Apps Video Explorer, my video player for AppleTV is In Review

[tgwaste]

NAStify, while a better product in some ways, hasn't had a single update since day 1 (I last checked 3 days ago, maybe I'm wrong by now?), and for me at least, it crashes every 5 mins or so.

You're very wrong.

I'm not knocking NAStify. It's good. But your characterisation of VE activity as stopped seems grossly inaccurate. VE has moved past some of the day 1 bugs. NAStify has not. As such, I have higher hopes for VE.

Again.. Very wrong.

 

[JBRDiver]

NAStify, while a better product in some ways, hasn't had a single update since day 1 (I last checked 3 days ago, maybe I'm wrong by now?), and for me at least, it crashes every 5 mins or so.

NAStify was updated only a few days back and - according to the author - there's another update due any day now that adds a number of very cool new features including support for AC-3 audio.

 

[Ainze]

NAStify was updated only a few days back and - according to the author - there's another update due any day now that adds a number of very cool new features including support for AC-3 audio.

That's a much more helpful answer than tgwaste just saying "very wrong". Thanks greatly.

Like I said, I'm not knocking NAStify. I had much higher hopes for it than VE on launch day. Both were too buggy to use but NAStify a bit less so. But as of some point last week no updates had been listed in the version history, and I had not been given the opportunity to update even once. I look forward to tying it again.

Also, has it received any other updates before last week? I'd like to know if my store listings are buggy or if this is indeed the first update?

tgwaste - This forum is commonly where people come to help each other out. That's why I asked for your reasoning about NAStify being better. I'm not being antagonistic. I actually want to know. And I'm sure other people here would like to know too. And then later, you just told me I was wrong without explaining why. A little explanation goes a long way and we all benefit from what it sounds like you want to offer us. Thanks.

 

[tgwaste]

That's a much more helpful answer than tgwaste just saying "very wrong". Thanks greatly.

As helpful as your reply to me without a single bit of research first.

Also, has it received any other updates before last week? I'd like to know if my store listings are buggy or if this is indeed the first update?

Go update and try it for yourself!!!!
Sheesh

 

[Ainze]

As helpful as your reply to me without a single bit of research first.

I told you my last check had been on the 12th. I just looked on the app store. NAStify was updated on the 12th, obviously just after my last look. So my information was dead on correct, and only as out of date as I myself claimed it to be. At which point helpful people like JBRDiver point out that there's an update to try.

Go update and try it for yourself!!!!
Sheesh

Exactly what I'm going to do. I told you already, I liked NAStify. I'm glad to see it finally updated, and am hoping that the frequent crashes are gone. And actually I was asking if there had been any updates before the 12th, so that I knew if the version history was updating correctly. There are a lot of bugs on the new ATV4. Please relax and read my posts carefully. I'm being very genuine.

 

[eiprol]

Can you point me to some basic instructions on how to use the Video Explorer on Apple TV4? I have no idea what SMB AUTH request is when I go to my macbook. I tried typing my Ip address also no luck. Can't you make it easier?

Yes, just follow this quick tutorial I made, and after that, when accessing your Mac from VideoExplorer (which should appear automatically), just type your regular Mac Login & Password

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1209521/InstructionsMacVe.pdf

P.S: Since it's just a PDF with 3 screenshots of my Mac, it's in Spanish; but you just need to follow every red indication. If you have any trouble, just tell me!

The App keeps crashing and being unable to find my NAS, is there an update due?

I'm constantly solving bugs and preparing new updates, but I need more information about that crash; like when it's crashing, how, etc ;-)

Just use NAStify. Its amazing. Activity on VE has seemed to stop.

Interesting statement

Your reasoning?

VE dev has released several updates and has been actively communicating with users on this very forum as recently as two days ago.

NAStify, while a better product in some ways, hasn't had a single update since day 1 (I last checked 3 days ago, maybe I'm wrong by now?), and for me at least, it crashes every 5 mins or so.

I'm not knocking NAStify. It's good. But your characterisation of VE activity as stopped seems grossly inaccurate. VE has moved past some of the day 1 bugs. NAStify has not. As such, I have higher hopes for VE.

Thanks for your support! As you say, after fixing day 1 bugs, I'm focusing on bigger updates, including interesting features (which I'm testing) and rethinking some parts of the UI. I'm also giving myself more time for each build,in order to make less mistakes; after all, and with some exceptions, VE should be already "working" well enough for most of people to stop releasing updates every 2 days (but maybe I'm wrong :S). Of course, I'm still working on specific bugs some of you have notified me, don't worry!

 

[tgwaste]

The app still crashes randomly while playing files. It still has to completely download entire files when it has trouble with the header.

To me these are deal-breaker bugs.

 

[eiprol]

The app still crashes randomly while playing files. It still has to completely download entire files when it has trouble with the header.

To me these are deal-breaker bugs.

I would appreciate any other detail of what the app is doing or what file is playing in the moment of the crash; I need to be able to reproduce the crash to find out what's wrong and solve it :S. As for the files, it only does that with MP4 that have 'moov atom headers' at the end of the file instead of at the begging. I'm still looking for a solution.

----------------------------------
I'm about to finish update 1.2. I want to submit it to Apple today. Among other things and fixed bugs ,it'll have:
- Now there is a new section: Settings. There you will be able to adjust some of the following things.
- Ability to stretch/crop a video when it's not fitting properly on the TV
- Support for non latin characters .SRT Files (Cyrillic, etc)
- Now Subtitles have a subtle background only behind the text, and they hide when they have to (bug solved)
- Improved custom/manual servers. Now you can add and delete easily.
- I'm introducing WebDAV support to those manual servers.
- Playlist mode: when activated, it will play every file inside the selected folder, one after the other... until you stop it.
- Many other corrections and features I'm trying to add before submitting

 

[bubma]

Hi,

I like your Video Explorer App a lot. My only problem is that it is not showing all my files from my fritzbox nas. Do you have an idea what could be the problem? My samsung tv for example lists all my files from the nas....

 

[eiprol]

Hi,

I like your Video Explorer App a lot. My only problem is that it is not showing all my files from my fritzbox nas. Do you have an idea what could be the problem? My samsung tv for example lists all my files from the nas....

Thanks!
What kind of files? I'm trying to hide system files on Video Explorer (because they are annoying sometimes); same fir hidden files, and some files with non-media format/names... so maybe the names of those files you want to be shown are being detected as system/non-media ones? Feel free to send me an email with more details!

 

[fishmoose]

Can't wait for WebDAV support! Hoping for a fast review process.

 

[kerouack]

I was busy for some days.
Handbrake works for me if i use web optimised option. Problem is, handbrake always transcode the video, even when thats not needed, smart converter detects if the video does not need conversion and in that case just change mkv for mp4 so so it is very quick in that case. Smart converter developers told me they agree about the problem streaming from NAS and they will solve the problem in a update.
Too mp4 videos worked for me using http://renaun.com/blog/code/qtindexswapper/ , one m4v did not work the program said " can not find the video header " .

 

[kerouack]

It would be good to add artwork when you are exploring the videos, and useful things when you are exploring and listening mp3

 

[felobo]

Hola Sergio,

acabo de instalar tu app, tengo un NAS Dlink 320L y Plex no reproduce los archivos avi, mkv, etc. ya que los intenta transcodear en vez de mandarlos al ATv directamente como hace tu app.
Te comento los problemas que hasta ahora he encontrado:
Cuando voy a la lista de dispositivos, encuentra el servidor NAS y el Plex que ejecuta el mismo NAS, me gusta accederlo desde este mismo ya que tiene la estructura y ordenacion de PLEX y porque accediendo a el directamente desde el servidor NAS tu aplicación no ordena los archivos por orden alfabético y buscar algo se hace complicado. La cosa es que cuando accedo a través del Plex no se reproduce ningún audio de ningún tipo de formato y esos mismos archivos suenan sin problemas cuando accedo por la otra via (servidor NAS en la red). Es algo muy extraño pero no se por qué sucede.
Te iré comentando más cosas pero esta es la mas urgente/fastidiosa
Si quieres lo hago en ingles la próxima vez

 

[martiaass]

Hi Eiprol! I have a question regarding connecting my mac to your app using SMB. I allowed in my "sharing" settings sharing for Windows. I also choose the shared folder. Video Explorer then found my mac, however I wasn't able to login (it said "error 1 - failed to login"). I wasn't sure about my login. In the mac settings it is used my name and surname as a user and password was also the same I used in my mac. I used that username and password but it failed. Is there same way how to change or check both?

I also tryied to connect my USB drive for the first time to my router. But the app didn't find it. I allowed media server sharing and also SAMBA (I am not sure what is that).

Can you help me please, I just want to watch my videos, anyhow

Thank you!

 

[eiprol]

It would be good to add artwork when you are exploring the videos, and useful things when you are exploring and listening mp3

It's something I want to add, and it's on the roadmap for sure

Hola Sergio,

acabo de instalar tu app, tengo un NAS Dlink 320L y Plex no reproduce los archivos avi, mkv, etc. ya que los intenta transcodear en vez de mandarlos al ATv directamente como hace tu app.
Te comento los problemas que hasta ahora he encontrado:
Cuando voy a la lista de dispositivos, encuentra el servidor NAS y el Plex que ejecuta el mismo NAS, me gusta accederlo desde este mismo ya que tiene la estructura y ordenacion de PLEX y porque accediendo a el directamente desde el servidor NAS tu aplicación no ordena los archivos por orden alfabético y buscar algo se hace complicado. La cosa es que cuando accedo a través del Plex no se reproduce ningún audio de ningún tipo de formato y esos mismos archivos suenan sin problemas cuando accedo por la otra via (servidor NAS en la red). Es algo muy extraño pero no se por qué sucede.
Te iré comentando más cosas pero esta es la mas urgente/fastidiosa
Si quieres lo hago en ingles la próxima vez

Hola! Gracias por tu mensaje, anoto todo y lo apunto para ir arreglando fallos. Si me surge algún problema o duda al investigarlo, te aviso.
I have no problem with you writing in spanish though, but since this forum is English, you might probably have to do it in english for the next time

Hi Eiprol! I have a question regarding connecting my mac to your app using SMB. I allowed in my "sharing" settings sharing for Windows. I also choose the shared folder. Video Explorer then found my mac, however I wasn't able to login (it said "error 1 - failed to login"). I wasn't sure about my login. In the mac settings it is used my name and surname as a user and password was also the same I used in my mac. I used that username and password but it failed. Is there same way how to change or check both?

I also tryied to connect my USB drive for the first time to my router. But the app didn't find it. I allowed media server sharing and also SAMBA (I am not sure what is that).

Can you help me please, I just want to watch my videos, anyhow

Thank you!

Hi! Username and password should be the same. However make sure that you have checked both the SMB Support and the Username you want to use for windows sharing; otherwise, the username and password won't work. (If you are using iCloud credentials to make login on your Mac instead of a custom password, it won't work either)

 

[eiprol]

Hi guys,
I've been a bit busy this week.

The update 1.2 should have been approved last Wednesday, but the app got "partially rejected" due to showing Apple logo when finding Macs. Now we have to wait another 7 days since rejection, so it should be ready soon!

 

[Sylver78]

Sorry to see that there is some wild "advertising" for my app here.
Competition is good for customers, let's keep this good part of the competition

BTW, did you manage to use libdsm in your app ? Most bugs should be solved now and users of my app seems quite happy with it !
And I hope that you are not using libsmbclient in your app, Samba's GPLv3 license is not really compatible with iOS/tvOS apps (even more if you don't plan to release source code of your app) !

Keep the good work, I know how time consuming it is

 

[kerouack]

Hi Eiprol, i used the program you told me to move the video head of the video files but i am still having problems, with last too movies the video just stopped after more or less 7 minutes and the app crash. If i try it again it crash again exactly in same minute and second.

 

[eiprol]

Sorry to see that there is some wild "advertising" for my app here.
Competition is good for customers, let's keep this good part of the competition

BTW, did you manage to use libdsm in your app ? Most bugs should be solved now and users of my app seems quite happy with it !
And I hope that you are not using libsmbclient in your app, Samba's GPLv3 license is not really compatible with iOS/tvOS apps (even more if you don't plan to release source code of your app) !

Keep the good work, I know how time consuming it is

That's for sure, competition is always good! Yes, I'm using libdsm, but I still have some problems accessing some smb shares, and I'm having a hard time integrating libdsm with ffmpeg to play smb:// links directly (which should be easy if I could compile ffmpeg with libsmbclient, but I can't, due to that GPLv3 license issue). I can't complain though ... and keep the good work too!

Hi Eiprol, i used the program you told me to move the video head of the video files but i am still having problems, with last too movies the video just stopped after more or less 7 minutes and the app crash. If i try it again it crash again exactly in same minute and second.

Thanks for the feedback, I'm trying to find a better solution than using that program though... I will post an answer if I find a way!

 

[eiprol]

Yesterday, v1.2 was released, with WebDAV support among other new features.
I would appreciate if you could give me your feedback, to find and solve any possible bug

 

[Sylver78]

That's for sure, competition is always good! Yes, I'm using libdsm, but I still have some problems accessing some smb shares, and I'm having a hard time integrating libdsm with ffmpeg to play smb:// links directly (which should be easy if I could compile ffmpeg with libsmbclient, but I can't, due to that GPLv3 license issue). I can't complain though ... and keep the good work too!

I've solved a problem in libdsm that was causing a connection fail for some servers (like TimeCapsule/Airport Extreme), it is available in main libDSM repository now, but I still have an user having some issues with a Windows Server 2012 ...

 

[kerouack]

That's for sure, competition is always good! Yes, I'm using libdsm, but I still have some problems accessing some smb shares, and I'm having a hard time integrating libdsm with ffmpeg to play smb:// links directly (which should be easy if I could compile ffmpeg with libsmbclient, but I can't, due to that GPLv3 license issue). I can't complain though ... and keep the good work too!



Thanks for the feedback, I'm trying to find a better solution than using that program though... I will post an answer if I find a way!

Problem is, that solution is not working half the times, is not reliable, so,i can not use video explorer, cause it is a risk that the video will stop after 7 minutes, so i need another solucion, anyone knows any solution ?

 

[vidarmas]

I just bought this app to stream videos from my NAS over samba share. However, most of the files apparently just seems to download to my Apple TV 4 device, but fails to load afterwards.

I have tried ISO (DVD rips), m2t (HDV videos), mp4 (DV videos), avi (edited movie) + more.

I have not waited until all finished downloaded so some may actually work when finished. But so far I have not been successful. It is also very slow downloading over a 5 Ghz fast WiFi connection. Tried an DVD ISO and it took more than an hour to load before I got confirmation it failed to load...

 

[eiprol]

I just bought this app to stream videos from my NAS over samba share. However, most of the files apparently just seems to download to my Apple TV 4 device, but fails to load afterwards.

I have tried ISO (DVD rips), m2t (HDV videos), mp4 (DV videos), avi (edited movie) + more.

I have not waited until all finished downloaded so some may actually work when finished. But so far I have not been successful. It is also very slow downloading over a 5 Ghz fast WiFi connection. Tried an DVD ISO and it took more than an hour to load before I got confirmation it failed to load...

Yesterday was released the update 1.2.1 that should fix that; it was a bug introduced by mistake on 1.2! Let me know if it's still happening