Freebox V4 NEW Demo Released (4.0.18)

[Barry Barcrest]

V4 Feature List

Freebox is Windows based Jukebox software for playing your personal music and music videos. Perfect for touch screen systems, it can very easily be operated using a mouse. Full version is $25, the demo is fully functioning but is limited to 30 minutes, you can just restart the app though right after with no nag screens to sit through.

Features include:

• Show the top 10 played songs of all time
• Browse music by artist, year and genre
• Decades Feature, Shows offical top 10 by month and year
• View a recent history of songs played
• Search by Track, Album or Artist
• Karaoke supported, MP3 + G files.
• Browse music by album covers or a text list depending on skin used
• Clicking on an album opens the track list where the user can select to add a single track ,The whole album, Add to A Playlist or Download to a folder.
• Configuration allows you to turn on or off any button on the screen. Don’t want your users to add the whole album to the queue? Just remove the button
• Configuration also allows you to request a PIN code to access any of the main menu items. Don’t want your users to see the queue but still want the button shown? Just PIN code the button
• Set up play lists (load and save from with in the jukebox)
• Play music videos just as you do your music. When in Video mode, you browse through the artists adding videos to the queue. These can be piped out to a second screen.
• Show a visualisation as tracks are played (WMP or Winamp required)
• Completely skinable. Included with the software is a skin tool which allows you to move and re-style buttons, backgrounds and layouts
• Multiple monitors are supported. Run your Jukebox software on one and the visualisation on another. This could be the TV out or Monitor 2 port
• “power off” options of shutting down the jukebox software or the PC. This can also be automated at a certain time, eg: midnight. Custom scripts can be run when the software is closed
• Schedule skin changes using a calendar so it will change automatically for special events.
• Random Play by library (Music, Karaoke or Videos) Or by Artist, Genre and Playlists
• Networked Jukebox Master/Terminal (Allows the use of multple jukebox terminals to add songs to current queue on master jukebox)
• Transparency (Allows backdrop (wallpaper/visualization) to show through jukebox frontend
• All jukebox functions are mappable via keyboard shortcuts (useful when using a remote control)

Public Use features – these are features useful if you plan to use the Jukebox for commercial purposes.

• Show a “NEW” label on albums recently added
• “Attract Mode” – This can be used to change the skin on certain dates (eg: changing the skin to a Christmas one in December). Attract mode can also be set to play random songs and play visualisations to attract users
• Create separate databases – useful if you have different types of parties where the jukebox is used (eg: Wedding, Children’s party etc)
• Freebox has a credit module which is used when a coin mechanism has been attached to the PC. You can set the properties for a “credit”. For example the cost to add a song to the queue, cost to play the song next and cost to play a song now. This is also split be media library type with different pricing for Music, Karaoke and Video.
• Freebox fully supports the Betabrite LED sign, and Also the Chinese Variant. You can configure what appears (credit information, song information, general messages etc). 2 Signs are support at the same time.

NOTE: You will require WMP 11 to be installed to use this, you can however alter the freebox.ini and change the engine to 0 if you wish to use the old V3 engine which doesn't require WMP 11.

Version 3 is now priced at $10 and V2 is still availble for free over on the site.

[squirrellydw]

I have to say it is the best jukebox program I have found and it is always being updated to add new features

[Encryptor]

Why do you still call it Freebox when it's no longer free? Just curious.


Encryptor

[Donkey_Kong]

Why do you still call it Freebox when it's no longer free? Just curious.


Encryptor

The demo version is free.

[Barry Barcrest]

Why do you still call it Freebox when it's no longer free? Just curious.


Encryptor

V2 is still free as well  Just because i changed to paid model didn't mean i was going to change the name. Xlobby is still Xlobby even though they now charge. I think you'll still find Freebox to be one of the cheapest if not the cheapest of the paid for jukebox applications out there.

[JackTucky]

Why do you still call it Freebox when it's no longer free? Just curious.


Encryptor

"Free" stands for free from questions about the name....

=J

[squirrellydw]

it's also almost commercial quality and compared to the other commercial quality programs out there it is almost free.

[Encryptor]

Why do you still call it Freebox when it's no longer free? Just curious.


Encryptor

"Free" stands for free from questions about the name....

=J

I have a right to ask whatever questions I choose!

Encryptor

[Barry Barcrest]

Why do you still call it Freebox when it's no longer free? Just curious.


Encryptor

"Free" stands for free from questions about the name....

=J

I have a right to ask whatever questions I choose!

Encryptor

He was joking i think dude... We're all friends here. It's just this subject was covered in depth when i started charging about a year back that is all.

EDIT: Fixed due to my poor quote skills.

[nipsmg]

The software is very full featured and I don't at all disagree with Barcrest selling it.. I would too after putting that much work into it.  It's a good product... I'm still struggling getting my software off the ground and his has been out and maturing, and used by many people.

However, I agree though the name is a bit misleading.  -- and I understand XLobby didn't change their name after they went commercial, but they also weren't called FreeLobby.. 

Just my $0.02.

[Space Fractal]

cannot been more agree and Nipsmg post.

I think Xloopy is a great name, commercial or not. The name doesn't tell it actually free, like Freebox due.

Personal I really never liked that name after it went commercial (even I have no problems selling it trouch), because some people can misforstood the name of it.... I would rather call it Freedom Jukebox or such that, but the name is not my chooice of cource.

A least there is a least one person that allways post this is the best application, like a other persons post got deleted about Album Player is the best software (I guess because it was posted in servial forums). The best software is of course the that your you chooice (includning Freebox).

But I do have to say: greating to Barcrest to still develpment this software  and good luck selling v4 as well.

[Barry Barcrest]

Hmmmm.... Do a search on you tube for Freebox. There is a set-top box for sale in france, i'm not sure what it does. That is called Freebox, do you think it's free? I doubt it. Many names are not descriptive of the product.

I don't see why this name thing is such a big issue but time and time again it gets raised. I don't know what you guys expect me to do? I have many years invested in this product and the name "Freebox Jukebox",  to change it now would be a bad move. I'm not trying to come across like an ass and i hope i'm not but what do you guys realistically want me to say or do?

EDIT:

FREEBOX LIMITED
16 VICTORIA ROAD
DISS
NORFOLK
IP22 3HW
Company No. 05137397

What do you think that company does? It's listed as being involved in resturants. I found this when i did a search on FREE in companies names. There were 1000's listed just in the UK.

[nipsmg]

it's probably too late at this point, I think it's just people discussing a popular product, nothing more.

Usually the way to do this is to rename a product and put (Formerly Freebox Jukebox) on every page, every post, every everything for 6 months to a year. Keep the old domain and point it to the new site, etc.

Not a big deal

[Space Fractal]

I really liked the Freebox Jukebox name until v2.2, because it was really free, but with donation possible.

Now it turned into shareware, and some people still trough it a freeware.

But to avoid that I do think a good subtitle can do the job, so Freebox Jukebox still would been a nice name.

[Space Fractal]

About the subtitle I think about that to use with the title tags on your homepage:

Freebox Jukebox :: The Popular jukebox player on your freely touchscreen box?

Now Freebox doesn't sound like a free software, just sound more a great application to been used in a cabinet (which Freebox is designed for)..... I do guess a better subtitle can been found.

Subtitle is only needed to been used in your homepage in your title tag. It just description your software better.


Otherwise sorry If I have sound negative, but good luck     .

[spocktwin]

 
Sorry folks, just my two cents but as we all must be able to read (why else are you on the internet) you would find that the previous versions are free but the latest greatest costs you a one time fee.  I just bought version 4 because after a lot of looking it does what I want.  It is like censorship on tv......if you don't like what your looking at turn the channel.  Barry has done some great work with this and the support from him and other in the community is great!  Please don't get upset with me here but the arguement about the name seems kind of silly.
Live Long and Prosper
Spock

[nipsmg]

Yeah it is silly -  He can call it whatever he wants.

We're all just being opinionated for fun I think.

[Musicman]

Barry :
Sorry for using this thread to ask you something about your software.
I've been testing it (V4 demo) looks good, but... is there any way to load based on folder
structure??    i.e. C:\artist\albums\songs.mp3

I could no figure it out.......

[Ed_McCarron]

Yeah it is silly -  He can call it whatever he wants.

Except TouchTunes...

[nipsmg]

Well, he COULD call it that.

There might be lawyers in his future...

[Space Fractal]

Its allready been happens for that reason for a year ago or two. The problem is a Touch Tune skin was too close to the original software, so the company just asked the webhost to shutdown the website (with the losts of all posts on the forum) instead of asking Barcrest to remove that skin. So I guess he never do that again.

It similar what it happent that as well with SilverJuke, when they created a skin, that resemple very mush of wincab (now DWJukebox). But at last it did end Chris gave them permission to use that skin, since they turned out to been a great Guy. The reason was just they diddent checked the original source of the images used.

There is a lots that use Freebox as title and widly used (just do a search in Google), but not as I can see on a dedicated Jukebox  software and actuelly got a nice domain name  .

The main cempeter is actuelly PCJukebox and not Touchtune. If I remember I guess he found the application very slow and began to create Freebox which is now a strong product. It just missing a good subtitle as well so it can been even stronger.

But again, sorry for my language in some negative post, and greating to Barcrest  .

[draginit]

hey musicman, you can prolly get a faster answer over at the freebox website. lots of users there who can help you!

im posting tho cuz even from the day freebox was released here on byoac, i never even thought of the name as how it represents its worth.  hell, i think i tried to donate before there was an option to just cuz i saw the potential of this program and wanted to support a potentially and now incredible program.
and even now i say the name freebox for short when referencing the program and think nothing of it!!   and when typing, use the acronym FBJB.  theres no way the name can be changed now! its planted and sounds only fitting no matter what the cost!!

-another example:  Netzero-$9.95,   they made there name when it was free and there reputation was built on that name.(wether good or bad) but there still going by that name!

[Negativecreep0]

hey when I go to install it on my vista pc, it gives me following error:
"component 'mscomm32.ocx' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid"

[mccoy178]

google that "mscomm32.ocx", download it, and install it.

[Negativecreep0]

did all that didn't fix it, think it was a bad packing in the new install file, I installed old freebox then overinstalled new one in there now it works. thanks

[Space Fractal]

I guess you should go over to his forum to fix this issue.....

[JackTucky]

Barry :
Sorry for using this thread to ask you something about your software.
I've been testing it (V4 demo) looks good, but... is there any way to load based on folder
structure??    i.e. C:\artist\albums\songs.mp3

I could no figure it out.......

No.  Freebox needs properly tagged music.  There are lots of programs out there that will tag your music based on folder structure.  Media Monkey and Tag & Rename come to mind.

=J

[Barry Barcrest]

Its allready been happens for that reason for a year ago or two. The problem is a Touch Tune skin was too close to the original software, so the company just asked the webhost to shutdown the website (with the losts of all posts on the forum) instead of asking Barcrest to remove that skin. So I guess he never do that again.

This is sort of right. What happened was someone made a clone of the touchtunes interface. a 100% rip, same graphics everything. BOSE asked me to remove it and threatened legal action so it was removed and all mention of it taken down. They then didn't like the fact that some sites carrying the free version and also the demo had it compared to their software. I was able to edit the desciption over on betanews but no where else. They were not happy and threatened further legal action so the person hosting for me had no choice but to pull the plug.

I never actually posted up the comparisions and i never created the skin. If they had come after me directly it might have spun out differently but they never did come directly for me. Eitherway that's history now. i just wanted to clear up what actually happened... If anyone wants the skin BTW you can get it at... Hmm actually... better not. 

[Barry Barcrest]

Barry :
Sorry for using this thread to ask you something about your software.
I've been testing it (V4 demo) looks good, but... is there any way to load based on folder
structure??    i.e. C:\artist\albums\songs.mp3

I could no figure it out.......

Sorry your post got caught up in the name discussion dude. No you cannot run the config based on the folder structure at this current time. Really you need to have your music tagged correctly. It is a pain i know but it useful for other things apart from freebox, like portable devices and the like.

[ddw]

Does freebox support flac.

 I have not been happy with any jukebox software I have tired yet. Except for SK jukebox which does not have touchscreen support.

 Thank you.

[Barry Barcrest]

I have some source for reading OGG files that i have still to add. Reading tags is one of the hardest things to do or find any examples of. Leave it with me and i'll see what i can do. What is the extension for FLAC files? FLC or am i thinking of something else.

[gonzo90017]

Except for SK jukebox which does not have touchscreen support.

 Thank you.

What do you mean? SKjukebox does have touchscreen support.

[Barry Barcrest]

Except for SK jukebox which does not have touchscreen support.

 Thank you.

What do you mean? SKjukebox does have touchscreen support.

It doesn't work great with touchscreen support. Some elements of it are just to small for it to be user friendly in a touchscreen environment. I know what he means i have used a few on my touchscreen and it just isn't ideal for that purpose.

[gonzo90017]

I've been using it for a while and it works great. You just have to make the font a little bigger. And when selecting songs I touch the album first to make it full screen, then select the song or songs.
Also, you do know about the Keypad? Options>Display Settings>Display Keypad.

[ddw]

onzo I did not know about the display keypad option, changes everthing thank you.
Barry the extension for flac lossloss is .flac winamp supports it
thanks this is a  great site.

[Barry Barcrest]

Yeah i have flac support working now i think, it will be in the next release. I don't actually have an flac files to test it myself though.

[ddw]

Barry my email has been down for the last 3 days just sent you a couple today  hope it helps great service. looking forword to trying freebox.

Donnie

[Barry Barcrest]

The demo has been updated to the latest version 4.0.11 which includes quite a few changes to speed the application up. The main one being the use of a smaller cover thumbnail for browsing the albums. You can generate that when running the config (config4). It now also supports filtering by YEAR and a few other enhancmenets over the last demo. There are so many changes i forget them all, feel free to try it out.

[Barry Barcrest]

Demo updated and link added. See first post.

[Space Fractal]

Now you just need to get the link on the freebox homepage to work again. It still linking to the old version (and remove the download link about old V4.07 news).

Otherwice, if you which, you can delete the post I created about the missing post from your forum.

[Barry Barcrest]

What's New in 4.0.14

Main App:
BUG: Play next didn't work until you used play now (FIXED)
BUG: Second screen would not display VIS (FIXED)
BUG: Show new on recent albums crash the juke if you went to the last page. (FIXED)
BUG: Use Second screen for music didn't work from startup. (FIXED)
BUG: Setting do not repeat random songs to 11 caused a crash. (FIXED)
BUG: Quickjump doesn't work if there is a & in title. (FIXED)
BUG: in addition on the Track Listing Page if the Album Title has an "&" in it, it also shows up incorrectly (FIXED)
BUG: Queue.upl wasn't updating on skip track (FIXED)
CHANGED: Covernames now loaded and saved to covername.ini
ADDED: Security Settings button to freebox and moved all the pin code stuff into it.

Config 4:
BUG: Copy first image found wasn't working, it should now work.
BUG: When you do an update and check the remove missing files that didn't save on exit, now it does.
BUG: Update Database doesn't remeber the use album name on various (FIXED)
BUG: New.cvr wasn't generating properly (FIXED)
CHANGED: Covernames now saved to covername.ini
CHANGED: Remove missing files will now remove and re-add files that didn't have an artist or album tag. This is usefull if you have updated the tags after noticing they don't show up when you build the library.

Skintool:
CHANGED: Now saves the options screen ini differently to accomodate the extra button

Other:
Setup EXE is using an updated version of the installer, still need to fix the uninstall issues.
Some code optimisations, nothing great i just tidied some things up.

Download link at top of page.

[panama1974]

   
excuse my English
   
The software of Mr Barry Barcrest is very good, I like displays of worms in the second monitor, which has no pity for option buttons arcade, here in panama is earning  2 dollar per hour in the United States and you earn 25 or 30 dollar the time and was going to pay 25 dollar  complaining of freebox v4.

[Barry Barcrest]

   
excuse my English
   
The software of Mr Barry Barcrest is very good, I like displays of worms in the second monitor, which has no pity for option buttons arcade, here in panama is earning  2 dollar per hour in the United States and you earn 25 or 30 dollar the time and was going to pay 25 dollar  complaining of freebox v4.

I am not in the U.S. so that $25 is actually more like $12.50 once it's converted to sterling. Not a great deal for me either considering the time i spend on it i doubt i even make $1 an hour.

I think you are trying to say you want freebox to work with buttons? I could probably add some functionality for you to be able to do this if you are interested drop me a mail.

[mccoy178]

Now wait a minute.  The dollar gained 15% last week. 

[Space Fractal]

would this not use a lots of buttons, since Freebox not was designed that way (one for each button on screen) and need a button based skin or they need to known how navigation is used?

You is 100% correctly in the other thread he should use a trackball, since it much more commerciel like cabinet when used rather than a mouse and use less place too. A X-Arcade with trackball could nicely been used.

Otherwice I think it exits joystick/keyboard -> mouse emulator world work fine with dedicated page buttons and a joystick/buttons as navigation (joystick/3 buttons).

[Barry Barcrest]

would this not use a lots of buttons, since Freebox not was designed that way (one for each button on screen) and need a button based skin or they need to known how navigation is used?

Not really, back in V2 i think i had an keypad input mode. It shows numbers on the albums like 0001, you key that then the track number and then pick play next, play now, add to queue or cancel. I also had an option where once the track number was keyed in that song would add to queue and you were back on the album page. Admittedly it doesn't support half the freebox features that way but it does work in a simular waw to SK.

I might add it back in if there is interest as it was pretty easy to do.

[panama1974]

   
excuse my English
   
The software of Mr Barry Barcrest is very good, I like displays of worms in the second monitor, which has no pity for option buttons arcade, here in panama is earning  2 dollar per hour in the United States and you earn 25 or 30 dollar the time and was going to pay 25 dollar  complaining of freebox v4.

I am not in the U.S. so that $25 is actually more like $12.50 once it's converted to sterling. Not a great deal for me either considering the time i spend on it i doubt i even make $1 an hour.

I think you are trying to say you want freebox to work with buttons? I could probably add some functionality for you to be able to do this if you are interested drop me a mail.

       At the forum there are people who want freebox free and do not want to pay for, people want everything for free, people think that Mr Barry Barcrest works for free and want you to donate freebox, are not hard with the money and pay 25 dollar freebox.

[JackTucky]

I think Panama is on your side Barry.   

[javeryh]

Is this an easy program to skin?  I'm going to download the demo and try it out but I'm not sure the black and blue default is how I want it to look...

[Barry Barcrest]

Is this an easy program to skin?  I'm going to download the demo and try it out but I'm not sure the black and blue default is how I want it to look...

You really should join our forum at http://www.freeboxjukebox.com/Forum/ if you are interested in skinning. The skintool takes a bit of getting used to but if you can't figure it out but can make the graphics then someone on there will be able to turn it into a skin.

Here are some others made by users:

http://www.freeboxjukebox.com/Forum/index.php?topic=333.0


http://www.freeboxjukebox.com/Forum/index.php?topic=851.0

[Barry Barcrest]

On a related note the demo has been brought upto date with the latest build.

Main App:
BUG: Clicking on a tab where there was no database broke the album browse (FIXED)
BUG: Enabling the Animations broke the album browse (FIXED)
BUG: Winamp shut off between songs if it was enabled (FIXED)

Skin changes...
00menu.bmp - History Button
01menu.bmp - Top 10 Button
02menu.bmp - Search Button
03menu.bmp - Queue Button
04menu.bmp - Options Button
05menu.bmp - Decades Button
06menu.bmp - Playlist Button
07menu.bmp - Filter Button
08menu.bmp - Album Button

01album.bmp - Audio
02album.bmp - Video
03album.bmp - Karaoke
04album.bmp
05album.bmp - newly added

Clicking those buttons loads those backdrop files for the menu or the album cover screens. Hopefully some skin authors can make use of this. If the files are missing then it just keeps the default backdrop for those skins. Hopefully if this is well recieved I will be able to do a bit more like this to make the skins more dynamic.

Config:
BUG: Resizing covers larger than the screen didn't work. (FIXED)
BUG: Genre, Artist and Year Libraries were not building correctly in some cases (FIXED)

Link is the same as always.

[raymondo]

Hi Barry

I am now near completion of my jukebox, I decided to test it with the wife (very important).  Showed her the jukebox playing Freebox and AlbumPlayer.  Freebox was the hands down winner.  My wife is not very computer literate but could use your software without too much trouble.

This brings me onto my question.

I would like to donate/pay for the latest version, however I believe your forums have hit the limit again.  Do I simply send over a paypal payment and then email you?

Keep up the good work.

Ray

[kizer]

Isn't it amazing that somebody can be that popular all the time that they eat up all their bandwidth for the month.

[beanboy33]

What is the difference between the demo version and the pay version besides the time limit?

[Barry Barcrest]

Bug fixes and support... Not much really. Personally if people keep using the demo i might save some bandwidth for the people that have paid, so the demo is probably the best option. Why pay me money? i just don't get it myself...

[raymondo]

Ohhh that sounds a little bitter.

If you like the software and intend to use it, pay for it.  We all have mouths to feed.
If Barry has a skill for Jukebox software then he should get paid for it, even if it is only 12 quid!!

As I mentioned in my earlier post if the wife can use it, then your onto a winner.

Keep up the good work.

Ray

PS paypal payment sent 

[Barry Barcrest]

Cheers buddy. I have sent you the information. My previous post was more sarcastic than bitter, it was supposed to be funny or something... 

[Space Fractal]

Bug fixes and support... Not much really. Personally if people keep using the demo i might save some bandwidth for the people that have paid, so the demo is probably the best option. Why pay me money? i just don't get it myself...

haha.....

I still have the effoct to help you to have a nice little frontpage with your application, like when you have version 2.0 and let the forum directly use your domain (or use keizer server using this by redirecting with frames, but break the frames when using forum).

[kizer]

I'll host as long as I can host files or whatever.

[Barry Barcrest]

Demo has been updated to 4.0.18, it's just bug fixes but if you had any problems with the previous demo you might want to check it out.

[javeryh]

Does Freebox support tagging by mp3tag?  I just spent a couple hours tagging a bunch of albums but when I start freebox not a single one of the album covers appears ad nothing is named properly...

[kizer]

Yeah, mine are all tagged and they show up properly.

[javeryh]

Yeah, mine are all tagged and they show up properly.

Hmmm... maybe I'm not starting up freebox properly... I click on config and then when it opens I make sure my "music" folder is open on the right and then I hit "generate library" - is this right?

Also, I don't see any option to make freebox full screen.  Right now it is running in a tiny window.

[Barry Barcrest]

There is a checkbox to run it fullscreen under the options and apearence settings.

As for the album covers it doesn't read those from the tag. You need an image named something like cover.jpg in the album folder. You need to specify the filname you will use for the covers and keep it the same across all your albums. When you generate using the config you can make it make a smaller thumbnail of that image for the album cover browsing screen. Using a smaller thumbnail on that screen speeds up the paging through the albums quite a lot.

[javeryh]

Thanks Barry.  I'm a moron - I didn't see all the other buttons on the bottom once I pressed options.  I think the tagging is working OK at least for the song and album names but when I generate the library and I see it scrolling through all of my files the tags that are populating the fields really quick do not appear to be the tags I saved using mp3tag - I removed ALL comments using mp3tag but they are showing up as I generate the library.

Thanks for the tip about the covers too.  In some of my folders I have files like thumbs.db or something that starts off 00-.... I'm going through and deleting everything other than the audio files (.mp3s), then tagging with mp3tag, then creating a cover.jpg file in each folder for the cover art.  Is this what I'm supposed to be doing?  My files are set up like this:

c:\music\
c:\music\artist\
c:\music\artist\album [year]\
c:\music\artist\album [year]\song 1
c:\music\artist\album [year]\song 2
c:\music\artist\album [year]\song 3
c:\music\artist\album [year]\song 4
c:\music\artist\album [year]\cover.jpg

It's a lot of work to tag and setup everything (but totally worth it) so I just want to make sure I'm doing it properly.

Thanks!!!   

[Barry Barcrest]

Yes sounds like you are doing it correctly. You need to make sure that the tag you have in there is ID2.2 tag and not the ID1 tag. I know in tag and rename you can sync the tags but not sure with what you are using.