RefreshingApps.com

Breaking away from microblogging tools for a moment, the TMF video player AIR app offers up something interesting. Built for MTV networks in the Netherlands the” TMF app”:http://www.tmf.nl/checkthis/player/ is a very well executed, branded video player that fits perfectly with the channels identity.

The application is localised for the Dutch audience only, so not being able to speak Dutch, there were some things that I could not fully understand.

The TMF AIR app has a good footprint on the desktop that manages to fit the content in without appearing cluttered. The panel to the right is your main access to the video content that loads on demand when a selection is made from the menu. Selections include staff choices, previously aired TV shows from TMF and the option to have your own custom playlist. To activate the personal playlists functionality you are required to previously register on the TMF site.

For each video or show that is played the left hand panel displays the number of user comments, popularity rating and the next two shows to air on TMF. These links do open the main TMF site in a new browser window which loads up the video again. I can see why they have linked direct but it does break the nice journey so far and would be ideal if comments could be read in the side panel of the app while watching the video.

The video player itself features clear concise controls and appears to load content very quickly after selection. I found the quality of the video and audio to be first class at the normal size and perfectly adequate in the medium setting.

When playing a video it automatically goes onto the next one in the playlist, nice feature and it doesn’t just stop awaiting user input. You do get shown some short ads in between music videos but I think the balance is acceptable.

You get the choice of three sizes of video playback including fullscreen (letterboxed). I loved the transition between the smallest screen size and the medium. The side panels fold neatly away and the video controls subtly change. Transitioning to fullscreen is just as smooth where the video playback controls are now shown as an overlay when moused over, similar style to that of Vimeo.

At the bottom of the AIR app , is a 3D video carousel that you can scroll through using the navi arrows. This was the first thing that I clicked on when the app started so I was expecting it to launch the video in the player above, not in a new browser window. I like the carousel idea but I think that it draws alot of attention and I’m surely not the only to make that mistake.

Minor UX issues aside, I really liked the whole TMF AIR application and it is up there as one of my current personal favourites. It does a great job of being a stand alone video application

Design eye

Good layout with a nice custom skin looks really professional and polished. The small details make this a great app like the animations on mouse overs and the headers when changing playlists. The buttons are clear and visible and the soft slight drop-shadow around the custom chrome
finished off the appearance. The branding of the app to match the TMF website and onscreen really fits together well. Nice work.

Technical eye

You would hardly recognise the fact that this application has been built using Adobe Flex 3. I’m not sure on the video delivery system, in play here, it could be Flash Media Server, but the results appear to be fast and of good quality.

Performance seems to be less glitchy with video than the AOL Top 100 AIR application previously reviewed.