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  • Plz do not kill DLNA , think about adding SMB!

As a DeoVR product owner DLNA is my major concern.

We get multiple support requests that DLNA is not working properly that often follows with negative app reviews. In most cases we are not able to replicate any such issue. Because we rely on unique setup of each user so badly we are not able to make it work for everyone even if we would go for it.

Every day DLNA generates us support requests and negative reviews we are not able to address. We are experiencing a terrible staff shortage that makes it stressful for everyone and it only gets worse over time.

I feel all the frustration and I would like to keep the feature if there would be a chance for it. Please understand it's not sustainable for us any longer.

    Rakly3 It's just like using SLR site with DeoVR. Not a web-browser.

    How?

    Unless I'm missing something, you would still need to use the built-in browser to browse a web page. That is clunky compared to the current DLNA experience. You can only get the nicer SLR-style native interface if your HTTP server hosts a JSON file using DeoVR's custom manifest format, which almost no software supports.

    That means a customer, who just wants to watch their porn, is forced set up a HTTP server and to write software to build a JSON file with the correct content and DeoVR format. I don't understand how you think this is an adequate replacement for DLNA which is simple to set up, supported by plenty of 3rd party software and just works.

    Rakly3 It's not like downloads have been taken away. With 30 downloads per 72h you can still download more than the whole library of any other studio. it's roughly 900 downloads per month. If we put no limit on the downloads, we'd be bankrupt. People whom download a lot is a net loss on income. Massive bandwidth costs with next to no income. Having subscriptions is how all streaming platforms work as otherwise they couldn't exist.

    Going forward, are downloads going to remain even for newly released scenes? With streaming being pushed so heavily there is a legitimate concern that things will become streaming only. Any clarification here would be appreciated.

    It's totally reasonable for SLR to have the download limit to prevent abuse by the minority who go crazy with downloads and I have no problem with that.

    BTW, I'm not yelling or fighting with you guys, just trying to explain.

    The problem is that no one from SLR has given any satisfactory justification for why a perfectly good feature, that many users are dependent on, is going to be removed from the app. Can you please explain? EDIT: Nevermind, Aesthetics explained

          Aesthetics Instead of taking the drastic step of removing DLNA, why don't you reduce the number of ways that people can shoot themselves in the foot?

          At the moment everyone is rolling their own DLNA solution using different approaches, different software, different configuration. Add on top of that the fact that many people don't understand anything about this stuff or how to troubleshoot issues and it's a recipe the trouble.

          To fix this you could publish a DLNA setup guide that explains one or two proven, reliable, supported ways to set it up (e.g. Windows and a Mac version with step by step instructions and images). Even better if it's accessible from within the app so that people can immediately find help when they encounter difficulty.

          Makes no sense to drastically reduce the usefulness of your app and enrage many otherwise happy users over something like this.

            Rakly3

            We spend $$$ on ultra high definition too! This isnt an issue in netflix because the content is story driven rather than "realism" driven. You are a different product.

            If you disable downloads, we simply will never get the opportunity to view videos at those levels of clarity because streaming (for me anyway) doesnt support that kind of bandwidth

            You might as well save some money recording the videos in the first place and make them shit quality

              spacepirate

              spacepirate The problem is that no one from SLR has given any satisfactory justification for why a perfectly good feature, that many users are dependent on, is going to be removed from the app. Can you please explain? EDIT: Nevermind, Aesthetics explained

              It has been explained a few posts earlier - SLR wants to avoid someone getting a one month membership, downloading everything, and then never paying another monthly fee. I can see why they are trying to stop "potential revenue" leakage. But by the same token SLR should also quickly phase out lifetime or yearly membership, because those also allow customers to avoid the expensive monthly renewals which are obviously so critical to SLR cash flow

              Alternatively, if you think downloads are acceptable with a yearly or lifetime subscription, but not with a monthly subscrption - why not simply change the monthly subscription so it doesnt allow downloads?

                    Rakly3 Might be worth considering a stickied walkthrough of how to set up and use HTML for network streaming rather than DLNA. I'm not experienced with HTML, but if it does indeed allow for the same level of functionality/etc. as DLNA, sounds like most dudes are not aware of it being an exchangeable option and would probably benefit from a guide of some sort.

                        Rob5en Specially when there is no other player who supports 200 degi vids if im correct.

                        Try HeresphereVR (via Steam VR). There is no native Oculus version available yet but you can at least try the PC version with sideloading in Steam VR. The developer said he will focus on the Oculus version once "the pc version is in a good spot".

                        HeresphereVR is even in early access much, much better than DeoVR already and yes, it supports fisheye videos, it's actually one of the reasons why it was developed in the first place. Newcomers might be a bit overwhelmed with the amount of options HeresphereVR offers but even in the "standard" mode it offers a smoother experience than DeoVR - and even a better picture (sharpness/colors/etc). It's also not a corporate product but a work of passion by a very dedicated and community-friendly developer who always tries to innovate and to include requested features.

                        I think once HeresphereVR gets a full native Oculus version DeoVR will be pretty dead, at least for the dedicated fanbase (to which I count probably 99% of the people in this thread).

                            LordCrash The developer said he will focus on the Oculus version once "the pc version is in a good spot".

                            I keep hearing this I truly hope so Heresphere looks amazing and is something the Q2 needs badly

                              doublevr

                              Sorry if I was mis-stating your core intention; I was basing my mail on this quote from @Rakly3

                              be fair, streaming only platforms are today among the biggest companies in the tech industry. Most people can name you 5 or more off the top of their head without googling. - Our usage numbers also confirm there is a lot more streaming than downloading on SLR. And of the ppl whom download, it are largly people whom download as much they can for as little spending they can. - We have to pay quite a lot of money for downloads with little to no return.

                                  midorijin I've had trouble getting XBVR to work before, but if it ends up being the only option...

                                  Rakly3 If this does work just as well--even if there's a worse interface--then this is mostly a messaging issue. I understand @Aesthetics concerns with having it be a "feature" of DeoVR while an HTTP deal would just take advantage of the browser functionalities. Effectively it would be changing a company-supported feature into a user-devised workaround which people can't exactly expect support for. A smart move if it's effectively equivalent, to be sure.

                                  Also, a note on download vs. streaming statistics--are you able to measure usage of DeoVR to play downloaded content, or are you just measuring download traffic vs. streaming traffic. For a great many reasons the latter could be extremely misleading. The fact that one download equals every instance of streaming from one person. That many people are using DeoVR to stream videos and scripts from other providers (which I know doesn't seem to directly impact your bottom line, but it kinda functions as a loss leader; this is why I'm here, and my DLNA device contains only a small handful of scenes available on SLR vs. many that aren't). That a great many people start streaming, and even manage to stream for a certain period of time, before network performance dips and they switch to whatever videos are on their DLNA.

                                  1 major question and 1 major suggestion

                                  Question: Would script functionality still work with the HTML method? I assume so just based on how the various pieces interact, but this is basically a deal breaker for me and likely many others. I don't use the service without scripts, and if I have to choose between Oculus Linking to run Heresphere and SLR, well, I'll probably go with the one that works more consistently, and that's probably gonna be the Link for obvious reasons.

                                  Suggestion: If you truly believe that the HTML method will be an effective replacement, this whole shitstorm can be quelled pretty quickly. SLR would really be well-advised to lead with this information before talking about removing DLNA again, and probably make some kind of larger, more detailed statement on the forums where it's been brought up (here, Reddit, and Eroscripts at least). The reaction should make it clear that, while this may seem an obvious alternative to folks who are well-versed in the streaming business, to 99% of your customers this announcement basically reads "You won't be able to use scripts anymore except through streaming SLR." I get that for liability reasons you can't give specific instructions/recommendations, but pointing people in a general direction would probably be enough. Something as simle as "For those who are concerned that they will no longer be able to enjoy SLR's content without DLNA, don't worry! Resourceful SLR users can tell you all about HTML servers on the forums!" Maybe with a link to whatever informative topic someone will inevitably write on the subject. We can go figure out how to make it work on our own, we just have to know there's something to search for in the first place.

                                  Very much hopeful that this is more just a communications issue than a majorly anti-consumer move. SLR is a service I would like to stay subscribed to. I almost went lifetime last year but ran into issues with the processor saying the end date was a problem or something and gave up.

                                        SinSinCos Setting up the app, depending on the system on which it is installed, can indeed be a bit complex without a minimum of knowledge, but once set up, it is pure pleasure to use.
                                        The only real drawback is that sites change their architecture from time to time and the app has to be updated (which can sometimes be time consuming).
                                        But in the absolute, the app allows you to completely free yourself from dlna and smb and allows you to make your own local streaming server (or even online if you have a good internet connection and you configure the thing).

                                        For questions, there is the xbvr discord which helps.

                                          catflap i would be really happy if @Rakly3 would not engage into this sort of debate or at least mark these as his personal opinion. That does not represent SLR view on things.

                                              catflap All good. There's some confusion about that. Not sure what's the best way to address it.

                                              Normally I'm as official voice as it gets (often coming with unpopular opinions yet often proves to be the right ones)

                                                  doublevr often coming with unpopular opinions yet often proves to be the right ones

                                                  lol, I know the feeling ... on my worst days... 😉