Why I think I'm switching back to Media Center (1 Viewer)

[guytpetj]

The "new baby" must be the reason why we don't see much input int the SVN's from some of the key developers at the moment.

 

[rsbrux]

The simple solution is to find the basic home xml file in the skin directory of your choice and replace its contents with those of the home xml file. This way, if you accidentally call the basic home screen, then all you will see is the standard home screen and it will be seamless to the end user.

Sorry for the digression, but I tried this on Blue two wide (SVN 16125) without success. I made a copy of "home.xml", changed the ID from 0 to 35 and stored it as "BasicHome.xml". Switching to Basic Home didn't get me a duplicate of Home, however. Instead, I got just the frames and background of Home, without any content.
Isn't there a more elegant way to do this? Should I open a thread in Improvement Suggestions asking for a configuration option to disable basic home (or home), or is it already in the list (or on the roadmap)?

 

[gxtracker]

Considering the amazing work Harley did on the Xface skin, im pretty sure the majority of design team members are looking at moving away from a list driven interface (like Blue Two currently is) and moving torwards a real consumer level interface.

I dont think a single home menu is formally listed on a design roadmap, but it is something that has also bothered me too. I simply think its a relic from the days where MP tried to be everything to everyone!

 

[Marcusb]

The simple solution is to find the basic home xml file in the skin directory of your choice and replace its contents with those of the home xml file. This way, if you accidentally call the basic home screen, then all you will see is the standard home screen and it will be seamless to the end user.

Sorry for the digression, but I tried this on Blue two wide (SVN 16125) without success. I made a copy of "home.xml", changed the ID from 0 to 35 and stored it as "BasicHome.xml". Switching to Basic Home didn't get me a duplicate of Home, however. Instead, I got just the frames and background of Home, without any content.
Isn't there a more elegant way to do this? Should I open a thread in Improvement Suggestions asking for a configuration option to disable basic home (or home), or is it already in the list (or on the roadmap)?

You shouldn't need to change any id, just copy the file and change the name and that should be all.

 

[rsbrux]

Marcus,
I tried that first, with the result that MP hung when I switched to BasicHome. That's why I thought I needed to change the ID. I just tried it again with SVN 16125, with the following results (maybe I misinterpreted the previous symptoms):
Basic Home still shows as an empty shell of home.
The Green Button no longer works to switch between Home and Basic Home, nor to return Home from other screens.

Steven,
I never understood the need for two home screens, because it is so easy to configure a single one.
The only advantage of Basic Home is that it "hides" the "exit" from MP, to make the underlying OS invisible, or at least unreachable, for those who (as you say) really want it to look like a consumer device.
IMHO, it would be better to just add a checkbox to the setup to enable or disable the icons for shutdown, restart, exit, etc. in Home.

 

[zag2me]

IMHO, it would be better to just add a checkbox to the setup to enable or disable the icons for shutdown, restart, exit, etc. in Home.

Agreed, but maybe there is more of a reason, i dunno.

 

[Spragleknas]

rsbrux: Easiest way to avoid BHS is to map the "Start" button from "Switch home" to "Home".
Pressing "H" on keyboard will still switch home, though...

 

[bugmenot]

I too am going back to Media Center

I don't mind a little tweaking, but it fails as a replacement, let alone an improvement.
Networking seems to be non existent, videos are stored on other computers in LAN, I can play them
fine in Media Center, I have to push them to my HTPC if I want to play them in MP. MCE found my Hauppauge 1600 with no problem, no such luck with MP. :sorry:

 

[rsbrux]

rsbrux: Easiest way to avoid BHS is to map the "Start" button from "Switch home" to "Home".
Pressing "H" on keyboard will still switch home, though...

Hey Spragleknas, thanks for the brilliant suggestion. Don't know why I didn't think of that!
The "H" doesn't bother me, since I only resort to a keyboard in emergencies.

 

[gxtracker]

I never understood the need for two home screens, because it is so easy to configure a single one.

I agree, and this is something as a team we will be moving towards - simplicity over complexity. I personally like the concept of the basic home screen, but there is just so much more functionality in the regular home screen that it becomes the standard for everyone. I think achieving the look of the basic home screen with the functionality of the regular home screen should be the goal, instead of having multiple options for the same thing.

I like your idea with the shutdown, restart and exit buttions. I've been working on a method of simplifying those buttons for a little bit now. I dont like the current state those buttons are in. It's still far to complex for the novice user.

Im thinking something along the lines of simply Turn Off and Exit, when Exit will close the MP application, and Turn off becomes an option you setup in the settings menu for either turning off the computer completely, suspending the machine, or putting it into hibernation - that way someones elderly grandmother would only need to know that Turn Off would actually turn off the box.