Local Media Browser enables viewing of personal digital media files online.
Local Media Browser is a useful tool for digital media management, offering convenient access to your collection of media files from a web browser. It is specifically designed for low-powered clients, which are commonly found in local home networks such as slim client-PCs or gaming consoles connected to a TV screen in the living room.
The software is easy to set up for the average user as it does not require any database backends. Instead, all information is obtained directly from the files in the media library, including photos, music, videos, and text documents. While it can extract things like thumbnails and ID3-tags, it can generate some load on the webserver. To avoid issues during heavy use, information can be generated manually in advance (indexing) or cached for future reference.
The motivation for this project arose from a personal experience with a Nintendo WiiTM, which the author found to be an excellent tool for accessing digital media files from the living room. By installing a small network, the author was able to use a fileserver to access pictures and music, among other files. Local Media Browser caters to those who lack a powerful computer in the living room but still want to access their media library from an internet-capable client.
While there are numerous gallery scripts available, Local Media Browser stands out due to its ease of use and a simple setup process. The software is configurable through an ini-file and features a directory chooser with breadcrumb-like path navigation. It also displays thumbnails of pictures in a given directory, allows for picture rotation, and offers a 1:1 view of the image. Additionally, it provides support for templates/skins, one default template included.
Users can browse directories for music files, add the content of whole directories to playlists, and shuffle the playlist. Server-side, the software requires a Python interpreter and Python Imaging Library (PIL). On the client side, a standard-compliant web browser is sufficient for accessing the media library, with the option to play mp3s or view videos requiring an Adobe Flash Plugin (integrated in Wii's Opera).
Overall, Local Media Browser is a huge step forward, with the music module being one of its standout features. It even brings its webserver on a custom port, making it a versatile addition to your home network. The software is multithreaded, and the templates have been significantly improved. It comes with comprehensive instructions for easy installation.
The software is easy to set up for the average user as it does not require any database backends. Instead, all information is obtained directly from the files in the media library, including photos, music, videos, and text documents. While it can extract things like thumbnails and ID3-tags, it can generate some load on the webserver. To avoid issues during heavy use, information can be generated manually in advance (indexing) or cached for future reference.
The motivation for this project arose from a personal experience with a Nintendo WiiTM, which the author found to be an excellent tool for accessing digital media files from the living room. By installing a small network, the author was able to use a fileserver to access pictures and music, among other files. Local Media Browser caters to those who lack a powerful computer in the living room but still want to access their media library from an internet-capable client.
While there are numerous gallery scripts available, Local Media Browser stands out due to its ease of use and a simple setup process. The software is configurable through an ini-file and features a directory chooser with breadcrumb-like path navigation. It also displays thumbnails of pictures in a given directory, allows for picture rotation, and offers a 1:1 view of the image. Additionally, it provides support for templates/skins, one default template included.
Users can browse directories for music files, add the content of whole directories to playlists, and shuffle the playlist. Server-side, the software requires a Python interpreter and Python Imaging Library (PIL). On the client side, a standard-compliant web browser is sufficient for accessing the media library, with the option to play mp3s or view videos requiring an Adobe Flash Plugin (integrated in Wii's Opera).
Overall, Local Media Browser is a huge step forward, with the music module being one of its standout features. It even brings its webserver on a custom port, making it a versatile addition to your home network. The software is multithreaded, and the templates have been significantly improved. It comes with comprehensive instructions for easy installation.
What's New
Version 0.2: N/A