diff --git a/dashboard-ui/css/images/favicon.ico b/dashboard-ui/css/images/favicon.ico
index 0a4f2b8e26..4d7e2ff432 100644
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diff --git a/dashboard-ui/css/images/iossplash.png b/dashboard-ui/css/images/iossplash.png
index fd625265ca..bd82c45e03 100644
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diff --git a/dashboard-ui/css/images/logo536.png b/dashboard-ui/css/images/logo536.png
index 696b959afd..695d1b991b 100644
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diff --git a/dashboard-ui/css/images/mblogoicon.png b/dashboard-ui/css/images/mblogoicon.png
index 40d150174b..4f3a92d5f7 100644
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diff --git a/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon.png b/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon.png
index 7774a48342..d582ae2615 100644
Binary files a/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon.png and b/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon.png differ
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon114.png b/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon114.png
index 2c58b4b114..86fa84aeda 100644
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diff --git a/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon144.png b/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon144.png
index 786c53857e..dac3348e20 100644
Binary files a/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon144.png and b/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon144.png differ
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon72.png b/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon72.png
index 30953f2cf1..cb673b46f1 100644
Binary files a/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon72.png and b/dashboard-ui/css/images/touchicon72.png differ
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/favicon.ico b/dashboard-ui/favicon.ico
index 4acd8f9219..0abd554f45 100644
Binary files a/dashboard-ui/favicon.ico and b/dashboard-ui/favicon.ico differ
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/mypreferenceswebclient.html b/dashboard-ui/mypreferenceswebclient.html
index 20e6e250d7..c89f135dd1 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/mypreferenceswebclient.html
+++ b/dashboard-ui/mypreferenceswebclient.html
@@ -175,10 +175,8 @@
                         <div>
                             <fieldset data-role="controlgroup">
                                 <legend>${LabelExternalPlayers}</legend>
-                                <!--<input type="checkbox" id="chkGoodplayer" class="chkExternalPlayer" data-name="GoodPlayer" data-scheme="goodplayer://{0}" />
-                                    <label for="chkGoodplayer">GoodPlayer</label>-->
-                                <input type="checkbox" id="chkVlc" class="chkExternalPlayer" data-name="Vlc" data-scheme="vlc://{0}" />
-                                <label for="chkVlc">Vlc</label>
+                                <input type="checkbox" id="chkExternalVideoPlayer" />
+                                <label for="chkExternalVideoPlayer">${OptionEnableExternalVideoPlayers}</label>
                             </fieldset>
                             <div style="padding: 0 2px;">${LabelExternalPlayersHelp}</div>
                         </div>
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/chromecast.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/chromecast.js
index 09d3e09ffd..b7e694b9b0 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/chromecast.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/chromecast.js
@@ -809,11 +809,9 @@
         });
     }
 
-    if ($.browser.chrome) {
-        requirejs(["thirdparty/cast_sender"], function () {
+    requirejs(["thirdparty/cast_sender"], function () {
 
-            initializeChromecast();
-        });
-    }
+        initializeChromecast();
+    });
 
 })(window, window.chrome, console);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/dashboardpage.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/dashboardpage.js
index 6b9026c470..dddcee9ce1 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/dashboardpage.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/dashboardpage.js
@@ -1012,8 +1012,7 @@
     }
 };
 
-$(document).on('pagebeforeshowready', "#dashboardPage", DashboardPage.onPageShow)
-    .on('pagehide', "#dashboardPage", DashboardPage.onPageHide);
+$(document).on('pageshowready', "#dashboardPage", DashboardPage.onPageShow).on('pagehide', "#dashboardPage", DashboardPage.onPageHide);
 
 (function ($, document, window) {
 
@@ -1308,7 +1307,7 @@ $(document).on('pagebeforeshowready', "#dashboardPage", DashboardPage.onPageShow
             result.CustomPrefs[welcomeTourKey] = welcomeDismissValue;
             ApiClient.updateDisplayPreferences('dashboard', result, userId, 'dashboard');
 
-            $(page).off('pagebeforeshow.checktour');
+            $(page).off('.checktour');
         });
     }
 
@@ -1373,7 +1372,7 @@ $(document).on('pagebeforeshowready', "#dashboardPage", DashboardPage.onPageShow
             takeTour(page, Dashboard.getCurrentUserId());
         });
 
-    }).on('pagebeforeshowready.checktour', "#dashboardPage", function () {
+    }).on('pageshowready.checktour', "#dashboardPage", function () {
 
         var page = this;
 
@@ -1389,7 +1388,7 @@ $(document).on('pagebeforeshowready', "#dashboardPage", DashboardPage.onPageShow
 
 (function () {
 
-    $(document).on('pagebeforeshowready', ".type-interior", function () {
+    $(document).on('pageshowready', ".type-interior", function () {
 
         var page = this;
 
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/externalplayer.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/externalplayer.js
index cffa8bbe10..6e255f6315 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/externalplayer.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/externalplayer.js
@@ -1,315 +1,301 @@
 (function (window, store) {
 
-    function getExternalPlayers() {
-        return JSON.parse(store.getItem('externalplayers') || '[]');
-    }
+    function getDeviceProfile(serverAddress, deviceId, item, startPositionTicks, maxBitrate, mediaSourceId, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex) {
 
-    function getUrl(player, item) {
+        var bitrateSetting = AppSettings.maxStreamingBitrate();
 
-        return 'vlc://http://www.google.com';
+        var profile = {};
 
-    }
+        profile.MaxStreamingBitrate = bitrateSetting;
+        profile.MaxStaticBitrate = 40000000;
+        profile.MusicStreamingTranscodingBitrate = Math.min(bitrateSetting, 192000);
 
-    function getCodecLimits(maxBitrate) {
+        profile.DirectPlayProfiles = [];
 
-        var maxWidth;
+        profile.DirectPlayProfiles.push({
+            Container: 'mkv,mov,mp4,m4v,wmv',
+            Type: 'Video'
+        });
 
-        if (maxBitrate <= 1000000) {
-            maxWidth = 720;
-        }
-        else if (maxBitrate <= 5000000) {
-            maxWidth = 1280;
-        } else {
-            maxWidth = 1280;
-        }
+        profile.DirectPlayProfiles.push({
+            Container: 'aac,mp3,flac,wma',
+            Type: 'Audio'
+        });
 
-        return {
+        profile.TranscodingProfiles = [];
 
-            maxVideoAudioChannels: 6,
-            maxAudioChannels: 2,
-            maxVideoLevel: 50,
-            maxWidth: maxWidth,
-            maxSampleRate: 48000
+        profile.TranscodingProfiles.push({
+            Container: 'ts',
+            Type: 'Video',
+            AudioCodec: 'aac',
+            VideoCodec: 'h264',
+            Context: 'Streaming',
+            Protocol: 'hls'
+        });
 
-        };
-    }
+        profile.TranscodingProfiles.push({
+            Container: 'aac',
+            Type: 'Audio',
+            AudioCodec: 'aac',
+            Context: 'Streaming',
+            Protocol: 'hls'
+        });
 
-    function canDirectStream(mediaType, mediaSource, maxBitrate) {
+        profile.ContainerProfiles = [];
 
-        // If bitrate is unknown don't direct stream
-        if (!mediaSource.Bitrate || mediaSource.Bitrate > maxBitrate) {
-            return false;
-        }
+        var audioConditions = [];
 
-        var codecLimits = getCodecLimits(maxBitrate);
+        var maxAudioChannels = '6';
 
-        if (mediaType == "Audio") {
+        audioConditions.push({
+            Condition: 'LessThanEqual',
+            Property: 'AudioChannels',
+            Value: maxAudioChannels
+        });
 
-            return true;
-        }
-        else if (mediaType == "Video") {
+        profile.CodecProfiles = [];
+        profile.CodecProfiles.push({
+            Type: 'Audio',
+            Conditions: audioConditions
+        });
 
-            var videoStream = mediaSource.MediaStreams.filter(function (s) {
+        profile.CodecProfiles.push({
+            Type: 'VideoAudio',
+            Codec: 'mp3',
+            Conditions: [{
+                Condition: 'LessThanEqual',
+                Property: 'AudioChannels',
+                Value: maxAudioChannels
+            }]
+        });
 
-                return s.Type == 'Video';
-
-            })[0];
-
-            if (!videoStream) {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (videoStream.Width && videoStream.Width > codecLimits.maxWidth) {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (mediaSource.VideoType != 'VideoFile') {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            return mediaSource.Protocol == 'File';
-        }
-
-        throw new Error('Unrecognized MediaType');
-    }
-
-    function canPlayAudioStreamDirect(audioStream, isVideo, maxBitrate) {
-
-        var audioCodec = (audioStream.Codec || '').toLowerCase().replace('-', '');
-
-        if (audioCodec.indexOf('aac') == -1 &&
-            audioCodec.indexOf('mp3') == -1 &&
-            audioCodec.indexOf('mpeg') == -1) {
-
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        var codecLimits = getCodecLimits(maxBitrate);
-
-        var maxChannels = isVideo ? codecLimits.maxVideoAudioChannels : codecLimits.maxAudioChannels;
-
-        if (!audioStream.Channels || audioStream.Channels > maxChannels) {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        if (!audioStream.SampleRate || audioStream.SampleRate > codecLimits.maxSampleRate) {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        var bitrate = audioStream.BitRate;
-        if (!bitrate) {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        if (isVideo) {
-
-            if (audioCodec.indexOf('aac') != -1 && bitrate > 768000) {
-                return false;
-            }
-            if (audioCodec.indexOf('mp3') != -1 || audioCodec.indexOf('mpeg') != -1) {
-                if (bitrate > 320000) {
-                    return false;
+        profile.CodecProfiles.push({
+            Type: 'VideoAudio',
+            Codec: 'aac',
+            Conditions: [
+                {
+                    Condition: 'LessThanEqual',
+                    Property: 'AudioChannels',
+                    Value: maxAudioChannels
                 }
-            }
+            ]
+        });
 
-        } else {
-            if (bitrate > 320000) {
-                return false;
-            }
+        profile.CodecProfiles.push({
+            Type: 'Video',
+            Codec: 'h264',
+            Conditions: [
+            {
+                Condition: 'EqualsAny',
+                Property: 'VideoProfile',
+                Value: 'high|main|baseline|constrained baseline'
+            },
+            {
+                Condition: 'LessThanEqual',
+                Property: 'VideoLevel',
+                Value: '41'
+            }]
+        });
+
+        // Subtitle profiles
+        profile.SubtitleProfiles = [];
+        profile.ResponseProfiles = [];
+
+        return profile;
+    }
+
+    function validatePlaybackInfoResult(result) {
+
+        if (result.ErrorCode) {
+
+            MediaController.showPlaybackInfoErrorMessage(result.ErrorCode);
+            return false;
         }
 
         return true;
     }
 
-    function isSupportedCodec(mediaType, mediaSource) {
+    function getOptimalMediaSource(mediaType, versions) {
 
-        if (mediaType == "Audio") {
-            return false;
-        }
-        else if (mediaType == "Video") {
+        var optimalVersion = versions.filter(function (v) {
 
-            return mediaSource.MediaStreams.filter(function (m) {
+            v.enableDirectPlay = MediaController.supportsDirectPlay(v);
 
-                return m.Type == "Video" && (m.Codec || '').toLowerCase() == 'h264';
+            return v.enableDirectPlay;
 
-            }).length > 0;
+        })[0];
+
+        if (!optimalVersion) {
+            optimalVersion = versions.filter(function (v) {
+
+                return v.SupportsDirectStream;
+
+            })[0];
         }
 
-        throw new Error('Unrecognized MediaType');
-    }
-
-    function getStreamByIndex(streams, type, index) {
-        return streams.filter(function (s) {
-
-            return s.Type == type && s.Index == index;
-
+        return optimalVersion || versions.filter(function (s) {
+            return s.SupportsTranscoding;
         })[0];
     }
 
-    function getMediaSourceInfo(item, maxBitrate, mediaSourceId, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex) {
+    var currentMediaSource;
+    var currentItem;
+    var basePlayerState;
+    var progressInterval;
 
-        var sources = item.MediaSources.filter(function (m) {
+    function getVideoStreamInfo(item) {
 
-            m.audioStream = mediaSourceId == m.Id && audioStreamIndex != null ?
-                getStreamByIndex(m.MediaStreams, 'Audio', audioStreamIndex) :
-                getStreamByIndex(m.MediaStreams, 'Audio', m.DefaultAudioStreamIndex);
+        var deferred = $.Deferred();
+        Dashboard.showModalLoadingMsg();
 
-            if (item.MediaType == "Audio" && !m.audioStream) {
-                m.audioStream = m.MediaStreams.filter(function (s) {
-                    return s.Type == 'Audio';
-                })[0];
+        var deviceProfile = getDeviceProfile();
+        var startPosition = 0;
+
+        MediaController.getPlaybackInfo(item.Id, deviceProfile, startPosition).done(function (playbackInfoResult) {
+
+            if (validatePlaybackInfoResult(playbackInfoResult)) {
+
+                var mediaSource = getOptimalMediaSource(item.MediaType, playbackInfoResult.MediaSources);
+
+                if (mediaSource) {
+
+                    if (mediaSource.RequiresOpening) {
+
+                        MediaController.getLiveStream(item.Id, playbackInfoResult.PlaySessionId, deviceProfile, startPosition, mediaSource, null, null).done(function (openLiveStreamResult) {
+
+                            openLiveStreamResult.MediaSource.enableDirectPlay = MediaController.supportsDirectPlay(openLiveStreamResult.MediaSource);
+
+                            playInternalPostMediaSourceSelection(item, openLiveStreamResult.MediaSource, startPosition, deferred);
+                        });
+
+                    } else {
+                        playInternalPostMediaSourceSelection(item, mediaSource, startPosition, deferred);
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    Dashboard.hideModalLoadingMsg();
+                    MediaController.showPlaybackInfoErrorMessage('NoCompatibleStream');
+                }
             }
 
-            m.subtitleStream = mediaSourceId == m.Id && subtitleStreamIndex != null ?
-                getStreamByIndex(m.MediaStreams, 'Subtitle', subtitleStreamIndex) :
-                getStreamByIndex(m.MediaStreams, 'Subtitle', m.DefaultSubtitleStreamIndex);
-
-            return !mediaSourceId || m.Id == mediaSourceId;
-
         });
 
-        // Find first one that can be direct streamed
-        var source = sources.filter(function (m) {
+        return deferred.promise();
+    }
 
-            var audioStream = m.audioStream;
+    function playInternalPostMediaSourceSelection(item, mediaSource, startPosition, deferred) {
+
+        Dashboard.hideModalLoadingMsg();
+
+        currentItem = item;
+        currentMediaSource = mediaSource;
+
+        basePlayerState = {
+            PlayState: {
 
-            if (!audioStream || !canPlayAudioStreamDirect(audioStream, item.MediaType == 'Video', maxBitrate)) {
-                return false;
             }
-
-            if (m.subtitleStream && m.subtitleStream.IsExternal) {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            return canDirectStream(item.MediaType, m, maxBitrate, audioStream);
-
-        })[0];
-
-        if (source) {
-            return {
-                mediaSource: source,
-                isStatic: true,
-                streamContainer: source.Container
-            };
-        }
-
-        // Find first one with supported codec
-        source = sources.filter(function (m) {
-
-            return isSupportedCodec(item.MediaType, m);
-
-        })[0];
-
-        source = source || sources[0];
-
-        var container = item.MediaType == 'Audio' ? 'mp3' : 'm3u8';
-
-        // Default to first one
-        return {
-            mediaSource: source,
-            isStatic: false,
-            streamContainer: container
         };
+
+        var streamInfo = MediaPlayer.createStreamInfo('Video', item, mediaSource, startPosition);
+        var currentSrc = streamInfo.url;
+
+        var audioStreamIndex = getParameterByName('AudioStreamIndex', currentSrc);
+
+        if (audioStreamIndex) {
+            basePlayerState.PlayState.AudioStreamIndex = parseInt(audioStreamIndex);
+        }
+        basePlayerState.PlayState.SubtitleStreamIndex = self.currentSubtitleStreamIndex;
+
+        basePlayerState.PlayState.PlayMethod = getParameterByName('static', currentSrc) == 'true' ?
+            'DirectStream' :
+            'Transcode';
+
+        basePlayerState.PlayState.LiveStreamId = getParameterByName('LiveStreamId', currentSrc);
+        basePlayerState.PlayState.PlaySessionId = getParameterByName('PlaySessionId', currentSrc);
+
+        basePlayerState.PlayState.MediaSourceId = mediaSource.Id;
+        basePlayerState.PlayState.CanSeek = false;
+        basePlayerState.NowPlayingItem = MediaPlayer.getNowPlayingItemForReporting(item, mediaSource);
+
+        deferred.resolveWith(null, [streamInfo]);
     }
 
-    function getStreamInfo(serverAddress, deviceId, item, startPositionTicks, maxBitrate, mediaSourceId, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex) {
+    function getPlayerState(positionTicks) {
 
-        var mediaSourceInfo = getMediaSourceInfo(item, maxBitrate, mediaSourceId, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex);
+        var state = basePlayerState;
 
-        var url = getStreamUrl(serverAddress, deviceId, item.MediaType, item.Id, mediaSourceInfo, startPositionTicks, maxBitrate);
+        state.PlayState.PositionTicks = positionTicks;
 
-        if (mediaSourceInfo.subtitleStream && mediaSourceInfo.subtitleStream.IsExternal) {
-            url += "&SubtitleStreamIndex=" + mediaSourceInfo.Index;
+        return state;
+    }
+
+    function onPlaybackStart() {
+
+        closePlayMenu();
+
+        var state = getPlayerState();
+
+        var info = {
+            ItemId: state.NowPlayingItem.Id,
+            NowPlayingItem: state.NowPlayingItem
+        };
+
+        info = $.extend(info, state.PlayState);
+
+        ApiClient.reportPlaybackStart(info);
+
+        // This is really just a ping to let the server know we're still playing
+        progressInterval = setInterval(function () {
+            onPlaybackProgress(null);
+
+        }, 10000);
+
+        setTimeout(function () {
+
+            showPostPlayMenu(currentItem);
+        }, 500);
+    }
+
+    function onPlaybackProgress(positionTicks) {
+
+        var state = getPlayerState(positionTicks);
+
+        var info = {
+            ItemId: state.NowPlayingItem.Id,
+            NowPlayingItem: state.NowPlayingItem
+        };
+
+        info = $.extend(info, state.PlayState);
+
+        ApiClient.reportPlaybackProgress(info);
+    }
+
+    function onPlaybackStopped(positionTicks) {
+
+        var state = getPlayerState(positionTicks);
+
+        var stopInfo = {
+            itemId: state.NowPlayingItem.Id,
+            mediaSourceId: state.PlayState.MediaSourceId,
+            positionTicks: state.PlayState.PositionTicks
+        };
+
+        if (state.PlayState.LiveStreamId) {
+            stopInfo.LiveStreamId = state.PlayState.LiveStreamId;
         }
 
-        mediaSourceInfo.url = url;
-
-        return mediaSourceInfo;
-    }
-
-    function getStreamUrl(serverAddress, deviceId, mediaType, itemId, mediaSourceInfo, startPositionTicks, maxBitrate) {
-
-        var url;
-
-        var codecLimits = getCodecLimits(maxBitrate);
-
-        if (mediaType == 'Audio') {
-
-            url = serverAddress + '/audio/' + itemId + '/stream.' + mediaSourceInfo.streamContainer;
-
-            url += '?mediasourceid=' + mediaSourceInfo.mediaSource.Id;
-
-            if (mediaSourceInfo.isStatic) {
-                url += '&static=true';
-
-            } else {
-
-                url += '&maxaudiochannels=' + codecLimits.maxAudioChannels;
-
-                if (startPositionTicks) {
-                    url += '&startTimeTicks=' + startPositionTicks.toString();
-                }
-
-                if (maxBitrate) {
-                    url += '&audiobitrate=' + Math.min(maxBitrate, 320000).toString();
-                }
-
-                url += '&deviceId=' + deviceId;
-            }
-
-            return url;
-
-        }
-        else if (mediaType == 'Video') {
-
-            if (mediaSourceInfo.isStatic) {
-                url = serverAddress + '/videos/' + itemId + '/stream.' + mediaSourceInfo.streamContainer + '?static=true';
-            }
-            else {
-                url = serverAddress + '/videos/' + itemId + '/stream.' + mediaSourceInfo.streamContainer + '?static=false';
-            }
-
-            url += '&maxaudiochannels=' + codecLimits.maxVideoAudioChannels;
-
-            if (maxBitrate) {
-
-                var audioRate = 320000;
-                url += '&audiobitrate=' + audioRate.toString();
-                url += '&videobitrate=' + (maxBitrate - audioRate).toString();
-            }
-
-            url += '&profile=high';
-            url += '&level=41';
-
-            url += '&maxwidth=' + codecLimits.maxWidth;
-
-            url += '&videoCodec=h264';
-            url += '&audioCodec=aac';
-
-            url += '&mediasourceid=' + mediaSourceInfo.mediaSource.Id;
-            url += '&deviceId=' + deviceId;
-
-            return url;
+        if (state.PlayState.PlaySessionId) {
+            stopInfo.PlaySessionId = state.PlayState.PlaySessionId;
         }
 
-        throw new Error('Unrecognized MediaType');
+        ApiClient.reportPlaybackStopped(stopInfo);
+
+        if (progressInterval) {
+            clearInterval(progressInterval);
+            progressInterval = null;
+        }
     }
 
-    function getVideoUrl(item) {
-
-        var maxBitrate = AppSettings.maxStreamingBitrate();
-
-        var info = getStreamInfo(ApiClient.serverAddress(), ApiClient.deviceId(), item, null, maxBitrate);
-
-        return info.url;
-    }
-
-    function getPlayerUrl(item, player) {
-
-        return player.scheme.replace('{0}', getVideoUrl(item));
-    }
-
-    function showPostPlayMenu(item, userId) {
+    function showPostPlayMenu(item) {
 
         $('.externalPlayerPostPlayFlyout').popup("close").remove();
 
@@ -379,23 +365,24 @@
 
             $('.externalPlayerPostPlayFlyout').popup("close").remove();
 
-            ApiClient.stopActiveEncodings();
+            var position = 0;
 
             if ($('#radioMarkInProgress', elem).checked()) {
 
                 var pct = $(".playstateSlider", elem).val();
                 var ticks = item.RunTimeTicks * (Number(pct) * .01);
 
-                ApiClient.markPlayed(userId, item.Id, new Date());
+                position = ticks;
             }
             else if (autoMarkWatched || $('#radioMarkWatched', elem).checked()) {
 
-                ApiClient.markPlayed(userId, item.Id, new Date());
+                position = currentMediaSource.RunTimeTicks;
             }
             else if ($('#radioMarkUnwatched', elem).checked()) {
 
-                ApiClient.markUnplayed(userId, item.Id);
+                position = 0;
             }
+            onPlaybackStopped(position);
         });
 
         $(".playstateSlider", elem).on("change", function (e) {
@@ -417,11 +404,11 @@
         $('.externalPlayerFlyout').popup("close").remove();
     }
 
-    function showMenuForItem(item, userId) {
+    function showMenuForItem(item, players) {
 
         closePlayMenu();
 
-        var html = '<div data-role="popup" class="externalPlayerFlyout" data-theme="a">';
+        var html = '<div data-role="popup" class="externalPlayerFlyout" data-theme="a" data-dismissible="false">';
 
         html += '<ul data-role="listview" style="min-width: 200px;">';
         html += '<li data-role="list-divider" style="padding: 1em;text-align:center;">' + Globalize.translate('HeaderSelectExternalPlayer') + '</li>';
@@ -429,9 +416,9 @@
 
         html += '<div style="padding:1em;">';
 
-        html += getExternalPlayers().map(function (p) {
+        html += players.map(function (p) {
 
-            return '<a href="' + getPlayerUrl(item, p) + '" data-role="button" data-icon="play" class="btnExternalPlayer">' + p.name + '</a>';
+            return '<a href="' + p.url + '" data-role="button" data-icon="play" class="btnExternalPlayer" data-theme="b" data-mini="true">' + p.name + '</a>';
 
         }).join('');
 
@@ -449,12 +436,7 @@
 
         $('.btnExternalPlayer', elem).on('click', function () {
 
-            closePlayMenu();
-
-            setTimeout(function () {
-
-                showPostPlayMenu(item, userId);
-            }, 500);
+            ExternalPlayer.onPlaybackStart();
         });
     }
 
@@ -464,18 +446,41 @@
 
         ApiClient.getItem(userId, itemId).done(function (item) {
 
-            setTimeout(function () {
+            getVideoStreamInfo(item).done(function (streamInfo) {
 
-                showMenuForItem(item, userId);
-            }, 500);
+                setTimeout(function () {
+                    ExternalPlayer.showPlayerSelectionMenu(item, streamInfo.url, streamInfo.mimeType);
+                }, 500);
+            });
+        });
+    }
+
+    function getExternalPlayers(url, mimeType) {
+
+        var deferred = $.Deferred();
+
+        var players = [
+            { name: 'Vlc', url: 'vlc://' + url, id: 'vlc' }
+        ];
+        deferred.resolveWith(null, [players]);
+
+        return deferred.promise();
+    }
+
+    function showPlayerSelectionMenu(item, url, mimeType) {
+
+        ExternalPlayer.getExternalPlayers(url, mimeType).done(function (players) {
+            showMenuForItem(item, players);
         });
     }
 
     window.ExternalPlayer = {
 
-        getUrl: getUrl,
+        showMenu: showPlayMenu,
+        onPlaybackStart: onPlaybackStart,
+        onPlaybackStopped: onPlaybackStopped,
         getExternalPlayers: getExternalPlayers,
-        showMenu: showPlayMenu
+        showPlayerSelectionMenu: showPlayerSelectionMenu
     };
 
 })(window, window.appStorage);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/indexpage.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/indexpage.js
index 5a7493c3e4..d6cdad118a 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/indexpage.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/indexpage.js
@@ -177,8 +177,7 @@
                 html += '</div>';
             }
 
-            $(elem).html(html).lazyChildren();
-            $(elem).createCardMenus();
+            $(elem).html(html).lazyChildren().createCardMenus();
         });
     }
 
@@ -213,8 +212,7 @@
                 html += '</div>';
             }
 
-            $(elem).html(html).lazyChildren();
-            $(elem).createCardMenus();
+            $(elem).html(html).lazyChildren().createCardMenus();
         });
     }
 
@@ -316,8 +314,7 @@
                 html += '</div>';
             }
 
-            $(elem).html(html).lazyChildren();
-            $(elem).createCardMenus();
+            $(elem).html(html).lazyChildren().createCardMenus();
         });
     }
 
@@ -406,8 +403,7 @@
             });
             html += '</div>';
 
-            var elem = $('#channel' + channel.Id + '', page).html(html).lazyChildren().trigger('create');
-            $(elem).createCardMenus();
+            $('#channel' + channel.Id + '', page).html(html).lazyChildren().trigger('create').createCardMenus();
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarybrowser.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarybrowser.js
index 7d0377f1c3..6f93e70d02 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarybrowser.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarybrowser.js
@@ -232,13 +232,20 @@
             return html;
         },
 
+        playInExternalPlayer: function(id) {
+            
+             Dashboard.loadExternalPlayer().done(function () {
+                ExternalPlayer.showMenu(id);
+            });
+        },
+
         showPlayMenu: function (positionTo, itemId, itemType, isFolder, mediaType, resumePositionTicks, showAddToPlaylist) {
 
-            var externalPlayers = ExternalPlayer.getExternalPlayers();
+            var externalPlayers = AppSettings.enableExternalPlayers();
 
             if (!resumePositionTicks && mediaType != "Audio" && !isFolder) {
 
-                if (!externalPlayers.length || mediaType != "Video") {
+                if (!externalPlayers || mediaType != "Video") {
                     MediaController.play(itemId);
                     return;
                 }
@@ -253,8 +260,8 @@
 
             html += '<li><a href="#" onclick="MediaController.play(\'' + itemId + '\');LibraryBrowser.closePlayMenu();">' + Globalize.translate('ButtonPlay') + '</a></li>';
 
-            if (!isFolder && externalPlayers.length) {
-                html += '<li><a href="#" onclick="LibraryBrowser.closePlayMenu();ExternalPlayer.showMenu(\'' + itemId + '\');">' + Globalize.translate('ButtonPlayExternalPlayer') + '</a></li>';
+            if (!isFolder && externalPlayers) {
+                html += '<li><a href="#" onclick="LibraryBrowser.closePlayMenu();LibraryBrowser.playInExternalPlayer(\'' + itemId + '\');">' + Globalize.translate('ButtonPlayExternalPlayer') + '</a></li>';
             }
 
             if (resumePositionTicks) {
@@ -1105,7 +1112,7 @@
                 posterWidth = 320;
                 thumbWidth = 320;
             }
-            
+
             var dateText;
 
             for (var i = 0, length = items.length; i < length; i++) {
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarylist.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarylist.js
index 5d97699954..3fdefe3d60 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarylist.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarylist.js
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
 
         var id = this.getAttribute('data-itemid');
 
-        ExternalPlayer.showMenu(id);
+        LibraryBrowser.playInExternalPlayer(id);
 
         return false;
     }
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@
                     }
                 }
 
-                if (mediaType == 'Video' && ExternalPlayer.getExternalPlayers().length) {
+                if (mediaType == 'Video' && AppSettings.enableExternalPlayers()) {
                     html += '<li data-icon="play"><a href="#" class="btnExternalPlayer" data-itemid="' + itemId + '">' + Globalize.translate('ButtonPlayExternalPlayer') + '</a></li>';
                 }
 
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarymenu.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarymenu.js
index 3b2e9194fb..c0ba7db776 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarymenu.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/librarymenu.js
@@ -30,13 +30,14 @@
             html += '<button id="btnCast" class="btnCast btnDefaultCast headerButton headerButtonRight" type="button" data-role="none" style="display:none;"><div class="headerSelectedPlayer"></div><div class="btnCastImage"></div></button>';
         }
 
-        html += '<button onclick="Search.showSearchPanel($.mobile.activePage);" type="button" data-role="none" class="headerButton headerButtonRight headerSearchButton" style="display:none;"><div class="fa fa-search" style="font-size:21px;"></div></button>';
-
-        html += '<div class="viewMenuSearch hide"><form class="viewMenuSearchForm">';
+        html += '<button onclick="Search.showSearchPanel();" type="button" data-role="none" class="headerButton headerButtonRight headerSearchButton" style="display:none;"><div class="fa fa-search" style="font-size:21px;"></div></button>';
+        html += '<div class="viewMenuSearch hide">';
+        html += '<form class="viewMenuSearchForm">';
         html += '<input type="text" data-role="none" data-type="search" class="headerSearchInput" autocomplete="off" spellcheck="off" />';
         html += '<div class="searchInputIcon fa fa-search"></div>';
         html += '<button data-role="none" type="button" data-iconpos="notext" class="imageButton btnCloseSearch"><i class="fa fa-close"></i></button>';
-        html += '</form></div>';
+        html += '</form>';
+        html += '</div>';
 
         html += '<button class="headerButton headerButtonRight headerUserButton" type="button" data-role="none" onclick="Dashboard.showUserFlyout(this);">';
 
@@ -50,8 +51,8 @@
 
         html += '</div>';
 
-        $(document.body).prepend(html);
-        $('.viewMenuBar').trigger('create').lazyChildren();
+        $(document.body).append(html);
+        $('.viewMenuBar').lazyChildren();
 
         $(document).trigger('headercreated');
         bindMenuEvents();
@@ -100,18 +101,21 @@
 
         if (AppInfo.isTouchPreferred) {
 
-            $('.libraryMenuButton').on('click', function () {
-                showLibraryMenu(false);
-            });
-            $('.dashboardMenuButton').on('click', function () {
-                showDashboardMenu(false);
-            });
+            $('.libraryMenuButton').on('click', showLibraryMenu);
+            $('.dashboardMenuButton').on('click', showDashboardMenu);
 
         } else {
             $('.libraryMenuButton').createHoverTouch().on('hovertouch', showLibraryMenu);
             $('.dashboardMenuButton').createHoverTouch().on('hovertouch', showDashboardMenu);
         }
 
+        // Have to wait for document ready here because otherwise 
+        // we may see the jQM redirect back and forth problem
+        $(initViewMenuBarHeadroom);
+    }
+
+    function initViewMenuBarHeadroom() {
+
         // grab an element
         var viewMenuBar = document.getElementsByClassName("viewMenuBar")[0];
         initHeadRoom(viewMenuBar);
@@ -478,19 +482,16 @@
 
     function updateContextText(page) {
 
-        var name = $(page)[0].getAttribute('data-contextname');
+        var jPage = $(page);
+
+        var name = jPage.attr('data-contextname');
 
         if (name) {
 
             $('.libraryMenuButtonText').html('<span>' + name + '</span>');
 
         }
-            //else if ($(page).hasClass('type-interior')) {
-
-            //    $('.libraryMenuButtonText').html('<span>' + 'Dashboard' + '</span>');
-
-            //}
-        else if ($(page).hasClass('allLibraryPage') || $(page).hasClass('type-interior')) {
+        else if (jPage.hasClass('allLibraryPage') || jPage.hasClass('type-interior')) {
             $('.libraryMenuButtonText').html('<span class="logoLibraryMenuButtonText">EMBY</span>');
         }
     }
@@ -511,7 +512,7 @@
     function buildViewMenuBar(page) {
 
         if ($(page).hasClass('standalonePage')) {
-            $('.viewMenuBar').remove();
+            $('.viewMenuBar').hide();
             return;
         }
 
@@ -519,7 +520,7 @@
             $('.viewMenuBar').remove();
         }
 
-        var viewMenuBar = $('.viewMenuBar');
+        var viewMenuBar = $('.viewMenuBar').show();
         if (!$('.viewMenuBar').length) {
 
             renderHeader();
@@ -539,24 +540,55 @@
             updateViewMenuBarHeadroom(page, viewMenuBar);
             requiresViewMenuRefresh = false;
         }
-
     }
 
+    // The first time we create the view menu bar, wait until doc ready + login validated
+    // Otherwise we run into the jQM redirect back and forth problem
+    var updateViewMenuBarBeforePageShow = false;
+
     $(document).on('pageinit', ".page", function () {
 
         var page = this;
 
-        $('.libraryViewNav', page).wrapInner('<div class="libraryViewNavInner"></div>');
-
-        $('.libraryViewNav a', page).each(function () {
-
-            this.innerHTML = '<span class="libraryViewNavLinkContent">' + this.innerHTML + '</span>';
-
+        $(function () {
+            onPageInitDocumentReady(page);
         });
 
     }).on('pagebeforeshowready', ".page", function () {
 
         var page = this;
+
+        if (updateViewMenuBarBeforePageShow) {
+            onPageBeforeShowDocumentReady(page);
+        }
+
+    }).one('pageshowready', ".page", function () {
+
+        var page = this;
+
+        $(function () {
+            onPageBeforeShowDocumentReady(page);
+            updateViewMenuBarBeforePageShow = true;
+        });
+
+    }).on('pageshowready', ".page", function () {
+
+        var page = this;
+
+        onPageShowDocumentReady(page);
+    });
+
+    function onPageInitDocumentReady(page) {
+        $('.libraryViewNav', page).wrapInner('<div class="libraryViewNavInner"></div>');
+
+        $('.libraryViewNav a', page).each(function () {
+
+            this.innerHTML = '<span class="libraryViewNavLinkContent">' + this.innerHTML + '</span>';
+        });
+    }
+
+    function onPageBeforeShowDocumentReady(page) {
+
         buildViewMenuBar(page);
 
         var jpage = $(page);
@@ -587,11 +619,9 @@
         } else {
             $(document.body).removeClass('dashboardDocument').removeClass('libraryDocument');
         }
+    }
 
-    }).on('pageshow', ".libraryPage", function () {
-
-        var page = this;
-
+    function onPageShowDocumentReady(page) {
         var elem = $('.libraryViewNavInner .ui-btn-active:visible', page);
 
         if (elem.length) {
@@ -600,7 +630,7 @@
             // Scroll back up so in case vertical scroll was messed with
             $(document).scrollTop(0);
         }
-    });
+    }
 
     function initHeadRoom(elem) {
 
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediacontroller.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediacontroller.js
index 21c363ba03..169ce63731 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediacontroller.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediacontroller.js
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@
 
         self.play = function (options) {
 
-            doWithPlaybackValidation(function() {
+            doWithPlaybackValidation(function () {
                 if (typeof (options) === 'string') {
                     options = { ids: [options] };
                 }
@@ -480,6 +480,82 @@
             }, 300);
 
         };
+
+        self.getPlaybackInfo = function (itemId, deviceProfile, startPosition, mediaSource, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex, liveStreamId) {
+
+            var postData = {
+                DeviceProfile: deviceProfile
+            };
+
+            var query = {
+                UserId: Dashboard.getCurrentUserId(),
+                StartTimeTicks: startPosition || 0
+            };
+
+            if (audioStreamIndex != null) {
+                query.AudioStreamIndex = audioStreamIndex;
+            }
+            if (subtitleStreamIndex != null) {
+                query.SubtitleStreamIndex = subtitleStreamIndex;
+            }
+            if (mediaSource) {
+                query.MediaSourceId = mediaSource.Id;
+            }
+            if (liveStreamId) {
+                query.LiveStreamId = liveStreamId;
+            }
+
+            return ApiClient.ajax({
+                url: ApiClient.getUrl('Items/' + itemId + '/PlaybackInfo', query),
+                type: 'POST',
+                data: JSON.stringify(postData),
+                contentType: "application/json",
+                dataType: "json"
+
+            });
+        }
+
+        self.getLiveStream = function (itemId, playSessionId, deviceProfile, startPosition, mediaSource, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex) {
+
+            var postData = {
+                DeviceProfile: deviceProfile,
+                OpenToken: mediaSource.OpenToken
+            };
+
+            var query = {
+                UserId: Dashboard.getCurrentUserId(),
+                StartTimeTicks: startPosition || 0,
+                ItemId: itemId,
+                PlaySessionId: playSessionId
+            };
+
+            if (audioStreamIndex != null) {
+                query.AudioStreamIndex = audioStreamIndex;
+            }
+            if (subtitleStreamIndex != null) {
+                query.SubtitleStreamIndex = subtitleStreamIndex;
+            }
+
+            return ApiClient.ajax({
+                url: ApiClient.getUrl('LiveStreams/Open', query),
+                type: 'POST',
+                data: JSON.stringify(postData),
+                contentType: "application/json",
+                dataType: "json"
+
+            });
+        };
+
+        self.supportsDirectPlay = function (mediaSource) {
+
+            if (mediaSource.SupportsDirectPlay && mediaSource.Protocol == 'Http' && !mediaSource.RequiredHttpHeaders.length) {
+
+                // TODO: Need to verify the host is going to be reachable
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            return false;
+        };
     }
 
     window.MediaController = new mediaController();
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediaplayer-video.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediaplayer-video.js
index 1568ce5c8f..0d1d2ad04c 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediaplayer-video.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediaplayer-video.js
@@ -605,10 +605,11 @@
             });
         });
 
+        var idleHandlerTimeout;
         function idleHandler() {
 
-            if (timeout) {
-                window.clearTimeout(timeout);
+            if (idleHandlerTimeout) {
+                window.clearTimeout(idleHandlerTimeout);
             }
 
             if (idleState == true) {
@@ -618,7 +619,7 @@
 
             idleState = false;
 
-            timeout = window.setTimeout(function () {
+            idleHandlerTimeout = window.setTimeout(function () {
                 idleState = true;
                 $('.hiddenOnIdle').addClass("inactive");
                 $('#videoPlayer').addClass('idlePlayer');
@@ -978,11 +979,10 @@
 
         function bindEventsForPlayback() {
 
-            var hideElementsOnIdle = !$.browser.mobile;
+            var hideElementsOnIdle = true;
 
             if (hideElementsOnIdle) {
-                $('.itemVideo').off('mousemove.videoplayer keydown.videoplayer scroll.videoplayer', idleHandler);
-                $('.itemVideo').on('mousemove.videoplayer keydown.videoplayer scroll.videoplayer', idleHandler).trigger('mousemove');
+                $('.itemVideo').off('mousemove.videoplayer keydown.videoplayer scroll.videoplayer mousedown.videoplayer', idleHandler).on('mousemove.videoplayer keydown.videoplayer scroll.videoplayer mousedown.videoplayer', idleHandler).trigger('mousemove');
             }
 
             $(document).on('webkitfullscreenchange.videoplayer mozfullscreenchange.videoplayer msfullscreenchange.videoplayer fullscreenchange.videoplayer', function (e) {
@@ -1012,14 +1012,14 @@
 
         function unbindEventsForPlayback() {
 
-            $(document).off('webkitfullscreenchange.videoplayer mozfullscreenchange.videoplayer msfullscreenchange.videoplayer fullscreenchange.videoplayer');
+            $(document).off('.videoplayer');
 
             // Stop playback on browser back button nav
             $(window).off("popstate.videoplayer");
 
             $(document.body).off("mousemove.videoplayer");
 
-            $('.itemVideo').off('mousemove.videoplayer keydown.videoplayer scroll.videoplayer');
+            $('.itemVideo').off('mousemove.videoplayer keydown.videoplayer scroll.videoplayer mousedown.videoplayer');
         }
 
         self.canAutoPlayVideo = function () {
@@ -1084,7 +1084,7 @@
         self.playVideoInternal = function (item, mediaSource, startPosition, streamInfo) {
 
             var videoUrl = streamInfo.url;
-            var contentType = streamInfo.contentType;
+            var contentType = streamInfo.mimeType;
             var startPositionInSeekParam = streamInfo.startPositionInSeekParam;
             self.startTimeTicksOffset = streamInfo.startTimeTicksOffset;
 
@@ -1296,7 +1296,6 @@
             }).on("dblclick.mediaplayerevent", function () {
 
                 self.toggleFullscreen();
-
             });
 
             bindEventsForPlayback();
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediaplayer.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediaplayer.js
index 46a1a3e68c..ddf3e65751 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediaplayer.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/mediaplayer.js
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@
                     Protocol: 'hls'
                 });
 
-                if (canPlayAac) {
+                if (canPlayAac && $.browser.safari) {
                     profile.TranscodingProfiles.push({
                         Container: 'aac',
                         Type: 'Audio',
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@
                 subtitleStreamIndex = parseInt(subtitleStreamIndex);
             }
 
-            getPlaybackInfo(self.currentItem.Id, deviceProfile, ticks, self.currentMediaSource, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex, liveStreamId).done(function (result) {
+            MediaController.getPlaybackInfo(self.currentItem.Id, deviceProfile, ticks, self.currentMediaSource, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex, liveStreamId).done(function (result) {
 
                 if (validatePlaybackInfoResult(result)) {
 
@@ -685,22 +685,11 @@
             });
         };
 
-        function supportsDirectPlay(mediaSource) {
-
-            if (mediaSource.SupportsDirectPlay && mediaSource.Protocol == 'Http' && !mediaSource.RequiredHttpHeaders.length) {
-
-                // TODO: Need to verify the host is going to be reachable
-                return true;
-            }
-
-            return false;
-        }
-
         function getOptimalMediaSource(mediaType, versions) {
 
             var optimalVersion = versions.filter(function (v) {
 
-                v.enableDirectPlay = supportsDirectPlay(v);
+                v.enableDirectPlay = MediaController.supportsDirectPlay(v);
 
                 return v.enableDirectPlay;
 
@@ -719,71 +708,6 @@
             })[0];
         }
 
-        function getPlaybackInfo(itemId, deviceProfile, startPosition, mediaSource, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex, liveStreamId) {
-
-            var postData = {
-                DeviceProfile: deviceProfile
-            };
-
-            var query = {
-                UserId: Dashboard.getCurrentUserId(),
-                StartTimeTicks: startPosition || 0
-            };
-
-            if (audioStreamIndex != null) {
-                query.AudioStreamIndex = audioStreamIndex;
-            }
-            if (subtitleStreamIndex != null) {
-                query.SubtitleStreamIndex = subtitleStreamIndex;
-            }
-            if (mediaSource) {
-                query.MediaSourceId = mediaSource.Id;
-            }
-            if (liveStreamId) {
-                query.LiveStreamId = liveStreamId;
-            }
-
-            return ApiClient.ajax({
-                url: ApiClient.getUrl('Items/' + itemId + '/PlaybackInfo', query),
-                type: 'POST',
-                data: JSON.stringify(postData),
-                contentType: "application/json",
-                dataType: "json"
-
-            });
-        }
-
-        function getLiveStream(itemId, playSessionId, deviceProfile, startPosition, mediaSource, audioStreamIndex, subtitleStreamIndex) {
-
-            var postData = {
-                DeviceProfile: deviceProfile,
-                OpenToken: mediaSource.OpenToken
-            };
-
-            var query = {
-                UserId: Dashboard.getCurrentUserId(),
-                StartTimeTicks: startPosition || 0,
-                ItemId: itemId,
-                PlaySessionId: playSessionId
-            };
-
-            if (audioStreamIndex != null) {
-                query.AudioStreamIndex = audioStreamIndex;
-            }
-            if (subtitleStreamIndex != null) {
-                query.SubtitleStreamIndex = subtitleStreamIndex;
-            }
-
-            return ApiClient.ajax({
-                url: ApiClient.getUrl('LiveStreams/Open', query),
-                type: 'POST',
-                data: JSON.stringify(postData),
-                contentType: "application/json",
-                dataType: "json"
-
-            });
-        }
-
         self.createStreamInfo = function (type, item, mediaSource, startPosition) {
 
             var mediaUrl;
@@ -867,7 +791,7 @@
 
             return {
                 url: mediaUrl,
-                contentType: contentType,
+                mimeType: contentType,
                 startTimeTicksOffset: startTimeTicksOffset,
                 startPositionInSeekParam: startPositionInSeekParam,
                 playMethod: playMethod
@@ -900,7 +824,7 @@
                 Dashboard.showModalLoadingMsg();
             }
 
-            getPlaybackInfo(item.Id, deviceProfile, startPosition).done(function (playbackInfoResult) {
+            MediaController.getPlaybackInfo(item.Id, deviceProfile, startPosition).done(function (playbackInfoResult) {
 
                 if (validatePlaybackInfoResult(playbackInfoResult)) {
 
@@ -910,9 +834,9 @@
 
                         if (mediaSource.RequiresOpening) {
 
-                            getLiveStream(item.Id, playbackInfoResult.PlaySessionId, deviceProfile, startPosition, mediaSource, null, null).done(function (openLiveStreamResult) {
+                            MediaController.getLiveStream(item.Id, playbackInfoResult.PlaySessionId, deviceProfile, startPosition, mediaSource, null, null).done(function (openLiveStreamResult) {
 
-                                openLiveStreamResult.MediaSource.enableDirectPlay = supportsDirectPlay(openLiveStreamResult.MediaSource);
+                                openLiveStreamResult.MediaSource.enableDirectPlay = MediaController.supportsDirectPlay(openLiveStreamResult.MediaSource);
 
                                 playInternalPostMediaSourceSelection(item, openLiveStreamResult.MediaSource, startPosition, callback);
                             });
@@ -1474,77 +1398,85 @@
 
             if (item) {
 
-                state.NowPlayingItem = state.NowPlayingItem || {};
-                var nowPlayingItem = state.NowPlayingItem;
-
-                nowPlayingItem.Id = item.Id;
-                nowPlayingItem.MediaType = item.MediaType;
-                nowPlayingItem.Type = item.Type;
-                nowPlayingItem.Name = item.Name;
-
-                nowPlayingItem.IndexNumber = item.IndexNumber;
-                nowPlayingItem.IndexNumberEnd = item.IndexNumberEnd;
-                nowPlayingItem.ParentIndexNumber = item.ParentIndexNumber;
-                nowPlayingItem.ProductionYear = item.ProductionYear;
-                nowPlayingItem.PremiereDate = item.PremiereDate;
-                nowPlayingItem.SeriesName = item.SeriesName;
-                nowPlayingItem.Album = item.Album;
-                nowPlayingItem.Artists = item.Artists;
-
-                var imageTags = item.ImageTags || {};
-
-                if (item.SeriesPrimaryImageTag) {
-
-                    nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageItemId = item.SeriesId;
-                    nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageTag = item.SeriesPrimaryImageTag;
-                }
-                else if (imageTags.Primary) {
-
-                    nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageItemId = item.Id;
-                    nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageTag = imageTags.Primary;
-                }
-                else if (item.AlbumPrimaryImageTag) {
-
-                    nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageItemId = item.AlbumId;
-                    nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageTag = item.AlbumPrimaryImageTag;
-                }
-                else if (item.SeriesPrimaryImageTag) {
-
-                    nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageItemId = item.SeriesId;
-                    nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageTag = item.SeriesPrimaryImageTag;
-                }
-
-                if (item.BackdropImageTags && item.BackdropImageTags.length) {
-
-                    nowPlayingItem.BackdropItemId = item.Id;
-                    nowPlayingItem.BackdropImageTag = item.BackdropImageTags[0];
-                }
-                else if (item.ParentBackdropImageTags && item.ParentBackdropImageTags.length) {
-                    nowPlayingItem.BackdropItemId = item.ParentBackdropItemId;
-                    nowPlayingItem.BackdropImageTag = item.ParentBackdropImageTags[0];
-                }
-
-                if (imageTags.Thumb) {
-
-                    nowPlayingItem.ThumbItemId = item.Id;
-                    nowPlayingItem.ThumbImageTag = imageTags.Thumb;
-                }
-
-                if (imageTags.Logo) {
-
-                    nowPlayingItem.LogoItemId = item.Id;
-                    nowPlayingItem.LogoImageTag = imageTags.Logo;
-                }
-                else if (item.ParentLogoImageTag) {
-
-                    nowPlayingItem.LogoItemId = item.ParentLogoItemId;
-                    nowPlayingItem.LogoImageTag = item.ParentLogoImageTag;
-                }
+                state.NowPlayingItem = self.getNowPlayingItemForReporting(item, mediaSource);
             }
 
             return state;
         };
 
+        self.getNowPlayingItemForReporting = function (item, mediaSource) {
+
+            var nowPlayingItem = {};
+
+            nowPlayingItem.RunTimeTicks = mediaSource.RunTimeTicks;
+
+            nowPlayingItem.Id = item.Id;
+            nowPlayingItem.MediaType = item.MediaType;
+            nowPlayingItem.Type = item.Type;
+            nowPlayingItem.Name = item.Name;
+
+            nowPlayingItem.IndexNumber = item.IndexNumber;
+            nowPlayingItem.IndexNumberEnd = item.IndexNumberEnd;
+            nowPlayingItem.ParentIndexNumber = item.ParentIndexNumber;
+            nowPlayingItem.ProductionYear = item.ProductionYear;
+            nowPlayingItem.PremiereDate = item.PremiereDate;
+            nowPlayingItem.SeriesName = item.SeriesName;
+            nowPlayingItem.Album = item.Album;
+            nowPlayingItem.Artists = item.Artists;
+
+            var imageTags = item.ImageTags || {};
+
+            if (item.SeriesPrimaryImageTag) {
+
+                nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageItemId = item.SeriesId;
+                nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageTag = item.SeriesPrimaryImageTag;
+            }
+            else if (imageTags.Primary) {
+
+                nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageItemId = item.Id;
+                nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageTag = imageTags.Primary;
+            }
+            else if (item.AlbumPrimaryImageTag) {
+
+                nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageItemId = item.AlbumId;
+                nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageTag = item.AlbumPrimaryImageTag;
+            }
+            else if (item.SeriesPrimaryImageTag) {
+
+                nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageItemId = item.SeriesId;
+                nowPlayingItem.PrimaryImageTag = item.SeriesPrimaryImageTag;
+            }
+
+            if (item.BackdropImageTags && item.BackdropImageTags.length) {
+
+                nowPlayingItem.BackdropItemId = item.Id;
+                nowPlayingItem.BackdropImageTag = item.BackdropImageTags[0];
+            }
+            else if (item.ParentBackdropImageTags && item.ParentBackdropImageTags.length) {
+                nowPlayingItem.BackdropItemId = item.ParentBackdropItemId;
+                nowPlayingItem.BackdropImageTag = item.ParentBackdropImageTags[0];
+            }
+
+            if (imageTags.Thumb) {
+
+                nowPlayingItem.ThumbItemId = item.Id;
+                nowPlayingItem.ThumbImageTag = imageTags.Thumb;
+            }
+
+            if (imageTags.Logo) {
+
+                nowPlayingItem.LogoItemId = item.Id;
+                nowPlayingItem.LogoImageTag = imageTags.Logo;
+            }
+            else if (item.ParentLogoImageTag) {
+
+                nowPlayingItem.LogoItemId = item.ParentLogoItemId;
+                nowPlayingItem.LogoImageTag = item.ParentLogoImageTag;
+            }
+
+            return nowPlayingItem;
+        };
+
         self.beginPlayerUpdates = function () {
             // Nothing to setup here
         };
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/mypreferenceswebclient.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/mypreferenceswebclient.js
index d92a9e2fac..ffcd230ae1 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/mypreferenceswebclient.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/mypreferenceswebclient.js
@@ -2,21 +2,10 @@
 
     function loadForm(page, userId, displayPreferences) {
 
-        var externalPlayers = JSON.parse(appStorage.getItem('externalplayers') || '[]');
-
         $('#selectMaxBitrate', page).val(AppSettings.maxStreamingBitrate()).selectmenu("refresh");
         $('#selectMaxChromecastBitrate', page).val(AppSettings.maxChromecastBitrate()).selectmenu("refresh");
 
-        $('.chkExternalPlayer', page).each(function () {
-
-            var chk = this;
-            chk.checked = externalPlayers.filter(function (p) {
-
-                return p.name == chk.getAttribute('data-name');
-
-            }).length > 0;
-
-        }).checkboxradio('refresh');
+        $('#chkExternalVideoPlayer', page).checked(AppSettings.enableExternalPlayers()).checkboxradio("refresh");
 
         $('#selectThemeSong', page).val(appStorage.getItem('enableThemeSongs-' + userId) || '').selectmenu("refresh");
         $('#selectBackdrop', page).val(appStorage.getItem('enableBackdrops-' + userId) || '').selectmenu("refresh");
@@ -55,16 +44,7 @@
 
         Dashboard.showLoadingMsg();
 
-        var externalPlayers = $('.chkExternalPlayer:checked', page).get().map(function (i) {
-
-            return {
-                name: i.getAttribute('data-name'),
-                scheme: i.getAttribute('data-scheme')
-            };
-
-        });
-
-        appStorage.setItem('externalplayers', JSON.stringify(externalPlayers));
+        AppSettings.enableExternalPlayers($('#chkExternalVideoPlayer', page).checked());
 
         AppSettings.maxStreamingBitrate($('#selectMaxBitrate', page).val());
         AppSettings.maxChromecastBitrate($('#selectMaxChromecastBitrate', page).val());
@@ -133,6 +113,14 @@
             }
 
             return parseInt(store.getItem('chromecastBitrate') || '') || 3000000;
+        },
+        enableExternalPlayers: function (val) {
+
+            if (val != null) {
+                store.setItem('externalplayers', val.toString());
+            }
+
+            return store.getItem('externalplayers') == 'true';
         }
 
     };
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/search.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/search.js
index 703bc9e9c7..cd030d5e97 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/search.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/search.js
@@ -58,9 +58,11 @@
 
         var self = this;
 
-        self.showSearchPanel = function (page) {
+        self.showSearchPanel = function () {
 
-            $('.viewMenuSearch').removeClass('hide');
+            var viewMenuSearch = $('.viewMenuSearch');
+
+            viewMenuSearch.removeClass('hide');
             $('.headerSearchInput').focus();
         };
     }
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/scripts/site.js b/dashboard-ui/scripts/site.js
index fd61199afd..076d6fe969 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/scripts/site.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/scripts/site.js
@@ -191,7 +191,6 @@ var Dashboard = {
             } else {
                 loginPage = 'login.html';
             }
-
             Dashboard.navigate(loginPage);
         }
 
@@ -1491,6 +1490,25 @@ var Dashboard = {
         Dashboard.ready(function () {
             $(page).trigger(name);
         });
+    },
+
+    loadExternalPlayer: function () {
+
+        var deferred = DeferredBuilder.Deferred();
+
+        require(['scripts/externalplayer.js'], function () {
+
+            if (Dashboard.isRunningInCordova()) {
+                require(['thirdparty/cordova/externalplayer.js'], function () {
+
+                    deferred.resolve();
+                });
+            } else {
+                deferred.resolve();
+            }
+        });
+
+        return deferred.promise();
     }
 };
 
@@ -1560,6 +1578,10 @@ var AppInfo = {};
         else {
             AppInfo.enableFooterNotifications = true;
             AppInfo.enableSupporterMembership = true;
+
+            if (!$.browser.android && !$.browser.ipad && !$.browser.iphone) {
+                AppInfo.enableAppLayouts = true;
+            }
         }
 
         AppInfo.enableUserImage = true;
@@ -1576,6 +1598,7 @@ var AppInfo = {};
             .on("websocketmessage.dashboard", Dashboard.onWebSocketMessageReceived)
             .on('requestfail.dashboard', Dashboard.onRequestFail);
     }
+
     //localStorage.clear();
     function createConnectionManager(appInfo) {
 
@@ -1771,9 +1794,6 @@ var AppInfo = {};
 
         $(document.body).append(footerHtml);
 
-        var footerElem = $('.footer', document.body);
-        footerElem.trigger('create');
-
         $(window).on("beforeunload", function () {
 
             var apiClient = window.ApiClient;
@@ -1928,20 +1948,6 @@ $(document).on('pagecreate', ".page", function () {
 
     $('.localnav a, .libraryViewNav a').attr('data-transition', 'none');
 
-}).on('pageshow', ".page", function () {
-
-    var page = this;
-    var require = this.getAttribute('data-require');
-
-    if (require) {
-        requirejs(require.split(','), function () {
-
-            Dashboard.firePageEvent(page, 'pageshowready');
-        });
-    } else {
-        Dashboard.firePageEvent(page, 'pageshowready');
-    }
-
 }).on('pagebeforeshow', ".page", function () {
 
     var page = this;
@@ -1956,7 +1962,21 @@ $(document).on('pagecreate', ".page", function () {
         Dashboard.firePageEvent(page, 'pagebeforeshowready');
     }
 
-}).on('pagebeforeshowready', ".page", function () {
+}).on('pageshow', ".page", function () {
+
+    var page = this;
+    var require = this.getAttribute('data-require');
+
+    if (require) {
+        requirejs(require.split(','), function () {
+
+            Dashboard.firePageEvent(page, 'pageshowbeginready');
+        });
+    } else {
+        Dashboard.firePageEvent(page, 'pageshowbeginready');
+    }
+
+}).on('pageshowbeginready', ".page", function () {
 
     var page = $(this);
 
@@ -1977,9 +1997,6 @@ $(document).on('pagecreate', ".page", function () {
                 Dashboard.ensureToolsMenu(page, user);
             }
         });
-
-        Dashboard.ensureHeader(page);
-        Dashboard.ensurePageTitle(page);
     }
 
     else {
@@ -1989,7 +2006,7 @@ $(document).on('pagecreate', ".page", function () {
         if (isConnectMode) {
 
             if (!Dashboard.isServerlessPage()) {
-                Dashboard.logout(true);
+                Dashboard.logout();
                 return;
             }
         }
@@ -1997,14 +2014,16 @@ $(document).on('pagecreate', ".page", function () {
         if (!isConnectMode && this.id !== "loginPage" && !page.hasClass('forgotPasswordPage') && !page.hasClass('wizardPage')) {
 
             console.log('Not logged into server. Redirecting to login.');
-            Dashboard.logout(true);
+            Dashboard.logout();
             return;
         }
-
-        Dashboard.ensureHeader(page);
-        Dashboard.ensurePageTitle(page);
     }
 
+    Dashboard.firePageEvent(page, 'pageshowready');
+
+    Dashboard.ensureHeader(page);
+    Dashboard.ensurePageTitle(page);
+
     if (apiClient && !apiClient.isWebSocketOpen()) {
         Dashboard.refreshSystemInfoFromServer();
     }
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/thirdparty/apiclient/ajax.js b/dashboard-ui/thirdparty/apiclient/ajax.js
index ae7a0c7d0e..4b85f5885a 100644
--- a/dashboard-ui/thirdparty/apiclient/ajax.js
+++ b/dashboard-ui/thirdparty/apiclient/ajax.js
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@
 
     globalScope.AjaxApi = {
 
-        param: function(params) {
+        param: function (params) {
             return jQuery.param(params);
         },
 
-        ajax: function(request) {
+        ajax: function (request) {
+
+            request.timeout = request.timeout || 30000;
 
             try {
                 return jQuery.ajax(request);
diff --git a/dashboard-ui/thirdparty/cordova/externalplayer.js b/dashboard-ui/thirdparty/cordova/externalplayer.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..38cd7dbaff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dashboard-ui/thirdparty/cordova/externalplayer.js
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+(function () {
+
+    function showPlayerSelectionMenu(item, url, mimeType) {
+
+        window.plugins.launcher.launch({
+            uri: url,
+            dataType: mimeType
+
+        }, function () {
+
+            console.log('plugin launch success');
+            ExternalPlayer.onPlaybackStart();
+
+        }, function () {
+
+            console.log('plugin launch error');
+            ExternalPlayer.onPlaybackStart();
+        });
+    }
+
+    function getExternalPlayers(url, mimeType) {
+
+        var deferred = $.Deferred();
+
+        window.plugins.launcher.canLaunch({
+            uri: url,
+            dataType: mimeType,
+            getAppList: true
+        }, function (data) {
+
+            console.log('plugin canLaunch succcess');
+            var players = data.appList.map(function (p) {
+
+            });
+            deferred.resolveWith(null, [players]);
+
+        }, function () {
+            console.log('plugin canLaunch error');
+            deferred.reject();
+        });
+
+        deferred.resolveWith(null, [players]);
+
+        return deferred.promise();
+    }
+
+    window.ExternalPlayer.getExternalPlayers = getExternalPlayers;
+    window.ExternalPlayer.showPlayerSelectionMenu = showPlayerSelectionMenu;
+
+})();
\ No newline at end of file