Quoting Razrslash:

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I'm sure it's no news to people here that DVDSpot is shutting down. I'm sure that name is taboo here.

Not really, only the mentioning of a certain movie-site is taboo ... 

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Well, the software portion. The other night I decided to make things official and put it online.

Ah ... yes. The alternative phpDVDProfiler and myProfiler were already mentioned. I use the first too, and with the XML-Export you can make any list to your liking. If you aren't lazy, that is.

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In short, Congratulations on pulling me in from a competitor.

We like to think that DVD Profiler doesn't has competition, there are just some other programs or sites that work in a similar area.
All other programs i know are just data-scrapers where DVD Profiler has its own, user maintained database. And as much work and sometimes pain-in-the-butt this whole contributionstuff is, it still beats those scrapers by lightyears.

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Let's be honest, the most fun part of compiling our collections is seeing those cover scans.

Yep, and this is exactly where the custom scans (can) come in.
For instance, if a DVD gets rereleased with the same UPC/EAN we have no way of distinguishing the two, so the rules clearly state: first release goes in the database
But what if the rerelease I own has a different cover, or misses the slip-case etc. Than I can't have 'my' cover online. So, that's what we have phpDVDProfiler for at the moment. And maybe (hopefully) DVD POP will bring a solutuion for this too.
And there a other cases: customimzed Alien-Legacy Boxset,
or a Cylon-Head-shaped box that can't be contributed to the main-database because it has no UPC/EAN at all.

cya, Mithi

Quoting Razrslash:

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And for the second part of your post Astrakan, I'm not sure I understand uploading custom scans. I know this is going to sound degrading, but it's not: Why would anyone want to upload custom scans?

I suppose a more accurate term would've been "their own scans," for which there's a few reasons:

- Some users like to use even higher resolution scans than what Profiler supplies, so they keep their own scans in their local database.

- Some users don't like the scan currently in the database. Maybe the colouring is slightly off to their eyes, but the submission screeners prefer the scan the way it is. The solution is to scan your own cover to your own satisfaction.

- Sometimes there's more than one cover available for one UPC code. Mostly because of re-releases or various collectible editions. At present, DVD Profiler will only allow one cover scan per UPC, which means sometimes the cover scan in the database will differ from the one you own.

I'd say the above reasons are the three most common ones for people keeping their own scans.

For me personally, I do some non-standard covers for what I'm sure some will consider oddball reasons.

On releases like Meet Joe Black where one of the special features is an entire separate movie (in this case the original version, titled Death Becomes Her) I like to add the original poster for that additional movie rather than keep the cover for Meet Joe Black.

I'm sure there's other reasons too.

KM

Quoting skipnet50:

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Being a two level system, Online coupled to Local Software, the Online serves as a repository dor data following specific Rules froim which we can download said data and then customize it LOCALLY to meet our specific requirements, since no two users have exactly the same parameters for what they want out of the Program.

Yes, but kicking unique local systems online is hardly a new issue, I would imagine. Unfortunately I can't think of any to use off the top of my head (maybe because there are no systems that do this), but it just seems like this problem would have already been tackled somewhere in internet history: Unique offline data gone web via standalone software. Seems like something that may have arisen before, but maybe I'm just an optimist. If nothing else, just different skins would make me happy, and that is possible.

Quoting ruineddaydreams:

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      The subscription may seem a bit much to you now... but please realize that many of us have been with this program for 5+ years... and have only paid $25 (then) for it, and have gotten all the updates, new features, etc etc... I personally feel I owe it to Ken (the owner / creator) to purchase something else from him so that I can continue to support the company.

I didn't know DVD Profiler was here for so long! I guess in that case a Kudos is in order here for the continued service. I guess the money seems like an issue for me, because I just bought the registered version and it seems like I'm already going to be tapped for more funds, but for those long-standing members, I can see why this is a lenient matter.

Quoting Astrakan:

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- Some users like to use even higher resolution scans than what Profiler supplies, so they keep their own scans in their local database.

- Some users don't like the scan currently in the database. Maybe the colouring is slightly off to their eyes, but the submission screeners prefer the scan the way it is. The solution is to scan your own cover to your own satisfaction.

- Sometimes there's more than one cover available for one UPC code. Mostly because of re-releases or various collectible editions. At present, DVD Profiler will only allow one cover scan per UPC, which means sometimes the cover scan in the database will differ from the one you own.

So the first two reasons seem a bit...nitpicky to me. Maybe I'm just not as hardcore movie fanatic as I thought I was, but the scans in the system I thought were beautiful. I guess I can see the holofoil covers giving a bit of tricky color on some occasions, but really?

As for the third reason, I see what is being said now. I realized the same thing whenever I added 'Sin City' and saw there were no alternative covers for all the characters. But this can be easily remedied without having to tap into personal online databases at all. Why upload a custom scan to only your collection, when you can upload it to the masses, as I'm sure you're not the only one with a special case. DVD Profiler can remedy this problem before it even reaches online if it enables a system where users can add alternative covers for the same UPCs, and they can switch back and forth right in the software portion. That would almost eliminate all that 'extra space' that was originally thought.

But, as said before, I don't wanna get anyones undies in a bundle. I understand it's still in progress and at this moment it's anyones guess as to what's gonna happen. I just like making people give me answers

Quoting Astrakan:

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edit: Heh. Just had a look at your profile, it would seem you've already entered your collection.  Oh well, maybe you know someone else who may find the above info useful.

Haha, I actually had fun putting them in again. The thought of my complete collection together again at last is a strong motivator. It is nice to hear that something is in the making for the rest of us DVDSpotters though. I see I'm not the first, and definitely won't be the last.

Quoting Nadja:

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Am I the only one who had never heard of DVDspot before this week?

No...nor had I.

Steve

Welcome to the madhouse Razrslash.

Of course the other reason why you only get the original set of scans (or the scans of the first known release) is that the online DB takes it's information from 1 central DB of data, like a few user's here not all of my DVD's are first release item's, I may have a second or third release item, for which I have to keep my scans for those items local. I'm not worried that my online collection shows a different scan, also like many here, my local scans are of a higher quality.

Original releases normally come in two flavours, "Standard" and "Deluxe" versions some times using even then the same EAN/UPC barcodes, again this as has been stated it's a case of first come first serve with those items.

There has even been an occasion were a re-release has had more content added (normally for web added extras) or an added documentary because one of the stars has passed away (expecting a few now that P.Newman has sadly passed).

Steve

Wow,you guys are really deprived.             

Skip

I've not only heard of them, I keep (well, kept I guess ) a backup of my collection there.  You never know when your favorite system will go belly up.  I also have a backup at DVDAF.

Quoting Astrakan:

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I wonder if Ken's got anything special planned for the 10-year anniversary... 

KM

FREE PIZZA!