(2014-10-02, 09:59)nickr Wrote: One thing seems to create constant debate - in EPG should OK/Enter switch to that channel, or should it bring up a recording dialog?
Maybe more emphasis on context menu! We've been right clicking for a decade already haven't we?
Imo i think this depends on how the user controls XBMC. I use a set of all in one tv remote. So i prefer the OK button to play the channel, then using other buttons for other options. ie, menu to bring up the context menu, or the record button to bring up the record options.
(2014-10-02, 09:59)nickr Wrote: One thing I think on the whole PVR thing is that all menus and so on should emphasise "PVR" not "LiveTV". Rename all that shit!
I have been using Mythtv for many years now, well before XBMC got any PVR action. One thing you learn pretty quick is that LiveTV is not where it's at. You are far better to do a little planning and "record what you want, watch it when you want/have time" Divorce yourself from the network's timetable. If you want to watch the 6.00 pm news at 8:30, do it. Death to channel surfing!!!!!
That is why I advocate less emphasis on "Live" and more on "Recordings".
When a programme I like comes back on for a new season, it records automatically, it pops up in my recordings list at the top (because I order them like that) and I am pleasantly surprised that it is back on. But I am not glued to the set at a certain time. TV is secondary to my lifestyle, not vice versa. EPG becomes way less important and presentation of recordings becomes the focus.
I actually enjoy channel surfing. i dont have set things i watch on tv, i just sometimes flick through if im bored and see what grabs my fancy. Though i think for Kodi to be good at anything Pvr it needs to cater for all types of people. So in this respect i think the LiveTV emphasis is fine, but the Pvr side does still need some work.
Im pretty sure in Helix the recordings view can now be changed to any format you wish, the same goes for any other view. They are all seperate now. I shall be playing around with this when i get the time to see what i can do to improve the Recordings and Timers sections. One of the reasons i posted here was to get ideas for these. Anything that i want to incorporate that cant be i will post in the Pvr development thread to see if a dev can work on said feature. Though im still a rookie when it comes to skinning
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(2014-10-02, 13:05)jjd-uk Wrote: I've only briefly used a friends box, so it was the overall look more than anything I was impressed by, what I particularly liked was the separate time line and date/day line along the top, but thinking about it that's probably not practical for Kodi as we can only go forward, whereas Youview uses the backwards to access on demand stuff.
One function I don't see in your picture, unless it's part of the Group function, is the ability to switch between displaying only TV channels or only displaying Radio Channels.
With Helix, these are now completely seperate. So on the main menu you goto LiveTv to access the view ive shown, then you goto Radio to access the radio views, which is exactly the same view wise.
(2014-10-02, 13:05)jjd-uk Wrote: While I like your layout design, I'm not so keen on the way it's skinned with not enough contrast between the foreground and background elements in my opinion, but maybe that's just the Amber skin style. For example blue text for the timeline against a blue background, then within body of the EPG light grey text against darker grey background, and with the selected Perfection programme in the EPG the blue highlight seems to merge into the blue background above it, note however this is me being very picky.
The Amber skin is.. Amber ;p. Ive completely redone the skin for the LiveTv views. Of course any colour can be used (or depending on the new Kodi colour scheme). The main emphasis should be on how it works and how its layed out.
(2014-10-02, 13:21)bry- Wrote: Possibly look to use PseudoTV Live by @Lunatixz as the front end? He has done an excellent job and is able to incorporate some of the current backends directly into PTVL. Maybe with some additional help he can move a bit faster through development. In my personal opinion the enhancements he has made have Damn near brought the live tv experience up to par with the rest of xbmc in terms of looks, functionality and experience. Not to mention he has two skins that look similar to what have been posted. Concast and time whorner
I have taken a look a PTVL and while Lunatix has done an awesome job i would prefer to use the already incorporated Kodi Pvr system. Using an add on does not seem intuitive to me and makes it feel distant to the rest of Kodi. Not a seamless integration.
(2014-10-02, 13:26)jjd-uk Wrote: That's easily solved.
Have a menu with 2 options
View
Record
Personally as mentioned above i would prefer the ok button to play the currently selected channel.
Record button to bring up a menu like youve shown with recording options, maybe a single record, series record, advanced record options.
Then the menu button to bring up the menu options, or the options Kodi allows.
Though all this depends on what you use to operate Kodi, so i feel being able to turn on/off some functions would be a good feature.
