mce 1280x720 (updated for MP 0.2.3 RC3) (1 Viewer)

[Boilermaker]

First, let me say thanks for the interest and the comments. i'll try to address everything one by one...

In the playing now music screen, the left part of the screen (about 1/3) is empty and not used.

the left part of the screen is left thru the entire skin for navigation buttons. Partly because i'm sort of a pain about consistency; partly because of ease/organization of coding. One file (references.xml) is a template for the entire skin, i can take most other skin files and change them in about 10 mins and have them fit into the skin (all that plugin support). There are two buttons there now (back, my lyrics..good plugin if you haven't checked it out), and i've been considering adding a playlist button. I know that doesn't fill much more of the area up...i played with a couple of alternatives that didn't use the standard skin template but tried to fill up more of the screen, but none of them were received very well.

n the file explorer plugin, the navigation is really weird (i use a remote). The menu left and menu right are displayed above each other but you need to press left/right to switch between them. I think this is because you changed the original layout where menu left was displayed above the left tree, and menu right above the right tree.

I think those are actually two different plugins. The original was "my explorer" and that displayed lists top and bottom. This plugin no longer works in .2.1.0, or i would be getting it confused with... "file explorer" which does the exact same thing, but displayed lists left and right. I'm still having problems with this plugin, i've fixed the button problem you pointed out, now i'm working on a more logical way of getting around the rest of the page.

In general, when browsing in LIST mode....

new to the skin...welcome...a full release comes as an executable installer. One of the options is icons in the list mode. Personally i think they look horrible and are too small to be useful (and i have a 46" tv). but I understand some people want them, so they are an option. There are also options for number of lines in the tv guide (6,8,10, 12 and 15) and a list of the supported plugins. I have a few things to clean up, and i'm hoping a couple more of the more popular plugins (especially my films) are updated by the end of the month for a full release.

When playing a song, the cover is displayed in the bottom left corner as it is supposed to... but I can also see just under the cover, in the same frame, those mediaplayer 7/classic-like controls (play/pause,next, etc buttons) and the black statusbar with the song name. I don't have this with the blue two skin

That was the look i chose for the small overlay player. Other user created skins have gotten more creative and are better looking. Just wanted to keep a windows-like theme. The buttons are partially decorative, partially to show status, but i can make them functional. Just depends on the feedback i get.

 

[YYota]

Thanks for your fast and complete reply Yes I'm a new user of the plugin, I'll be waiting impatiently for the full release!

I'd like to point out a difference I noticed between your explanation and my setup: In the playing now screen, I have no back button inside the left part of the screen. I have the mylyrics plugin installed but it doesn't show there either. There are no buttons at all.

As for the cover with the mediaplayer-like control under it, in all honesty I'm not a fan It looks like Mediaportal has no native player and just includes an external one in that frame. It would be nice if this could be an option (maybe this is already).

By the way I have a related question, is it possible for me to modify the skin in order to display the REMAINING playing time of the current playing song instead of the ELAPSED time (=the big numbers on the background above the cover frame at the bottom left)?

Thanks a lot for your great work and your dedication,
YYota

 

[Boilermaker]

In the playing now screen, I have no back button inside the left part of the screen. I have the mylyrics plugin installed but it doesn't show there either. There are no buttons at all.

version control problem...when working with two skins and the svn, sometimes every change doesn't make it every place it should. The last thing i do is use the skin for a few days before its release to make sure i catch everything...which is why it takes a while sometimes

As for the cover with the mediaplayer-like control under it, in all honesty I'm not a fan

i've gone thru a couple of looks, and haven't gotten much response either way. I may go back to what the original mce had. A graphic for play/pause/etc., a window and a scrolling display underneath.

is it possible for me to modify the skin in order to display the REMAINING playing time of the current playing song instead of the ELAPSED time

open the file common.overlay.default.xml in a text or xml editor. About 10 lines from the top, you'll see a line:

<label>#currentplaytime</label>

Replace that line with

<label>#currentremaining</label>

This will also change the time display when you are playing videos.

 

[YYota]

Thanks a lot, I'll try this tonight!

I'll try to check this thread often to provide more useful feedback as you don't seem to receive enough of it.

And again, thanks for the hard work!

 

[Boilermaker]

Thanks Yyota.

For those using the svn, here's a version of the nonafo style mce skin that i've used to expirement with the new animations. This version is as-is, with no support...finishing off the skin(s) for .2.1.0 is the first priority. That also means there won't be a regular mce version for the svn until then.

The basichome screen has undergone the most change, but animations have been added to most screens. Also note that the the animations have some bugs that need to be worked out in mp, not the skins. These bugs are also found in the bluetwo skin as well.

EDIT:
to display the weather, you'll need to put the weather overlay plugin in your plugins/windows directory

 

[Psycho Reptile]

boliermaker, could you upload your skin anywhere else? I can't seem to get any files off that ftp...

 

[Boilermaker]

I'd prefer not uploading stuff to rapidshare and places like that for a few reasons. Mostly because there are times where i'll update the skin a few times in a short span and upload it each time.

i've changed the link, substituting ip address for domain name, that may help out a few people. The server is a little slow connecting, sometimes it requires a little patience. Since i get to use almost all the space i want for free, i really can't complain.

 

[swifty]

Hey Boilermaker,

Great Skin its really nice to use. I love the nonafo weather overlay (it does have some issues of flickering with the place name) but apart from that it works really well!
Looking forward to a final release with full animations

 

[Boilermaker]

thanks swifty. It may be a while before animations make it into a final version of the skin, it will have to wait until mp officially supports it in a full release.

Does your weather location have a long name? I tried entering the longest city name i could think of, and i couldn't get it to flicker. If you don't mind editing the xml files, open up your weatheroverlay.xml file. Look for a control with the description of "current location label" and change the width from 250 to 400 and see what happens. I'll widen the available space before the final release of the skin.

All thanks go to mofux for the plugin, he originally did it for nonafo. One other note, if you are using this plugin and switch to a different skin that doesn't support it, mp will not be able to start. Just disable the plugin and all will be good with other skins. Also, the plugin can be used with the regular version of the mce widescreen skin, but i would recommend against it since it will overlap with a lot of other objects.

One last thing...the (first) final version for .2.1.0 will be released soon, maybe over the weekend. The only thing really holding this up is the search for better images to use in the home page. Otherwise i'm about done with testing and adding plugins that have been updated for .2.1.0. Thanks for the patience.

 

[swifty]

If you don't mind editing the xml files, open up your weatheroverlay.xml file. Look for a control with the description of "current location label" and change the width from 250 to 400 and see what happens.

Cool thanks for the pointer I will try it out. I think the text only says "Cheltenham, UK" but i'll have a play and let you know if it worked ok