Haruna media player 1.9 released with many usability, interface & performance enhancements

The latest version of the Haruna media player has been released, introducing a suite of features aimed at improving workflow efficiency and user control. Version 1.9 adds a newly implemented open folder function accessible through multiple entry points: the file menu, hamburger menu, context menu, and keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+O. The update also brings granular control over on-screen display (OSD) preferences, allowing users to customize which actions trigger visual feedback during playback. Additionally, a dedicated transcript panel for subtitle viewing can now be accessed via Ctrl-P or through the subtitles' menu, catering to accessibility needs and content review workflows.

Performance optimizations form another cornerstone of this release, particularly for YouTube stream handling. The developers have restructured how URLs are resolved, reducing concurrent yt-dlp processes from one per URL to a shared pool where only three processes run simultaneously, handling multiple URLs more efficiently. For users managing local media libraries, file metadata is now cached in the database for accelerated loading times, with manual update options available through the playlist context menu. Database settings have also received their own dedicated page, granting users direct access to clear tables when necessary. Playlist management has been streamlined: only the active playlist loads at startup while secondary playlists defer until needed, and extended M3U playlists are now supported with title and duration parsing.

Interface refinements round out the update, including the removal of the compact style option and relocation of the toolbar beneath the tabs. Chapter markers have been simplified to vertical lines, displaying titles and time position in tooltips alongside preview thumbnails. Playlist tab behavior has shifted to respond immediately to middle-click closure rather than requiring sustained button presses. These headline features signal Haruna's continued maturation as a feature-rich media player competing in an increasingly crowded landscape of open-source video solutions.