Announcing Zoom Player v8.1 final!

[Blight]

http://zoomplayer.com/v810final.jpg

Unlike version 8.0 that took 18 month to complete, Version 8.1 final is ready in under two months.

If you have been following Zoom Player development on Facebook, Twitter you would have noticed that over 20 public preview builds were released.

The new release schedule ensures faster bug fixes, polished features and new customization options in a shorter time span.

Highlights from v8.1 :
. The default Onyx skin has been refreshed with new widgets and power features.
. A much more powerful audio track and subtitle stream selection interface.
. LIRC Remote Control support.
. Enhanced TCP/IP remote control.
. More powerful skinning engine logistics.

Download :
Click here for the Zoom Player v8.1 download mirror list (http://inmatrix.com/files/zoomplayer_download.shtml).

Zoom Player Premium users :
Owners of 'Zoom Player Premium' can download v8.1 here (http://dl.zoomplayer.com/zp810prm.exe) (md5: FBAC2AF0657A062826FA3B7EBC9EB08B).

Here's what's new in v8.1 :


New :

* The default Onyx skin has been enhanced:
1. Contrast, Brightness and Saturation are now adjustable through the
expandable toolbar.
2. The expandable toolbar is now accessible through a button
on the user interface instead of pressing F5 or F9 using the keyboard.
3. The volume, balance, play rate and equalizer bars have been redesigned.
4. Less framing around buttons.

* The F4-F9 skin modes used by the Default Onyx skin have changed,
the new modes are:
F4 : Default mode.
F5 : Smaller user interface.
F6 : Minimal user interface.
F7 : No user interface.
F8 : Show/Hide Top Bar.
F9 : Show/Hide Bottom Bar.

* The Audio and Subtitle stream selection interface has been rewritten.
The new 'Stream Selection' right-click sub-menu groups all streams into
clearly labeled 'Audio' and 'Subtitle' groups.

* The back-end for the Audio track cycle function (Ctrl+"A") used to
switch between multiple audio tracks has been rewritten. Audio tracks
from internal and external sources are now switched seamlessly.

* The back-end for the Subtitle stream cycle function (Ctrl+"B") used to
switch between multiple subtitle steams has been rewritten. Subtitle
streams from embedded and external sources are now switched seamlessly.

* Zoom Player now has integrated LIRC support. LIRC transmits and receives
remote control signals. This allows computer control using almost any
remote control.

See:
http://winlirc.sf.net for the Windows port by Jim Paris & Ian Curtis.
http://www.lirc.org for the original project.

Using the LIRC section of the options dialog, you can directly assign
remote control buttons to Zoom Player Standard, Extended and Navigation
functions.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface), that controls how to display the
right-click "Stream Selection" sub-menu. With "Show all filters in Stream
Selection sub-menu" enabled, all filters exposing a stream select interface
are displayed in a sub-menu, cleaning up the dialog. With this setting
disabled, only detected Subtitle, Audio and Video streams from known
sources are listed.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Bar), that prevents the
Control Bar and Timeline context menu from opening. Useful if you have
kids and you don't want a control bar setting changed by accident.

* Two new "On Playlist Complete" modes (Adv. Options / Playback) :
1. Random play a media file from the playing directory.
2. Random play a file with the same extension from the playing directory.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Playback / Video / Subtitles), that resets
the Subtitle Renderer's filter subtitle synchronization value, ensuring
that the default value is restored when opening a new media after manually
adjusting subtitle synchronization. Enabled by default.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Playback / Video / Subtitles), that forces
automatic stream selection to work only with external subtitle files.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Playback / Video / Subtitles), that specifies
whether to enable the first embedded or external subtitle stream if
no automatic stream selection match is found (or if the auto stream
selection is disabled).

* New "/CONNECTTCP:[address or IP]:[port]" command line parameter.

By default, The TCP/IP interface works as a server by waiting for 3rd party
applications to connect to Zoom Player.

With the "/CONNECTTCP" parameter, Zoom Player initiates the connection
itself with a local or remote server right as it launches. A server must be
listening on the specified address and port for a connection from Zoom Player.

Example:
"c:\program files\zplayer\zplayer.exe" /CONNECTTCP:127.0.0.1:4770

* New extended function "exSkinMode", which activates the F4-F9 skin modes.

* Five new functions "fnResetBright", "fnResetContrast", "fnResetGamma",
"fnResetHue" and "fnResetSatur" that reset the Brightness, Contrast, Gamma
Hue and Saturation to their default values.

* The skin script code has been extended with "StartAndGroup" and "EndAndGroup"
blocks that allow skin script authors to limit sections of the script to
specific combination of active groups.

* When connecting to the TCP/IP control interface, Zoom Player automatically
issues a "3000" notification message if an error dialog was visible prior
to establishing the TCP/IP connection.

* Zoom Player now notifies you of known buggy filters when running a new
version of Zoom Player for the first time.

* New Smart Play profile for embedded Apple Lossless Audio (ALAC).

* New Comm API message #1090, used to get the current timeline text,
including the current position and any other value specified in
the options dialog under "Adv. Options / Interface / Control Bar /
Timeline Area".



Changes :

+ The F4-F9 keys no longer modify skin groups, but rather activate Skin
modes which are programmable directly from the skin script, providing
greater flexibility and control to skin designers.

+ When using the default onyx skin in F6 or F7 mode, a smaller control bar
is now used.

+ The Zoom Player Install Center now notifies to close any active media
playback software.



Fixes :

- Dynamic aspect ratio changes are now supported when using EVR as the
video renderer.

- Running on Windows 7 with the windows shell set to an application other
than "explorer.exe" would cause Zoom Player to crash.

- With "Aggressively Hide Mouse Cursor" (Adv. Options / Interface / Mouse /
Settings) enabled, the mouse cursor no longer re-appears when opening
a fullscreen navigation interface.

- The "/SKINDVD" command line parameter used to set the DVD skin actually
set the audio mode skin by accident.

- The Video icon was being shown for Blu-Ray movie index files instead of
the Blu-Ray icon.

- ID3v2 unicode tags are now supported automatically without specifying
a country code.

- Fixed ID3v2 URL tags that are marked as Unicode but in actuality are ASCII.

- Auto-Save media chapters (".ZPCHP" files) was automatically creating
chapter files when playing media files with embedded chapters (such as
matroska ".MKV" files). Now, the chapter files are created only if
you edit the chapters.

- The option to disable natural language sorting is fixed.

- Maintaining fast-play between playlist items is fixed.

- Fixed a few small cosmetic glitches.

- Pop-up OSD messages are now truncated to fit the video display area.

- Pressing F11 to reset color control values while the color control
fullscreen navigation interface was visible, did not update the
color control navigation interface.

- Selecting the Microsoft image source no longer notifies you that the
filter is unregistered. Note that the microsoft image source filter
is limited to 2000x2000 resolution, so it's not recommended for anything
other than animated GIF files.

[dukey]

+1 for winlirc support :)

[HoP]

it seems everything is ok but i cant use subtitles.Why??
[Win 7 64-bit -- Zoom Player FREE 8.1]

http://www.pixelz.fr/e/4/f/8a8b470df994d08c0e1d4046d09e5.png

[Blight]

HoP:
Make sure they're simply not hidden, press ctrl+B.
I'll need to see a more detailed screenshot of the graph used for the media not showing subs to help further.

[HoP]

[Subtitle Encoding: UTF-8]

Graph Information:

http://www.pixelz.fr/b/4/d/906bf383520c40cc85ea783602af8.png

[Blight]

HoP:
The screenshot tells me that this video does not have embedded subtitles.
If you have an external subtitle file for this video, make sure to name it "Elephant Dreams.[whatever extension it is]", so that Zoom Player knows it's connected to this media file.

If this video does have an embedded subtitle track, please provide a download link.


Everyone:
I'm planning a quick early february bug-fix v8.11 release.
Make sure to submit bugs to ensure they make the cut!

[HoP]

Blight:
i have problem with registering VSFilter.dll
my system say:[VSFilter.dll has been successfully registered] but it cant use it...i dont know why?

http://www.pixelz.fr/b/1/3/8b226033760cba30ba20310588b52.png

[italospain]

Hi Blight

I have two Problems

1. The Option System -> Fullscreen / Zoom to Monitor 2 doesnt work anymore. I have to double click on the Zoom Player task bar
to get Fullscreen on Monitor 2.

Reset default Settings or clean install doesnt help.

2. ffdshow subtitles disapearing after a while but this happens only with DVD subtitles.

greetings

[jmonier]

Hi Blight

I have two Problems

1. The Option System -> Fullscreen / Zoom to Monitor 2 doesnt work anymore. I have to double click on the Zoom Player task bar
to get Fullscreen on Monitor 2.

Reset default Settings or clean install doesnt help.

I don't believe that this is a ZP problem since it still works fine for me.

Unfortunately, video drivers and/or Windows itself can have problems with monitor numbering. Check that the monitor still has the same number. I know this sounds crazy, but I've had cases where the monitor number changes after unplugging/restoring monitors, changing drivers, etc. I've also had cases where the ATI Catalyst Control Center reported monitor numbers exactly opposite to what the Windows Screen Resolution box reported. (I forget which one ZP used.) And, of course, I hope you're aware that the primary monitor is not always 1 (in my case, it almost always seems to be 2.)

2. ffdshow subtitles disapearing after a while but this happens only with DVD subtitles.

This is probably an ffdshow problem. Install xy-vsfilter (this is the latest and best version of DirectVOBSub and is the one used by the Install Center). Try the ZP subtitle option (if you're not using it already) and select DirectVOBSub.

I've also heard of problems due to interaction with other components in the chain (splitter, decoder, renderer).

Beyond these general suggestions on both problems, considerably more information on your setup would be needed to point you in the direction of a solution since they are obviously specific to that setup.

[HoP]

problem solved
i don't know why manually registering didn't work...this setup solved the problem

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/VSFilter-DirectVobSub


http://www.pixelz.fr/2/1/b/256e409f44e1999af15befde6fd53.jpg

[italospain]

I don't believe that this is a ZP problem since it still works fine for me.

Unfortunately, video drivers and/or Windows itself can have problems with monitor numbering. Check that the monitor still has the same number. I know this sounds crazy, but I've had cases where the monitor number changes after unplugging/restoring monitors, changing drivers, etc. I've also had cases where the ATI Catalyst Control Center reported monitor numbers exactly opposite to what the Windows Screen Resolution box reported. (I forget which one ZP used.) And, of course, I hope you're aware that the primary monitor is not always 1 (in my case, it almost always seems to be 2.)



This is probably an ffdshow problem. Install xy-vsfilter (this is the latest and best version of DirectVOBSub and is the one used by the Install Center). Try the ZP subtitle option (if you're not using it already) and select DirectVOBSub.

I've also heard of problems due to interaction with other components in the chain (splitter, decoder, renderer).

Beyond these general suggestions on both problems, considerably more information on your setup would be needed to point you in the direction of a solution since they are obviously specific to that setup.

The first problem only happens with v.8 of Zoom Player v.7 and V. 6 working fine.

I am forced to use ffdshow subtitles because DirectVOBSub introducing stuttering on my Intel 965 Setup with Overlay Mixer and ReClock.

[ashlar42]

Why in all these years Zoom Player has never had a subtitles engine developed? I've been a client in the past but it's kinda hard to justify nowadays.
Good luck blight, I have to say that in any case your support has always been excellent. And that's an important consideration.

[pirlouy]

There are 2 projects (that I know of) for nice subtitles renderer with madVR. You'll have to wait since it's just the beginning, but they would work on every directshow media player who has minimum options.
Of course, if Blight want to start a new project, no problem, but I'm not sure he is interested.

[Blight]

Hop:
ZP requires a new version of vsfilter (v3.xx) to support stream selection.
I'm not sure the copy you've used supprots this functionality.


italospain:
How are you switching to fullscreen?
I have no problems here switching to fullscreen on monitor [x].
The only thing I noticed is that the monitor numbers can change, try switching ZP to go fullscreen on monitor #1 instead of #2 or vice versa.


ashlar42:
There are good subtitle engines out there, there's no point repeating the work when my time can be used elsewhere to greater beenfit.

[italospain]

italospain:
How are you switching to fullscreen?
I have no problems here switching to fullscreen on monitor [x].
The only thing I noticed is that the monitor numbers can change, try switching ZP to go fullscreen on monitor #1 instead of #2 or vice versa.



I use a extended Desktop and use the funktion system -> fullscreen on monitor 2 from zoom player. (with alt-enter or mouse double klick)

There is no change in monotor numbers

Now I have the same Problem with a second system (complete diffrent hardware)

both systems with xp sp3 connected over s-video to a standard tv

if i install the test version of zoom player 7 or 6 it works fine

[dukey]

The best solution is subtitles rendered as RGBA on a seperate pin. This is how it works when playing dvds with the dvd navigator filter. It's also the most efficient way, because the hardware does the composition of the subtitles over the image. And the subtitle stream only needs to be updated when needed. Also would work with dxva :p
Shame VSFilter doesn't work like this.

[nevcairiel]

That solution is not as easy as you make it sound, and it has severe draw backs. Especially when you're dealing with animated subtitles like in ASS, it probably wouldn't even work right.

It is indeed the best solution if the renderer paints the RGBA on top of the video (and not VSFilter or ffdshow), however just delivering the subs as RGBA images to the renderer through that pin is far from perfect. It'll end up a timing nightmare on complex subs.

[dukey]

Timing shouldn't be an issue at all. Ie for DVD menus to work the timing must be instantaneous otherwise you get lag. There is no lag in DVD menus, unless you use too many render buffers. Eg 5 like MPC-HC defaults to. You will get 5 frame lag or a 200~ms lag. But this shouldn't be an issue for subtitles since they only have to match the video and not react to user input.

[Golova]

I have problem with default(seems onyx 8.1) skin when try to use next modes:
F6 : Minimal user interface. - keep large skin margins on eges.
F7 : No user interface. - keep larhe skin margins on eges, with top bar appearing from F8.
F8 : Show/Hide Top Bar. - no activity detected.
F9 : Show/Hide Bottom Bar. - no activity detected.

But onyx v7 works properly in F6 and F7 modes.
F7 mode for example:
http://shot.photo.qip.ru/2009K0k.png
instead this view:
http://shot.photo.qip.ru/2009K0p.png

Call of DefaultSettings.exe is helpful, but I lost all my previous settings, How I can reset only skin trouble?

[Blight]

Golova:
Pressing F4 should reset the skin. If you can reliably reproduce this skin issue, I need to know, because here it doesn't happen.

italospain:
This is very weird, I wonder if it's related to a specific ZP setting you're using.
Does it happen if you run defaultsettings.exe and then only change the fullscreen setting before trying to switch to fullscreen?
If you can narrow down the reason, I might be able to come up with a fix.

[Golova]

Golova:
Pressing F4 should reset the skin. If you can reliably reproduce this skin issue, I need to know, because here it doesn't happen.

I've upgraded it from v7 to v8, than this issue appeared.
I found it caused by my *.key file.
You can apply my *.key file to repeat this skin issue.

[Blight]

Golova:
Ah, that's a known issue, if you've previously used a custom keyboard mapping file, you need to recreate it from the default keyboard mapping (which changed in v8.1 to accommodate the new mode behavior).

[Golova]

Thank you!
I'v replaced/added to my file:
// Skin Mode Functions (F4-F9)
exAddKey(None,115,exSkinMode,1)
exAddKey(None,116,exSkinMode,2)
exAddKey(None,117,exSkinMode,3)
exAddKey(None,118,exSkinMode,4)
exAddKey(None,119,exSkinMode,5)
exAddKey(None,120,exSkinMode,6)

from default key file, now all fine.

[Blight]

Cool :)

[italospain]

italospain:
This is very weird, I wonder if it's related to a specific ZP setting you're using.
Does it happen if you run defaultsettings.exe and then only change the fullscreen setting before trying to switch to fullscreen?
If you can narrow down the reason, I might be able to come up with a fix.

Yes it it happen after defaultsettings.exe

i dont know what to do.

I cant understand why not more people are complaining my setup has nothing special.

Nevertheless the best player in the world :)

[Blight]

italospain:
watch this video, make sure you configure your multi-monitor setup the right way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk9mYc1xKZo

And part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH6ecCEMw4k

[italospain]

italospain:
watch this video, make sure you configure your multi-monitor setup the right way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk9mYc1xKZo

And part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH6ecCEMw4k

yeah the right way . doesnt help

btw i think it is impossible to make it wrong :D

[Blight]

italospain:
It's really strange that it's only affecting you and on two separate systems.
I personally use a multi-monitor environment every day...

Perhaps some third party desktop management software you have installed on both systems?

If you run ZP with the /f:1 or /f:2 command line, it doesn't open on the desired screen?

[italospain]

italospain:
It's really strange that it's only affecting you and on two separate systems.
I personally use a multi-monitor environment every day...

Perhaps some third party desktop management software you have installed on both systems?

If you run ZP with the /f:1 or /f:2 command line, it doesn't open on the desired screen?

it only works if Zoom Player is already on the disired screen.

I have no third party management software installed.

Zoom Player 6 and 7 working fine.

[Blight]

Can you post a screenshot of the "Adv. options / System" and "Adv. Options / Interface / Position & Size" pages?

[italospain]

Can you post a screenshot of the "Adv. options / System" and "Adv. Options / Interface / Position & Size" pages?

here you go

https://rapidshare.com/files/4283867594/position.png


https://rapidshare.com/files/2454629754/System.png

[italospain]

update

third system i installed Zoom Player 8 and fullscreen on monitor 2 doesnt work.

All 3 systems were connected over s-video as extended desktop.

if no one else is complaining it must be related to the s-video connection.

Blight can you test a extended desktop with s-video to reproduce the error ?

[Blight]

italospain:
I haven't tried an s-video configuration for years, my development machines don't support s-video anymore (only hdmi/dvi/vga).
The thing is, the code Zoom Player uses to position itself on secondary monitors is dependent on how windows identifies the monitors and not the connection type.
Can you post a screenshot of the windows monitor configuration dialog (in win7 it's right-click desktop, and select "screen resolution").
Please post your reply in the v8.1.1 release thread.

[25minutes]

Blight, I encounter the same issue that italospain is facing.

I've tested Zoom Player latest version 8.1.1. My main display is 1920x1080 LCD, secondary display is 1280x720 TV (Component Video Connection) in extended mode.

Starting ZP with /F:1 works fine. However, /F:2 doesn't show anything on TV, though I can see ZP running on task bar. If I click on ZP from task bar multiple times, finally it can show on TV. The same configuration works fine on Zoom Player 7.

Let me know what I can provide to tshoot the issue.