Is the YAMJ version a new build or still using the current one. i.e can you add new skins to it. Also will it be quicker.

New GUI looks awesome..

Cool, looks like we are not the only ones to think the new Playon!GUI2.0 looks good, nice to know you guys like the new look too. I'll make sure the developers know, they will like to hear that the look is well received.

Let's see, replies to some earlier posts...

@mensch @inf : Smart database, is the newer version of the media library function that is in the current firmware. Yes, it will be coming to the other Playon! players/dvr when they get the Playon!GUI2.0 firmware. This Smart database is a bit "smarter" than the media library, auto scans through all directories and indexes the media files. Since there is an index created, there could be future expansion to include retrieving media information. But this pulling of information from IMDB is not an inegrated part of this firmware yet. Internally we are doing some reserch on this topic for the best solution (in processing power needed, $ budget for license to information services etc) for integrating pulling information from multiple sources (not only IMDB). For now, this informaion function is served using the YAMJ module (YAMJ will be part of Playon!GUI2.0 in Playon!HD/Mini/DVRHD).

@hvdwolf : Indeed, the Smart database (library) currently works in Essential without network. Whether the Smart database will scan/index network drives is still a question, our developers are still hard at work on putting this new Playon!GUI2.0 and its new features on the network players. Hope to know more soon. As for shortcuts not pointing directly to the actual specific path, as far as I know, there is a shortcoming of samba mounts where the path is not fixed. I'm also not sure whether a work around has been found to give a better splution, jotted it down on things for me to ask/find out.

@vic : you're waiting for an Essential "Mini" (w/o int. HDD)?... there is hope ; ). Watched tag is not in this release firmware of Essential, scheduled in the next release.

View of the Home screen (main menu where it first enters into)... you saw it, it's there in Eugene's walktrhough, the 2nd screenshot.
Here I paste the jpg link http://www.acryan.com/eugene/images/PV73500/PICT3538.JPG
Surprised? : ) yes it does not look like the old main menu anymore. Now there's a status icon (harddisk capacity, available space, usb plugged in etc) and also an overview of recently added music and movies you can jump to directly from this home screen. We hope the staus and jumps give you a simple fast and functional overview. It's a new unique AC Ryan design and development, breaking away from the standard realtek main menu look.

@Paulus : Yes, Playon!GUI2.0 is based on "SDK 4"

@Mizitras : any specific question you are looking for an answer

keep the questions coming... ; )

I love awesome, haha, thx!! I'll surely pass on the compliments to the team.
Playon!HD/Mini/DVRHD's Playon!GUI2.0 will have YAMJ with a new facelift. Whether how much of the YAMJ module's engine in the player is changed or not, I don't know yet.

hello

can u tell me when this mediaplayer wil be available in Europe ?
( more like Belgium )
Loved the HD version but want the essential eddition offcource asap

They should be in stores some time next week.
Already found an online Netherlands store with the Playon!HD Essential 1TB
[list=]http://www.wehkamp.nl/Zoeken/ArtikelDetail.aspx?SC=I11&ArtikelNummer=735833&Nty=1&Ntk=ART&Ntt=playon%20hd%20essential&Nao=7&Ns=&N=186&cm_pi=Home%20Page&cmid=WEH[/list]

Not sure how fast Belgian stores will take up the Playon!HD Essential, some shops are fast, some slow. You can always check it with your reseller in Belgium, or some Netherlands shops deliver to Belgium too.

Quicker would be indeed appreciated, but if "Skinning" is to hard to implement, only give us one "good looking" skin for HD and maybe one for SD, that would be enough for most of us. There are at least two other competitors with Realtek based chipset (M..... and X......) who did really well in improving their movie wall, jukebox or whatever it is called. But I hope that AC Ryan will catch up with the new Firmware.

greets

Are you going to adjust the website and the forum to the new PoHD Essential?
On www.playonhd.com graphics still shows Mini as NEW, as does top bar on the forum. And Buy Now section still does not contain the new unit. I hope it will be fixed soon.
Comparison page between all the units would also be very welcome (not to mention competitors).

Honestly, I am thinking about byuing second unit for my other room.

With Playon!GUI2.0, we've moved into "transparency", the first realtek-based player with actual transparency in the GUI. With transparency in place, the Home Screen background will be user changeable and it will show through behind the menus. Here's Home Screen so you have an visual idea of what I'm referring to http://www.playonhd.com/press/img/hdess ... gui_s1.jpg

So YAMJ in Playon!GUI2.0 will surely be along this design look with transparency, hopefully with skins too. It's hard for me to tell now since our developers are still working hard on implementing our designer's design visions. I hope for it with you ; )

Honestly, that's great, I think you should haha
No worries... we are telling you about it in this preview phase, just before it is officially up on the site. As we speak, the designers are working on the website / forum graphics. You can see the preview and press page that's up during this "preview" phase.
http://www.playonhd.com/essential/preview/
http://www.playonhd.com/press/playonhdessential/

Will get that comparson up asap (being verified before we put it up).

speak of the devil, one of the designers just changed the forum header graphics... to the Tweet and Win, didnt see that in the graphics work scheduling, someone must have pieced that together in his/her break .

The Tweet thing does help the team here get all motivated and excited, see how many tweets the community can get tweeted in 2 weeks. It's like let's get the community tweeting while we work our asses off with the change/roll out of the POHD Essential and Playon!GUI2.0. Nice harmless fun.