View Full Version : Do you want to help create the next big skin for XBMC?
I'm looking for people in the community to help me put together the next big skin for XBMC. Over the next couple of weeks I will put together a few concept screens.
<<Update 4/22/09>>
I have posted a few concept screens for the home page layout. The TV Shows and Music section would follow the submenu layout presented in the Movies pics as well. I would see it as you press right when the movies, tv shows, or music section is highlighted and this brings up the submenu with the first option highlighted. Then simply press left to bring you back to the main menu.
I hope you guys like these first group of concept screens. I will be leaving town the head to the beach in Florida for the weekend, so I won't get anymore work done after Friday morning. Hopefully I can put together some views for a few of the sections tomorrow.
Please leave comments about these concepts and if you are interested in joining this project, PM me and we can get this project going.
<<Update 4/23/09>>
Added Time Capsule view for the music section. There are two concept shots for this view. The view would work similar to the iphone coverflow interface. You would scroll through to an album then when selected it would flip, revealing the song list.
Home Screen - Movies Selected
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5401/homescreen.jpg
Home Screen - Movies submenu
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8797/homescreenmoviesubmenu.jpg
Home Screen
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2667/homescreentv.jpg
Home Screen
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3817/homescreenmusic.jpg
Time Capsule View - Albums
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4363/musictimecapsuleviewalb.jpg
Time Capsule View - Song List
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9461/musictimecapsuleviewson.jpg
Music Info
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9054/musicalbuminfo.jpg
Home Screen
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5246/homescreenpicsp.jpg
Home Screen w/ conditional weather fanart and popup 5 day forecast
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2867/homescreenweather.jpg
Home Screen
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2816/homescreensettings.jpg
is the lack of response because no one is interested in putting their name on this project? I'm just curious. I know we have amazingly talented people in this community. I'm just very interested in what you all think about this idea.
I think that most of the regular and more experienced skinners are too busy with their own projects. Besides that, developing a skin following a design set by someone else is quite a different trade. Most skinners around here aren't necessarily coders or designers but both. Probably even more design orientated than code orientated. The coding is the tool to bring your designs and ideas into reality :) I think most skinners prefer to execute their own visions. Note though that is merely my assumption, and I can only speak for myself.
thanks for the response. This is what i was looking to find out. I really wanted to have open forum from all who would have been selected for this team. I have no ideas coming in to this. I really just wanted to get designers to bring in their style. Everyone would have input on features.
I'm going to have to assume based on Jeroen's response and also the lack of responses by over 800 views, that this project is of no interest to the community.
I suppose we can consider this thread done, unless I get major objection.
jmarshall
2009-04-16, 03:34
I think it's fair to say that the vast majority of those 800 views were hoping that there were some pictures to look at :p
Perhaps if you change the thread title to something more appropriate you may have some success?
Cheers,
Jonathan
NineT9mustang
2009-04-16, 07:20
^ lol thats why i came in here, thought some revolutionary skin was coming from out of no where
My apologies. I guess it was my attempt at getting peoples attention. Sorry to be misleading in any way. As I stated in previous posts, I just wanted to get a team together to brainstorm ideas for skinning and then hopefully be able to put out a product with the quality of Aeon or Mediastream. Once again, sorry if i have misled anyone at all.
Maybe an admin could change the title to, Do you want to help create the next big skin for XBMC?
natethomas
2009-04-16, 07:35
Ditto. A much better title would have been: "Help me make the next great skin" or "Need some coders and graphic designers" or even "I like being in charge of projects without actually contributing."
That last one describes me well!
The name has been changed. hopefully all confusion has been cleared up.
@keeganl
Don't get your hopes high but I'm a C++ newbie (19 yers old) and I'm also interested in learning XML so I'm in if you find someone to design (btw I also have a few design "original" ideas) and an experienced skinner (someone that has at least made a mod for a xbmc skin) I'm in. And yeah you should contribute in some way. PM me with your contacts and I will try contacting you by email or - preferable - IM (google, yahoo, microsoft). I don't have much time but if you are willing to contact me we can at least come with some mockups (I guess you can do some graphical editing in PS or Gimp since you started this thread).
skunkm0nkee
2009-04-21, 09:27
Good luck with this, it sounds very reminiscent of how we started MediaStream.
I would probably change the wording of the first post if I were you though as the brief outline is too restrictive imo. What I took from that post was that the designer and you will drive the project and the coders will be there to implement small chunks of the skin. Not too attractive a proposition for any coders I fear.
It's probably a better idea to define what you want to achieve (a great skin etc) and not go into how you're going to achieve it until you have some other people on board who can help define that. As mentioned above, a lot of skin contributors are a mix of designers and coders with specialist skills (usually) in one or other of those spheres.
Don't give up hope if you don't get a flood of volunteers in the early stages as I'm sure there will come a time when designers/coders will be looking for a project to work on. It's just that the percentage of contributors to users is going to be pretty small so it may take some time.
It's all about timing I guess as you just need a few mockups of a nice design idea and a coder who is inspired by that idea to get a project properly kickstarted. Other designers and coders will no doubt join in if they are similarly inspired and can see something coming together.
All the best! :grin:
The first post has been updated with a few concept screens, so give em a look.
Very impressive concept, only thing i dislike is the font used.
Very impressive concept, only thing i dislike is the font used.
Thanks for the comments. These screens are only used to attract people to this project. I expect that if or when people join in that things will change significantly based on the ideas other members bring to this project.
I have also updated the first post again. This time adding a Time Capsule View. A screen for song list is also added. Check out the first post to see the most up to date concept shots
Home Screen
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3817/homescreenmusic.jpg
Time Capsule View - Albums
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4363/musictimecapsuleviewalb.jpg
Time Capsule View - Song List
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9461/musictimecapsuleviewson.jpg
@keeganl
I like the fond and I see that you have a direction regarding the style, which is good.
I like the Time capsule view, especially combined with list (and I also like the vignette you used on time capsule view).
The critique: I don't like the colors that much but the that should be decided when more feedback comes. I like the fact that it is clean but I'm not sure that I like the minimalistic style of it. I'm not against minimalism but I know that there are [in development] some skins (MiniMeedia, Serenity, xTV, maybe other ones) and i don't think that another one is needed, or is worth developing since this skins are [will be] niche ones (@keeganl you said you want something like MediaStream or Aeon - the next big thing for xbmc skins - so I guess that something more complex, that addresses more users). If you don't want a minimalistic skin than you have a lot of wasted space in especially in the home screen and the time capsule view.
Anyhow the design looks good visually and the layout can be tweaked if you want. We should receive more feedback on this.
PS: I am working on some mock-ups of my own for this project (which I understand that is firstly a brainstorming and secondly a project). It is a slow process because I'm not so good with graphic editing tools. I will use your idea for the home screen with some tweaking.
PPS: keeganl you should ask the moderator to move this thread to the developer forums since it is still so conceptual. There are more skins under development, and even more concepts out there and that's why it would be a good for feedback imo.
I agree with you 100% about the minimalist approach. I think it's because I created the style of Serenity and that is the only other skin I have designed, therefore that mentality is carrying over a little bit. I'm trying to incorporate more elements, but I have a fear of it all becoming cluttered. I can't wait to see your mock-ups. Hopefully we can put together an actual team and get the ideas flowing. I have a few, but I always do well when bouncing ideas back and forth. It really helps develop ideas into something great. Thanks for the input again.
Would an admin please move this thread over to the developmental section, please?
I have posted a music info screen back on the first page, fourth post. This will be the last update until at least tuesday as I'm heading to the beach tonight after I get off of work. Work will resume next week.
A little concept. Home screen only
I was glad to join this Keeganl in this because I'm new to XBMC skinning and interface design. So I have started to work on this because I have promised Keeganl I would.
For now I'll show only the Home screen because work is going slow because I lack the experience [and the tools] a designer needs, because I want some feedback from you guys, and because I want to start synchronizing the workflow with Keeganl (Keeglan I guess you've read my PM).
I think I have chosen a bad time to start this thing with djh's crazy stuff in
Aeon Stark and Auriga and what Ellipsis is showing already bot anyway, here it is. I hope that you'll give some feedback (the critique is moust important to me).
http://0o1qda.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pHJxNQ6ul5KUuAb-_J9sjz4cBX-62Zqt_PqqvYoWDvD57LFK009NznM1z8rB5UJvqfgpFox_qm_wi YR0yYfcn_swewraePIFS/Unnamed_XBMC_Skin_Home_Movies_1.png
PS: I will continue to work at this and more mock-ups will be uploaded (by myself or by keeganl) in the next weekend. Until that time I hope you'll tell me what you think about it (this mock-up is just n early concept).
PPS: I apologize for my English.
manturafs
2009-04-27, 17:18
this new one looks too busy. what i like about the original mockups is the clean and simple look. you definitely don't need the filmstrip and the color shadows and accents are too much as well.
i would focus on replicating those as much as possible. just a background image with an overlay rss and a simple gray menu overlay is what i was expecting. that'd be awesome!
I am taking a step back from this project. I am putting this thing in your hands. The purpose here is to put together a skinning team. I will keep an eye on this thread and i will be checking pm's. If you are interested in this project or being a part of a skinning team, post your ideas, or pm me if you are a coder.
As far as my concepts go, what is on the first page of this thread is all I will be doing for a while.
Take care guys and I look forward to seeing your work here.
XBMCG33K
2009-04-28, 21:17
Could use some help here coding side: http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49889
dang, did I just get thread jacked? I think so. Check out the serenity thread and PM DigitalHigh. He worked out info view that was triggered by a button press on Serenity that would flow well with this design. Scroll through movies, then press right and the info would pop out. At least that is what it looks like in the pick. Either way talk to him. He might be of some help.
XBMCG33K
2009-04-29, 06:07
keeganl (http://xbmc.org/forum/member.php?u=34158) was not trying to jack, just seeing if you'd be interested. :P
Gotcha. I wish i knew how to code. I would definately lend a helping hand.
I was joking about thread jacking. I'm just happy to have people in my thread period. :-)
Good luck with the coding. If I can help you in any other way I would be more than happy to, but coding is one thing i've got no clue about. I can do graphics and I have the ability to test on mac and xbox.
Once again, good luck
darkrogi
2009-04-30, 06:59
i tried to code the time capsule by my own, but, i dont know how to show the other album preview cover in song list, & i cant put on the fanart, i think than the music fanart is not possible yet, any ideas?
that´s my preresults
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7772/71759709.jpg
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9577/73547251.jpg
Wow, I think the idea is definitely there. Plus I love the taste in music. Amon Amarth is sick.
darkrogi
2009-05-01, 03:50
wow men, are you offend the heavy metal music?? i dont understand very good the english
Sorry sick is a good thing. I like amon amarth a lot. They are very good.
darkrogi
2009-05-01, 08:28
ok men, iam a fan, Viking RulesĦĦĦ, well i need more ideas for this skin, and help for my prototype.
darkrogi
2009-05-08, 07:15
come on guys there is no more ideas?
come on guys there is no more ideas?
I will remake mine but now I have to prepare for my exams. I will make it less cluttered this time. I promise.
I have ideas for one new special view mode for music, pictures, movies, and TV shows and some idea for the classic wall view. Meanwhile, when I have time to spare, I'll learn more about the code stuff behind xbmc skins.