Zoom option issues, playlists, and appropriate thumbnail resolutions/creation

[droopy928gt]

Hallo,

I recently aquired a Mede8er 500X2 (Firmware 2.07) with PCIe WiFi and Keyboard, and am relatively happy with it.  Really like the new TV series view, especially in combination with the autoview setting, but what a work needed to make it nice.

I've been pondering away with it for some weeks now, but there are still some questions though, for which I hope someone might have some answers.

I've been searching the forum, both English and Dutch, but am not able to find definitive answers to my questions.  Even attempted the Thai forum using google translate, which was not a great success.

When using the zoom feature, the 500X2 does not remember its setting, switching it off for every consequative video watched.
When using the zoom feature, it's not possible to use the Video Info Search option.
-Are these features/specifications, or are there some workarounds for them?

For thumbnails a resolution of 160x237 is stated.  The different views, Movie(2x8)/Music(2x5)/Picture(2x4) though seem to have different thumbnail sizes.  This causes 160x237 thumbnails to show dark borders on the right and left.  Music seems to be 250x250, but also there I find some contradictive information.
-What are the different resolutions for folder.jpg/videofilename.jpg/series.jpg under the different viewing modes.

For music, on the fly playlists without the need to make m3u files.  It seems to be possible, and on the forum I read something about going to the music tab, then use the menu button to add the selected music file.  I do no seem to be able to figure this one out though.
-Could someone please explain/enlighten this one for me?

As a last, making thumbnails from multiple video files.  I tried Video Thumbnails Maker, but in spite of lots of efforts, it only seems to crash or fail on me.
-Does anybody know of a good utility to automatically make single thumbnails from multiple video files, possibly even name them with the videofiles name?

Thanks for any input given.

Best regards,

PS:
I do not use the scan option to create mede8er database files.

[droopy928gt]

Hi All,

Is there nobody then whom can shed some light on my questions, are they to difficult?  

I've been looking at the thumbnails, and seem to have to conclude following.

-The issue is not the resolution, the issue is width to height ratio.

For folder.jpg/videofilename.jpg/series.jpg, under the different viewing modes.
-List with preview: Ratio 1.25, 321x250
-Picture: Ratio 0.98, 225x230
-Music: Ratio 0.75, 172x230
-Movie: Ratio 0.52, 120x230

Using above seems to give the best out of the available space for thumbnails.  Using different ratios will increase either of the black borders on the sides for the thumbnails.  Using higher resolutions, but keeping the ratios does not seem to increase the thumbnail itself.

For list with preview, it does not seem to be possible to remove the dark borders on the side of the thumbnails.

-For the other issues, zoom question, music playlist on the fly, is there anybody that can shed some light on those?

Best regards,

[jer1956]

The different views are optimised for media of the relevent name. If they where just a way to get more or less Movie only thumbnails they  would be called something else. So Movie has a DVD aspect, Music a CD aspect, and Photo 4:3.

[droopy928gt]

Thanks for the reply, but I never mentioned that the different views were for movies only, at least I don't think I did.  I only mentioned that I really like the new TV series view, but what a work to make it nice.

I tend to disagree with your statement though.
-In general CD cover art = 1:1 (12cmx12cm)
-Most popular printed picture format seems to be 15cmx10cm which is 3:2 (1.5) (At least for the Netherlands, which of course might be different for other areas)
-Movies can differ, from 4:3 (1.33) to 16:9 (1.77) as most popular. (But there's also others of course, like film, etc)
-Coverart for most used DVD boxes is generally around 12.5cmx18cm, which equals 0.7.

Thumbnails for the different views do not get close to the above, as such my disagreement with your statement.

To be honest, I welcome being able to use Music view or Picture view for my videos, as now I can choose the thumbnail size to be used.  This of course also the other way round, meaning e.g. using Movie view for portrait pictures.

Above though was not my point when I asked, I only asked for the maximum resolutions usable within the given areas of the different views.  Hence my initial question, and the information I posted 2nd, which might be usefull for others as well.

-Now I only hope that someone can help with the other questions.

Best regards,