You can have three new views. Discuss.

[djh_]

Aeon lets you choose from four views in each window. One of those, List, is currently being redesigned. Another, Panel, has been removed, creating a vacancy. I want this to be a media-specific slot that has a unique view for Movies, Music, and Pictures.

So I want to know what your ideal view for each of these would be. Don't worry about other layouts within Aeon - just imagine your perfect solution. Be as detailed as possible, and I'll try and gauge what the best and most popular choice is for each.

No cheating.

[LaTropa64]

I'm not going to miss the panel view. It seemed kind of pointless since showcase does everything it could and more.

[Genetikal]

well since you asked, i really like that filmstrip movies view 2nd last one
(perhaps some sort of filmstrip for pictures? idk)
http://aeonproject.com/images/history.jpg

[Beatzeps08]

Maybe it could be possible to define the view for the media-specific slot in the settings for every media-type. So there could be a list of views which can fill out this slot. In this case, the Panel view could stay as an optional view for this slot...Don't know if its possible, but I like the imagination to be more independant of the four-view-limitation.

[rudeboyx]

shame, i actually prefered panel for certain sections - ie games and artists

[natew]

Well, ideally there would be seperate views for Artists/Albums/Songs as well..

That said, I like MediaStream's "Albums" view quite a bit, which is essentially a list view with small thumbnails for each entry, and then a larger Album Art image with details to the right.

As far as artists/songs views, the revamped list view looks to be rather well suited for them already, so seperate views aren't completely essential. I just don't like having to choose between seeing album titles or album covers. :)

[babyface]

djh, do you have a basic psd file you could share with us to mess around with?

[ethan_9219]

@DJH, I've been hoping for a great view for pictures for a long time. Ideally, the view would be in library mode, but obviously there isn't an image library at the moment.

I'd love to throw around and sketch up some ideas for pictures views. But, what are the limitations, in terms of browsing (EXIF data, tags/keywords etc.)?

[mxxx]

i think for movies it's nice to have a bit of the movie information visible while scrolling through your list. so you can quickly check the synopsis, director, lead actors without having to hit the info button. how you work that in with covers and fan art, i'm not sure. i'd never used fanart until i started using stark, the implementation in showcase is perfect.

[c411um]

the original aeon showcase view with info screen appearing after a couple of seconds, with slightly smaller thumbnails in "flat mode" to maybe add one or possibly two more thumbnails in the view and increase the fanart viewing size all smothered in jam

[natethomas]

I don't know how specific you want, so I figured I'd throw an idea I have in the ring. I am no artist, and I have no background in graphic design, so if I am violating an time honored traditions, my bad.

My idea is pretty simple. I'd like to have a spinning wheel with banners that don't take up much room on the lower left corner, and a larger selected banner on the up right. Like so:


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemIwXOrHNI/AAAAAAAAASI/Y2Xr6T_kT-Q/s320/Movie+selection.jpg (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemIwXOrHNI/AAAAAAAAASI/Y2Xr6T_kT-Q/s1600-h/Movie+selection.jpg)



Obviously, this can all be reversed. In fact, it may be better flipped.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemLeN3inwI/AAAAAAAAASY/qn4f8PB3brk/s320/Movie+selection+flip.jpg (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemLeN3inwI/AAAAAAAAASY/qn4f8PB3brk/s1600-h/Movie+selection+flip.jpg)



The reason being, I think it would then be cool if the selected picture grew into the info page picture, while the info page slid in from the right, while all the old info faded away, alpha style.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemJ4z3MZDI/AAAAAAAAASQ/WFWKX8zuTwk/s320/Movie+info+shift.jpg (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemJ4z3MZDI/AAAAAAAAASQ/WFWKX8zuTwk/s1600-h/Movie+info+shift.jpg)
NOTE: I don't know how to draw a "fade away."

Anyway, that's my concept. It's probably not nearly professional enough for Aeon, but I figured I'd show it.

[Hasselstrom]

I miss a more dedicated poster-viewing-view. Like the Showcase view but with the posters centered and blown up much more. I find the posters too small as it is now, even on my 1080p 46" screen. I look at the poster when I'm selecting a movie, not the fanart.
That's my suggestion.

(Mayby there can be an option on showcase view for this instead of a totally new view.)

[Hauser]

Maybe it could be possible to define the view for the media-specific slot in the settings for every media-type. So there could be a list of views which can fill out this slot. In this case, the Panel view could stay as an optional view for this slot...Don't know if its possible, but I like the imagination to be more independant of the four-view-limitation.

Agreed, no one view is going to satisfy everyone, and it would be great if people could add new views from mods etc. without losing the old ones.

[pletopia]

I don't know how specific you want, so I figured I'd throw an idea I have in the ring. I am no artist, and I have no background in graphic design, so if I am violating an time honored traditions, my bad.

My idea is pretty simple. I'd like to have a spinning wheel with banners that don't take up much room on the lower left corner, and a larger selected banner on the up right. Like so:


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemIwXOrHNI/AAAAAAAAASI/Y2Xr6T_kT-Q/s320/Movie+selection.jpg (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemIwXOrHNI/AAAAAAAAASI/Y2Xr6T_kT-Q/s1600-h/Movie+selection.jpg)



Obviously, this can all be reversed. In fact, it may be better flipped.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemLeN3inwI/AAAAAAAAASY/qn4f8PB3brk/s320/Movie+selection+flip.jpg (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemLeN3inwI/AAAAAAAAASY/qn4f8PB3brk/s1600-h/Movie+selection+flip.jpg)



The reason being, I think it would then be cool if the selected picture grew into the info page picture, while the info page slid in from the right, while all the old info faded away, alpha style.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemJ4z3MZDI/AAAAAAAAASQ/WFWKX8zuTwk/s320/Movie+info+shift.jpg (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XgaqSPkNCJM/SemJ4z3MZDI/AAAAAAAAASQ/WFWKX8zuTwk/s1600-h/Movie+info+shift.jpg)
NOTE: I don't know how to draw a "fade away."

Anyway, that's my concept. It's probably not nearly professional enough for Aeon, but I figured I'd show it.
thats a pretty kewl idea .. but did you mean banners or posters ??

[anoobie]

i think for movies it's nice to have a bit of the movie information visible while scrolling through your list. so you can quickly check the synopsis, director, lead actors without having to hit the info button. how you work that in with covers and fan art, i'm not sure. i'd never used fanart until i started using stark, the implementation in showcase is perfect.

I agree with this. I like showcase view but at the same time I also want some movie info so this is my temporary solution:
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4439/screenshot000dfn.png

[RazorFR]

Please TheDevil come and rescue us! Most important thing IMHO should be to preserve the overhaul feeling of the skin which despite being sophisticated just look amazingly simple and clean. Or maybe we can look at what has been done in Mediastream (TV Season/Episode views), which is maybe one of the most achieved skin as far as views are concerned.

[eriksmith200]

probably wouldn't work (might for music) and be way to complicated, but a tag cloud thing could be interesting

http://www.blog.sizzla-media.co.uk/wp-content/uploads//lowndes-fig2-400px.gif

[ethan_9219]

probably wouldn't work (might for music) and be way to complicated, but a tag cloud thing could be interesting

http://www.blog.sizzla-media.co.uk/wp-content/uploads//lowndes-fig2-400px.gif

I was thinking about a tag cloud (more specifically for images in pictures view) but i think it wouldn't be feasible, as well.

I've done a quick sketch in my book of an idea for pictures, but not sure if i should upload or not.

[pete-woods]

I agree with this. I like showcase view but at the same time I also want some movie info so this is my temporary solution:
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4439/screenshot000dfn.png

I like this idea! Definitely I like seeing more metadata, and the showcase stuff at the botton is also cool. So the natural thing is to do as you've done and combine them :laugh:

I think the challenge is to get it so that the "fan art" is proudly displayed, whist also having metadata text on-top of if that is clearly visible. You'll have to do some clever tricks with transparency to give the text a background panel that is mostly transparent, but enough so that text is readable even on a light background.

[pletopia]

I agree with this. I like showcase view but at the same time I also want some movie info so this is my temporary solution:
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4439/screenshot000dfn.png

wow .. this looks really good .. takes showcase view to the next level

[redtapemedia]

What about a media preview type view?

Similiar to MediaStream's, obviously with a bigger poster for the focused item?

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4425/aeonmediapreviewmockup.jpg

[pete-woods]

Please TheDevil come and rescue us! Most important thing IMHO should be to preserve the overhaul feeling of the skin which despite being sophisticated just look amazingly simple and clean. Or maybe we can look at what has been done in Mediastream (TV Season/Episode views), which is maybe one of the most achieved skin as far as views are concerned.

I totally agree about the was tv show/season/episode views work in MediaStream. I would be delighted if Aeon worked in a somewhat similar manner to this. Shame MediaStream doesn't look as pretty as Aeon.

And to continue blabbing about transparency - I think the last guy just got it about spot on.

[Crewone]

wow .. this looks really good .. takes showcase view to the next level

That does indeed look awesome. But the right should be a grey aeon panel, that makes it more in line with the rest I think.

[lestat1977uk]

I agree with crewone, i think this would really add to the already amazing showcase view.

[tknice1]

wow .. this looks really good .. takes showcase view to the next level
Definitely! I've been missing a view that shows info at the same time.

This would be a great addition!

Tom

[eriksmith200]

I agree with RazorFR and pete-woods about the tv show/season/episode views in MediaStream: they work great

[kdm1980]

I agree with RazorFR and pete-woods about the tv show/season/episode views in MediaStream: they work great

I agree 100%. I think the mediastream "wide" view is just perfect for tv series, offering the right mix of info/artwork. Personally I don't care about screenshots in TVseries... most of them do suck anyway...

We just need to 'Aeonize' the textures and some panels, but it would be great to keep both the structure and displayed infos.

[djh_]

Well, adding info to Showcase is something that could done as an option within Showcase, so that wouldn't constitute your fourth view. Same goes for reintroducing the sliding info panel, which I plan to do quite soon.

[Beatzeps08]

Do you think my suggestion on the first page could be realisable?

[redtapemedia]

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7720/hotfuzz.jpg

Something like this for the media info view?

[djh_]

Do you think my suggestion on the first page could be realisable?

It's possible but grotesquely time-consuming. I don't have the time, so I doubt it'll happen.

[parrots]

Can't offer many details, since I don't know why it fell through in the first place, but the tablet-based idea for TV shows was my favorite. I'd throw my vote into getting something similar to it working for TV shows. The new list view will be much better than what we have now, but I think the tablet view would certainly have the wow factor showcase does.

[Nazgulled]

I for one think this is a bad move djh_, in my opinion you shouldn't have created this topic at all, not at the moment, in the future, yes.

This will only generate lots of discussion/confusion and everyone will have different takes on how they want things, that's for sure.

My suggestion? Would be to simply finish the skin... Finish that new list view and leave all the current 4 views like they are and finish the rest of the skin, polish it and etc...

When all that's done, create a thread like this and discuss at will so the skin can be further improved. You want to improve something when it's not even finished, I would say to finish the skin first. There are so many important things that this skin doesn't have yet... For instance, the video playback info and some of the mods out there should be in the skin itself (although optionally and configurable).

Otherwise, the skin will always be somewhat incomplete...

Don't get me wrong, you're doing an wonderful work with Aeon.

[Arvinine]

I agree, Nazgulled. At this point i feel it's more important to have an 'official' 1.0/finished/first complete version of Aeon before jumping into new great adventures.

[Radikaltimes]

I agree with Nazgulled as well

[Hitcher]

Larger image type view using fanart for Movies -

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1909/screenshot002bab.png

Or with Posters -

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/986/screenshot004nkv.png

Same again for TV Shows -

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6081/screenshot000v.png

Large episode thumb -

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2710/screenshot001k.png

Pictures would also benefit from more screen space.

[criti]

just a quick mockup for a more informative view but still having the fanart. pretty much just a combination of the home menu and info panel

http://critikill.info/screenshots/aeonview.jpg

[thrasherx]

Larger image type view using fanart for Movies -

Same again for TV Shows -

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6081/screenshot000v.png

Large episode thumb -

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2710/screenshot001k.png

Pictures would also benefit from more screen space.

What version of Mediastream is this? I'd love to have that view.

[natethomas]

I was about to say we should pick my spinning wheel by default, since no one else was making any suggestions specific to the question, but then Hitcher and criti had to go and spoil it. :p

I still like my idea though. Aeon is by nature an unlayered beast. The panes of glass thing is a MediaStream idea. A good fourth view should attempt to avoid the panes of glass look, maintain a fullscreen backdrop, and cover only a small percentage of the screen with banners.

For that reason, I'm sticking with my spinning wheel. Now I just wish someone who could actually do mock-ups would do one for me, so it didn't look like a 4th grader drawing in the bathroom.

[djh_]

I for one think this is a bad move djh_, in my opinion you shouldn't have created this topic at all, not at the moment, in the future, yes.

This will only generate lots of discussion/confusion and everyone will have different takes on how they want things, that's for sure.

My suggestion? Would be to simply finish the skin... Finish that new list view and leave all the current 4 views like they are and finish the rest of the skin, polish it and etc...

At which point did I suggest this would be happening any time soon?

And please don't tell me which topics I should and shouldn't create.

[Nmarconi]

I always thought it would be cool to have a view that looked like Aeon's home page. Personally, it is my favorite part of the skin and the part that is instantly recognizable as "AEON." There are a ton of challenges that basically make it not very feasable - i tried to overcome the first major one which is horizontal scrolling of titles is a bitch when you have a lot. I havent done too much with the xml files in xbmc skins so i dont know if a letter filer like this is possible - or if it will be enough to overcome the un-userfriendlyness of scrolling titles a few at a time. The other major problem is that generally home screens look different than media screens. This is for good reason - it is nice to know instantly when you are looking at a menu vs. looking at a list. Anyway just my first idea - i have another mockup that i will do up later this weekend. Oh yeah, not sure if you could make this work with TV or music.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/7374/aeonmoviebrainstrom500.jpg

[Beatzeps08]

I think home is home and should't be used as a view. For me its not logical to combine these two because home view should have a superior design that distinguishes itself of the view-designs.

[criti]

now its been a long time since i worked on xbmc, but didn't the devs code a preview movie system like back with MXM where hovering over a file will start playing a trailer or movie clip in a preview window? something like that would be nice to have back.

i.e. hover over a folder for a tv show, and it starts playing the intro credits to the show with the theme music, or hover over a movie and it plays either a trailer in the movie directory or a youtube link in the library.

[Hitcher]

What version of Mediastream is this? I'd love to have that view.

It's my Fanart mod.

http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=45292

[thrasherx]

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/7374/aeonmoviebrainstrom500.jpg

This looks nice, but if you have more than a few movies, it would be a royal pain to navigate. :oo:

[jtap06]

now its been a long time since i worked on xbmc, but didn't the devs code a preview movie system like back with MXM where hovering over a file will start playing a trailer or movie clip in a preview window? something like that would be nice to have back.

i.e. hover over a folder for a tv show, and it starts playing the intro credits to the show with the theme music, or hover over a movie and it plays either a trailer in the movie directory or a youtube link in the library.

I would love to see something like this as well, although it would probably result to a lot of work on the user-side of things. It would be worth it though for sure. :)

[knop3se]

I just would like the info to come up on both movies and tv show episodes if you hover over one for around 2 seconds or something, I don´t like having to hit the info button.

But even without that this is the greatest media center skin ever! :-))))

[crowbar77]

I just would like the info to come up on both movies and tv show episodes if you hover over one for around 2 seconds or something, I don´t like having to hit the info button.


I second that, if you could make that an option would be awesome. I have a separate monitor on the outside of my "theater room" where i chose the movie and than use the external player to send it to my projector (which freezes xbmc). So having the info up there while im watching a movie would be a nice touch.

btw incredible job with the skin, constantly wow's who see it for the first time.

[babyface]

What about something along the lines of this (from a mockup of XBMC33GK's "Xperience (http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=45768)" skin concept). It looks like the Xperience developers have decided to go with only a *slightly* different layout ;), but maybe they wouldn't mind if this layout concept was integrated with Aeon - I think it would fit the Aeon look and feel very nicely and could be made to look pretty different graphically while keeping the general positioning of the elements on the screen. Sorry I don't have the photoshop skills to do a mockup of this in Aeon-style. Obviously the fonts and graphical elements would be different, media flags could go along the bottom of the screen, etc.

http://phyletik.com/misc/xperience/5.jpg

[LaTropa64]

What about something along the lines of this (from an old mockup of XBMC33GK's "Xperience (http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=45768)" skin concept). It looks like the Xperience developers have decided to go with only a *slightly* different layout, but maybe they wouldn't mind if this layout concept was integrated with Aeon - I think it would fit the Aeon look and feel very nicely and could be made to look pretty different graphically while keeping the general positioning of the elements on the screen. Sorry I don't have the photoshop skills to do a mockup of this in Aeon-style. Obviously the fonts and graphical elements would be different, media flags could go along the bottom of the screen, etc.

[I MG]http://phyletik.com/misc/xperience/5.jpg[/IMG]That gets my vote. It provides lots of details but looks great at the same time.

[v0lrath]

That gets my vote. It provides lots of details but looks great at the same time.

Looks good, but I'd love to see a list view where the list goes all the way or almost all the way to the top and bottom of the screen rather than being in a box. The point of list view is to see a big list of the movies, so why not show as many as possible?

[Nazgulled]

And please don't tell me which topics I should and shouldn't create.
No need to be that rude...

[natew]

That gets my vote. It provides lots of details but looks great at the same time.

I can't say I'm much of a fan. It's just a bit too cluttered/overdone for my tastes.

[redtapemedia]

No need to be that rude...

How was he being rude?

[natew]

Just a quick mockup.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1782/musicmockupq.jpg

[jondr13]

I always thought it would be cool to have a view that looked like Aeon's home page. Personally, it is my favorite part of the skin and the part that is instantly recognizable as "AEON." There are a ton of challenges that basically make it not very feasable - i tried to overcome the first major one which is horizontal scrolling of titles is a bitch when you have a lot. I havent done too much with the xml files in xbmc skins so i dont know if a letter filer like this is possible - or if it will be enough to overcome the un-userfriendlyness of scrolling titles a few at a time. The other major problem is that generally home screens look different than media screens. This is for good reason - it is nice to know instantly when you are looking at a menu vs. looking at a list. Anyway just my first idea - i have another mockup that i will do up later this weekend. Oh yeah, not sure if you could make this work with TV or music.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/7374/aeonmoviebrainstrom500.jpg

Nmarconi

Looks very cool. Have a quick question for you though. Im using the Aeon Stark skin and have yet to figure out how to get the icons for the studio, DVD or Blu-ray, resolution and sound codec to show up. The studio icons are showing up for a couple of my movies but that is it. What is the easiest way to do it???

THANKS A BUNCH!

[natew]

Songs mockup to match.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9745/songsmockup.jpg

[redtapemedia]

Nmarconi

Looks very cool. Have a quick question for you though. Im using the Aeon Stark skin and have yet to figure out how to get the icons for the studio, DVD or Blu-ray, resolution and sound codec to show up. The studio icons are showing up for a couple of my movies but that is it. What is the easiest way to do it???

THANKS A BUNCH!

http://www.xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=48990

We should really look at pinning a topic about mediaflags...

[ethan_9219]

Just wondering, has anybody else thought about, or have ideas for, pictures? I'm thinking of a few, but i'm wondering if less attention is paid to pictures by the majority of users and, probably, skinners, too?

[Necromancyr]

Just another vote for something for the Television group similar to Mediastream's take on series, seasons, etc. I personally like the wide banners in a list as a good way to get more information on the screen in a nice looking way.

[ethan_9219]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3454003011_079866c918_o_d.jpg

Here is a quick mockup of an idea i have for the pictures section of Aeon.

I know, i know, the mockup sucks. I think my sketch was actually better...

But anyway, I hope it sort of illustrates my idea.

To better explain it:

-The top row of images scrolls to show all the images in the selection while you are browsing. I guess it's sort of an instant, mini-slideshow?

-The main, bigger image (currently of sheep) works basically the same way as fanart does. It dynamically fades based on what is selected.

-The first list on the left-hand side of the screen is where the basic selection of browsing is made (e.g. whether you want to narrow down your selection by tags/keywords, the date the photo was taken, the rating assigned to the image etc).
-From there you have the scroller. It is context-sensitive from whatever is selected in the initial list. So, for example, if you selected 'tag/keywords' from the initial menu it will the allow you to scroll through all the tags you have assigned to images.

While this is happening, the images along the top of the screen change to whatever is selected. As you can see, at the moment the images along the top are being shown from the 'farm' tag.

If i were to select the 'farm' tag i could then be taken to an image selection screen where i can view the images, start a slideshow etc.

I know my ideas may be hard to understand? I don't know. But i hope someone can get what i am trying to achieve by this.

But, i'm assuming most people don't use the pictures section much?

[garyi]

The view for music should be as close to apples ATV as possible including flipping to prevent screen burn. There is no need to reinvent the wheel here.

[Hitcher]

How about using this as the base -

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/793/screenshot000b.png

but increasing the width of the left panel.

The image area can be fanart, poster (or both), CD cover, episode thumb and picture.

Description area for title, media flags, etc.

[Hitcher]

Thinking about it that would be too much like the new List view.

Perhaps you should just redesign the current Panel view by making the posters larger and changing the background texture.

[djh_]

...just redesign...

If only it were so simple.

[djh_]

But, i'm assuming most people don't use the pictures section much?

I think it's more because pretty much everything you've mocked up is impossible. XBMC doesn't support keywords in any capacity, nor does it support ratings for pictures. You're probably better off asking for some kind of Picture library before thinking about UIs to use it.

[Nuka1195]

there are picture plugins that can fill info.

i would like a pictures info view window for this.

[Black Hawk]

Another Picture View, with random Backdrops:
http://onehit.on.funpic.de/Picture-View.jpg

[midgetspy]

My suggestion for the movies view is simple - look at the "Fanart" view in PM3 and create a view with ALL the same features but Aeon-ized (Aeon style, potentially different orientation but same relative screen use for each part). This means a large (15+ items) text list, poster/info small but visible, fanart on most of the screen). This view would satisfy fanart people as well as be great for browsing large libraries. The text list should have features with an emphasis on easy scrolling (visible scroll progress bar, optional scrollbar, current letter as it scrolls, etc).

[rausch101]

My suggestion for the movies view is simple - look at the "Fanart" view in PM3 and create a view with ALL the same features but Aeon-ized (Aeon style, potentially different orientation but same relative screen use for each part). This means a large (15+ items) text list, poster/info small but visible, fanart on most of the screen). This view would satisfy fanart people as well as be great for browsing large libraries. The text list should have features with an emphasis on easy scrolling (visible scroll progress bar, optional scrollbar, current letter as it scrolls, etc).

I think something along these lines is a good idea.

Even though the list view will already be made specifically to display many items, I still think it'll still work. Since I'm assuming the list view will be designed primarily with a utilitarian approach (although I realize it will still look oh-so-pretty), it might be nice to have a list view designed primarily with an artistic approach.

So basically:

I think a hybrid view combining the usefulness of the currently-under-way list view with the beauty of the fan art view would be a great 4th viewing option. It would be my default view. Although I admit it might not be unique enough to win djh's vote.

[Nmarconi]

Okay second mockup for a new movie view. It seems that a good number of people would like to see a view where you can get some movie info while browsing. I too like this idea. I was inspired by Duncans new picture view post earlier today then it morphed into this modification of showcase view. Anyway, I was too lazy to do the gradient and masked reflections on the bottom, so you will have to just imagine that bit. The animation i am imagining for this is similar to the existing showcase view with the movie info/poster fading out/in on a move.

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7863/aeonbrainstorm2500.jpg

Less clutter in this one

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3634/aeonbrainstorm2500lessc.jpg

[Nmarconi]

Actually, Duncan - this might be a cool option in the showcase view with some neat transition animation like you have between flat and coverflow rather than a view in its own right. You could just add Info to that menu item. Haha, i dont mean "just" - Im sure getting the xml (if its even possible) and animations set is a pita and a ton of work but i think it would be a really nice addition to the showcase view. Just my 2 cents.

[redtapemedia]

Actually, Duncan - this might be a cool option in the showcase view with some neat transition animation like you have between flat and coverflow rather than a view in its own right. You could just add Info to that menu item. Haha, i dont mean "just" - Im sure getting the xml (if its even possible) and animations set is a pita and a ton of work but i think it would be a really nice addition to the showcase view. Just my 2 cents.

DJH was talking about this earlier in the thread, "the sliding info panel" and said it would be returning at some stage. It was a feature in the Aeon alphas I believe.

[Nmarconi]

DJH was talking about this earlier in the thread, "the sliding info panel" and said it would be returning at some stage. It was a feature in the Aeon alphas I believe.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. If I am remembering correctly, that was the view that came up when you hovered over a movie in showcase for 3 or 4 seconds. I liked that feature, and I am happy to see that its slated for the 1.1 version. I think my request is different as the info box is always present rather than appearing after a pause.

I also really like the transition animations between coverflow and flat. They are really polished and give aeon a very professional feel. I think the animation for going from coverflow to "detail" view could be equally cool (maybe have the black box start just the size of the current movie poster and grow out pushing the movies on either side out and off the screen until you get to the full info box.

[ethan_9219]

Okay second mockup for a new movie view. It seems that a good number of people would like to see a view where you can get some movie info while browsing. I too like this idea. I was inspired by Duncans new picture view post earlier today then it morphed into this modification of showcase view. Anyway, I was too lazy to do the gradient and masked reflections on the bottom, so you will have to just imagine that bit. The animation i am imagining for this is similar to the existing showcase view with the movie info/poster fading out/in on a move.

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7863/aeonbrainstorm2500.jpg

Less clutter in this one

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3634/aeonbrainstorm2500lessc.jpg

Quite nice!...

[LaTropa64]

Okay second mockup for a new movie view. It seems that a good number of people would like to see a view where you can get some movie info while browsing. I too like this idea. I was inspired by Duncans new picture view post earlier today then it morphed into this modification of showcase view. Anyway, I was too lazy to do the gradient and masked reflections on the bottom, so you will have to just imagine that bit. The animation i am imagining for this is similar to the existing showcase view with the movie info/poster fading out/in on a move.

[I MG]http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7863/aeonbrainstorm2500.jpg[/IMG]

Less clutter in this one

[I MG]http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3634/aeonbrainstorm2500lessc.jpg[/IMG]

Looks great. I would prefer all the info to slide open like that when you hover over the cover for a few seconds.

[AaronD]

Nmarconi, this looks like the best mockup I have seen so far (no offense to the other would be artists on the forums :) ). And your idea on how it would animate is exactly as I envisaged it when I saw your mockup. Well done!

[bramblepants]

I think what might be a good idea for us all is to first establish exactly what we need to get out of a new view, and what features we enjoy at present.

Then we'll be able to design a new view which incorporates, say a top 3 features which most of us would like to have...this may not be possible, but should mean we end up with a new view which most of us are happy with, and will actually use.

For me, with movies, I really like the way this skin shows off artwork, whether it's posters or fanart and I've spent a lot of time collecting and organising this artwork! However, I have around 1000 movies and navigating using the showcase view, although it looks good, can be a little slow.

So something which incorporates a list view, with fast scrolling, shows off my fanart, then automatically opens the info panel with a large poster view would be a winner.

I'd be interested to hear if everyone else would also use something like this, if it existed? If people would use this, then I will draw up some mockups!! :D

[redtapemedia]

Not really sure if this is possible with the skinning engine, but I would love to see a jukebox type view for music, with music selection on the left hand side in a list type view and a big list of the queued up tracks on the right hand side. Could that be done or is it not possible with XBMC?

[Crewone]

Okay second mockup for a new movie view. It seems that a good number of people would like to see a view where you can get some movie info while browsing. I too like this idea.

+1

Nice indeed! My girlfriend misses the fact that she has to do more to find out what a movie is about. This solves that little problem....

[Hitcher]

People, as already mentioned 'info when hovering' will return in Showcase view.

[Hitcher]

Going back to the idea of simply changing the current Panel view but with more area for larger thumbs -

Movies - Panel - Flat

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9921/panelflat.png

Movies - Panel - Flat - Settings

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3880/panelflatsettings.png

Movies - Panel - Flow

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6452/panelflow.png

[Arkon11]

@hitcher. I really like the concept of larger posters (for such a visually artwork based skin I think this is a necessity), but I think that the media flags look better on the bottom. The title should always catch your eye (preferable at the top, or directly under the poster) and then the media flags (though an amazing feature) can be on the very bottom.

Love your idea for the changed panel view though.

[Nmarconi]

Hitcher - I like the idea of larger posters in the "old" panel view. It is just enough to differentiate itself from showcase view (and would look kick *ss on a 50" plasma)

+1 vote here.

I still would love to see a view where info is available while browsing (either as an optional part of showcase as i mocked up or in an "info list" type view. In my opinion, this request is significantly different that the sliding info panel that is coming back in 1.1 - It allows you to slowly browse though without having to pause on each movie for a period of time - it provides a very different feel. However - i cant remember any view like this being part of Aeon at any stage - so perhaps Duncan feels that displaying info while browsing does not fit in with the Aeon theme. I hope not though :-).

[djh_]

I still would love to see a view where info is available while browsing

That will definitely happen.

[Duplex]

Great news, that and proper TV-view is the things I miss the most!

[Discaciate]

+ 1 to Hitcher's idea.
A poster centric view would be superb.

[Hitcher]

TV Episodes could be something like this -

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7021/tvepisodes.png

My basic thinking is Panel can be the Big view.

[midgetspy]

+ 1 to Hitcher's idea.
A poster centric view would be superb.

What? Every view Aeon has is already extremely poster centric - lets have a view that is *movie* centric. The movie is the media, the fanart and thumb are just meta-media. I think that when designing a view we need to step back and think about how the view helps us browse & showcase our media, not our meta-media. A movie library shouldn't just be a picture browser for my thumbnails!

Do you know how long it takes to browse through 700 posters one at a time when I'm trying to pick a movie to watch? A view with a large text list that can be scanned & quickly scrolled is what has been missing from every Aeon build to date and I'd love for that hole to be filled by this new view.

[Hitcher]

What? Every view Aeon has is already extremely poster centric - lets have a view that is *movie* centric. The movie is the media, the fanart and thumb are just meta-media. I think that when designing a view we need to step back and think about how the view helps us browse & showcase our media, not our meta-media. A movie library shouldn't just be a picture browser for my thumbnails!

Do you know how long it takes to browse through 700 posters one at a time when I'm trying to pick a movie to watch? A view with a large text list that can be scanned & quickly scrolled is what has been missing from every Aeon build to date and I'd love for that hole to be filled by this new view.

Which is what the new list view (in slim mode) is for.

Besides I wouldn't say the other views are 'extremely poster centric' as they're quite small images.

[midgetspy]

Which is what the new list view (in slim mode) is for.

Besides I wouldn't say the other views are 'extremely poster centric' as they're quite small images.

That doesn't make them not poster centric - the poster is the central item in Wall, Panel, *and* Showcase. The screens above seem like what I'd expect if I browsed my .tbn files in the Picture viewer.

Not to mention that we also don't have a view in Aeon that showcases fanart at all really, which I'd like to see before yet another poster view. A fanart + long list view satisfies a few things that're just missing from Aeon completely rather than adding a different version of what's already there.

I mean obviously it's just a matter of opinion, I'm just trying to make a case for my opinion :0). You know what would be absolutely amazing would be if Aeon could provide more than 4 views and we could choose in the settings which 4 showed up in the view changer.

[dandirk]

Don't know if possible but having an alpha-numeric menu so you can quickly get to media starting with any letter would be very nice. I think there is a mock up earlier in this thread.

Same idea would be to have a genre menu as well, the default handling of library/genre's is sort of clunky it would be nice to have access to these menus instantly from the ALL (default) view.

I am guessing this is a XBMC limitation rather then a skinning one cause one would assume we would have seen it already.

[pletopia]

Don't know if possible but having an alpha-numeric menu so you can quickly get to media starting with any letter would be very nice. I think there is a mock up earlier in this thread.

Same idea would be to have a genre menu as well, the default handling of library/genre's is sort of clunky it would be nice to have access to these menus instantly from the ALL (default) view.

I am guessing this is a XBMC limitation rather then a skinning one cause one would assume we would have seen it already.

have you installed the modpack with submenu ?? this lets you quickly get to genre or newest or any other part of the library

[jamsponge]

Whatever is designed as the new view I would like to see the option of somehow allowing the thumbnails aspect ratios to be changed by the user.

For example in a list view or showcase view there could be posters or squares (the kind of artwork used for itunes tv shows). I find it hard to get good quality artwork for tv show seasons apart from on itunes so I would like to see this, but I use posters for the 'whole tv show' image.

This could be really hard to code though, just a suggestion.

[Aenima99x]

I find it hard to get good quality artwork for tv show seasons apart from on itunes so I would like to see this, but I use posters for the 'whole tv show' image.

Umm...the theTVdb.com (http://www.thetvdb.com) doesn't fit your needs? ???

[jamsponge]

The TVDB is great for posters which are made by people but some arn't great for individual seasons. iTunes is always consistent and great quality. All I was saying is it would be nice to choose which artwork I would like. If your 100% happy with TVDB then that's great.

[CF2009]

i do not think you are looking for a new view for Pictures, but as i was playing with the old and new File Browser views today they had a baby :shocked:

And i was thinking all it needs is some of that good old djh magic for it to become i nice view for Pictures.....

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj4/Og_one/screenshot003.jpg

[smack]

As a previous Kaleidescape owner, and the system is all about the media, I can tell you that while cover art, and other eye candy things are nice it is not what one really focuses on when they want to sit down and watch content.

With a Kaleidescape system everyone is blown away by the cover art shuffle view but it gets very old after a couple days and I find that the view I used the most was the "List view"

Here is the image of the movie list view
http://journal.mycom.co.jp/news/2003/12/17/51bl.JPG

Think of it this way: You sit down because you want to watch a movie,
1. maybe you want to sort it alphabetically as you know the movie you are looking for
2. maybe you want to watch a comedy so you highlight the genre and click on comedy and the list is sorted by genre
3. maybe you are sitting down with the family (including kids) so you move over to rating and click PG and the list is sorted by rating and shows easily the movies you can watch
4. Maybe you are currently on say Airforce One with Harrison Ford and you want to see what else you have with Harrison Ford in it so you highlight the actor and select Harrison Ford and now it is sorted by Harrison Ford.
5. maybe you like a particular director...see #4 above as it works the same
6. maybe you only have 90 mins to bedtime or till you have to head out so you want to see what you have in your collection that is 90 mins or less. move over to the time and select it and your collection is sorted by time.

Again if we are thinking less about JUST eye candy since Aeon delivers there!!! and more about using the system and focusing on the media I think this view works great. The same thing can be done with music too...

Now for adding some eye candy I am sure using transparency and fanart in the background along with some other goodies would be awesome. I just would not try to recreate every other view within this one as it has a purpose which is quickly helping you find content you want to watch.

Interested in hearing your thoughts

[rausch101]

As a previous Kaleidescape owner, and the system is all about the media, I can tell you that while cover art, and other eye candy things are nice it is not what one really focuses on when they want to sit down and watch content.

With a Kaleidescape system everyone is blown away by the cover art shuffle view but it gets very old after a couple days and I find that the view I used the most was the "List view"

Think of it this way: You sit down because you want to watch a movie,
1. maybe you want to sort it alphabetically as you know the movie you are looking for
2. maybe you want to watch a comedy so you highlight the genre and click on comedy and the list is sorted by genre
3. maybe you are sitting down with the family (including kids) so you move over to rating and click PG and the list is sorted by rating and shows easily the movies you can watch
4. Maybe you are currently on say Airforce One with Harrison Ford and you want to see what else you have with Harrison Ford in it so you highlight the actor and select Harrison Ford and now it is sorted by Harrison Ford.
5. maybe you like a particular director...see #4 above as it works the same
6. maybe you only have 90 mins to bedtime or till you have to head out so you want to see what you have in your collection that is 90 mins or less. move over to the time and select it and your collection is sorted by time.

Again if we are thinking less about JUST eye candy since Aeon delivers there!!! and more about using the system and focusing on the media I think this view works great. The same thing can be done with music too...

Now for adding some eye candy I am sure using transparency and fanart in the background along with some other goodies would be awesome. I just would not try to recreate every other view within this one as it has a purpose which is quickly helping you find content you want to watch.

Interested in hearing your thoughts

+1 to this.

[midgetspy]

+1 to this.

Absolutely, this is what I was trying to say earlier when I said that the view should focus on the MEDIA (movies) not on the meta-media (fanart/posters).

[smack]

I was just wondering if I missed feedback from djh somewhere or if the new items he has introduced are the result of this thread.

Can someone let me know or better yet can djh respond?

Thanks in advance,
smack

[djh_]

Elements of this thread, certainly. The Kaleidescape thing was never going to happen as it simply doesn't conform to XBMC's current feature set, the typical formatting of its scraped information, or the functions available to its skins. You could make something that looked similar, but the sort and cross-fetching functions that really validate it can't be done.

If you really want to see that kind of thing in XBMC, first you need to wait until it's passed its next milestone, when the team will be more open to feature requests. If - and it's a big if - such functions get introduced, you'll then need to help standardise the scraper sources so you have consistent info and syntax for things like movie certificates, cast and running time. Only then could someone really create a view that worked reliably in the fashion you describe. Elements of it exist in XBMC but are too localised to really come together.