User interface ya-yas

[spandox]

I just installed the beta with the hopes that it would have a better user interface. Wow, was I wrong.

The old user interface was ugly and kludgey. The new one is incomprehensible.

I still haven't figured out how to do many of the basic functions with using a remote.

I admit that I did not read the PDF that came with the software. But is not the point of putting out new versions to not only add features but also improve usablity.

Improvements that could help:
Put back a way to pull up a list of icons that allow you access the features by using the mouse. Perhaps a mouse click on the screen could do something.

Allow overlay and continued played regaurdless of where I am in the interface. I like that I can see the little window while watching the guide - what about while doing other things - like from the "home"

The Guide: I like that my scroll wheel does not move by page but my channel - makes more sense. But why not allow me to go to an arbitrary date - I also seemed to lose the ability to skip ahead in time - I am sure there is a key - would an arrow have hurt? Why can't I double-click the little image to pop it full screen? What is the sense of right click removing my guide window?

TV mode: Give me some controls that I can access through the screen - maybe a left click could give me an overlay?

[EncoderHouse]

you do kno wthis is a beta?

save the

"I just installed the beta with the hopes that it would have a better user interface. Wow, was I wrong."

and the

"I admit that I did not read the PDF "

for the release! sorry but your remark, don't add up!

[Opus4]

The beta isn't complete. It was noted long ago that full mouse support is one of the incomplete items.

The manual is another incomplete item. As far as I know, the PDF manual that gets installed with it is for v1.4... at least mine is.

- Andy

[msm]

True the manual is old. But the readme that comes with the beta clearly states that mouse control has not been put in yet. Why not actually read the stuff before posting "i havn't read the docs but....." It would save eveyone time...

Sorry i'm tired, but this is about the 10th i cant use the mouse thread......not suprising when you RTFM

[gplasky]

[spandox]

Please don't dismiss the note. True - I start by saying the UI sucks - but then I go on and make concrete suggestions on how it can be improved. This was not a I Can't use the mouse. This was a the UI needs works.

The test for a package like this should be something along the lines of this: Get someone who has at least a working knowledge of computers (can open word and write a memo) put them somewhere in your software and ask them to do a simple task: Watch "The Price is Right" or set the system to record "ER" tonight - it airs at 9pm on channel 8- If it takes them more than 30 seconds to get to the right place - your UI is not up to snuff.

[Opus4]

I was going to suggest reading the release notes on the beta download page, but I noticed that it doesn't contain the notes that accompanied the original beta release. (It is a _great_ idea to read those release notes anyway.)

You can make suggestions by filing a bug report & offering a suggestion instead of a bug. The UI, as with the rest of SageTV, is in a state of flux and is being modified as the beta process moves along.

- Andy

[fidget]

Originally posted by spandox
Please don't dismiss the note. True - I start by saying the UI sucks - but then I go on and make concrete suggestions on how it can be improved. This was not a I Can't use the mouse. This was a the UI needs works.

It also depends on what you are looking for in a UI. My evaluation criteria is comparing it to my old TiVo. Can I do everything that I want with the remote? Sure as shooting, I can. My guess, and it's only a guess, is that the mouse interaction is being put on the back burner because they already know how to do that (as version 1.4 shows).

What they have been been working on is incorporating the additional functionality and cleaning up the UI for use in a set top box (PVR-350 UI support, remote control, etc.). Once all, or at least most, of the functionality is in place then the icons can be developed and the functionality can be applied. The last thing that anyone wants is to have the UI constantly churning as functionality is added.

[falchulk]

Your post has been made 30 times by other people. Nothing new here. The interface is perfectly usable if you try.

[m0ng00se30]

I agree with falchulk... I adapted to the UI a lot easier with V2 than I did with v1. It still has is quirks... but my wife has picked it up rather easily Sooo that has to say something about the interface, but everyone has their own opinions about things! Thanks for the comments, and suggestions!

[pawn]

Originally posted by spandox
Please don't dismiss the note. True - I start by saying the UI sucks - but then I go on and make concrete suggestions on how it can be improved. This was not a I Can't use the mouse. This was a the UI needs works.

The problem you have is your approach. Beta software is Beta software.

There have already been very major changes to the UI since the inital release (a little over 2 weeks ago) based on helpful and calm user feedback. Specifically the preview window and Sage Recordings options.

If you weren't ready for usability problems, I would suggest that Beta software isn't for you.

[gplasky]

But it seemed to mostly mouse complaints. (Which was addressed in read me/release notes and various places in the forum)

Put back a way to pull up a list of icons that allow you access the features by using the mouse. Perhaps a mouse click on the screen could do something.

Mouse-Based.

Allow overlay and continued played regaurdless of where I am in the interface. I like that I can see the little window while watching the guide - what about while doing other things - like from the "home"

Need to file a bug report for suggestions. Significant work/changes have already be done for this. Should be changable with Studio also.

I like that my scroll wheel does not move by page but my channel - makes more sense. But why not allow me to go to an arbitrary date - I also seemed to lose the ability to skip ahead in time - I am sure there is a key - would an arrow have hurt? Why can't I double-click the little image to pop it full screen? What is the sense of right click removing my guide window?

Arbitary date: Good suggestion-file bug report
Skip ahead-currently there. Works with remote and keyboard. Check list of commands in program.
Double-click: Mouse-based

Give me some controls that I can access through the screen - maybe a left click could give me an overlay?

Mouse-Based.

All suggestions need to be filed as bug reports-best way to get their attention. Read-mes and release notes are readily available. Above all-it's beta. Things won't work and things will change. Good luck with your testing.

Gerry

[Brett]

Originally posted by spandox
This was not a I Can't use the mouse. This was a the UI needs works.

Why not use Studio, oh wait...

[Cayars]

Customer call: My mouse doesn't seem to do anything.

Rep says: Mouse? pauses and says:. I think you called the wrong company. We here at Tivo don't support a mouse, only a remote. I think you meant to call ReplayTV...

Customer calls ReplayTV and asks again why the mouse isn't working. Rep answers that the R&D department did a study of 1000 users and found that none of them could get the "foot pedal" to work so they dropped support of it and went back to the remote.

kidding a side

Be patient and let these guys do there thing. It's getting better every beta release.

Be thankful that Sage even supports the mouse. Remember they were the only company (that mattered) to do so when no one else was/is doing it. The main "software" competition only recently added this feature because they too thought no one needed a mouse on a TV set.

I almost wished there was no mouse support at all in the beta until they were ready to add it. I at least could read about a 1/3 less posts.

This is turning into one nice product. I can't wait to see what the next beta release brings!

Carlo

[pawn]

Originally posted by Cayars
Be thankful that Sage even supports the mouse. Remember they were the only company (that mattered) to do so when no one else was/is doing it. The main "software" competition only recently added this feature because they too thought no one needed a mouse on a TV set.


The irony is that *with* mouse support (i.e., with version 1.4.10) , me and my wife usually just reverted to using the wireless mous on the coffee table, which always bothered me since I have a great remote setup with everything required to run Sage. The mouse on a coffee seems inelegant to be.

Now that we're forced to use the remote, I'm not entirely unhappy about it. ;^)

The only drawback is trying to troubleshoot bugs, the mouse is the way to go.

[MarcusInMd]

Good grief.

I think this interface is wonderful! To each his own. If someone cannot figure out how to do this

Watch "The Price is Right" or set the system to record "ER" tonight - it airs at 9pm on channel 8

Then perhaps this software is a little too complicated for them and they should go back to using the old style of TV viewing. I.E. Waiting for the program to air and watching it.

Geeze. This is the most logical and easy to use DVR I have ever used! It took my wife and I about 1 minute of scrolling through the menus to find EVERYTHING we would ever need to watch EVERYTHING that we watch. And we have a dual tuner setup that is recording off a digital HDTV settop box AND a c-Band Satellite dish. We are not even using the PVR-250 tuners. Just their S-Video inputs. We had been using v 1.4.10 for about a month or two prior to receiving the beta.