A couple of observations on Version 7.
I like:
- Ability to arranging VIP services tab. I can put my favorites first. Having the All-In-One, there are many that I don’t use, and I can move them to the end. (Yes, I know i can also add/arrange my “favorite” VIP services on the home tab.)
- Clear History on the Home Tab also give you option to also delete your temp folder.
- Downloaded Tab has “Clear All” button
- Link to the Dvdfab forum inside the app, although it stays in StreamFab rather than external browser.
- You can collapse the left side bar, if you know what the icons are as there is no hover help.
- Install process it the same. The same options are present when you select Custom Install including the ability to install in a different folder, and opt out of joining the customer experience program, putting an icon on the desktop or starting StreamFab when the install is complete.
- Every service I was downloading from before still works!!
Dislikes:
- Fonts are too small. My two monitors are 2560×1080 and 1920×1080. Windows scale is set 100%. Everything else looks great, but in StreamFab the fonts, twisties, delete icons, and such through out the app are just too small. I don’t want to change the scale in Windows as it would make everything too big in all my other apps.
- I don’t like swapping the episode list and settings on the download dialog boxes. Episodes with longer names get cut off. Sure I can see the episode number and most of the name, so its really not as necessary to see the whole thing, but it still bothers me.
- Telling me I have 53/59 products, and offering the upgrade under My Account. I really hope that goes away eventually. I mean if I wanted to get those remaining services (PORN and not available in my country) I would have.
- Link to DVDFab Products on the left side bar. I don’t recall that being there in 6.x versions, if it was, I missed it. I don’t know if its necessary.
- Paramount+ is still stuck at lower rez downloads. I understand DRM is tricky to crack, but its been a while since this was limited. (workaround is subscribing to P+ via Amazon Prime Channels and downloading from there at up to 1080p).
Mixed:
- SKIN or Color schemes. White just seems white and there is no outline around the window. So if I have Windows file manager open in the background (so white behind SF), I can’t see SF’s lower right corner to drag the window bigger. When in White, or Black, the Common settings box that pops up blends with the main SF window behind it.
- Downloads screen having a Downloading tab and an Downloaded Tab. I kind of like having them separate, and on the left hand side bar to click, I’m going to have to get used to how it is now, and hope that I don’t mix them up. Ok Downloaded has “clear all” button and Downloading has Start All, Pause All, Delete all.
- Overall, at least for Amazon, Peacock, Fandango at Home, Disney+, its performing the same as version 6.x did. This is good and bad. I mean I would love it to be faster, but at least its not slower.
- No new services added. I understand DRM is tricky to crack, and they can’t add a new service until they can crack the DRM that site uses. I only list this one because I know some were hoping to see new services added in v7.
I will say that over all, I’m pleased with the update, especially with everything working. Overtime maybe I’ll learn to live with or even like the things on my current “dislike” list.
All that said though, from a user’s perspective, this feels like it could have been still a 6.x release, rather than 7.x. but I can’t see the “under the hood” changes to bring these new features, and maybe it will help them add new features going forward.
