Quoting GSyren:

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Quoting nanoron:

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Does Lowpro's comment  "My Movies v5 and higher went to a mandatory sync model" mean they store your database online instead of locally? If so, what's wrong with that?

It means that one would be totally at the mercy of MyMovies online database being available. There would be no way to use the program at all if it went offline.

Well, you could still view your local database within the Collection Management application.  That hardly qualifies as using the program though, right.  And to preface my earlier comment, you can make certain edits to a given profile while offline (or when the online service is offline).  I expand on this and other things in more detail below for those curious.

First some backstory.  In my case I use My Movies v4.07 as it was the last version offered prior to them moving to the mandatory sync model.  I do so strictly for the ability to browse my disc based collection from My Movies for Windows Media Center which runs on my HTPC 24/7, the GUI calling out the disc locations for a given title. (See my Blu-ray.com forum post here for more details on how I've integrated My Movies with my current home theater setup.)  My Movies v4.07 is still available to download, but requires a manual step be taken relating to SQL in order to get the application to install successfully. (See Steps 5-9 from my My Movies forum post, here.)

My Movies v4.07 is fully functionality when used offline minus features which require the application connect to the online service.  All local title data and related personal data can be edited and saved successfully.  New titles can be added using the "Add Offline" option.  You're prompted to enter a UPC/EAN Barcode (which is optional) and a title name.  The title is quickly added after which you manually enter all the title data, personal data, and cover art. (I copy and paste the profile data and cover art over from DVD Profiler.)  The "Add Online" option with My Movies 4.07 no longer works as support for My Movies v4 has been deprecated.  The "Add Online" option is used to download shared profiles from the online service rather than creating them from scratch.

The "Actors" and "Crew" data can be added manually.  You can also pull that data down from IMDB instead if you want.  The current IMDB search option when accessed automatically attempts to perform a IMDB search by title name.  This currently fails as their DLL needs to be updated due to changes made to IMDB's website. (This is also the case for My Movies v5.41 as I carry over the latest DLL for use with My Movies v4.07.)  The IMDB "search by title" has been broke for a few years now.  That being said, once the "search by title" fails you can then perform your own search by IMDB ID instead.  Search by IMDB ID continues to work without issue.

Now I'll shift gears to My Movies v5.41 (Pre Release 5).  Well, before I do there is one major caveat I should mention.  When launching the application (..all versions of My Movies) after a fresh install you're required to log in to your My Movies account.  If the My Movies website is offline you won't be able to log in obviously.  Additionally, the application creates the initial local database (which contains no titles) when you log in for the first time.  The local database can't be created manually.  Well it can be, but the Collection Management application won't recognize it.  It needs to create the database after which you can then restore your database if you had backed it up previously.

Now you won't have to log in to your account after logging in the initial time.  Subsequent launches of the application won't require you log in and don't check to see if the account you logged in to previously is valid.  So that's a saving grace, but what if My Movies closes its doors.  The day that happens I'll continue to be able to use My Movies v4.07 without issue so long as I don't need to log in to my account again, i.e. when installing the application fresh. My Movies v5 users on the other hand will be dead in the water due to the mandatory sync model.  I cover My Movies v5 in more detail below, several examples provided of what it's like to work with "Disc Titles" while offline.  And keep in mind, there is a local database.  It just doesn't belong to you evidently.  Well, short of it being tied at the hip to the online service.

So I'm running My Movies v5, the online service being offline at the moment let's say.  When attempting to add a title what happens?  Sadly nothing happens due to the mandatory sync model.  If the application can't sync successfully the "Add Titles" window won't be displayed.  How about deleting a title?  No, no, no.  When attempting to delete a title the message, "Error Deleting Title (The title could not be deleted. There as a problem deleting the title in the online service.)" is displayed.  Okay, so for now perhaps I'll just work on some existing titles editing the personal data for a few of them, then locking the title data and cover art down.  No can do, the mandatory sync model once again raises its ugly head.  When attempting to save your changes the message, "Store Problem (There was a problem storing changes to the personal data for this title)" is displayed.  On a brighter note, editing title data and cover art, then saving your changes is possible while offline but again, while offline you're limited to working with existing titles.

And one final note regarding the mandatory sync model, just because the online service is available doesn't mean you may not still have problems with the application syncing.  Since the introduction of My Movies 5 to present I've seen numerous posts in the My Movies forums, users requesting support due to the application failing to sync successfully, cases where the online service was available at the time.  In several cases My Movies support would correct something on their end specific to the user's account and online data resolving the issue.  In other cases they'd explain that the online service was having issues.  The issue could also be local the user.  Now that's my idea of fun!  To each his own naturally.