MlbDude New Look

[mlbdude]

Hey guys, I need some feedback on a new look I am working on. So far I only have the menu's done but I want to redo the recordings list a bit and the EPG as well.

Attached is an image of the main menu. Each menu item on each main menu (Main, Schedule Recordings, Media Library, and Setup) will have its own unique image (if I can find that many) that auto-changes in the lower left corner.

The other new feature to the main menu's is the addition of the Preview window for those of us that use that and not the video background.

Let me know what you think. I am also looking for little icons. I need some to indicate First Run, Rerun, Favorite, Manual Record, etc. I would like them to all be of the same theme.

Thanks in advance.

[ToxMox]

It looks really good. Nice and clean.
Since we are posting pics I figured I'd give you all a preview of a skin I started mocking up a few days ago.

[ToxMox]

Here is a cleaner version too.

[Brett]

ToxMox- I like, I like. Are those just images or are you doing that in studio?

Mlbdude- Its clean, but am not a fan of the windowed picture, I hope there is an option to disable it.

-Brett

[ToxMox]

Those are just images. I don't have Studio and must patiently wait with the masses to actually implement the skin.

[Alex0230]

That is dope! I really like it.....I'm so jealous!!

The preview window is a good idea for those who don't want the background to be absorbed by the recording. Sometimes it *can* be hard to read, this window will eliminate that.

[DougTea]

Mlbdude,

That is Great looking, keep up the good work! Although I have not gotten my hands on Studio yet, I have been developing some of the graphics. The look I'm leaning towards is very similar to this.
Your look (in my opinion) gives the appearence of a full encompassing HTPC app. I love the fact the menu does not take up the entire window, which leaves room for "cool" graphics (e.g. flat panel monitor).

Doug

[kny3twalker]

All I have to say is all three of them look great and I want to try them out

[mikejaner]

Both themes look great guys. This is what is going to make Sage stand out from the rest at this point.

[mlbdude]

Originally posted by Brett
ToxMox- I like, I like. Are those just images or are you doing that in studio?

Mlbdude- Its clean, but am not a fan of the windowed picture, I hope there is an option to disable it.

-Brett

I could have an option to disable it. Any ideas to improve it? I stole the concept from MS Media Center.

[White94Cobra]

Maybe an option to pick a channel the window will always display, like CNN or Fox News. Assuming of course there is a free tunner. My biggest problem with the video window is turning the TV on and accidentally seeing a portion of the program I'm currently recording (like a knockout in the 5th round of a great fight).

[mlbdude]

That window works like the current preview window does and will only show up if you are watching something. Otherwise it is not there.

[RRSwan3]

HOLY CRAP! I can't wait for Studio to be released to the masses! That looks awesome! Keep up the good work! :goodjob:

[DFranch]

ToxMox:

I really like your menu. I really love how it tells you what is currently recording, and the space used.

[jblust]

Originally posted by mlbdude
The other new feature to the main menu's is the addition of the Preview window for those of us that use that and not the video background.
ROFL When I looked at your first screenshot and saw the Chevy ad in the corner, I thought for a second that you had implemented banner ads in Sage :p

[Brett]

Originally posted by mlbdude
I could have an option to disable it. Any ideas to improve it? I stole the concept from MS Media Center. Ways to improve it? Yeah don't steal concepts from Microsoft :). Just kidding. I just would like to see something original. Perhaps have 6 icons to select from instead of text labels. Maybe reorganize the labels, I personally would like to see from the main menu:

Watch TV (jumps to liveTV no guide)
Guide (jumps to guide)
Library
DVD
Setup

Library would then have the following subcategories:
Shows (displays shows recorded with the tuners)
Movies (displays movies RECORDED with the tuners)
Archive
Music
Photos

Just a thought. Also the idea of the space and currently recording information is a good idea as well. I would also like to integrate a clock with current forcasted temperatore and *small* icon to indicate the weather.

I know you know your stuff when it comes to Studio and I will likely be using some mod of yours in the future, I just feel you can be more creative / experimative with it. Dare to be original :).

-Brett

[mlbdude]

just feel you can be more creative / experimative with it

This is where you make a bad assumption. I have no creativity at all :). I can reproduce anything though :).

[mlbdude]

Here is the EPG I have done. Still working on it.

[kny3twalker]

mlbdude when can we try it?

[ikarus79m]

ToxMox, i love your skin. Please somebody give him a copy of Studio so he can develop that theme. It's really "light" looking and colorful. Nice!

[Sweep]

I have to agree with DFranch. The "now recording" line.
Is this actually possible with studio ?

Maybe something mlbdude could be adding to his version ;-)


I'm not to keen on new looks, I actually like the sagetv look as it is. But love the new features and library are great.
I found that not that many color combinations are actually nice on a television.

cheers
sweep

[ToxMox]

The currently recording line I would think is possible since it is basically the same info displayed when sage is sleeping in the systray and you roll your mouse over the icon and since it has been said before that it seems as though there isn't anything you can't do with Studio I have to think big and imagine any feature I want in there. When Studio comes out and I finally develop and release the theme I'll release a variety of background and color options to keep everybody happy.

[mlbdude]

Something can be done :).

[Deadbolt]

mlbdude thinks he is the Pope of Chili Town with his SageTV Studio...when do we all get a chance? ;)

[Brett]

Couple of things...
Mlbdude when you highlight the show down at the bottom that is currently recording IT WOULD BE REAL COOL if you could hit enter and go directly to that show. Also if you add the "disable" option for the video preview that would be cool. Make the icon "tv" graphic slightly larger.

I would be extremely interesting in trying this partial finished skin though. The front is looking much better.

-Brett

[mlbdude]

Brett,

The currently recording items are clickable and it will take you the to program details screen.

[Brett]

Originally posted by mlbdude
The currently recording items are clickable and it will take you the to program details screen. Can you make it jump directly to the video instead? If I want the options for that particular recording I can always hit the option button. More than likely I would just want to watch the show.

-Brett

[Alex0230]

Hmmmmm, is it possible for STV's to have .properties or .ini's for such settings?

mlbdudestv.properties:

Main_Menu\Current_Record_Jump_Video=False ;goes to program details

[mike_orst]

When with this version be release. This skin is so much nicer then the standard skin, i'm looking forward to updating my system.

[mlbdude]

I have a long weekend coming up so I would guess toward the end of that.

[bradsjm]

I don't know if it can be done but can we get audio feedback on menu selections? Since I'm using NetRemote with a PDA there is no feedback from the touchscreen so I'd actually like some audio "clicks".

[Sweep]

just saw release 1.4 in one word: GREAT

[mlbdude]

Just to let everyone know that is on this thread, you can try out this new look. The download is up at HTPCNews.com.

http://htpcnews.com/forums/index.php?download=9

At some point I will make the download available from here too.

[thatdude90210]

I'm trying it now on a client machine. Looks great, I like the style and colors.

[IVB]

FYI: I got your 1.4 working just fine with my ripped DVD collection on my SageTVClient, as soon as I put MlbDude2.stv in, I can no longer see my video collection. If I edit and go back to MlbDude.stv, the DVD collection is back, so I know that it's either 2.0 or something funny about how I've got my box setup.

[kny3twalker]

you should really add all the features of 1.4 to the new look

[kny3twalker]

the main menu window for watching tV does not quite work

[meekell]

The main menu worked correctly for me. However, in the full guide if live tv hasn't been started, when selecting a show I get the audio but don't get the picture in the upper right corner. The picture in the guide seems functional if tv is already running but the tv image isn't always fit to the box correctly. It seems to be offset by a few pixels. You're probably already aware of all this.

Great job! It's going to be a instant classic...
________
MoustureSquirt cam (http://camslivesexy.com/cam/MoustureSquirt)

[kny3twalker]

I get audio so it is just buggy
would be nice to hear from mlbdude about it though
it is alpha also

[jglev]

Would it be possible to have a "new" icon (maybe a filled green circle with an N in the middle) or the word "New" in the Sage TV Recordings like TiVo has? This way you could quickly look at the list of recordings and see what has been newly recorded and hasn't been watched. After it has been watched, the word or the icon would go away, and you would be left with the italacized title to know it has been watched (the way Sage does it now).

Also, is there any way with Studio to give Sage a DVD/Tivo/BTV type FF and REW function instead of the jump forward or back (but retaining the Skip forward or back)?

Thanks,

[mlbdude]

Here is an update to correct the preview video not fitting the box correctly. Nothing else has changed.

http://download.sage.tv/~mlbdude/MlbDude2_Alpha_Preview2.zip

Also, I am looking for more or better images to use for the menu items (lower right images) on the main menus. Main menus include "Main Menu", "Schedule Recordings", "Media Library & DVD", and "Setup".

Thanks!

[kny3twalker]

thanks Bro
I appreciate that one

[thatdude90210]

A bug, the volume can only go down with the remote and keyboard but not up, I can only raise it back up by dragging the volume bar with the mouse.

[mikejaner]

Good job MlbDude!!

I just installed this skin on my system tonight, and so far so good. Everything seems to work well. I think the transparent mode on the 350 output looks very nice.

thatdude90210, I can raise and lower the volume with no problem. Do you have a more specific circumstance?

[thatdude90210]

Originally posted by mikejaner
thatdude90210, I can raise and lower the volume with no problem. Do you have a more specific circumstance?
I see it in both my server and client (while watching live or recorded), both very difference configs. One is using the onboard sound + wireless keyboard + hauppauge remote and the other is a client using an Audigy2 soundcard with girder + wired keyboard + lola remote. Both won't go up in volume with either keyboard or remote, but can be dragged with mouse pointer.

Add: I just tried it on my laptop, same problem.

[mikejaner]

I would double check your command mapping to the volume up in the commands section. Sounds dumb, but I sometimes get messed up by simple things like that.

[thatdude90210]

I think you're on to something here. "Right/Volume up" the combined command, is still binded to Ctrl+Right no longer works, that's the one I normally use for keyboard and remote binding. But "Volume up" the solo command, is binded to Ctrl+R and that still works. I guess I'll use that one at least for now.

[mlbdude]

This is probably an old bug I fixed in my other skin. I bet it works fine when the mini-guide is not up but if the mini-guide is up some commands don't work (volume one way was one).

When I get some time all the bug fixes and features of the regular 1.4 skin will go into this one.

[mikejaner]

ok, I've tested for the past day and have found some similar issues with your original skin.
My 350 output stops working after a random amount of time while watching LiveTV. If I reload Sage, it comes back up, so it's not a hard lock. Like with your previous skin, I notice the timebar or information screen randomly during liveTV and may have something to do with the freeze. If I keep the screen on the main menu with the normal background, everything is fine and the interface doesn't lock up. I will do some further testing later this weekend.

I love this skin though. I can imagine this one becoming a default if the lockups go away.

[mlbdude]

The Timebar popping up and not going away was fixed for the 1.4 version. I am sure it exists in here.

I would hope when the backed is corrected for the 350 that the front end stuff should just start to work.

[danward79]

I like your new skin, but would really like to be able to change the background image to match the rest of my HTPC.

I tried to swap the background.png for a background.jpg, it did not work.

Dan

[mlbdude]

Originally posted by danward79
I like your new skin, but would really like to be able to change the background image to match the rest of my HTPC.

I tried to swap the background.png for a background.jpg, it did not work.

Dan

You can rename your background.jpg to background.png and it should work. Just make sure you do it while Sage is not running.

[mlbdude]

With the new beta I started a new sticky thread.

Have fun.

http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5755