SageTV evolution is dead

[valnar]

UI can be a personal preference, but I do think Sage should include some of the popular custom functionality in the base install - like commercial skipping. Until features like that are in the "base" install, then Sage can't officially promote that as a feature to prospective buyers. Saying that is an option through customization is not good enough. Most new users want to know what Sage will do out of the box.

Having a few extra official STV/skins would help too. Maybe SageMC, maybe something else.

Just my 2 cents.

Robert

[sam99]

Vista MCE, you either like it or you don't...

Sage UI, you either like it...or you change it.

I look at Sage as a DIY HTPC project (as most others here seem to do). I was never once misled to believe that it was going to meet all of my needs for a home TV viewing network out of the box with just plug and play set up required. I can put as much time and effort in to making it exactly what I want or I can load it as is and let it be or I can leech off the time and effort others have so helpfully shared through their own customizations . But the option is there to get out of it what you put in to it.

Of course, I get the feeling that what the original thread poster really meant to type was "What do you like most about Sage over Vista MCE".

[sleonard]

Originally Posted by valnar

UI can be a personal preference, but I do think Sage should include some of the popular custom functionality in the base install - like commercial skipping. Until features like that are in the "base" install, then Sage can't officially promote that as a feature to prospective buyers. Saying that is an option through customization is not good enough. Most new users want to know what Sage will do out of the box.

Having a few extra official STV/skins would help too. Maybe SageMC, maybe something else.

Just my 2 cents.

Robert

1) The commercial skipping feature that Sage advertises is not the Comskip/Showanalyzer add-ons but the 10 second and 2 1/2 minute skip buttons that are included in the default, out-of-the-box software.

2) They are smart enough to never include the Comskip/Showanalyzer add-ins in the default install and thereby avoiding the near certain possibility of being sued out of existance by the networks

3) Your point is still valid concerning some of the other add-ins. Just not commercial skipping.

S

[valnar]

Originally Posted by sleonard

3) Your point is still valid concerning some of the other add-ins. Just not commercial skipping.

Sigh... Understood.

-Robert

[DFranch]

I've used Sage since version 2. At some point I began having problems with microstutter and decided to try MCE 2005. I used MCE for about 1 year and the whole time I kept wishing I had the flexibility that Sage had. While Sage is not as visually smooth and flashy as MCE I find that the menu's are better laid out give me more information and are much more flexible than MCE ever thought of being. I'll sacrifice flash over functionality any day. By the way I switched back to Sage a couple of months ago, and I could not be happier. And for the guy who started this thread, If the only thing you have to complain about is the UI, then Sage must work pretty well, why not just be happy about it.

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by valnar

...I do think Sage should include some of the popular custom functionality in the base install...

In fact many of the features in the stock UI originated as add-ons, and I have no doubt that this trend will continue.

But the OP isn't talking about new functionality. The many features added since V4 don't count as "evolution" to him. What he wants is a purely cosmetic UI makeover -- something he could easily do himself with the new V6 theme mechanism.

[evilpenguin]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

What he wants is a purely cosmetic UI makeover -- something he could easily do himself with the new V6 theme mechanism.

Well i'd say thats a bit of an over simplification. He could swap out the images easily, but the new theme system doesn't magically generate stylish new images to replace the old ones. I too think that Sage needs to step up and hire a gfx artist to generate some cool new themes... not everyone loves blue

[DFranch]

I have not used Vista MCE, but I'm willing to bet that it is not nearly as customizable as Sage. I don't have a problem with flashy UI gimicks, but would rather see development go toward bug fixes and new features at this point.

Other than MCE, are the interfaces of other applications really that much better than Sage? I say other than MCE because Microsoft has more money than god to throw at 100 UI designers, of course it will be flashier than Sage. It's not enough that Sage beats MCE in the features department, it is also supposed to have a flashier interface than MS as well? Is BTV's interface better than Sage? The last time I tried BTV you had to start an external module to configure most things. I assume that is no longer the case.

I haven't used anything but MCE 2005 and Sage. MCE still does not have more features than Sage has, they have flashier features than Sage does. Try to create a list of series premiers in MCE, or a customized view of upcomming recordings, can't do it in MCE.

Sorry if I'm venting. I spent 1 year using MCE 2005 and I could not wait until I finally cleared all of the MCE recordings so I could switch back. Flash is great but without features it just looks pretty.

[lotusvball]

Originally Posted by evilpenguin

Well i'd say thats a bit of an over simplification. He could swap out the images easily, but the new theme system doesn't magically generate stylish new images to replace the old ones. I too think that Sage needs to step up and hire a gfx artist to generate some cool new themes... not everyone loves blue

I have replaced all of my icons and background and selection bar myself by using the new theme option in V6. Also with Dynamic menus I even changed the menus around to my liking. All this without any programing necessary.

[ybrew]

Originally Posted by lotusvball

I have replaced all of my icons and background and selection bar myself by using the new theme option in V6. Also with Dynamic menus I even changed the menus around to my liking. All this without any programing necessary.

Ok. I guess I should really play with this now.
Is there a link around here with a primer? I'll search, but if anyone has it handy...

[ybrew]

Originally Posted by ybrew

Ok. I guess I should really play with this now.
Is there a link around here with a primer? I'll search, but if anyone has it handy...

Here ya go...

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...=create+themes

[ybrew]

Ok, those themes are seriously cool. I really need to play with them some more.
If you don't like the default UI, you've got all the tools necessary to spruce it up easily to your liking.

This is gonna keep me busy for awhile!

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by evilpenguin

Well i'd say thats a bit of an over simplification. He could swap out the images easily, but the new theme system doesn't magically generate stylish new images to replace the old ones. I too think that Sage needs to step up and hire a gfx artist to generate some cool new themes... not everyone loves blue

My feeling is that if people want the UI to be "fresh" or "cool" or "stylish", the burden is on them to spell out by example what they think that means. Just as a picture is worth a thousand words, a sample theme is a thousand times more constructive than "it sucks, make it better."

[ybrew]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

My feeling is that if people want the UI to be "fresh" or "cool" or "stylish", the burden is on them to spell out by example what they think that means. Just as a picture is worth a thousand words, a sample theme is a thousand times more constructive than "it sucks, make it better."

I'm rather suprised more themes aren't available for download. I'm talking user-created themes.
If I get any good at modifying my theme, I'll upload it.

[Crashless]

Originally Posted by ybrew

I'm rather suprised more themes aren't available for download. I'm talking user-created themes.
If I get any good at modifying my theme, I'll upload it.

I've actually pretty surprised as well. The default STV is very versatile in accepting new looks, and it's not _that_ difficult.

[bcjenkins]

Perhaps all that is needed is a contest of some sorts.. Keep is simple, best theme, best stvi + theme to match (to take advantage of some animations?) but has to be developed for default STV.

B

[ybrew]

I'm almost done with mine.

My 'complaint' above was that the highlight bar was difficult to see and I wanted something a bit more 'dramatic'.

I did download this: hmca-highlitebars.zip
and I'm modifying it slightly. I'm at work, so can't spend much time with it now. But I will tonight.

I don't want any question as to where the highlight bar is in Sage Recordings or the Program Guide. I'll probably keep most of the default, but make the highlight bar a graduated red color, using powerpoint to make the graduation.
That, or I'll just google for some designs I like and cut and paste.

This will make the WAF even higher!

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by ybrew

Here ya go...

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...=create+themes

Appendix O of the manual covers themes too, in case I added any extra info there.

- Andy

[flavius]

Originally Posted by Julianus

This thread is to draw atention to evolution of SageTV, mainly that there is none.
SageTV has new releases but the changes are only bug fixes. No significant changes.

This is nonsense.

[briands]

Anyone notice the OP posting history? Seems to pop in every 6 months or so to voice his displeasure and then disappears.