|
(<< Return to Beyond Media Page)
Beyond Media Frequently Asked Questions
General
Compatibility, Features and Capabilities
Beyond Media Skins and Plug-ins
Miscellaneous
General
1.1 What is Beyond Media?
Beyond Media is a software application that transforms ordinary PCs into all-in-one entertainment centers. Beyond Media sorts and plays music, photos, videos and DVDs. Its full-screen interface makes it easy to see and navigate from across the room.
(Return to Top)
1.2 What are the System Requirements for Beyond Media?
See the Beyond Media System Requirements page.
(Return to Top)
1.3 What is the difference between Beyond Media and Beyond Media Basic?
There are several major differences between the two.
- Beyond Media uses a skinnable Direct 3D interface to provide a rich environment in which you can experience your media.
- Beyond Media features a full screen DVD player.
- Beyond Media has a wide range of advanced functions, like playlists and weather that Beyond Media Basic does not.
- Beyond Media users have access to a wide range of third party skins and plug-ins (available in the SnapStream Developer's Network)
(Return to Top)
1.4 What music formats does Beyond Media play?
See the Supported Formats page.
(Return to Top)
1.5 What video formats does Beyond Media play?
See the Supported Formats page.
(Return to Top)
1.6 Will I be charged for updates to Beyond Media?
Point updates (e.g 1.1 to 1.2) will be free. New version releases (e.g. 2.x to 3) may require an upgrade fee.
(Return to Top)
1.7 What if I have a question that isn't answered here?
If you didn't find the answer to your question in this FAQ, search the SnapStream Knowledge Base for more information or contact SnapStream technical support. The SnapStream Online Forum is another place to find useful info or peer-to-peer support.
(Return to Top)
Compatibility, Features and Capabilities
2.1 Which operating systems are compatible with Beyond Media?
Microsoft Windows XP Home, XP Professional, Media Center Edition and 2000
(Return to Top)
2.2 Does Beyond Media work with Beyond TV or Beyond TV Link?
Yes, Beyond Media will show an option to launch Beyond TV or Beyond TV Link when it is detected on your computer. There is also a "BTV" skin included with Beyond Media to match the look of Beyond TV.
(Return to Top)
2.3 Will Beyond Media work with my remote control?
Beyond Media works out of the box with the Firefly PC Remote Control. There is support for other remote controls via third party plug-ins.
(Return to Top)
2.4 Can Beyond Media auto-play a DVD or Music CD?
Yes. For instructions on configuring this behavior, see this knowledge base article.
(Return to Top)
2.5 Does the DVD player in Beyond Media support Dolby surround sound, DTS or SPDIF Passthrough?
Beyond Media does have support for these functions. Your hardware, however, must support it as well. For Dolby Surround, your sound card must have 5.1 or 7.1 output and you must have the speakers properly hooked to it. For SPDIF using Dolby Digital, your sound card must support either Coaxial or
Optical passthrough output and be connected to a receiver that is compatible. For DTS over SPDIF, see the requirements for Dolby Digital. Additionally, your receiver and DVD output must support DTS. Please note that SPDIF is currently experimental (not fully supported) and may not work properly on
all systems.
(Return to Top)
2.6 I've copied new photo or video media onto my computer. How do I use Beyond Media to find this data?
If you copied the information into "My Shared Photos" or "My Shared Video", you should see the files in the Photo or Video Browser. If you have copied the files to a different location, you will need to add a video or photo folder in Beyond Media settings by following the
directions in the Beyond Media help file or in this Knowledge Base article.
(Return to Top)
2.7 How do I view pictures from my camera using Beyond Media?
To view a picture downloaded from a digital camera, the files must first be copied to a directory that Beyond Media has been configured to view. For instructions on configuring Beyond Media to access this directory, see this Knowledge Base article.
(Return to Top)
2.8 How do I add music files (mp3s) into Beyond Media from a CD?
To listen to MP3 Files located on a CD, the files must first be copied to the hard disk. They must also be located in a directory that Beyond Media has been configured to view. For instructions on configuring Beyond Media to access this directory, see this Knowledge Base article.
If you want your music to show in the "Album" and "Artist" Category as well, complete the previous steps for adding the directory, and refer to this Knowledge Base
article.
(Return to Top)
2.9 I have a large number of albums, how do I find a specific song, album, or genre?
Beyond Media supports searching to quickly find items by name. For instructions on searching for songs by name, please see this Knowledge Base article.
(Return to Top)
2.10 What is SnapStream Spotlight?
SnapStream Spotlight is a portal to online content services, such as Napster, Movielink and Live365. Find out more about SnapStream Spotlight.
(Return to Top)
2.11 Can I run Beyond Media on a Macintosh or Linux system?
Beyond Media only runs on the Windows operating systems listed on the System
Requirements Page. There are currently no plans to create a Macintosh or Linux
version.
(Return to Top)
Beyond Media Skins and Plug-Ins
3.1 Are there additional plug-ins that I can load with Beyond Media to extend its functionality?
Yes! Beyond Media has a number of community-developed plug-ins that are easy to install and use. Find out more in the SnapStream Developer's Network located in the Beyond Media Downloads Forum: http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=42
(Return to Top)
3.2 Can I make my own plug-ins for Beyond Media?
Absolutely! Beyond Media is written on top of a rich SDK, allowing third-party developers to create seamlessly integrated plug-ins for non-commercial use. Visit the SnapStream Developer's Network for more information.
(Return to Top)
3.3 How do I create a skin for Beyond Media?
For small changes, you can edit the settings or graphics of one of the existing skins located at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SnapStream\Beyond Media\Skins on your local computer. For more documentation on this or on how to write more complex skins, visit the SnapStream Developer's Network.
(Return to Top)
Miscellaneous
4.1 Where does Beyond Media get its weather information?
Beyond Media uses weather.com to provide current weather information from cities around the world.
(Return to Top)
4.2 Where does Beyond Media get its album and artist information?
Beyond Media retrieves album information from your Windows Media Player library. Files tagged with ID3 information will be imported into the library with all of the available information.
(Return to Top)
4.3 Where does Beyond Media get its album art?
Beyond Media attempts to load album art, in order, from the following three places:
- Your Windows Media Player Library
- From embedded album art stored in the ID3 tag of the media file
- From an image named "folder.jpg" inside of the directory where the music is stored
(Return to Top) | 
