[Finished] Make EPG entry point for watching and recording TV (3 Viewers)

[ge2301]

And as I am also one long-years-MP2-in-production user, I think I have the right to have an own opinion myself.

Of course you have a right for your own opinion. Don't misunderstand me here And it's good, that you share it.

But obviously there are different opinions of users.

Yes, for sure. But I'm very sure, that most users see it differently than you, so I started the poll (Guessing, that the 1 vote for (1) is you and Lehmden will follow, all others voted for (2) so far). Since I entered the MP2 team, I see the biggest problem amoung users with usability and navigation. Many things work different than users expect. I think for many points we did already big steps, especially with last 2 versions. But for certain points there is still potential (my opinion).

Use MiniGuide (OK)

That's also the point, that was discussed deeply in forum. Most people are overloaded by the amount of EPG screens and prefer only one.
If I want to change the channel I never press "ok". I press the EPG button and do everything in the FullEPG. It's much easier to get used to one EPG, than having many similar looking screens (less is sometimes more, same for the different footer infos). I'm always thinking "In which EPG screen am I now?".
There is always a risk doing something different than other softwares. If it's really good, you can win (Apple is the best example). But if the other solution is also good, all users, who got used to it, will not accept the MP2 way easily. Though we don't sell MP2 for money, I'm always thinking how to make the biggest "profit" - how to make the majority happy.

 

[Timhoh1234]

I see the biggest problem amoung users with usability and navigation

Most people are overloaded by the amount of EPG screens and prefer only one

Exactly! These are the points. If you used MP2 since years you might feel comfortable. When coming from another side, it's really hard. In Kodi, MP1 and WMC I could directly find my self comfortable in terms of navigation (without reading a manual!).
But MP2 is in total such a powerful software, that I take the small "pain" and can live with that. Honestly it would be great, if these points can be partly improved

 

[Lehmden]

Hi.

I press the EPG button and do everything in the FullEPG.

This is something we can and should improve. If you press the EPG Button there the Mini EPG should pop up at it is the ONLY PLACE to navigate the "watch TV directly" thing. The full EPG is for planing things, especially for the schedules management. We even can name things different here. Maybe the big EPG should be named different to e.g. "TV- Management" or similar, just to make clear this is NOT IN FIRST PLACE meant for watching live TV. You can start live TV here but this is more a side effect, not that important. If you use it for something it is not intended for, than you need to live with the drawbacks, if any...

This is one of the big advantages MP2 has, something I really like. and if we would make it as everybody we would loose something of our strength.

 

[Timhoh1234]

If you press the EPG Button there the Mini EPG should pop up

Interesting point. But would it work, if you press the EPG button without a TV program running? I understood, that the MiniEPG works only, if a program is running.
There was a discussion somewhere why there is no direct TV entry point. The result was, because it's not clear which TV-channel to show. This point would be also valid here.

 

[Lehmden]

But would it work, if you press the EPG button without a TV program running?

Of course it does.

You see what is running now, what is running next and how far the current program is progressed. I don't know why you need to know what is on the channel in a week or two, if you want to watch TV now. Here a press on "OK" instantly starts the live TV as anyone would expect...

The same screen in Default Theme:

and in WMC:

Maybe this is the reason why people don't see the benefit in those two different "EPG". The WMC skin is very limited here because it did not show the following program as in all other skins.. But this is a skin issue, not a program issue... If something needs to be overworked, then it is the WMC skin to also show the following program....

 

[Lehmden]

The result was, because it's not clear which TV-channel to show.

In general the last watched channel is visible in the list, when you came back, so it is stored somewhere. It should be possible to use it for also starting TV directly...

 

[morpheus_xx]

If the "Guide" key (or "G") would lead to mini-guide in future, what key should be mapped for FullGuide?

 

[Lehmden]

"S" for schedule or "M" for management? I don't know which keys are used already.

 

[ge2301]

If the "Guide" key (or "G") would lead to mini-guide in future, what key should be mapped for FullGuide?

Yes, I'd really like to keep the EPG button for the FullEPG screen with all information.
We could add it to the TV settings and users can decide what is going to happen when pressing the EPG button.

 

[Lehmden]

For me personally this did not matter as I only very seldom use shortcuts.