General Questions:

Does Fathom need to be connected to my player locally, or does it work over the Internet or other network?

Can I transfer media to my player using just Fathom?

Is Fathom limited during any operations?

Fathom doesn't seem to offer a feature I need for my application.

What about updates?

All the screen shots on the Fathom site show Fathom running in OSX, why is that?

I don't have any way to convert my player's video to USB or FireWire. Does Fathom work without preview video?

Licensing and Player Profiles:

I don't get it. Fathom is "free"?

What is a "Player Profile"?

So, Player Profiles only exist for licenses (Fathom-Enabled) players?

Is it illegal for me to share player profiles or license codes?

I created the profile and captured thumbnails for my media on one computer platform, is my player profile compatible with the other?

What happens if I change my hardware configuration, like the IP address?

Technical Issues:

What if my player is running a complex schedule, list sequence, DVC, etc.?

Fathom isn't for me, how do I uninstall it?

How do I install Fathom?

Does Fathom offer serial connection capability?

Does Fathom need to be connected to my player locally, or does it work over the Internet or other network?

As long as you can access the player via TCP-IP you can access and control it with Fathom, and use all of Fathom's features with it. Preview video, and capturing thumbnails from preview video, require that you get video into your computer via USB or Firewire, so long-distance use of those features is probably not an option. Fortunately, we provide other means to integrate custom thumbnails for your players.

Can I transfer media to my player using just Fathom?

Fathom supports batch mode file upload and download. It is the only tool you need to manage your player's media content. You can transfer and retrieve media, and other files, right from within the Fathom interface.

Is Fathom limited during any operations?

All of Fathom's functions are available all the time, and simultaneously. You can be monitoring video, uploading new media, manually operating a show, designing a playlist, and doing command-line functions - all at the same time. Auto-capture of thumbnails for your clips is the only mode that grabs full control of Fathom in order to rapidly capture the Thumbnails (roughly 2.5 seconds per media clip) and even then, operations like file uploads can still be in-progress.

Fathom doesn't seem to offer a feature I need for my application.

Fathom is designed to offer the basic operations all users need when working with digital media player devices. Fathom's command-line functionality can extend it to support additional special purpose features. And lastly, Fathom is designed to be extensible - we'll be adding new functionality in the form of extensions to the base system, as well as (optional) plug in modules.

What about updates?

The base Fathom system is a cross-platform Mac OSX and Windows download. Updates to the base system will be made available through the Fathom web site. Since the Fathom software is a free download, keeping up-to-date is just a matter of getting the latest version. We'll inform registered users of updates by e-mail and through the Fathom forum. Future versions of Fathom will either support existing Player profiles, or offer to update them automatically.

All the screen shots on the Fathom site show Fathom running in OSX, why is that?

For one thing, Fathom is designed and engineered on OSX. For another, we think the screen shots from the OSX version look nicer. However, the two versions are functionally the same, and offer the same feature set.

I don't have any way to convert my player's video to USB or FireWire. Does Fathom work without preview video?

Absolutely. The primary reason for preview video is to support capturing of thumbnails for your media clips. Without video support, Fathom uses a default thumbnail for your media - but, we also offer the ability to import any JPG file, or to do a selection-based screencap function, right within Fathom, to acquire thumbnails for your clips.

I don't get it. Fathom is "free"?

Basically, yes. Fathom is a free download, and works with limited functionality on any compatible player - even if the player has not been registered or "Fathom Enabled." Limited functionality basically means that you have support of the command-line functions. You also have the ability to test the preview video functions to determine if they are compatible with your system. You can put the Fathom software, and player profiles on as many computer systems as you need to.

What is a "Player Profile"?

Once you purchase a license for your player from our web store, we supply you with an unlock code for your player. Each player to be Fathom-Enabled needs its own license and unlock code. When the player is connected to Fathom, and the unlock code is entered (you can cut-and-paste it from the e-mail we send) Fathom generates a "Player Profile" for that player, and stores it in the Player Profiles folder alongside the Fathom application. The Player Profile file is a special type of file which serves multiple purposes. For one thing, it identifies your player as licensed and Fathom-Enabled, but it does more than that. It also stores all of the player connection information Fathom needs to connect to the player with one-click ease, and it stores a catalogue of the media on the player, and any thumbnails you have captured or imported for that media. This means that with one click, you can bring Fathom online with the Player, load its cached thumbnails, and be productive right away.

So, Player Profiles only exist for licenses (Fathom-Enabled) players?

That is correct. You must license a specific player in order for Fathom to create its profile.

Is it illegal for me to share player profiles or license codes?

Absolutely not. Once a player is licensed, you may share the unlock code or a complete profile for that player with whomever you wish. Since Fathom is also a free download, you can put copies of Fathom, and the profiles for your players on every computer you have. Rental companies and the like can even publish unlock codes for their players to their web sites if that is desirable. One simple way to share your profiles is to copy the entire Fathom Folder, which also contains the profiles folder, to another computer. Then, open that on the other computer and run Fathom. Note that this process is platform specific. The Windows version of Fathom will not run on OSX, and vise-versa.

I created the profile and captured thumbnails for my media on one computer platform, is my player profile compatible with the other?

Of course! Just send the player profile to your associate using the other computer platform, and they'll be able to use it to connect to your player, and take full advantage of the cached thumbnails you've made.

What happens if I change my hardware configuration, like the IP address?

Fathom has a very capable profile editor, which allows you to change all the connection information for your player, as well as review the media catalogue, and even import replacement thumbnails for your clips. Alternately, you can connect to the player as if it were a new player, and reenter the unlock codes for that player, which will generate a new up-to-date profile.

What if my player is running a complex schedule, list sequence, DVC, etc.?

For most purposes, Fathom is designed to transparently connect to a player unit. Basic connection and monitoring does not modify anything about the player or its internal instructions, as long as you don't put Fathom into a "Local Automation" mode. This means that you can capture thumbnails, upload and download media, and do command-line operations without interrupting whatever else the player is doing. Logging on (and off) for these operations is transparent to the rest of the player's activities.

Fathom isn't for me, how do I uninstall it?

Throw away the Fathom folder. Fathom does not modify any system settings or install any drivers on either Mac or Windows. It currently doesn't even write any preferences to your system outside of its own folders.

How do I install Fathom?

Fathom is delivered as a disk image on Mac, and as a self-extracting ZIP file on Windows. It can be run from anywhere on your system, though we recommend putting its entire folder structure within your applications folder. Fathom is ready to run once it is placed on your drive, and does not require a reboot of the system (even on Windows! ;-)

Does Fathom offer serial connection capability?

The new Adtec configuration module supports serial connections (on both Mac OSX and Windows) for the purpose of setting up the hardware configuration of an Adtec player. This free plug in is included in the base Fathom download, and is found under the "System Options" menu selector - Plug ins. It is fully functional on both registered and unregistered players, though if you don't have at least one player profile (registered player) there is a delay after launching the plug in before it is ready for use. With just one registered player, the plug in launches and is ready to use instantly - on all of your players. Configuring an Adtec player has never been so easy.

Fathom itself does not function serially at this time, though. If this is important to you, let us know.