Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

(posted with permission)


Hi everybody !

I'm very happy to announce that I've just released a program called Coollector, which is totally FREE. If you like movies, you'll probably be interested. Please give it a try:

www.coollector.com


DESCRIPTION:
-------------

Coollector is the last generation of video collection managers. It's a completely new way to manage your collection of movies, because it's not only a video collection manager, but also an encyclopedia of movies, and a store catalog too... All at the same time !

1/ Coollector looks like a large movie encyclopedia.
Only 14 MB to download, and you get a database of 33,000 movies and 68,000 persons.

2/ you can personalize all that data.
You can rate all the movies and persons that you know (from "excellent" down to "awful").
You can tell which movies you own in your collection, with all the technical details ( media type, image, sound, languages, subtitles, running time, studio, etc... )
You keep track of the movies you loaned.
You manage your wish list.

3/ all the movies in the encyclopedia are available in store.


To summarize, Coollector blends 3 types of information into a unique interface:

1/ your cinematographical culture (rated movies and persons).
2/ your personal collection (with technical details).
3/ the videos availables in store (with technical details too).


Coollector's interface is extremely user-friendly.
Coollector includes a very powerful and innovative search feature.
Coollector is a surprisingly lightweight application with low resource usage.
Coollector does not contain any spyware or malware.

Last but not least, Coollector is TOTALLY FREE !!

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

Hi,

(I could not post a direct link because I need 10 posts to be allowed to do that)
(maybe a moderator could arrange that)

I'm not tied to CDuniverse. I chose to begin with CDuniverse, but there will be other catalogs as soon as possible. It's a start, and I think not a bad one

When you first use my program, it takes time to realize that it's CDuniverse stock. You're just in front of a pretty decent movie database which you can browse and search very easily, and completely personalize to reflect your cinematographical culture and taste. I've done a lot of work on their data, to make it a real MOVIE database, not a DVD/VHS database. There's 1 entry per movie, not as many entry as there is DVD/VHS. And packs of movies are well broken down into single elements.

Added to that, there are several advantages to the fact that it's based upon CDuniverse stock.
1/ you can see what DVD exist in store (I will soon add price information)
2/ if you're used to shop to CDuniverse, it's an alternative to browsing their site (now with your tastes and wishlist superimposed on it)
3/ when you input your owned movies, it's as easy as ripping the technical details from CDuniverse.

If I am to really tell you everything, when I started developping Coollector, I did not have enough courage (madness) to create my own movie database, so I had this idea to take an online store catalog, because they're just happy that we browse their catalog, no copyright infringement. But I changed my mind, and now I'm well decided to create my own movie database, and the store catalogs will still be there to offer a shopping companion service.

Voila.

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

With Collectorz.com you say what movie you own, and it goes fetch the information on the net.
With my program, the information on 33,000 movies and 68,000 persons is already inside the program (that's why it's 14MB install).

That's the BIG difference:
*with Collectorz, you start with a dull empty database (will repell the less tech-savvy users).
*with my program, you directly have a large movie database you can immediately browse and personalize (it's fun right from the start, person's filmographies also show movies that you don't own, easier to create a wishlist, etc...).

Another big difference:
*Collectorz is media-centric.
*my program is movie-centric (more natural).

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

Yes, that will be a nice feature to add, but don't expect it any time soon. My todo list is already soooo long.

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

Currently no, I'm sorry. I've done a lot of filtering to separate movies from series from documentaries, etc... Because you wouldn't like to have yoga video in the middle of your movies, would you ?
But as soon as possible there will be series catalogs, documentaries catalogs, etc... Within the program, you'll be able to switch from one collection type to another.

Yes.

No. Maybe in the future, but I'm very not sure about that.

I should be ready to make the first update next month. After that, I think updates will be weekly or something like that.


The database is an exact replication of CDuniverse catalog. As I've said, I plan to change that, but it will take between 3 months and 6 months.

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

Well, maybe your program could handle all that data, but it would most certainly become sluggish to use. I'm using a very fast C++ database (Metakit), and I had resort to tons of optimization tricks. I'm definitly an optimization freak LOL

Are you certain that your program won't choke on it ? To my knowledge, my program is the only one able to handle it (no kidding).

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

(Sorry for the late reply, I was volley training)


I'll have a look at your program. I'm impressed because I've heard so many horrible things about Access... In fact, my first version of Coollector was written with VBA (Visual Basic for Access) but I quickly changed to C++ because not everybody has Access.
To use your program, is it necessary to have Access ?

I wouldn't really mind sharing my database with you, but that's not trivial, I definitively don't have time to do it now

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

Yes, it's me. Me too I've worked on my program for years

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

I will update the database, of course. I'm not ready now. The first update will be next month, and after that it will be regular.

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

That will never happen. CDuniverse has DVD listed several weeks before their release.
Exactly. When I'll have my own movie database, the database will include any movie, even if not available in DVD, even if just in theaters. Then it will be perfect. As I said, it's probably 3 or 6 months from now...

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

Rolando, I see that you're a DVD Profiler fan. My program doesn't really compete with DVD Profiler, and I don't imagine that you would make the switch.

The way that I see things is that my program is so much easier that it could appeal to a (much) wider audience. Frankly, to use DVD Profiler, you must be some sort of a geek... I don't use it myself. I don't know how to express it: my program is more aimed at "common people".

Also, I think that it makes sense for a DVD Profiler user to use Coollector in parrallel. DVD Profiler has its own strength, and my program its own strengths too. The experience is really not the same at all.

What do you think ?

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

When I will be ready for updates, I will see how often it is necessary to update. If there's new movies added every day, then I'll update every day, but I don't think it will be necessary to update so often. Anyway, when I'll have my own movie database, things will be very different. CDuniverse will just be a price and availability watch (prices need to be updated at least daily).

I still haven't spoken to anyone at CDuniverse. I became an affiliate simply by filling a form. I've been accepted, which means they've seen my site (they always make sure it's not a porn site). How would it be a problem for CDuniverse ? I send them customers... Their catalog is available on the web, I don't know, but many it's also distributed in paper form. My program is just another form, a brand new form, of their catalog.

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

LATEST NEWS !

That's amazing ! I've just discovered that CDuniverse now offers a datafeed service. I think it's brand new, I've never heard of it before. It's strictly reserved to drastically selected affiliates. Of course, I've asked to receive it. Their website says that it might take up to 14 days before I get a reply


If I qualify to receive the datafeed, and if you guarantee that you will only use it for your very personal use, well... I might give you a copy. I don't want any trouble with CDuniverse !!!!!!!

Re: Coollector: new FREEWARE for movie lovers

You can manage any type of media: DVD from any region, VHS, BLU-RAY, HD-DVD, divx, whatever you want.

But if the current catalog, CDuniverse, doesn't have your film at all (whatever the media type), then _currently_ you can't add it. That will be fixed as soon as possible.
CDuniverse has many Hong Kong films, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if you could already input all your collection without problem.

And please remember that inputing your coollection is only 1 aspect of Coollector. Consider the fact that it's also an encyclopedia of movies, that you can superimpose your culture and tastes, manage your wishlist, see what's available in store, etc...

It's painless to install my program. Please give it a try and you'll decide.