One of the most anticipated applications in recent memory, Delicious Library 2 is finally nearing release. Earlier this week, the guys over at AppleInsider showed off an in-depth sneak peek of the application and its new features and revamped interface.I have had the opportunity to play with the beta as well, and I must say, I'm impressed. For the last six weeks or so, I have been working on a little something I like to call Project DVD -- wherein I try the various DVD cataloging programs (though most can catalog more than just DVDs) and find the best one to tackle my truly mammoth collection -- and it's great to have DL2 in the mix.
Just from my own experiences, what has impressed me most about the beta -- aside from the various UI changes/eye candy -- is just how much easier it is to add items.
Because I have so many DVDs, it's often faster for me to enter in titles by hand rather than relying on the iSight scanner. No matter how accurate the scanner may or may not be, holding a title up to my laptop is usually going to take longer than just typing in the name (granted, using a USB scanner like Motorola CS104 is a great solution, but at $100 OEM, you really have to weigh the expense to convenience). My biggest problem with Delicious Library (and in fact, almost all of the programs I have tested for Project DVD) has been that adding multiple titles at one time (say, multiple seasons of a TV show) has been either really difficult or impossible.
No more. With Delicious Library 2, adding multiple titles is a snap. Thus, I can search for "Scrubs" and add all six seasons in one fell swoop, rather than having to enter in the name six times into the search engine, or having to scan each title. Since about 1/2 my collection is TV shows, this is is a huge productivity bonus.
Read for the rest of my thoughts, and be sure to visit the gallery below for all the screenshots.
Read for the rest of my thoughts, and be sure to visit the gallery below for all the screenshots.
For many users, the most anticipated feature is the ability to publish collection lists either online or to a type of database. This is a feature that is sorely missed in Delicious Library, and an area programs like DVDpedia really, really shine. Delicious Library 2 aims at achieving both style and substance.
Out of the box, Delicious Library 2 comes equipped to deal with more than just DVDs. Your iTunes library is immediately catalogued, with album art standing in for jewel cases and types of media separated by type - Audio Books get their own shelf, for instance.
Delicious Monster has made it clear they want to be the source for all of your collections - be it books or power tools. Comic book support isn't there yet (just thinking about the logistics involved with creating and accessing a comic database leaves me slightly dizzy -- DM says Comic support is something they want, but getting the product out the door took obvious priority). I have to admit, it was pretty cool to be able to find the jeans I happened to be wearing when taking the screenshots for this write-up and add them to my "Apparel" shelf. Amazon.com is still the main repository for where you items are located, so what you can add automatically is limited to that (admittedly vast) catalog. You can still add your own original entries.
All in all, I'm really, really impressed with how Delicious Library 2 and how it has evolved. The eye candy is nice, don't get me wrong, but what really makes me excited is how much more functional the program is from a productivity standpoint, specifically in adding lots of items at one time and publishing your collection to the web.
Delicious Library 2 is on track to be released sometime in March and is Leopard only. If you purchase the current version now ($40 USD), you can upgrade to DL2 for free.
The program offers two different style templates, a library and a paper stencil and both look GREAT. You can upload to a .Mac account, iWeb or your own FTP server -- or just publish to a folder on your computer so that you can put it on other sites. The published "file" contains an iPhone and regular web version of your collection and all the necessary javascript files. I'm really, really impressed with just how great these templates look and imagine lots of other users will be too. Make sure you check out the full Gallery to see all the screenshots.
The publishing options in Delicious Library 2
Out of the box, Delicious Library 2 comes equipped to deal with more than just DVDs. Your iTunes library is immediately catalogued, with album art standing in for jewel cases and types of media separated by type - Audio Books get their own shelf, for instance.
Delicious Monster has made it clear they want to be the source for all of your collections - be it books or power tools. Comic book support isn't there yet (just thinking about the logistics involved with creating and accessing a comic database leaves me slightly dizzy -- DM says Comic support is something they want, but getting the product out the door took obvious priority). I have to admit, it was pretty cool to be able to find the jeans I happened to be wearing when taking the screenshots for this write-up and add them to my "Apparel" shelf. Amazon.com is still the main repository for where you items are located, so what you can add automatically is limited to that (admittedly vast) catalog. You can still add your own original entries.
All in all, I'm really, really impressed with how Delicious Library 2 and how it has evolved. The eye candy is nice, don't get me wrong, but what really makes me excited is how much more functional the program is from a productivity standpoint, specifically in adding lots of items at one time and publishing your collection to the web.
Delicious Library 2 is on track to be released sometime in March and is Leopard only. If you purchase the current version now ($40 USD), you can upgrade to DL2 for free.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
3-10-2008 @ 4:50PM
Jim F said...
Buffy, Homicide, Seinfeld, AND The Wire -- very nice. :)
I know this is the Internet and all, but maybe you should reconsider the "mammoth" thing. I was expecting at least 1500 titles, including the entire Criterion Collection.
I'm a DVDSpot person myself... use to use Aficionado, but jumped ship when they rolled out 2.0. I tried Delicious for a bit, but found that it had a hard time identifying non-Region 1 discs... plus I like the web-based aspect of DVDSpot -- works great on the iPhone.
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 5:11PM
Sham the Sam said...
Did you check out all three of the linked DVD library images? I'm voting that this is indeed an appropriate use of the term "mammoth."
3-10-2008 @ 6:18PM
Christina Warren said...
I'm pretty positive that I'm at the 1500 mark (and that's counting TV box sets as one, but counting box sets like the two Scorcese collections as per title) -- my Criterion count is probably like 25 - 30, so I do admit to being lacking there. Trust me, I know there are plenty of people with collections much larger than my own -- I don't claim to have the biggest collection, but at least in my world, when the "value" (for insurance anyway) of my DVD collection is greater than that of my car, I consider it pretty huge :-)
3-10-2008 @ 4:51PM
caleb said...
Are there really people out there who want to inventory their clothes?
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3-10-2008 @ 8:23PM
matthew said...
I likely will, at least for expensive items. This is a great tool for home inventory for insurance tracking.
3-11-2008 @ 12:20AM
artifex said...
Obviously more than have comic books to share. Otherwise, after 2 years, they'd have managed to squeeze that in, instead.
3-10-2008 @ 4:54PM
David said...
Any word on upgrade pricing for those of us who already have it?
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 5:44PM
Ben K. said...
Oh, I hope there will be. I'm hoping, I'm hoping, I'm hoping...
3-10-2008 @ 5:47PM
Galley said...
I believe it's $20.
3-10-2008 @ 11:15PM
Greg said...
I think it's really sucky to make people who bought it at a certain time pay for an upgrade, when people who were late to pick it up get it for free. Come on, that's lame.
3-10-2008 @ 5:09PM
Jailerjoe said...
Vaporware. I'll be very suprised if they ever actually release it.
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3-11-2008 @ 6:18AM
Paul D said...
Not to mention that it looks worse than DL1 in many ways. Info panel at the bottom of the screen? That's going to look horrible on my widescreen display. I suppose each line of text in the synopsis area will be 1900 pixels wide too.
They haven't fixed critical book sorting and display issues, but they've added clothing. Yippee ka-yay.
3-11-2008 @ 10:32PM
kingkael said...
Duke Nukem Forever!
3-10-2008 @ 5:22PM
JohnPQ said...
I'm sorry, but this has to be the most overhyped application release ever. Just how anal are some Mac users? Who the hell needs a virtual CD/DVD bookshelf? Inventory your clothes? JC just put on an AC/DC t-shirt and be done with it. Sure it’s pretty to look at, but come on let’s get real.
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3-10-2008 @ 8:41PM
mentalsticks said...
Er.. Christina can manage an AC/DC T-shirt, but I know a lot of Mac user who can't...
Oh, and I'm missing The Sopranos... are you hiding them in the other room, Christina? And if so, why?
3-10-2008 @ 5:29PM
farfisa said...
"One of the most anticipated applications in recent memory..."
Maybe one of yours, but...
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 5:31PM
Jim F said...
Sam,
I don't want to start a DVD p***ing match, but --
http://www.dvdspot.com/list.php?member=jpfisher
Haven't taken any photos recently, but I really should for the insurance.
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 5:32PM
Zach Everson said...
Great to see software geared to the plight of over-consumption. If you can't remember if you own something, maybe you shouldn't be buying so much stuff.
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 8:25PM
matthew said...
Unmentioned in this review is all the features DL has for selling your stuff....
3-11-2008 @ 10:25AM
C said...
I think it's also aimed at those of us that have some form of OCD and have to catalog and organize stuff.
On another note, I'm surprised that none of these library programs reference discogs.com.