Universal skin-system for Xbox apps and dashboards

thanius · 2004-07-11, 15:56

how many of you haven't tried to download and port different skins over different applications? or perhaps just tried to create your own skins for all of the applications? i would like to see a standardisation similar to xport's applications for all the xbox software! and the feature to change one skin on all applications! i think, that this would make the xbox feel like a media/game center rather than a computer! share your opinions!
:kickass:

onkel bouncy · 2004-07-11, 21:16

this is nearly impossibel.
every application has it's own programmer, features and skins.
you need hundreds of graphics and characteristics for menus, settings, games, ...
if you want an universal gui, try to make a skin for xbmc first.
*

deltop · 2004-07-11, 23:23

um you didn't include an option along the lines of:

"don't be stupid this is an impossibility"

thanius · 2004-07-12, 06:26

nothing is impossible with opensource! sure, it'd take long time before perfection and alot of work would be needed - but hey, it's possible. teamwork is the keyword we're looking for here.

deltop · 2004-07-12, 10:36

lol ok another question since you seem to think open source is relevant. exactly how many of all these apps and emulators your talking about are open source?

don't you realise that the vast majority aren't? that's stops it happening right there.

**Gamester17** · 2004-07-12, 14:30

it isn't possible in practice

deltop · 2004-07-12, 15:02

nice idea though. one of the reasons why people keep asking for so many non media related features in xbmc is to keep it all in one neat consistant package that looks good. a standard skin system although not practial would help to keep a consistant look and feel when using different apps.

shame that there are just too many obstacles in the way of it happening.

KoTiX · 2004-07-12, 17:44

making a skin for xbmc is not like making one for evox or avalaunch or any other apps, take a look on how many xml files and how many images there are in a xbmc skin.
i believe it's much better to add features to xbmc to make it the main and only application for xbox.
if it has eeprom and flashing tools and cd\dvd copy tools then you'll not need any other application for your xbox.

onkel bouncy · 2004-07-12, 23:41

that's right.
:d

trevorj · 2004-09-22, 04:55

instead of a "universal skin system", why not make a skin "standard" that hopefully most people would go by. maybe even a library. you would have to be really careful to not hard code anything about the ui, since it would be a multi-program standard...

us linux people have been fighting for a qt and gtk skin integration/standard for years. it's a real bitch when half of your apps look nothing like the other half. a project on freedesktop that uses qt to draw the gtk apps is a start, but loading two window toolkits for the price of one makes the word hack come to mind, and not solution. think about it. you're loading twice what you should have to.

it's damn near impossible with all the old and new xbox applications. but if it has floating image, text ( with fonts ), input, dialog, animation, ( scripting would be a must... but it would also be a must that scripting support should let the devs have the flexibility they may need, without losing compatibility with other applications. ) etc. then it should make developing the ui less of a hassle for the devs, which would make them want to use it to begin with.

View Poll Results: Universal skinsystem for XBOX apps and dashes - How many of you would like to see this?
I'd love to see this! It'd make xbox feel like a center rather than a computer!	10	55.56%
Sure, why not?	3	16.67%
Why? I like my xbox untidy!	5	27.78%
Voters: 18. You may not vote on this poll

2004-07-12, 14:30	#6
Gamester17 Team-XBMC Project Manager Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 10,582	it isn't possible in practice __________________ Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting. Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules. For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.

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2004-07-11, 15:56	#1
thanius Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4	how many of you haven't tried to download and port different skins over different applications? or perhaps just tried to create your own skins for all of the applications? i would like to see a standardisation similar to xport's applications for all the xbox software! and the feature to change one skin on all applications! i think, that this would make the xbox feel like a media/game center rather than a computer! share your opinions! :kickass:

2004-07-11, 21:16	#2
onkel bouncy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 159	this is nearly impossibel. every application has it's own programmer, features and skins. you need hundreds of graphics and characteristics for menus, settings, games, ... if you want an universal gui, try to make a skin for xbmc first. *

2004-07-11, 23:23	#3
deltop Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 353	um you didn't include an option along the lines of: "don't be stupid this is an impossibility"

2004-07-12, 06:26	#4
thanius Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4	nothing is impossible with opensource! sure, it'd take long time before perfection and alot of work would be needed - but hey, it's possible. teamwork is the keyword we're looking for here.

2004-07-12, 10:36	#5
deltop Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 353	lol ok another question since you seem to think open source is relevant. exactly how many of all these apps and emulators your talking about are open source? don't you realise that the vast majority aren't? that's stops it happening right there.

2004-07-12, 15:02	#7
deltop Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 353	nice idea though. one of the reasons why people keep asking for so many non media related features in xbmc is to keep it all in one neat consistant package that looks good. a standard skin system although not practial would help to keep a consistant look and feel when using different apps. shame that there are just too many obstacles in the way of it happening.

2004-07-12, 17:44	#8
KoTiX Fan Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 376	making a skin for xbmc is not like making one for evox or avalaunch or any other apps, take a look on how many xml files and how many images there are in a xbmc skin. i believe it's much better to add features to xbmc to make it the main and only application for xbox. if it has eeprom and flashing tools and cd\dvd copy tools then you'll not need any other application for your xbox.

2004-07-12, 23:41	#9
onkel bouncy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 159	that's right. :d

2004-09-22, 04:55	#10
trevorj Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4	instead of a "universal skin system", why not make a skin "standard" that hopefully most people would go by. maybe even a library. you would have to be really careful to not hard code anything about the ui, since it would be a multi-program standard... us linux people have been fighting for a qt and gtk skin integration/standard for years. it's a real bitch when half of your apps look nothing like the other half. a project on freedesktop that uses qt to draw the gtk apps is a start, but loading two window toolkits for the price of one makes the word hack come to mind, and not solution. think about it. you're loading twice what you should have to. it's damn near impossible with all the old and new xbox applications. but if it has floating image, text ( with fonts ), input, dialog, animation, ( scripting would be a must... but it would also be a must that scripting support should let the devs have the flexibility they may need, without losing compatibility with other applications. ) etc. then it should make developing the ui less of a hassle for the devs, which would make them want to use it to begin with.

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