INTERACT FORUM

Here's my feedback...

I use a keyboard or a remote control that simulates the keyboard.

If the only goal was to prevent people from getting lost or stuck, I give the new interface an A+.  It would be very difficult to get stuck.

If the goal was to remain efficient I give the interface a C-.  I can't figure out how to go back just one level in a view shceme - there's just the home button on the left.  When I want to start navigating down into a view scheme, it's very disruptive to see the popup menu and have to hit enter again to open.  But that same menu is sometimes nice when I get to the media items I'm ready to play.  The space bar still plays the selection directly (i.e. I just hit the spacebar and the selection starts playing), whiich is what I want most of the time.

I like adding content (especially web pages) to the main menu.  Would it be possible to have these in submenus as well?  I don't like the fact that the webpages have scroll bars, but maybe I can fix that by creating a "homepage" that lets me resize the window.  I was also thinking my own homepage would let me customize stuff.  For example, I wonder if I could create my own forecast webpage...

I was hoping the ability to add programs would let me get my DVB output through Theater Mode, but unfortunately, it returns to the desktop before opening.  Is it possible to embed the application into the Theater View?

So, my suggestions are to put a back button on the left menu (preferably at the top so I don't have to arrow down to it each time I pass a level), go back to having enter go down a level (and maybe add another key that opens the popup menu), and let an opening program open in the Theater View screen itself.

I just don't get it.  I tried quick double clicking, nothing
All I get when I drill down and click on audio is Genre.
We need this thing to look like a jukebox.
Give the choice of the schema (artist, album, genre, etc) then a to z to click on.  
As an example, when looking for music, click on artist then n for neil diamond, then either by album or by song title. and list all the songs or albums in alpha seq then click on album and see the songs either alpha or by track number then ability to play all or single.  then the visualizations should take over until you take back control.
I am sure this is the way you invision and probably the way it works, I just am not getting that when I try.  I am running 11.067.
Please let me know what I am doing wrong.

By the way, my 3d visualization is not working I continue to get error regarding "error finding compatible stencil format".

(I'm just starting to play with the last improvements, so these are my first impressions)

I can't figure out how to go back just one level in a
view shceme - there's just the home button on the left.

Can't this be done with backspace?

I agree that being forced to go back home every time I want add
something accessible from the previous level, would be annoying!

Matt : Along with the possibility to use backspace, allowing the
top navigation panel to be clickable (and "pressable" like any button on the left) to go backward could be simple and elegant...

When I want to start navigating down into a view scheme, it's very
disruptive to see the popup menu and have to hit enter again to open.
But that same menu is sometimes nice when I get to the media items I'm ready to play.

This popup menu is IMO a nice addition but it's less easy to select and enqueue files. For example, I need to "select > select all > add
(selection)" to enqueue all songs.

It would be great if :
1) the "select mode" was selected by default (with the small empty checkbox)
 2) we can have the choice between the popup menu and a default action (like "open" for a folder and "select" or "play" for a song). Two butons can be used (enter and shift or ctrl...)

T.V. is now really much better, great job!
Note : I use keyboard but I keep in mind how easy it would be to use a remote control (I'm planning buying one)

I just don't get it.  I tried quick double clicking, nothing
All I get when I drill down and click on audio is Genre.
We need this thing to look like a jukebox.

I think you need to set up a view scheme TXgary
If you right click on Audio and goto edit view scheme, move or add artist to the top of the list them album. All will be much clearer in Theatre View then.

I like the way Theatre view is going, it has actually changed quiet a lot rather than just being enhanced slightly.

1.I still think playing now needs some tweaking like the mockup we saw in the other thread.

2.I think it would be nice if you could select a track info template separate to standard view. In standard view I like to have a template that shows the cover art, artist, album name, rating etc.. But in Theatre view there is just not enough space so I would like to just see the cover art.
Of course if Playing now is altered as to 1 then this will not be needed.

Rich

I find I do this often when selecting media to play on-the-spot instead of using a playlist.  For instance, I'm sitting with some friends and we're looking to build a queue.  As I go through genres, I want to go back out and pick another genre.

This popup menu is IMO a nice addition but it's less easy to select and enqueue files. For example, I need to "select > select all > add
(selection)" to enqueue all songs.

With the new model, you don't need to go into an item to play it.  Just click and pick "Play" or "Add" on the item one level up.  You can also use the select feature to select multiple items.

This is different than the old model where you always had to go "into" and then pick an action.  I think it makes more sense once you're used to it.

Using it this way also reduces the need for a back button.

Keep the feedback coming

A few ideas
Generally its getting better

Could do with permenant transport controls, either as a pop up or always on screen to allow quick access to playback without having to go to playing now.  If you are viewing a web page the only way to control play is to go home and then into playing now thus losing your position in the web page

when starting new content and the display jumps to full screen there is no quick way to get back to HS.  Dbl clicking goes into the standard view.  This would be better if it knew where it had come from and went back to its parent.

I agree with a lot of people here that a back button is more useful and intuitive than a home button.  Sorry Matt  It just seems to make more sense than always returning to the start again every time. an example if I want to cue multiple tracks from different albums i would rather go back one place into the VS than back home each time.

Adam

I agree with a lot of people here that a back button is more useful and intuitive than a home button.  Sorry Matt  It just seems to make more sense than always returning to the start again every time. an example if I want to cue multiple tracks from different albums i would rather go back one place into the VS than back home each time.

In case you didn't know, the backspace key goes back one level.  Not sure if that helps remote users though.

-John

Is there any way we could get the Theater View focus issues worked out?  I'm starting so see using Media Center as my front end since you are adding launching of external programs and web sites.  But, as I experienced before when trying to switch programs Theater View never gives up the focus so you must switch to Standard View first (I see you do this automatically when launching an external program).  It would be great if this could somehow be worked out because after launching an external program it will be a pain to have to manually switch back to Theater View when returning to Media Center.

For all the Theatre View afficianados out there... is Theatre View multi-zone friendly?

Something I would like to see in Theatre View, but am not sure others will.
Whether MC is in shuffle mode or not... [...] I think a back button (or just allowing left  goes back) makes more sense and it would be nice to have the Playing now shortcut constantly in the left menu.

I agree with both of those points. A shuffle indicator would be great and why not add a zone selector .

Take care,
lpr

This is actually quite shocking that the theater view is so limited and that the developers need guidance on how to build the interface or what features people want... people want what most other apps already give them!

dont be ridiculous, the developers are aksing what the public want, to ensure they then meet our collective needs, its nothing to do with being unable to create the product in the first place. its about tailoring it to the user base (something the other interfaces you mentioned do also)

additionally people don't want what other apps already give them - thats why there are so many people here, on this forum, who are spending the time to be involved in the development of the product

Here are my thoughts, having just recently giot MC11 Theaterview to work, but it really represents a big improvment over MC10 in usability:

-- I agree with all of the others that it is useful to have a back button on the screen. For better or worse, you can see that people expect it and not having it unnerves us!

-- A key shortcut that enables toggling between just Fullscreen and Theaterview. Maybe the list of shortcuts is outdated in help, but I don't see one. F11 toggles b/t Theaterview, Fullscreen and Standard and Standard is the last thing we want coming up on our TVs!

-- All different default views for different levels of Viewschemes. I believe this was first suggested by JLee and it still makes sense. The ability to change the view type is helpful, but it's not the same as this suggestion. People don't want to HAVE to toggle this at each level to get the type of view they like (and it's often a different preference at different levels of different Viewschemes.

-- An ability to easily clear what is in playing now. Perferably by button and a shortcut key.

Note: I haven't been following each bew version of MC11, so if some of these have already been implemented. Please let me know. I'd love to try them out!

Side note: I think the quality of your database gives MC10 a big advantage over some of your competitors at least for those of us with pretty extensive digital media libraries. I have been flirting with Meedio (which has a nice interface) but is (i) SLOW as molasses when dealing with a large library of music with cover art, and (ii) a much bigger pain to do simple customization with.

Hope this is helpful.

Doug

-- A key shortcut that enables toggling between just Fullscreen and Theaterview. Maybe the list of shortcuts is outdated in help, but I don't see one. F11 toggles b/t Theaterview, Fullscreen and Standard and Standard is the last thing we want coming up on our TVs!

I think that what you need is the "menu" key. It's between the "Windows" and the right "Ctrl" keys on my keyboad and toggles b/t Theater View and Full Screen View.

Sorry, I am going to ask this one more time.
In Theatre mode, I have multiple view scheme set up but can only see the genre scheme.
What buttons do I push to see my view scheme of Artist - Name (song)?
I want the ability to be able todrill down (say a to z) then press n and see all artists that start with N then select neil diamond and see all the songs in alpha order for neil diamond.  then be about to back up to the a to z and select another artist.
It would be nice to be able to drill by artist then album and see the songs of the album in order they are on the album when you press the album button.

I think touch screen is also nice, but I am not currently running a touch screen but would if I could find the interface product.
Does anyone have touchscreen working with MC11?

I'm not sure to understand but I'll try to help :

In Theatre mode, I have multiple view scheme set up but can only see the genre scheme.
What buttons do I push to see my view scheme of Artist - Name (song)?

In order to show your "Artist - Name" View Scheme in Theater View, do the following : (standard View) > Right Click on the View Scheme > "Edit View Scheme" > Check "show in Theater View"

I want the ability to be able todrill down (say a to z) then press n and see all artists that start with N then select neil diamond and see all the songs in alpha order for neil diamond.

You can do that by creating this View Scheme:
"Artist (grouped)" (with group size sets to 1) / "Artist" / "Album" and adding it to Theater View...

 then be about to back up to the a to z and select another artist.

...just press Backspace key

It would be nice to be able to drill by artist then album and see the songs of the album in order they are on the album when you press the album button.

It seems to be the current behavior, and I'm agree, it's nice

Try a private message.  Just search for one of his posts and click on his name.

JIMH
no dragyn in the system

Dragyn
I searched for you, but came up empty.  Sorry, you must be hidding in the weeds......
anyway
I would like to discuss your touch screen solution using MC11.
What product are you using and how is it working for you?
Thanks for your response.

Just wanted to say that we appreciate all the feedback.

Please keep posting ideas.  We'll do our best to keep pace.

In Playing now (when there are more files in the queue that can fit on the screen), when the last song on the screen is selected and the next one is going to play, the green triangle (which shows which file is playing), is out of the screen, the playing now queue doesn't shift so it will be viewable.

This works fine though when using the "Next" button but not when you let it automatically advance to the next song.

Maybe a good idea to have the playing now song on top of the screen or divide the playing now screen into a "playing now queue" and a "playing now song info screen" ?

I would find the following very useful in Theater View:

1 - Zone selection and zone synchronization (I will bump up a thread where I described this)

2 - Some indication of the shuffle mode and a way to toggle it (maybe a small icon to indicate mode and toggle added to play controls menu?)

#1: now in the latest build

#2: "reshuffle" is always available under the "Commands" button

Bugs:
1) Clicking on an item in Playing Now brings up the track's context menu, but doesn't select the track until you make the menu go away.
2) Selecting the Display menu item under Controls pops up a sub-menu.  If you keep pressing the up/down arrow keys after it's been displayed, it never times out and goes away.

General suggestions:
1) Please make the 'Backspace' key go back a level like it used to.
2) Make the text under the thumbnails and the text in list mode configurable.  For example: Artist - Track Title.
3) When searching, allow typing a character to at least move to the associated button, if not select it.

Playing Now Screen Suggestions:
1) Add a 'Clear' button.
2) Remove the useless items from the track context menus: Add, Select, Show Files, Search.
For example:
Selecting Show Files for an item in Playing Now creates a view with a single right-side item named Back with a '<' icon.  This seems to suggest clicking on it will go back, but instead the same context menu shows up.
3) Add some useful functions to the same context menu: Remove, Play Next, Move Up, Move Down, Move First, Move Last, ...  This is one place where having a menu pop up when you select an item could really be useful if used wisely.
4) Pressing 'Delete' on a right-side item should remove it from the Playing Now list, not pop up a window asking if you'd like to remove the item from your library and/or delete it from your hard drive.
5) Highlight the currently playing track in some more obvious way.  The '|>' icon on the right is hard to find.  It would be easier if it was on the left.

A final comment:
The Playing Now screen doesn't really show much of the data I'm interested in when I'm listening to music: Track Name, Artist, Album, Time Elapsed/Total Time, Rating, Lyrics, ...

Everyone's probably getting tired of hearing me talk about this, so maybe I'll explain why I want the left/right navigation back so badly:

My remote (streamzap) has a very convenient set of arrows  (up, down, left, right) set around an Enter button.   It also has software that detects media center so I don't have to program anything with Girder. In v10, this setup works very, very well because I don't have to move my thumb away from this area on the remote unless I want to start playback.  Without the "left-right" navigation, I can no longer use this, and there's currently no easy way to get back. (left, up to "Back", enter) is more steps than "back, back"

I spend most of my time designing user interfaces, and the UI that you designed for Theater View in  v10 was the absolute best I have ever seen.  I don't quite understand the reasons for moving away from that. It wasn't very intuitive at first, but it became very useful. My 4-year old daughter figured it out right away.  I really hope you reconsider and at least make this an option in Theater View.

Showing web pages is a great new feature but I have no way to scroll using my remote.  Is there any way a "right arrow" could give focus to the browser window/control so that we could at least scroll web pages vertically?