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.