While more skinning flexibility is a good goal, I think it's sort of a dodge to the question of what specific things could be made better.
While more skinning flexibility is a good goal, I think it's sort of a dodge to the question of what specific things could be made better.
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Small%20Images/TV%20Shows%20-%20Toolbox4.jpg) Click to enlarge. (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Big%20Images/TV%20Shows%20-%20Toolbox4.jpg) | (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Small%20Images/TV%20Shows%20Tiles%20-%20Toolbox%20-%20Appearance%20overview.jpg) Click to enlarge. (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Big%20Images/TV%20Shows%20Tiles%20-%20Toolbox%20-%20Appearance%20overview.jpg) | (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Small%20Images/TV%20Shows%20Tiles%20-%20Toolbox%20-%20Appearance%20list%20style%20menu.jpg) Click to enlarge. (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Big%20Images/TV%20Shows%20Tiles%20-%20Toolbox%20-%20Appearance%20list%20style%20menu.jpg) |
While more skinning flexibility is a good goal, I think it's sort of a dodge to the question of what specific things could be made better.
While more skinning flexibility is a good goal, I think it's sort of a dodge to the question of what specific things could be made better.
It's good to help the modding communities. I'd like to contribute too. But I feel like some times i was competing with the designers of theater view. When I see suggestion that change the way theater view currently works. Like removing the ability to delete. I should be able to turn that off. I hope we can find a better way to have the freedom to control all of theater view.
I don't agree, the whole point of skinning is that the 5 things I would like is not the same 5 things as the next guy would like.great points... just like my number 1. was implemented and we used it everyday, and have missed it everyday since it's been removed. it would be nice to have a different outlook on theaterview/jriver settings completely. if somethings made and users like it, instead of removing it completely, allow users to turn on/turn off features, settings, plugins, widgets, etc... then there are no debates should we add this or remove it, the user can just customize it to their liking.
I don't agree, the whole point of skinning is that the 5 things I would like is not the same 5 things as the next guy would like.I agree. In fact, 'more flexibility' is not the goal. Theatre skins that people love is the goal and they need greater flexibility to achieve it. Not saying for one moment that XBMC skins should be supported, but making Aeon Nox (for instance) possible in MC would be a great bar to get over.
I'll copy some of the stuff I've used before. These are my top five changes I would like seen added to the skinning engine, and some of it have to be fixed in MC as well to accommodate the changes.
1. Allow more images, and allow adding them anywhere in the skins
This goes for Info Pane, List Views and Main menu. I guess some of those can be done with the skins today, so this is more about adding images like Banners and Artist images to MC, and then allowing users to use all these images where they want in the skins. This is one example of how it could be used.
I believe the only way to attack this is to add functionality to the Theater View skinning engine,..... I'm not talking of a rewrite, but improvements....I respectfully disagree... and fear Matt is stuck thinking on these lines...
I believe Theatre View requires restructuring...An api added between the current theatre view/ future theatre views skins. The current Theatre view dictates the use of the roller system, dictates the use of the (uncustomisable) cover,list,3d views, and has limited or no ability to add, place or modify the database, expressions, icons, pictures ect.. The current skinning ability is similar to standard view, allowing a skinner to basically pick fonts, color, and some icons..
I think the current theatre view could be structured as a skin, with the supporting api for other skinners...
I respectfully disagree... and fear Matt is stuck thinking on these lines...
I'll copy some of the stuff I've used before. These are my top five changes I would like seen added to the skinning engine, and some of it have to be fixed in MC as well to accommodate the changes.
1. Allow more images, and allow adding them anywhere in the skins
This goes for Info Pane, List Views and Main menu. I guess some of those can be done with the skins today, so this is more about adding images like Banners and Artist images to MC, and then allowing users to use all these images where they want in the skins. This is one example of how it could be used.
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Small%20Images/TV%20Shows%20-%20Banners%20-%20Full%20Page%20-%20No%20Info%20Pane%20-%20Captions.jpg)
Click to enlarge. (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Big%20Images/TV%20Shows%20-%20Banners%20-%20Full%20Page%20-%20No%20Info%20Pane%20-%20Captions.jpg)
2. Allow adding Icons that represent text and values
Examples are Watched/Not Watched, Resolution, Sound, Channels and encoding. Allow this icons to be added to info panes. This is a good example, which is used in many XBMC and other MC' skins.
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Small%20Images/TV%20Shows%20-%20Details%20-%20Half%20Page%20-%20Small%20Half%20Info%20Pane%20-%20Captions.jpg)
Click to enlarge. (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Big%20Images/TV%20Shows%20-%20Details%20-%20Half%20Page%20-%20Small%20Half%20Info%20Pane%20-%20Captions.jpg)
This gives us valuable information at a quick glance. You don't have to read stuff and you can compress these icons much better than lots of text.
3. Allow skinning the different 3D views
Adding Meta Data and images to for instance the cover flow view. Example:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Small%20Images/Movies%20-%20Cover%20Flow%20-%20Top%20Info%20Pane.jpg)
Click to enlarge. (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Big%20Images/Movies%20-%20Cover%20Flow%20-%20Top%20Info%20Pane.jpg)
4. Allow control of the positions and size of the List Views as well as the Info Pane and the Larg Info Pane
Example:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Small%20Images/TV%20Shows%20-%20High%20Thumbs%20-%20Half%20List%20Screen%20-%20Half%20Small%20Info%20Pane.jpg)
Click to enlarge. (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8820265/Theater%20View%20Documentation/Big%20Images/TV%20Shows%20-%20High%20Thumbs%20-%20Half%20List%20Screen%20-%20Half%20Small%20Info%20Pane.jpg)
Here, we've just changed the Media List hight to about 60% and the Small Info pane at the same size. It gives more room for backdrops, which some of us love.
I'm currently working on a WPF application (started life as a MC screensaver) which implements much of the above, and uses MCWS to control MC, but if v19 theatre view is getting a real overhaul, I may stop wasting my time! (although i'll no doubt find something else to tinker with)
I certainly hope that JRiver comes up with a plan for further skin development or enhancements. It does not necessarily have to be drastic stuff. But a solid thought of how to improve skinning in time would benefit lots of people. Making it simpler to edit, adding functions, structuring the code differently or rewriting some of it are things that could help spiking the interest for more skin developer and more fancy and information driven skins.+100
I would guess that skins are one of the major reasons why programs like XBMC have gotten so popular as a media front end (and often backend). So, it's certainly worth considering spending some time thinking of.
I certainly hope that JRiver comes up with a plan for further skin development or enhancements. It does not necessarily have to be drastic stuff. But a solid thought of how to improve skinning in time would benefit lots of people. Making it simpler to edit, adding functions, structuring the code differently or rewriting some of it are things that could help spiking the interest for more skin developer and more fancy and information driven skins.
I would guess that skins are one of the major reasons why programs like XBMC have gotten so popular as a media front end (and often backend). So, it's certainly worth considering spending some time thinking of.
2. Eye candy matters. This is your marketing. This is where sage failed. If your product looks great that will increase your user base substantially. Honestly you guys need to more effectively show what your product looks like. The WWW site needs some work and you need to take advantage of all the tech blogs out there. I still have a tough time understanding what it would "look and feel" like to use the product short of downloading the trial. You have great functionality and your development cycle seems efficient and upgrades/fixes come often. You just have to get the "packaging and presentation" better. Maybe you should explore taking a development cycle purely focused on look and feel. Challenge your marketing partners to create requirements for your development team.
... Pressing CTRL+1 to change things then going back to Theater view is fine... as long as I can ...Escape gets you back to Standard View (press it a second time). So does F11.
I have a feeling XBMC is going to catch up to the audio and video features of JRiver before JRiver puts out a great interface.
Any navigation on a touchscreen-only device (Samsung XE700 in my case) is a pain. Theater view runs in fullcreen mode as a desktop-app, so I first have to switch to standard view. Then I'm able to do something else on the desktop.You can set MC to run in Standard View at startup.
Escape gets you back to Standard View (press it a second time). So does F11.
Use the four arrow keys on a remote or keyboard and the OK button or Enter key to use the On Screen Display. Up or down to start.
Thanks for the insight Jimmy. I've tried most of the popular media centers out there, and I agree with you on almost every single point. My "problem" is that I've learned of JRiver incredible and unbeatable customization abilities (not speaking of Theater View only) before I tried many other players, so I can simply not go back to other players. I've tried multiple times, and I will probably continue to try every, or every other, year just to see what's out there.
I do not agree however that Theater View is not customizable. It is to some degree. The way you can manipulate the actual data that is represented in theater view are great. But other than that, the skinning mostly consists of changing color, textures and moving a few elements a bit around. There's simply not a skinning framework available with enough possibilities to compete with the meta data usage, eyecandy and theater view functionality of other top players.
Some months ago the developers opened a bit up and more or less asked us our opinion of what we thought needed to be done with skinning (in this thread). So, I believe they are at least looking into some possibilities. I don't know if we can hope for major overhauls here in a short time, but I hope that they will do some increasing improvements and additions to it so we can create things that the masses like. To attract all the regular media users out there. Not just those that are looking for the best in audio and video.
While I do not believe JRiver will ever go away from it's roots of focusing on audio and video, and I don't think I want them to. I hope that they do get their eyes up for how incredibly important theater view functionality, customization and eye candy really is to the masses of people :) People like shiny things! People like to have the info they want, where they want it and at the time they want it. That's just the way it is. There's some nerds that do not care much about such, but I strongly believe that those are the exceptions, not the rule.
I was hoping you would address the meat of the post, not the only throw away part I probably should have just omitted anyway.The post came across more as a broad complaint, without much in the way of specifics.
I like nice looking things that are also functional. And theater view is neither of those things. Its a PITA.
The stock theater view and any of the few skins I have seen searching here are *years* behind the standard XBMC, and Aeon Nox puts them to absolute shame.
Why do you offer 80 (being facetious here) different display option backgrounds when I am playing music, but not one looks good?
I was hoping you would address the meat of the post, not the only throw away part I probably should have just omitted anyway.that is how it goes.. but with some persistence you can get far... and although I think you can get more out of thv then where you ended, you are right. thv is not skinable, its knitted together to get some nice things working. but/and thv is not just eye candy, standard view is neither. it should be something to get through your library and give you the info you want, preferably with some eye candy and not to many clicks/moves... now that works great in standard view... :) .
At least he took the time to write that he would like some changes made to Theater view and skinning abilities. These are things that were mentioned initially from JRiver when mc19 came out and not much has been said since then. Is it something that is still considered (I am not so sure anymore)?
I would hope that JRiver takes these "complaints" as a proof that we care enough about the purchase that we made and would like MC to only get better and more polished in certain areas that seems to be, IMHO, lacking. I think a lot of excellent suggestions have already been pointed in this thread so far. And yes, I understand that these things don`t get implemented in a weekend...
sincerely,
that is how it goes.. but with some persistence you can get far... and although I think you can get more out of Theater View then where you ended, you are right. Theater View is not skinable, its knitted together to get some nice things working. but/and Theater View is not just eye candy, standard view is neither. it should be something to get through your library and give you the info you want, preferably with some eye candy and not to many clicks/moves... now that works great in standard view... :) .I concur, I can dig in further and get a little more out of it... but I have done enough to realize the front end cant look as good/be as accessible as I would prefer.
:)
gab
here are some themes that make Theater View more user friendly http://x-plain.blogspot.com.au/p/blue-puzzle-skin.html
As user for 4 days that came from XBMC because of WASAPI issues, I will say as a media player device is way better. I will probably buy it... probably.
Because lets be serious here. I like nice looking things that are also functional. And theater view is neither of those things. Its a PITA. I've been crawling over all the menu options available, and nothing seems easily customizable. The menu system is antiquated. How you select between options feels Window XPish. I disagree with anyone that says they need the standard view to select things. Sure its fine that its there, but I have more options and more ability to customize in XBMC, and theres no 'standard view' as we are discussing here. There should be an option screen inside the theater view... but thats the last of my concern. Pressing CTRL+1 to change things then going back to Theater view is fine... as long as I can load into theater view and it actually looks good and is much more control friendly and customizable. The stock theater view and any of the few skins I have seen searching here are *years* behind the standard XBMC, and Aeon Nox puts them to absolute shame. When using JRiver I kinda wonder... is this much different than using Foobar and VLC with a MadVR running in the background? Its probably slightly better for reasons I have yet to research... but what I am getting at is, the interface doesnt feel any different.
Example of something that totally perplexes me:
Why do you offer 80 (being facetious here) different display option backgrounds when I am playing music, but not one looks good? The only acceptable one is the artist background, but it doesnt even function as an acceptable background for my plasma as it doesnt fade out the player buttons totally and the photos only load in the middle, so the sides of the screen dont have pixels changing periodically. Standard XBMC milkdrop is 1000X times better than any of the numerous options we have here.
As I said, I'll probably buy it. I really want to. But as a pay-for option, I'd like to know my 50 bucks and future upgrade dollars will go towards something that has an interface that is acceptable to me at some point. From reading over the forum and seeing the previous progressions, I have a feeling XBMC is going to catch up to the audio and video features of JRiver before JRiver puts out a great interface. You guys already put out the best Audio and Video media player I have found (technically speaking). I think its time to put out something that looks impressive as well.
Hope this comes across as constructive while sorta confused (on my end, as to why it doesnt look better), and not as an attack. I really like the software for its capabilities. But as of yet, I cant convince myself its a one stop option for me, and im disappointed by that.
Edit: Note, I didnt even touch on plugins.
here are some themes that make Theater View more user friendly http://x-plain.blogspot.com.au/p/blue-puzzle-skin.html