VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

I don't know how many people have large and extensive wish lists.

It's ok Shultzie I know you don't know. I'm slowly getting use to it!!

[NA9D]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

You beat me to the finish line. You're like a perfect C Note tuning fork all great Master!!!!

I will post a feature request.

[Nded]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

In an effort to head off a tourettes syndrome episode, let me interpret the headhodge. What I think he would like to see is multiple folders inside the Wish List, with the ability to put different wishes in different folders.

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

In an effort to head off a tourettes syndrome episode, let me interpret the headhodge. What I think he would like to see is multiple folders inside the Wish List, with the ability to put different wishes in different folders.

I think we got this one taken care of Brain. It should be out and available in 1.4.3!!!

You have the concept correct. But I would like to emphasize the key feature I'm trying to convey is that you would initially put a title in one folder in the wish list but then it would automatically show up in another folder as the status of the title changes over time.

NA9D is totally understanding my meaning now. I just like giving Shultzie a hard time. I even do this on my own time for free!! But if I'm overdoing it, he can let me know and I'll lay low.

BTW Did you get my Thank You card for the Tang??

Regards

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

I have a little more feedback to give on 1.4

We used VUDU to watch I Am Legend.

I was dissapointed that a month or so ago I was convinced by other posters to watch Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price. It ruined the whole movie for me, because I knew exactly how the movie would turn out from the beginning.

I digress....

What I wanted to say is that the New to Rent category is a really nice added feature but still doesn't quite capture what I was looking for.

It lists movie sorted by newly added movies to VUDU (which is good). But the side effect is now I have to wade through a bunch of older movies that I'm not interested in to find the newer ones that I am interested in.

I'm not sure what's the best way to express it.

My SQL is a "lot" rusty, but I was hoping for something like:

"Find all movies where the movie is available for rent AND the release date of the movie is less than 24 months old from todays date; sort by date made available by VUDU."

Netflix does this basically by having 2 categories: "New Movies for Rent" and "Movies Released to DVD". The first category shows all the new movies available for rent and the second one shows all the older library titles that are newly available for rent.

Regards

[RonV]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

My SQL is a "lot" rusty, but I was hoping for something like:

"Find all movies where the movie is available for rent AND the release date of the movie is less than 24 months old from todays date; sort by date made available by VUDU."

I'll put the request in to "Publish DB Schema", "Metadata", and "Relationships" of the VUDU database. Along with creating the special "Hodge" button that allows one custom query to be assigned to it. It might take a couple of years to knock this one out.

The issue is with a "simple" user interface on screen coming up with "simple" ways of doing "complex" things become "complex." On a web site they could always offer advanced searches that would be almost impossible on the current UI of the VUDU and other appliances due to the nature of interface of a web site.

The VUDU has a 6 button remote, the computer connecting to the internet has a mouse and a keyboard. Could you imagine what a "Query Builder" would look like if your only interface was the VUDU's remote?

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

I'll put the request in to "Publish DB Schema", "Metadata", and "Relationships" of the VUDU database. Along with creating the special "Hodge" button that allows one custom query to be assigned to it. It might take a couple of years to knock this one out.

The issue is with a "simple" user interface on screen coming up with "simple" ways of doing "complex" things become "complex." On a web site they could always offer advanced searches that would be almost impossible on the current UI of the VUDU and other appliances due to the nature of interface of a web site.

The VUDU has a 6 button remote, the computer connecting to the internet has a mouse and a keyboard. Could you imagine what a "Query Builder" would look like if your only interface was the VUDU's remote?

A "Hodge" button would great, I'm thinking maybe you could get the elves to work a little harder, and get it out for Christmas!

I totally realize the issue. But someone had to decide which query that is used behind "Button #1". So I was just giving feedback on my personal usage pattern. If I'm not just an anamoly but more the majority, I was suggesting a slight tweak to the button's function. (I'll be happy to write the query if needed!! )

Another thing that might be possible is to add an extra sort option in the Search Genere to include sorting by Release Date by VUDU. That would take care of my problem too.

Another thing that would take care of my problem too, is MORE MEDS!!!

[NA9D]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

I think the solution is to make those sub categories searchable and sortable just like the main Explore Genres section. I agree with you that sorting and filtering would be nice.

[NA9D]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

The issue is with a "simple" user interface on screen coming up with "simple" ways of doing "complex" things become "complex." On a web site they could always offer advanced searches that would be almost impossible on the current UI of the VUDU and other appliances due to the nature of interface of a web site.

Simple: Just make every sub-section that lists movies have the capability to being sorted like the explore genres section. That would do it. Same interface.

Also, global user preferences could also be set as well for how a user would want each sub-section sorted.

There's a lot of "easy" ways to do this...

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

Simple: Just make every sub-section that lists movies have the capability to being sorted like the explore genres section. That would do it. Same interface.

Also, global user preferences could also be set as well for how a user would want each sub-section sorted.

There's a lot of "easy" ways to do this...

Right On!!! Go man Go!!!

I'm hopping on a plane in my iron lung up to San Jose as we speak. I could have this done by time I check into the hotel!!

[Jake]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

It lists movie sorted by newly added movies to VUDU (which is good). But the side effect is now I have to wade through a bunch of older movies that I'm not interested in to find the newer ones that I am interested in.

I'm not sure what's the best way to express it.

My SQL is a "lot" rusty, but I was hoping for something like:

"Find all movies where the movie is available for rent AND the release date of the movie is less than 24 months old from todays date; sort by date made available by VUDU."

Try this and see how close it gets to what you are looking for:

- go to "Explore Catalog" > "Explore by Genre"
- select the filter "Available to Rent"
- sort by "Top Picks"

Our Top Picks are based on a bunch of factors (which are subject to change of course) but the most significant are "new major releases" and "new availability on VUDU".

So to put words in your mouth - you'd like a way to pick your favorite sort/filter and put it in an easy-to-access location. Sort of a "custom search" button... I believe that idea has been tossed around a bit, and I think that would be an interesting feature. But the only thing I can promise is IF we ever add something like that, we won't make you use SQL

-Jake

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

Try this and see how close it gets to what you are looking for:

- go to "Explore Catalog" > "Explore by Genre"
- select the filter "Available to Rent"
- sort by "Top Picks"

Our Top Picks are based on a bunch of factors (which are subject to change of course) but the most significant are "new major releases" and "new availability on VUDU".

So to put words in your mouth - you'd like a way to pick your favorite sort/filter and put it in an easy-to-access location. Sort of a "custom search" button... I believe that idea has been tossed around a bit, and I think that would be an interesting feature. But the only thing I can promise is IF we ever add something like that, we won't make you use SQL

-Jake

Thanks for your reply Jake,

Yes that's exactly what I do now, except I also select a release date of "last 12 months" as well.

So although it seems to work fairly well, like I've documented in some of my previous posts in the IR Support thread, it takes over 20 key presses to write a Harmony Remote macro to do this for me.

And before there was the IR dongle, I had to manually do this "every" time with my remote. There is no memory of the last search I did, so I have to start from scratch every time.

Hopefully you get my meaning, but I will be glad to elaborate as needed.

Can I least change the HTML so that it says "HODGE" on one of the buttons??

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU Version 1.4 Sighting

Thanks for your reply Jake,

Yes that's exactly what I do now, except I also select a release date of "last 12 months" as well.

So although it seems to work fairly well, like I've documented in some of my previous posts in the IR Support thread, it takes over 20 key presses to write a Harmony Remote macro to do this for me.

And before there was the IR dongle, I had to manually do this "every" time with my remote. There is no memory of the last search I did, so I have to start from scratch every time.

Hopefully you get my meaning, but I will be glad to elaborate as needed.

Can I least change the HTML so that it says "HODGE" on one of the buttons??

So here's a "half-baked" thought.

Just change the name of View By Genre to "My View".

Then whenever you go there it remembers your last query from the last time you were there and displays the results without having to change the query settings unless you wanted to see the resulting list in a different way.

Then in Info/Settings have an option that allows you to change the name of the "My View" button to "Hodge View".