2012-01-21, 16:15
I thought we could start discussion on suggestions that might be considered for after Eden is released:
3 step interface:
Home page -> filter -> content
Current organization is probably not efficient enough as it requires to many steps to get to media. Videos->movies->title->media. Furthermore, recently added movies filter is placed inside videos as oppose to movies.
Moving "sort by" to filters section:
Sort by options in side menu could be moved to filters (see above) - thus lightening UI
Allow for selecting home menu items:
Probably using Favourites or similar window, where user could change label, thumb and background (fan art) for favorite item. Core function that would allow for assigning this item to home menu. This should be then put on wiki.
Pre populated containers:
Using pre populated containers with pre defined IDs for recently added (RA) or watch list (WL) items, allowing skinner to alter the looks of it but without the need to manually code static lists for every possible RA/WL item.
Moving some of the script functionalities to core:
So you could choose artist fan art/images slideshow instead of visualization while music is playing
Banners and Posters for TV Shows:
I would like to suggest dropping banner support altogether or fetching both posters and banners. Current situation is very confusing and there are many posts like "why my thumbs get stretched/squished"
edit:
ListItem.Description to rule them all:
Idea is to aggregate all plots, show plots and similar into one - Item description. For compatibility sake old ones can stay in place, but considered obsolete.
Container.content(addon_media):
There is a need to offer different views when you are browsing media content served by an add-on but, at the same time, that content does not fit Movie, TV or Episode category. E.g. you want to browse through Youtube menus using a list to make things easier. When you're deep down at add-on content level, you might want to offer thumbnail view.
In other words Container.content(addon_media) could tell me - you are to expect metadata info here (ratings, durations, descriptions...) but you may encounter different thumbnail sizes/aspect ratios.
edit:
Ability to define minimal XBMC version by skin:
There are many posts by users installing skin for nightly builds on stable release and running into all kinds of problem. It is not obvious if skin problems are related to this and users do not offer enough info for troubleshooting.
If skin could specify minimal XBMC version requirement and which will prevent add-on install on unsupported XBMC builds, this situation could be avoided.
edit:
<overlaytexture> tag for image control
This should behave exactly the same as <bordertexture> but should be rendered on top of an image instead. Alternative - allow setting of Z order for <bordertexture>.
E.g. <bordertexture border="4" alignZ="top">ThisGoesAbove_Icon.png</bordertexture>
Container type fixedpanel
Panel container with ability to fix row/column as in fixedlist container.
ControlGroup(foo).Position(foo)
Something that bothered me from the beginning is lack of possibility to make animation based on focused position in Grouplist control. HasFocus(foo) can't be used always as sometimes items are hidden, unknown ID (like in context menu) or are subject to change without notice (system buttons).
ListItem.IsHD (for 720 and 1080 videos)
I know it can be achieved using string comparison but it would be much easier if this check would be available.
3 step interface:
Home page -> filter -> content
Current organization is probably not efficient enough as it requires to many steps to get to media. Videos->movies->title->media. Furthermore, recently added movies filter is placed inside videos as oppose to movies.
Moving "sort by" to filters section:
Sort by options in side menu could be moved to filters (see above) - thus lightening UI
Allow for selecting home menu items:
Probably using Favourites or similar window, where user could change label, thumb and background (fan art) for favorite item. Core function that would allow for assigning this item to home menu. This should be then put on wiki.
Pre populated containers:
Using pre populated containers with pre defined IDs for recently added (RA) or watch list (WL) items, allowing skinner to alter the looks of it but without the need to manually code static lists for every possible RA/WL item.
Moving some of the script functionalities to core:
So you could choose artist fan art/images slideshow instead of visualization while music is playing
Banners and Posters for TV Shows:
I would like to suggest dropping banner support altogether or fetching both posters and banners. Current situation is very confusing and there are many posts like "why my thumbs get stretched/squished"
edit:
ListItem.Description to rule them all:
Idea is to aggregate all plots, show plots and similar into one - Item description. For compatibility sake old ones can stay in place, but considered obsolete.
Container.content(addon_media):
There is a need to offer different views when you are browsing media content served by an add-on but, at the same time, that content does not fit Movie, TV or Episode category. E.g. you want to browse through Youtube menus using a list to make things easier. When you're deep down at add-on content level, you might want to offer thumbnail view.
In other words Container.content(addon_media) could tell me - you are to expect metadata info here (ratings, durations, descriptions...) but you may encounter different thumbnail sizes/aspect ratios.
edit:
Ability to define minimal XBMC version by skin:
There are many posts by users installing skin for nightly builds on stable release and running into all kinds of problem. It is not obvious if skin problems are related to this and users do not offer enough info for troubleshooting.
If skin could specify minimal XBMC version requirement and which will prevent add-on install on unsupported XBMC builds, this situation could be avoided.
edit:
<overlaytexture> tag for image control
This should behave exactly the same as <bordertexture> but should be rendered on top of an image instead. Alternative - allow setting of Z order for <bordertexture>.
E.g. <bordertexture border="4" alignZ="top">ThisGoesAbove_Icon.png</bordertexture>
Container type fixedpanel
Panel container with ability to fix row/column as in fixedlist container.
ControlGroup(foo).Position(foo)
Something that bothered me from the beginning is lack of possibility to make animation based on focused position in Grouplist control. HasFocus(foo) can't be used always as sometimes items are hidden, unknown ID (like in context menu) or are subject to change without notice (system buttons).
ListItem.IsHD (for 720 and 1080 videos)
I know it can be achieved using string comparison but it would be much easier if this check would be available.