View Full Version : [MOD] xTV SAF (Spouse Acceptance Factor)
Announcing a new mod of xTV - xTV SAF
xTV SAF v0.76 Download (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4SUJALUU)
This is the new release of a complete skin based on xtv v2269. It has been tested extensively on Windows SVN:21923 and XBox SVN:21142 and works fine. Sorry has not been tested on Linux or Mac OS, but should be no reason why it should not work, please post any problems and I will see what I can do. Be aware that it makes heavy use of special:// drive mapping, so will not work with XBMC 9.04.1, you must use a SVN version from about June or later.
Be kind as this is my first attempt at skinning, so I'm sure there are a few rough edges here or there. Feel free to give hints on improvements to the code. Also sorry to the non English speakers, but Google translate and I did the best we could. Please post any better translations and I will make sure they make the next release.
Initial release - General Features (in no particular order)
- Date and time shown on Home menu
- Can toggle the following menu items on Home menu. Programs, Music and Photos
- Option to Power Off from the Home menu
- User selected Script shown on Home menu
- User selected video for intro video (I recommend that you place video file in extras directory, but will work from anywhere)
- User selected Default source for Movies and TV (file mode only)
- Graphical buttons for Video OSD
- Two new larger fontsets for small 4x3 TV screens (default4x3 and LucidaGrande4x3)
- Fix for a number of bugs (?) including having Selection Dialog showing the dialog title string
plus a couple of other things that I have no doubt forgotten.
Release 0.75
- Wall View (very basic, suggestions welcome for improvements)
- Changed 'TV shows in home menu' string to 'TV Button Links to Library' to more accurately show what it actually does.
- Cleaned up a couple of textures (only discovered when checked with white theme)
- ALL file locations now use special:// file locations. Most people should not notice any difference. But may help with "can't find script type errors"
- Fixed a number of small visual errors caused by changing to larger fonts for 4x3
- Fixed a couple of small bugs
Release 0.76
- Toggle for 'TV Button Links to Library' was flipped. Fixed, toggle now matches what string says. My bad.
Next release probably won't be for a couple of weeks as I REALLY need to renumber the strings.xml to allow for a new menu layout for the skin menu. I only intend to include new features if they can be turn on/off by the user, thus keeping the basic xTV look unless required by the user.
Note - While I am still using Megaupload as a file location, Bram77 has kindly agreed to host the skin in the xbmc-xbox-skin google group. One side effect of this is that the skin will be available using the SVN installer script (or available directly from xbmc-xbox-skins google code group). Please note may take a day or so to trickle over to xbmc-xbox-skin so please be patient. Thanks again to Bram77.
More to follow as and when I figure out the best way to go about it. :-)
For those that don't like the 'Fisher Price' look to the Video OSD buttons, I have included a new theme to replace the buttons. Load the phone theme for a look more in keeping with a 'Popular' smart phone.
Finally thanks to Terc, mbay, CHI3f, and Franklin Shen [manturafs] for xTV, jmarshal for code post on conditional includes and other useful stuff. Also to gnarfel for the basic idea and code behind user selected default sources, and Dan Dare for help with tracking down problems with my python code. Most of all thanks to Team XBMC for XBMC
Wyrm
kautious
2009-10-15, 19:43
I put your mod on the xbox I have in the bedroom for my wife and she loves it!
It displaying on a 27in SDtv and looks great! :cool:
Thanks again.
Haven't found any bugs yet!!:nod:
Maybe just a small request:: I would like an option to have my tvshow in library mode
:grin:Many thanks wyrm. As a dedicated and long term xTV user and fan it's great to have some tweaks to to improve the expirience on 4:3 CRT's (mines a standard 21").
Having the sligthly bigger font works great and I like the date and time and video OSD controls.
One request - can you have a hide toggle for the TV Shows in home screen - even with the 'TV shows in home menu' option deselected it's still appears in the home screen menu. I only have a few movies and lots of music on my NAS box.
Many thanks again :cool:
darkscout
2009-10-16, 00:11
xTV SAF Download (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7CLIGFXH)
An aside comment: Could all skin makers just go through the trouble to setup a google code account? MegaUpload, RapidShare, the like are annoying as all heck.
Typing in a captcha, wait while Firefox battles all the ads and popups, wait 60 seconds.
-
That said, my girlfriend loves the skin.
Ah people are using the mod, good.
darkscout - Sorry about the megaupload, just seemed to be what everyone used. Will try to setup a google code account later today and post to that instead.
sipart - Sorry never considered that anyone would not use the TV side of things. Will look at including in the next update. I personally found that anything that was not being used caused confusion for the wife and kids, thus the options to turn off menu items. Mind you there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
kautious - Not sure exactly what you are asking for. You know that you can turn library mode on from the context menu. Around here we use 'file' mode as I don't want to have the wife and kids having to figure out profiles and you can't seem to keep the sources (adult and kids) separate.
everyone - another update in a few days. Hopefully will have 'wall' view sorted (although very basic at this stage) plus a couple of bug fixes. Trying to make sure the user does not see any rough edges, but believe me there is a lot of junk (mine, not the original xTV teams) that I need to cleanup at some point.
translators - One of the cleanups will be renumbering strings as I have added strings all over the place and it's become a bit of a mess. Could people please PM me with translations as I'm sure Google Translate is telling me a load of crap with some of the translations.
Wyrm
great concept .. I end up adding most of the stuff in (date/time)....
can you also include Fanart support for list view if its not included already ?
Thanks
great concept .. I end up adding most of the stuff in (date/time)....
can you also include Fanart support for list view if its not included already ?
Thanks
batrad, if Fanart was included in xTV release 2269, it will be there. Otherwise I intend to add a number of other peoples mods as I get a chance.
Some of the things I intend to add include:
Some New file views
Redo the Skin menu so that it more closely matches the rest of the menus
Media flag icons on the views that it makes sense to include this
(not a big fan of this myself) Fanart thru out the skin where appropriate
Ipod Touch/iPhone style alpha scroll bar where appropriate
A number of small mods to increase the SAF of the skin (thus the name)
EVERYTHING will be user selectable from the skin menus, so that unless you want to change things, the skin will still look like xTV.
I have not at this stage even attempted to look after the higher res stuff, it's all 4:3 at this stage. This will change as I get a chance.
If anyone would like to see something else, a feature suggestion to this thread would be helpful. Next release due in a day or so.
Wyrm
nuzecast
2009-10-20, 22:37
Some of the things I intend to add include:
Some New file views
Redo the Skin menu so that it more closely matches the rest of the menus
Media flag icons on the views that it makes sense to include this
(not a big fan of this myself) Fanart thru out the skin where appropriate
Ipod Touch/iPhone style alpha scroll bar where appropriate
A number of small mods to increase the SAF of the skin (thus the name)
EVERYTHING will be user selectable from the skin menus, so that unless you want to change things, the skin will still look like xTV.
I have not at this stage even attempted to look after the higher res stuff, it's all 4:3 at this stage. This will change as I get a chance.
If anyone would like to see something else, a feature suggestion to this thread would be helpful. Next release due in a day or so.
Wyrm
Very glad to see xTV getting a little attention.
Nuzecast
Very glad to see xTV getting a little attention.
Nuzecast
That's OK Nuzecast. Doing this mainly to keep the BOSS happy (does not hurt that I am learning some interesting stuff). Good to see people are finding it useful.
BTW, see first post as I have just posted a new release.
Next release probable in a couple of weeks due to large amount of work required to renumber strings and to layout NEW skin menus.
Wyrm
Been using xTV for a long time, thanks for the updates, bro!
Anyway, some quirks I found when applying the skin to my xbox:
1. Selecting on TV menu will go straight to file mode not TV library.
2. Pressing "back" button on the xbox remote for TV and Movies menu will go back to the parent directory not the xTv main menu.
A request though; for TV episodes view, can you include a watched overlay and wide list view something like this:
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5553/screenshot000el.jpg (minus the fanart, ratings, media count, media/studio flags. Only TV show title, episodes #, season #, plot will be suffice)
Anyway, great skin and good job, love the minimalist look!
Been using xTV for a long time, thanks for the updates, bro!
Anyway, some quirks I found when applying the skin to my xbox:
1. Selecting on TV menu will go straight to file mode not TV library.
2. Pressing "back" button on the xbox remote for TV and Movies menu will go back to the parent directory not the xTv main menu.
A request though; for TV episodes view, can you include a watched overlay and wide list view something like this:
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5553/screenshot000el.jpg (minus the fanart, ratings, media count, media/studio flags. Only TV show title, episodes #, season #, plot will be suffice)
Anyway, great skin and good job, love the minimalist look!
gobsmob, Thank you, I like the minimalist look too :;):. Will add the request to list of things to do. But, there is currently a watched overlay (green tick for watched, red dash for unwatched). Maybe not available in all views, will check this out. Just the same I don't like how that is implemented at present, so again on the list of things to do.
Now point 1. Temper this with the thought that I don't use library mode much as I don't want to explain to my five year old 'Why Dexter is dismembering that man'. In the skin menu there is a setting to use library mode for TV (was mislabelled as 'TV in home menu' in last version) . Select that setting to start TV in library mode (let me know if it does not, as it means that change did not make it into xTV SAF v0.75).
And point 2. Pretty sure that is the correct thing to happen (set by xbmc), but some people change the keymapping to change the behaviour. Having said that I don't like that just for the sake of the above mentioned five year old. I intend to include the option for a 'Home' button on all views in a latter release, but not until I have sorted out the strings/skin menu mess that I have created. That way if you don't like the 'Home' button, you don't have to have it.
Try the new release, and PLEASE keep the feed back coming.
Wyrm
gobsmob, Thank you, I like the minimalist look too :;):. Will add the request to list of things to do. But, there is currently a watched overlay (green tick for watched, red dash for unwatched). Maybe not available in all views, will check this out. Just the same I don't like how that is implemented at present, so again on the list of things to do.
Now point 1. Temper this with the thought that I don't use library mode much as I don't want to explain to my five year old 'Why Dexter is dismembering that man'. In the skin menu there is a setting to use library mode for TV (was mislabelled as 'TV in home menu' in last version) . Select that setting to start TV in library mode (let me know if it does not, as it means that change did not make it into xTV SAF v0.75).
And point 2. Pretty sure that is the correct thing to happen (set by xbmc), but some people change the keymapping to change the behaviour. Having said that I don't like that just for the sake of the above mentioned five year old. I intend to include the option for a 'Home' button on all views in a latter release, but not until I have sorted out the strings/skin menu mess that I have created. That way if you don't like the 'Home' button, you don't have to have it.
Try the new release, and PLEASE keep the feed back coming.
Wyrm
Wyrm,
Thanks for hearing me out. Regarding the watched overlay, my bad. It was actually there. I got mixed up with the other skin. :blush:
Point 1. It's kind of weird me out. I have set it set it to show TV the menu on home screen. When I select it, it just go straight to "default TV source" (file mode) instead.
Point 2. I have used other skin as well like transparency! and minimeedia et al, I'm pretty sure that's the default behaviour while pressing the back button. It went straight back to the home screen, not the video library menu. Also, I use only the default keymap.
I totally get it for the sake of kid's p.o.v. :grin:
Think about it, maybe you can put some option to hide the plot and the thumbnails too to avoid the kid's from asking too many questions. :;):
taintedsushi
2009-10-21, 16:18
It's not clear how I set the script to use in the Home menu. I can toggle it but can't select a script to use.
kautious
2009-10-21, 16:29
Release 0.75
- Changed 'TV shows in home menu' string to 'TV Button Links to Library' to more accurately show what it actually does.
Wyrm
Thanks alot for this!:nod:
It's not clear how I set the script to use in the Home menu. I can toggle it but can't select a script to use.
taintedsushi, when you toggle to use a script on the home screen, scroll down to the next button and click. You should then see a dialog that shows all scripts in the main script directory. Click on the required script and the dialog will close and then show the script name in the menu button that you previous clicked. Go back to the home screen and you should see the icon for the script shown on the home menu. If you don't see your script listed, it's a bug.
If you have a bug, post back what OS (Xbox, Windows, Linux, Mac etc.) you are running and the version of XBMC you are running. Will try to investigate and fix.
Wyrm
taintedsushi
2009-10-21, 18:03
I guess it's a bug then. Clicking "script" does nothing.
XBOX
T3CH XBMC 2009-09-27 SVN rev23183
From Debug Log :
10:55:14 M: 43053056 DEBUG: CApplication::OnKey: 256 pressed, action is 7
10:55:14 M: 43053056 DEBUG: CApplication::OnMessage : Translating XBMC.RunScript(special://skin/scripts/HomeScripts.py)
10:55:14 M: 43053056 DEBUG: CApplication::OnMessage : To XBMC.RunScript(special://skin/scripts/HomeScripts.py)
I don't know where special::// points to on the xbox but HomeScripts.py does exist in the scripts directory off the skin.
Wyrm,
Thanks for hearing me out. Regarding the watched overlay, my bad. It was actually there. I got mixed up with the other skin. :blush:
Point 1. It's kind of weird me out. I have set it set it to show TV the menu on home screen. When I select it, it just go straight to "default TV source" (file mode) instead.
Point 2. I have used other skin as well like transparency! and minimeedia et al, I'm pretty sure that's the default behaviour while pressing the back button. It went straight back to the home screen, not the video library menu. Also, I use only the default keymap.
I totally get it for the sake of kid's p.o.v. :grin:
Think about it, maybe you can put some option to hide the plot and the thumbnails too to avoid the kid's from asking too many questions. :;):
Point 1. Sorry that sounds like I missed a very small change ( a ! would you believe ) to fix the menu item. Basically the toggle is showing the wrong thing. Toggle back the other way and see if that helps. I will check this out when I get up tomorrow and post the corrected file if needed.
Point 2. You may be right on this, will investigate further and see what I come up with. I'm still pretty new to this skinning gig, so I am checking out how the big boys solve problems.
I have a few ideas that I am kicking around so the adults can watch their stuff without having the kids getting into stuff they should not watch. The wife and kids don't want to have the xbox stop and ask which profile to load, but the wife would be ok with a PIN to access the adults section. Yet another thing on the TODO list.
Wyrm
I guess it's a bug then. Clicking "script" does nothing.
XBOX
T3CH XBMC 2009-09-27 SVN rev23183
From Debug Log :
10:55:14 M: 43053056 DEBUG: CApplication::OnKey: 256 pressed, action is 7
10:55:14 M: 43053056 DEBUG: CApplication::OnMessage : Translating XBMC.RunScript(special://skin/scripts/HomeScripts.py)
10:55:14 M: 43053056 DEBUG: CApplication::OnMessage : To XBMC.RunScript(special://skin/scripts/HomeScripts.py)
I don't know where special::// points to on the xbox but HomeScripts.py does exist in the scripts directory off the skin.
taintedsushi, Thank you for that will check out tomorrow (off to bed now) and post results when I get up.
special://skin/scripts should point to the scripts directory in xTV SAF skin, so either I have left off the script or miss named it. Either way I need to fix. Thanks for the report.
Wyrm
taintedsushi, Thank you for that will check out tomorrow (off to bed now) and post results when I get up.
special://skin/scripts should point to the scripts directory in xTV SAF skin, so either I have left off the script or miss named it. Either way I need to fix. Thanks for the report.
Wyrm
Shouldn't it be special://skin/xTV/scripts/HomeScripts.py?
Shouldn't it be special://skin/xTV/scripts/HomeScripts.py?
CHI3f, Thanks again for the original skin, hope you don't mind me messing with it.
No, special://skin points to the current skin, so it is pointing to xTV SAF. The actual skin name is not required (and will probably fail as it will look for ...xbmc/skin/xTV/xTV SAF which does not exist). Thanks for the feedback.
Wyrm
I guess it's a bug then. Clicking "script" does nothing.
XBOX
T3CH XBMC 2009-09-27 SVN rev23183
From Debug Log :
10:55:14 M: 43053056 DEBUG: CApplication::OnKey: 256 pressed, action is 7
10:55:14 M: 43053056 DEBUG: CApplication::OnMessage : Translating XBMC.RunScript(special://skin/scripts/HomeScripts.py)
10:55:14 M: 43053056 DEBUG: CApplication::OnMessage : To XBMC.RunScript(special://skin/scripts/HomeScripts.py)
I don't know where special::// points to on the xbox but HomeScripts.py does exist in the scripts directory off the skin.
taintedsushi, I have checked out the skin, I can't see any problems with the skin script handling and the zip has all of the correct files in the correct places.
Check the following directory ...xbmc/skin/xTV SAF/scripts for a file called 'HomeScripts.py' if you can't find it you need to reload/install the skin.
Note you did not try to load the skin over the top of a previous skin that was your current displayed skin. Not a real good idea (change to another skin first, load the skin onto the xbox and then change to the skin thru the appearances menu).
If you find the file in the correct place, I will need to investigate further. Please post a link to a FULL debug log (megaupload or similar site will be fine). Don't post the debug file here as it can be rather large and fragments of the file are of very limited use.
wyrm
Wyrm,
Thanks for hearing me out. Regarding the watched overlay, my bad. It was actually there. I got mixed up with the other skin. :blush:
Point 1. It's kind of weird me out. I have set it set it to show TV the menu on home screen. When I select it, it just go straight to "default TV source" (file mode) instead.
Point 2. I have used other skin as well like transparency! and minimeedia et al, I'm pretty sure that's the default behaviour while pressing the back button. It went straight back to the home screen, not the video library menu. Also, I use only the default keymap.
I totally get it for the sake of kid's p.o.v. :grin:
Think about it, maybe you can put some option to hide the plot and the thumbnails too to avoid the kid's from asking too many questions. :;):
gobsmob, Yes it was as I suspected, I missed a ! in the homemenu.xml file. I will download a corrected file and update the file link in a little while.
Till then if you leave the toggle for 'TV Button Links to Library' OFF (it's the reverse of what it should be) you will in fact have the TV button point to the library. Sorry about that, but thank you for the bug report.
wyrm
New update posted, see first post for details, but fixes 'TV Button Links to Library' toggle was flipped bug.
Please post any other bugs (I'm sure there are one or two :;): ) and I will see what I can do. Otherwise next update in a couple of weeks.
wyrm
taintedsushi
2009-10-22, 14:19
I'm sort of new to XBMC so I'll ask what is likely a dumb question ...
You said to check : xbmc/skin/xTV SAF/scripts I do have an apps/xbmc/skin directory but xTV SAF is actually located under /dashboard/skin/xTV SAF.
Does anyone know if this is just a difference between XBOX and other platforms? Should it make any difference with the home script problem?
I'm sort of new to XBMC so I'll ask what is likely a dumb question ...
You said to check : xbmc/skin/xTV SAF/scripts I do have an apps/xbmc/skin directory but xTV SAF is actually located under /dashboard/skin/xTV SAF.
Does anyone know if this is just a difference between XBOX and other platforms? Should it make any difference with the home script problem?
taintedsushi,
No sorry mate, you should uncompress the xTV SAF zip file into the 'apps/xbmc/skin' directory. When you then look in the 'apps/xbmc/skin/xTV SAF/scripts' directory you will see a file called 'HomeScripts.py' . This is the script that looks after selecting which script appears on the home menu.
If you have got the skin installed in the dashboard directory, it makes me wonder if you are actually running xbmc when you see the skin (call me paranoid). I would recommend checking out this link to make sure you are installed correctly :
XBMC Online manual (http://%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0ht tp://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=XBMC_Online_Manual)
Best of Luck
wyrm
taintedsushi
2009-10-23, 15:16
OK. There was a good chance that my xbmc install was weird. I attempted to fix it but only ended up with "Requires Service" Message. My dashboard is farged. Hot swapping seems crazy. Anyone know if there is a less invasive method for fixing this? Maybe just putting in a different HD?
taintedsushi
2009-10-26, 21:30
UPDATE :
I installed a new drive and softmodded it. However, I am still having the same problem with the script home selection. Perhaps it has something to do with softmodded xboxes.
Currently the xbox boots xbmc at E:\dash. This is not via the shortcut script, I've replaced the default unleash dashboard with xbmc.
XTV SAF is located at D:\dash\skin\xTV SAF and homescripts.py is located under the xTV SAF scripts directory.
Hope this info help.
Thanks.
Tainedsushi,
Appreciate sharing the mod with us.
Request,
Appreciate if you can include the Fanart List view from
http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=45020&page=3
if you have not already done so
It would be a great help in my house with my daughter
thanks
Tainedsushi,
Appreciate sharing the mod with us.
Request,
Appreciate if you can include the Fanart List view from
http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=45020&page=3
if you have not already done so
It would be a great help in my house with my daughter
thanks
batrad, checkout the first post of this thread, download link is available there. Sorry, have been ill with flu, so next release has been delayed, hopefully in a week or two. Hope to have a couple of new features (maybe even fanart list view) and possibly some screen shots as have decided to change the basic look of xTV a little.
Wyrm (xTV SAF)
UPDATE :
I installed a new drive and softmodded it. However, I am still having the same problem with the script home selection. Perhaps it has something to do with softmodded xboxes.
Currently the xbox boots xbmc at E:\dash. This is not via the shortcut script, I've replaced the default unleash dashboard with xbmc.
XTV SAF is located at D:\dash\skin\xTV SAF and homescripts.py is located under the xTV SAF scripts directory.
Hope this info help.
Thanks.
taintedsushi, Not familiar with softmodded xbox's, BUT pretty sure this is not the way to install XBMC. My hard modded xbox uses the shortcut and it works fine. Not sure what you are trying to achieve as I can't see how this would even work. At a guess, the 'special://' file locations are not set, so nothing that uses a script in my mod will be found. Can't really help until you have XBMC installed correctly.
Wyrm (xTV SAF)
taintedsushi
2009-11-13, 15:08
Well, apparently, third time's a charm since after my latest xbmc install the home script thing now works as it should. Sorry to waste everyone's time.
batrad, checkout the first post of this thread, download link is available there. Sorry, have been ill with flu, so next release has been delayed, hopefully in a week or two. Hope to have a couple of new features (maybe even fanart list view) and possibly some screen shots as have decided to change the basic look of xTV a little.
Wyrm (xTV SAF)
np.. hope you feel better soon
eagerly waiting for the Fanart mod...
Just noticed this thread. I know that the version of the xTV skin that I used as a base for making my list-view w/fanart mod had some problems with the newer XBMC builds (e.g., "add source" didn't work), so I just tried this out and saw that that this skin seemed to be more compatible with the newer XBMC versions. Anyways, FWIW, I copied my modded files over to this skin and they seem to work fine. So if you want list-view w/fanart, just follow the instructions in my thread using this skin as your base and you should be good to go.
waiting for Wyrm to post the latest build that includes Fanart...
waiting for Wyrm to post the latest build that includes Fanart...
batrad,
Really I could release at just about any time as I try to work on one thing until its working, then move onto the next issue. The name of the skin is xTV SAF (spouse acceptance factor). While I don't mind the eye candy, it does not really increase said factor (sometimes it actually can reduce it), so I would prefer to work on SAF things and leave eye candy for latter.
Have to admit that the hardest part of adding Scott R's fanart mod to my mod was getting the conditional visibility working properly so that it can be turned off if the 'BOSS' does not like the eye candy.
I would like to finish cleaning up menus and the strings file and see if I can't get an alternative navigation method working (having problems getting the required script working), so I'm aiming for release this weekend, but not sure if I can manage it.
Wyrm
Have to admit that the hardest part of adding Scott R's fanart mod to my mod was getting the conditional visibility working properly so that it can be turned off if the 'BOSS' does not like the eye candy.Just out of curiosity, do you really think it's worth the added effort just to allow this to be toggled on/off? A couple of thoughts/opinions on this:
1) The fanart itself neither improves nor diminishes usability, though it can diminish the speed of scrolling, and that does have the potential of diminishing usability (though from my daily usage of this, this loss in speed is nowhere near to the point of frustrating the user experience or making things feel "slow" or unresponsive).
2) I would consider seeing or not seeing fanart as more of a house-wide decision. IMO, usability is improved by having a consistent experience on all of your XBMC streamers. So having one skin on one box/TV and another skin on a different box/TV is going to make things more difficult for your spouse/children if they have to ever use both boxes/TVs. If you're using the xTV skin on all of your boxes, make a decision as to whether you like fanart or not, and if you do, you should show it on all of your boxes. If you don't, the problem is solved by not pulling/storing the fanart on your server. My mod will, when it doesn't find fanart for a particular movie, display the available boxart/poster instead.
Just out of curiosity, do you really think it's worth the added effort just to allow this to be toggled on/off? A couple of thoughts/opinions on this:
1) The fanart itself neither improves nor diminishes usability, though it can diminish the speed of scrolling, and that does have the potential of diminishing usability (though from my daily usage of this, this loss in speed is nowhere near to the point of frustrating the user experience or making things feel "slow" or unresponsive).
2) I would consider seeing or not seeing fanart as more of a house-wide decision. IMO, usability is improved by having a consistent experience on all of your XBMC streamers. So having one skin on one box/TV and another skin on a different box/TV is going to make things more difficult for your spouse/children if they have to ever use both boxes/TVs. If you're using the xTV skin on all of your boxes, make a decision as to whether you like fanart or not, and if you do, you should show it on all of your boxes. If you don't, the problem is solved by not pulling/storing the fanart on your server. My mod will, when it doesn't find fanart for a particular movie, display the available boxart/poster instead.
Scott R,
Don't take my views as criticism of you or your views, but I'm looking at this skin purely from a unsophisticated users point of view. For example, I have included a 'wall' view (but you did not probably see it due to it not being available in 16x9 yet). The wife does not like it, as "It's a bit busy", instead she prefers a nice simple 'list' view. I LOVE eye candy, but I can also see how it can be distracting for others, thus the option to turn off anything that I think some user will not want to see.
We run XBMC on our main TV thru an Xbox(4x3 at the moment) for the benefit of the wife and kids. I'm doing all of the development on XBMC running under Winblowschunks XP. So the household policy for XBMC is whatever the wife tells me it is (makes for a happier life for me :;):).
So if I release something and you guys think, 'Why the hell did he do that' and 'When the hell is he going to include ...' , you just need to filter it thru the above philosophy.
Having said that, at some point I intend to have fanart available anywhere that would make sense to include it and to have media flagging available as well (another thing the wife and kid's care not a jot about).
BUT, to those people still running on the Xbox, just remember, too much eye candy will start causing you problems. This is the reason why some of the 'nicer' looking skins will not run on the Xbox.
If people would like to make mods to my mod, feel free, just remember that at the moment I am making quite a few changes all over the place. I can almost guarantee that your mods will break between each release.
Wyrm (xTV SAF)
xTV is the primary skin on both my XBOX's in the house. The only reason I use fanart is its easier for my 6 year old and my mother to select the movie they want to watch and not have to bother with the small font from 10 feet away
Don't use the Library view as its too slow on the XBOX, so xTv List view with fanart rocks in my house
Opps, posted this to the wrong thread, probably better posted here
Wyrm
Sorry for the delay of the new release, but I have decided to add some version checking to make sure people are running an appropriate version of XBMC. At this stage you need to be running a nightly build with a svn of about 21000. I have been testing using svn 21923, so if you use a nightly build from after that you should see no problems (I hope :;): ).
Hope to now have the next release out by mid week. Features include :
Fanart in List and Wrap views
ALL menu items except for System and Play disk can be removed in Home menu
Updated Skin settings menus (things have moved in some cases and a number of new setting have been added)
Music Videos link now on the Home menu
Reworked the Video onscreen display
A number of small visual changes
16x9 support of previous xTV SAF changes, PAL and PAL16x9 should now be identical
And a number of bugs squashed (I Hope :;):)
I have probably forgotten a number of things, but will try to make sure the release notes accurately match what I have done.
Wyrm (xTV SAF)
Nice to read :grin: I love your mod xtv. Thx for doing this. Is there a way to run it on macos ppc ?
this does leave some of us original XBox owners out :-(
Don't know where to look for the latest nightly builds...
this does leave some of us original XBox owners out :-(
Don't know where to look for the latest nightly builds...
batrad,
No, not at all. Google 'T3ch XBMC' or even 'XBMC nightly builds'. There are builds available latter that the Babylon 9.04 that is listed on the main XBMC site (I'm using one at the moment in fact). Not hard to find, just not sure of the legal status, so you need to do 30 seconds of Googling to find them.
Wyrm (xTV SAF)