Gamester... give me access to the forum when you get a chance. I don't have much time to assist right now, but I'd be happy to try offering advice/assistance where necessary.
I think I can also provide insight as to what my site's new database and API will look like a few months from now, since it'll provide some additional useful information.
skunkm0nkee Wrote:I'm not sure I really understand the need for a Media Manager, if XBMC was adapted to include screens to edit the library data would that not provide the missing functionality?
As someone who has worked closely with the various HTPC apps, I can provide the answer for this. XBMC works quite differently than Meedio, Media Portal, etc in how it manages its library data. I've posted before that I think Meedio's library got it right, but obviously reworking XBMC's database to match would be a huge undertaking nobody would want to tackle. Nor do I think there's a desire to do so. XBMC is VERY strict about the library contents when compared to these other apps, which I think hurts it in the long run. User-definable fields that can be scraped in are definite pluses. Also, people have been talking about multi-thumbs for XBMC (to handle various formats) for at least 2 years. As each of these things is added into XBMC, it becomes more complex and less likely that a 10 foot interface can handle it properly. As a result, a 2 foot interface is the prime solution.
Another major benefit is that you get developers working from those other apps on a single application, which is excellent. I would say that if it becomes powerful enough with hooks and netcode for remotely running imports, that each HTPC app wouldn't need its own library, but could rather pull from a centralized location like this manager could provide. That would also get around the issue of each XBMC copy needing its own database right now. It's at least something to consider long term.
Just my $0.02 on why it's a good idea. Not 100% necessary, but I think it'd make things easier on a lot of end users.
An unrelated note: everything in TheTVDB will be editable through the API at some point, so pushing back information to the site should be relatively easy.
Hopefully the other sites can do similar.
I'd also recommend posting on the Meedio and MP forums if you haven't done so already. I think including their devs from the start would make it more likley to catch on with them in the long term. It'd also tend to force the app to be more non-specific, which future apps can benefit from as well. There's a user called GameGod (or similar) on the Meedio forums that had a decent games database as well... he'd be a good one to invite for those purposes.
Also emigrating from myTV (
http://mytv.senseitweb.com - an MCE app). He's probably going to be key in incorporating some of the TV data since he's both a developer on my site and a HTPC app developer. He's a bit spiff-like at times.
...you should now have access 
