MediaPortal TV Concept

[wishywashy]

I don't want to take anything away from anyone else's ideas, but I really like these concepts.

[Laban]

Not to take anything away from the design, but how are this supposed to work with a remote ?

Seems more of a mouse gui to me atm. I'd like to see something like Inifinityloops explanations on how his gui would work with the remote applied to this gui.

[cul8er]

Some VERY nice features here.

I especially like;
* the option to record shows that are already stored in your buffer
* mini epg shows on now AND on next
* options on recorded tv like: "Remove adverts and play", "Password Potect", "Move to folder".

Hope these features are added to the Design concept eventually implemented!

[rsparey]

Originally Posted by Laban

Not to take anything away from the design, but how are this supposed to work with a remote ?

Seems more of a mouse gui to me atm. I'd like to see something like Inifinityloops explanations on how his gui would work with the remote applied to this gui.

These really are only design concepts using some of the graphics from foofaraw... I would guess that once everyone has finished brain storming ideas, someone in authority will need to collect together all the ideas and place them in to some kind of state diagram.

I think It is important to seperate the functions from the graphics, as I am sure that each and all of the talented skin designers, will be able to skin the around the functions in very different ways, this has become more apparent when looking at skins like "core" and Harleys much anticipated skin.

With regards to remote navigation, yes it is of vital importance. and I know that some of my concepts are a little hashed together, and I have crammed in buttons when I have thought of them.. rather then redrawing screens in a more organised manor.. However with a state diagram in place with all the functionis available, all us skin designers will be able to look at the "detail" design.

Thanks for everyones comments,

In summary There are some very good ideas coming up from lots of other people, it is important to look beyond the visual appearance, and look at the functionality.

[infinityloop]

Originally Posted by rsparey

In summary There are some very good ideas coming up from lots of other people, it is important to look beyond the visual appearance, and look at the functionality.

good post

[rsparey]

I have had some thoughts on the tv guide and have come up with this.. The time line runs across (dark grey progress bar) if a program is being recorded it has a red progress bar, that moves across the program in the guide.. The green one, is the program currently being watched. And the blue ones are channels currently being time shifted.

I think it would be able to highlight a program as a favourite (highlighted dark yellow with a yellow star) this way your favourite programs would show up in the guide (making them easy to spot regardless of whether you were going to record them... So If like my wife, you skim through the guide each evening to see whats on, your favourite programs are easy to spot.

I have also added an picture to certain programs... so again if you have a favourite program, you can add some art work for them to display in the guide.

It would be really cool to have a series link (series record) similar to the sky set up, where you say I want to record this series, then mediaportal would look through the guide workout when each eposiode is on and record just one of each episode. If you wanted to be really clever, it could look for when episodes are repeated and choose which one to record based on recording conflicts.

Also a long the same lines, I added a series lookup... this would display a list of when each epsiode is, making it easier for the user to plan there TV viewing..

Rich

[rsparey]

I have been scratching my head today thinking about how to control multiple tv cards, and having read through the other thread here I haven't really spotted anything conclusive on this matter. (all though I might have missed it) here is my idea;

when you press (ok) for the mini epg, you are presented with the first screen, showing you what each tv card is doing... again using red for recording, green for the channel you are currently watching and blue for a time shifted channel. If the chaneel you want is already assigned to a card simply click on the card and it will display that channel. If you want something different, choose the card you want to assign the new channel to.... and click ok... then you will be presented with a channel list for on now and on next... choosing the channel will assign it to the selected card and display it on the screen.

This method has an advntage because you have complete control over what channel each card is tunned to...

Rich

[infinityloop]

Originally Posted by rsparey

when you press (ok) for the mini epg, you are presented with the first screen, showing you what each tv card is doing... again using red for recording, green for the channel you are currently watching and blue for a time shifted channel. If the chaneel you want is already assigned to a card simply click on the card and it will display that channel. If you want something different, choose the card you want to assign the new channel to.... and click ok... then you will be presented with a channel list for on now and on next... choosing the channel will assign it to the selected card and display it on the screen.

This method has an advntage because you have complete control over what channel each card is tunned to...

which doesnt work, because the tv-service decides which tv-card is used by the tvcard-algorithm.

i think that a user shouldnt be able to do that.
it would also cause quite some issues. i.e. if you use TV-Cards with different broadcast systems (dvb -t, -s, -c, anaog, atsc...). some channels mabye only work on one card, and not on an other.
and i do not realy see a pro, except the "i have full control" feeling

which card is tuned for which channel, has to stay in control of the TV-Server imo. to keep the system simple.

[rsparey]

Hi infinityloop,

I agree, I've not actually used the tv server yet

also just saw this:


http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/at...achmentid=9114

which seems a much neater aproach...

Rich

[infinityloop]

Originally Posted by rsparey

Hi infinityloop,

I agree, I've not actually used the tv server yet

also just saw this:


http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/at...achmentid=9114

which seems a much neater aproach...

ah, yes

the idea behind it is to tell the user which card would be "physicaly" able to tune that selected channel, but isnt possible atm because the card(s) is/are busy.

so the user could say "well..... my wife doesnt need to watch that movie (again), i want to watch soccer. lets take control over that card so i can watch that game." *kidding*