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[nila]

For a new interface, I realise it'd be hard to please everyone so how about doing a RAD approach.

Make 2 or 3 interfaces, they dont have to work as far as fully managing the music goes, just have to read the db and let us browse it so we can test it. Make it in something like VB or Delphi so that you can really throw them out fast.
Then put those on the site and let everyone download them and play with them and see which interface they like the best.
Then get feedback on the things people do and dont like about each one, combine them, throw out another quick design to test it and so on.

Hands on using is the best way to decide what's thought of an interface. Talking with no physical item to talk about just gets confusing and often means the idea isn't explained clearly.

This would let you really easily design a new interface without worrying about messing up the functionality of MJ.

I also think that things like: Analyse Replay Gain, Tidy File Names, The plugin's like find duplicates etc should all be put into a menu item called: Music Tools or something similar. The plugins should be able to install themselves into this.

Right now they can be found through properties, but if someone was just using MJ for the first time and wanted to do these things to all the music in their library, they wouldn't think of them as properties to a song, more as tools for their library and thats where they'd try to look.

Just a couple of ideas

Good luck

[Marty3d]

Here's one idea, taken from DreamweaverMX. I know there's more windows standard methods, but I couldn't find any now.
The idea is that you can have 1 or more of these subwindows open at your disposal. I can tell you that working this way is great.

Don't think about the properties window to the right, I forgot to remove it

[sekim]

Marty3d,

I think you're on to something here. These type of tabs would be seen by new users. This would be an easy to use type of GUI.

Would be nice if something like this were to be developed.

J River guys, I didn't get to post in the other thread so I'll throw it in here. The look of MJ is somewhat 'dated'(?). This isn't a slam by any means, far from it. I still use it, and so do a lot of other folks. If you are going to try and get more users, Eye Candy is a big draw. But so is an easy to use GUI. What Marty3d is suggesting here may warrent a closer look. It could possibly be easier to get around in MJ with these types of tools at your fingertips. Not eveyone has DreamweaverMX, so the screenshot really helps convey what he was mentioning in the other thread.

[nila]

Love the sample pic.
I was gonna try do one in my free time as well
But this one looks pretty good.
I think I'd like the ability to dock the windows anywhere like with Dreamweaver.
Have the playing now window as a similar standard,
because I'd put the playlists at the bottom as all my playlist names are long and dont fit in the narrow pane at the side, I'd want them to be full width in the big space.
I like this idea a lot though. It looks GOOD.

[SeanC]

Here's one idea, taken from DreamweaverMX.

Wow, that looks awesome!

[Matt]

Thanks for the picture.  Something we'll think about.

(and can I suggest, at least for now, using a skin if you want MJ to look better)

[NoCodeUK]

I really like this design idea.  And if plugin developers could then intergrate their plugins into the specific parts that would be absolutely awesome...

[Any comments from any of the JRiver guys on the possibility of a new design style?]

Sorry Matt.  Didn't refresh the page so hadn't seen your post!!

[JimH]

Well, I'm going to pour cold water on this again and lock the thread.  I'll try to explain why.  You won't agree with me, but please try to understand.

1.  Eye Candy -- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  We've made so many changes to the look of the interface and, no matter what we do, someone loves it and someone hates it.  That's life.

2.  Eye Candy (part 2) -- Skins and Visualizations and the SDK's give you a lot of control.  If you're keen on changing the look, give those a try.

3.  Cosmetics vs Features -- I think we do a good job on both fronts.  The fact that someone wants to do it differently will never go away.  If we spend time on glitter, real functionality will suffer.

4.  Functionality first -- We deliver power and flexibility.  This requires complexity.  If beauty has to be sacrificed to deliver it, what would you do?

5.  We are working on appearance all the time.  Watch what is changing.  Hairstyle in the next release should knock your socks off.  Dig into it and see what is possible.