Local Files in Music, Video Apps, Etc

At a glance, it looks like there is no way to load local files into the libraries of the Music or Video apps, and that they are only for Microsoft store content. Does this seem to be the case to everyone else? If not...

These apps seem to be pretty useless to someone, like me, who has a large pre-existing music library. Obviously, I can continue using WMP (looks like there were no changes to WMP from Win7?), but just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this. Seems like these apps would be a lot more useful if you could load your pre-existing library along with MS's store content.

I noticed today that local files that you add to your desktop Windows Media Player show up, as a library, in the Metro Music app. So you can, in fact, use your local files in Metro Music.

While this is good, and makes Music infinitely more useful and appealing... I think Microsoft made a bit of a mistake releasing these preview apps to the public without simple features, such as an option to add local files from within the app, instead of having to use a convoluted method like using an entirely different app to add them. Many people, instead of tooling around with the apps, are just going to write them off when they see the basic options they are looking for are not there.

Drybonz said:

Many people, instead of tooling around with the apps, are just going to write them off when they see the basic options they are looking for are not there.

Click to expand...

Pretty much what I did already. Not that I encourage simply writing things off without giving them a chance. I don't use media player and I don't want to buy apps from a store when I can use software I have grown fond of and use daily. They aren't going to gain my support by trying to shove 3rd party software aside and though I don't think that is really the goal with the apps it feels like it is in this preview.

I don't like viewing files in metro. I mean I went to set up a user account picture in PC Settings and it tiles all of the images in my folder in front of me instantly and that included porn. Not what i need my kid walking by and seeing or my wife for that matter. Thank MS!

I had to move the picture to avoid that happening again but it instantly gave me a great incentive not to use any metro parts that preview files by tiling them out like that. You instantly lose any privacy you once had while using a list view inside of a folder. If anyone else looked at your screen they needed to be standing within 3 feet of you and then had to actually read what the files were. Not anymore now anyone in the room with normal vision can easily see exactly what you were doing awesome...

W7 Windows Media Center

Corpsecrank said:

I don't like viewing files in metro. I mean I went to set up a user account picture in PC Settings and it tiles all of the images in my folder in front of me instantly and that included porn. Not what i need my kid walking by and seeing or my wife for that matter. Thank MS!

I had to move the picture to avoid that happening again but it instantly gave me a great incentive not to use any metro parts that preview files by tiling them out like that.

Click to expand...

I had that happen to me, when I used WMC in W7.

I was playing some music and the slideshow started.
I wandered off and when I came back, it was showing porn.

Drybonz said:

I noticed today that local files that you add to your desktop Windows Media Player show up, as a library, in the Metro Music app. So you can, in fact, use your local files in Metro Music.

While this is good, and makes Music infinitely more useful and appealing... I think Microsoft made a bit of a mistake releasing these preview apps to the public without simple features, such as an option to add local files from within the app, instead of having to use a convoluted method like using an entirely different app to add them. Many people, instead of tooling around with the apps, are just going to write them off when they see the basic options they are looking for are not there.

Click to expand...

It takes files from local libraries. Libraries as in sense of classic libraries in Windows 7, the ones you seen on left side of your explorer.

It was based on assumption that everyone would store their pictures/music/videos in my pictures, my music and etc folders. (Assumption which is actually wrong. As many people don't use those folders or libraries)

You can add your custom folder into libraries by dropping your folders into those libraries in the explorer. Or you can actually move your my music/pictures folder by right clicking -> location -> move and choose your custom folder.

To load files from another HDD, partition or folder other than the defaul music one, right click the folder it is contained in and click "include in library" and then click music, refresh the music app and bingo!

Jav said:

It takes files from local libraries. Libraries as in sense of classic libraries in Windows 7, the ones you seen on left side of your explorer.

Click to expand...

Ah ok... apparently when you add local files to WMP it automatically adds them to those libraries then.