Watch out Delicious Library, you finally have some competition on the way. Koingo Software's upcoming Librarian Pro for Windows and Mac will bring some interesting new features to the media cataloging table. While its standard UI doesn't look quite as flashy as Delicious Library's (though it features a 'Gallery mode' that displays everything by cover art that the company hasn't posted a screenshot for), Librarian Pro allows users to catalog PC hardware and software in addition to books, movies, music and games. In fact, it can scan your hard drive (I assume both Macs and PCs) to automatically catalog your software. Users will be able to create smart collections for organizing their stuff any way they please, and Librarian Pro allows for multiple media databases to help keep different collections separate (say, one for your home stuff and another for your work-related books and software). Speaking of staying organized, Librarian Pro can also display a panel of contacts from Address Book to show you who borrowed what, when and how many.
Another cool new feature takes Amazon integration one step further by allowing you to shop the site from within Librarian Pro, immediately adding anything you purchase to your collection. Fortunately, Librarian Pro works with Amazon Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, German and France, and the database is fully UTF-8 compatible spanning both Mac and Windows systems.
Librarian Pro will be available for download and purchase on September 1st (I have no idea why they announced two days early) for $29.95, with a 15-day trial available to get your feet wet.
[Update: By the way, I forgot one thing: to help facilitate switchers, Librarian Pro can import from Delicious Library, DVDpedia, Bookpedia, CDpedia and Gamepedia.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-29-2007 @ 5:31PM
Travis said...
Maybe this will be incentive for Delicious Monster to release more information about Delicious Library 2.0! That's one app I can't wait for.
Reply
8-29-2007 @ 6:30PM
Steven said...
Doesn't look like Librarian Pro can scan bar codes for easier import ala Delicious Library. That's a huge downfall.
(At least, I couldn't find it on their webpage)
Reply
8-29-2007 @ 7:33PM
OCM said...
I've used Koingo products in the past and i haven't been that impressed with them. I'm not a fan of realbasic apps which they seem to use most of the time (looks like this might be aswell).
Still looks like this might be the best competition for DL but i think DL2 is just going to make everything else look average again.
Reply
8-29-2007 @ 8:54PM
Scott said...
Ummm...Delicious Library "finally" has some competition? The pedias (DVDpedia, Bookpedia, CDpedia) have not only been competing, but they've been winning, as far as I'm concerned, based on their feature sets. DL is just a cartoony, severely limited program compared to the more-customizable, more-iTunes-like DVDpedia. And in the year that I've been following this, DVDpedia has had at least 10 new releases, most with additional features, while DL has sat on its garish rear end.
Reply
8-29-2007 @ 9:10PM
Steven said...
yeah, that's great, scott, if you like getting reamed into buying multiple applications instead of one application. it'd be like Microsoft selling three versions of Word--one for writing letters, one required for writing resumes, and you have to buy another separate version for writing stories. Um, no thanks. That's not necessary, and people (usually) aren't that dumb.
tell me, why can't they combine it all into one app? other than to screw people like you? you're simply trying to justify your mistaken, multiple purchases to make yourself feel better.
Reply
8-29-2007 @ 9:41PM
Simon Arch said...
"you're simply trying to justify your mistaken, multiple purchases to make yourself feel better."
Okaaaaaay... Let me see if I have this right: The *pedia series isn't for you, so nobody should use it. Is that about right? And if they don't agree, they're stupid?
Reply
8-29-2007 @ 9:45PM
Simon Arch said...
Oh, and Steven? Bruji happens to offer a bundle of all their *pedia apps for $49. Three *pedia apps (your choice) are $39 (same as DL) and two are $30.
Reply
8-29-2007 @ 10:35PM
John Kusters said...
The one feature I've been looking for in a media tracking program is the ability to have a central library on my workstation Mac, but be able to access it on any Mac in the house (say, the iBook I can cart up to the library to scan my current books). So far, I haven't found a professional-level app that can do that. And it doesn't appear that this one can either. Am I wrong? (Does someone have a suggestion for one that can do what I'm looking for while looking as nice as the ones mentioned in this entry or the follow-up comments?)
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 3:47AM
hubber said...
Hmm... how is this better than the freeware cataloging software Libra:
http://www.getlibra.com/
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 7:43AM
sroryman said...
Well, for one big thing, libra is not mac compatible....... What's with you libra, time to get on the band wagon, expand your consciousness.......!
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 9:35AM
Jose said...
I agree with Scott and Simon, Delicious gets all the hype but the Pedias are far superior. They Pedias have many more features, including smart collections since 2004 that are indispensable for me, I am sure Delicious will have them in 2.0 along with HTML export – it's the only way to begin to catch up to the competition.
As for the price I only wanted Bookpedia and DVDpedia (iTunes takes care of my music and I don't have video games), so I saved a few dollars over the Delicious Library $40. Truth is I would have paid double for the feature set and support in the pedias.
As for free options Books is also very good.
It's good to see competition on the market and will check out Librarian Pro; everybody should try before buying. Bruji is a very small company and are the under dogs when it comes to marketing and hype, but when it comes to good software they rock.
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 2:50PM
consumer_q said...
@John Kusters
Check out Readerware: http://www.readerware.com/
It is not Mac-pretty, but it sounds like what you are after.
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 4:08PM
Hervé S. said...
The only real, professional librarian on a mac is Booxter, http://www.deepprose.com/ - all others are funny things that started with getting the title and the cover image on internet, how exciting, and just added some extra fields in the database without knowing what a library is. (and yes, Booxter gets the images too :-)
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 10:55PM
BM5k said...
@John
I use the *Pedia apps, with my database files set on my idisk.
I set it up a while ago, so I'm not 100% sure how it works, but if you look in the apps help, it tells you how to change your db location.
As long as you have iDisk syncing enabled on all of your macs, you'll have access to up to date info.
Reply
8-31-2007 @ 2:53PM
bobm said...
Booxter seems to be a book only app.
Reply
9-02-2007 @ 2:13AM
phil said...
As others have pointed out above, Delicious Library already have competition in the superior pedias. They already have a whole host of features (and have for years) that DL are putting into version 2.0. They are clearly the leaders in the market as far as features, usability and functionality goes.
If anything, it's already a crowded market with a whole host available (some even free) that rival and in many cases outdo DL: Collectorz apps (more features than DL but really clunky interface), Books (a great free alternative just for books), DVD Database, DVD Sphere... the list goes on.
That said, it's good to see an established name like Koingo go in and add further alternatives to the mix. Competition never hurts the consumer :)
Reply
9-02-2007 @ 5:42AM
Erichd said...
Tne neat thing about this app is you can choose where to store the library file... say, an idisc or a shared folder or wherever... and then update it and access it from any Mac or Windows computer using Librarian Pro. Say, at your study, your library, your media room, your office and on the moon.
The neat about Koingo is they offer free upgrades for life ... so unlike DL, which will require some sort of upgrade fee for DL2, Koingo's next versioning will be usable to us current license owners. Their utility bundle is the best deal on the market - a license for all fo their apps, past, present, and future.
In my tests so far, this app has done a great job of importing all my previous collections of things - from iApps as well as from the pedias and DL, and has successfully found all my software better than the dedicated license apps! As Koingo seems to send out updates regularly, I do try to send in bug reports when they happen, as well as suggestions I might have.
So far, LP seems to work a lot better with other Mac Apps and has an improved UI as compared to their other software.
Reply