar problems as 0.1.2 in terms of FM, although I’m not on an external antenna for radio and it could be interference from the computer that is causing it to not tune properly, I’ll play more with this shortly, but to give it credit at least I could here static and it actually supported my radio tuner where GBPVR doesn’t. I couldn’t find the inline MAME support that was promised either, nothing in the installation options, maybe with the final release? All other features worked well, but again no apparent different to 0.1.2
Summary: This is a prerelease version for a reason, and my advice is unless you are an experience user or slightly mad like me and like to experiment with things, dont download it. The final release is due 16 July 2005, wait till then. I can only hope that things will be a lot better by then, if they are not I’d recommend that the people behind Media Portal hold it back.
There are also a few comments over at Download Squad of Media Portal in general that might be of interest.