Why are the skins so basic & plain? (1 Viewer)

[joostzilla]

re: Why are the skins so basic & plain?

This thread is about skins, not other funtionality - I will do a direct comparison of other functionality in another thread.

I've been using MP for 2 weeks now, I used XBMC for many years.

I've tried several skins and currently using StreamedMP but the text is too small on my 65" screen from 10' away. Others like Maya are so basic they look like the $99 devices from Seagate/WD/etc. While others have potential but lack polish (fit & finish).

On XBMC I use the skin called BIG Alaska... it is very simple, very easy to navigate, but very polished and appealing to use on a large screen. There are a few others in the works that are also move eyecandy and have a lot of potential.

The skins on XBMC beat MPs skins with ease in these areas...

ease of use & navigation
look'n'feel - proper alignment of text/graphics, use of screen real estate, etc
polish - overall quality of graphics


I'm pretty sure this is a large reason why XBMC gets so much press and many other apps are based on XBMC, not MP.P

There are many things I like MP over XBMC for and I will explain those in another thread but I was curious why the skins lacked luster - it looks like maybe a combination of the skinning engine and there is less emphasis put on skinning at MP.

I believe things will be better with MP2. Less design restrictions = more creativity. i cant wait to have a better skinengine. Although I still believe that most eyecandy xbmc and MP skins lack logic in navigation and design. Some design rules are completely thrown overboard and lost in graphic heavy screens. Function should be over form. Alaska is a great looking skin but could be better still if the designers would prioritize the information better. There is no rule that says you have to use the complete screen just because you can.

Oh... and we all know how the press is: true beauty is on the outside

 

[zicoz]

That'll be your dodgy film collection PD
I don't agree that XBMC has the edge on skins - I believe the best looking ones get ported over anyway!
Engineering 101 - functionality over form a great looking car wont be any good without a working engine..!

but winning people over is just as much about look'n'feel as it is features... Apple proved this true.

Actually this has a lot to do with the functionality of the product - over priced and insecure yes, but fabulously simple to use and they work (generally) - it just so happens that they also have great designers in the Apple camp too.
The early Mac UIs were seriously ugly IMHO, but the functionality and simplicity made them sell...

Note to dev's - sod the looks, make it work

The thing about Apple is that they are good at catching the design of just that time, just look at both OSX and iOS, both looked amazing when they came out, but today they both look old, just look at this:

Not to mention Itunes. My friends are shocked when I show them the sexy Zune Software.

But I guess that's how Apple gets people to buy new products, create something that looks great now, but dated in 3 years then people will buy new shit.

 

[Terrabyte]

AW: Why are the skins so basic & plain?

Livin

That`s the question i asked myself a lot.
No Skin is like i want and i have a 46" screen and sitting 5meters in front of.
Lots are full of unusal things so that you can`t see the main things and the others have nonsense features.

But Note:
The MP-Team does a great great job every time there is something new in the download area.

And about your 99$ receiver: What does MP cost?

 

[ryan20021982]

This will sound rude but its not meant to be I swear.

If you want something else make it yourself, or at least the basic parts of the skin and if it is popular I bet someone will help or take it over.

Skinning is all about personal preference and the skinners can only go by what people like so if you can show what you want it would be alot easier.

Pick a skin that you like the most for a base and go from there edit it to look as you want.

There are also skins that have mods done by members, most don't change the looks too much but more of tweaks to the skins.

Or if you don't have the abilities to code the skin make a photoshop mockup or something.

Its just hard to know what people want when they just say I don't like it, instead of showing what they would want.