[mythtv] CVS UI Questions

Bob Cottingham bob at bobnvic.com
Thu Sep 9 17:58:34 EDT 2004


Nathan Ziarek said:
> I didn't see this mentioned, although I am willing to believe I just
> missed the email...
>
> A week ago or so I updated my Myth install to CVS and noticed that all of
>  the menus had been reorganized into groupings like "Optical Disks" and
> "Information." I didn't have time to putz with it, and haven't since then
>  (working on my HT in the basement now means no time for computer stuf!),
> so I don't know if this change is on a theme by theme basis or an overall
> change.
>
> However, as I've thought about it (thinking is about all I have to give
> to the project), I don't think I like it, and I don't think it advances
> the usability of the system at all. In fact, I think it makes it much more
>  convoluted.
>
> When I sit down at my TV or media station, I go with a goal in mind: I
> want to listen to music, I want to watch TV, I want to watch a movie. I
> don't sit down and say "I have an optical disk" or I have a DVD in my
> hand. However, the reorganization seemed to make some sense to me, so I
> started to sketch out what I thought might make more sense. If I wanted my
> Mom to sit down at
> this and use it, what would best convey to her the methodology? I came up
> with something like this. I think it represents my train of thought, and
> while perhaps a bit of overkill (too many clicks to do one thing) it
> definitely follows a logical pattern in getting to the end result.
>
>
> Television
> Live TV
> Recorded Programs
> Movies
> DVD
> VideoCD
> Video Library
> Link to Recorded TV Programs
> Music
> Internet Radio
> FM Radio
> Tunes
> Information
> Weather
> News
> Browser*
> Communication
> Phone
> Instant Messenger
> Browser*
> * could go either way
>
>
>
> As I said, the biggest thing I can offer to this project is that I really
>  enjoy thinking about ways to make the UI better. Maybe you all disagree
> with this line of thinking or maybe you have little tweaks that could make
> it better. In the end the menu would seem to be a minor issue within such
> a complex program, but I sincerely believe (can't say it enough!) that the
>  thing that separates a good program from a great program is the polish.
> Maybe you just consider MythTV a tinker program in which case my points
> are kind of null. But for those that see it as a very legitimate HT
> application, I'd like to hear what you have to say about the menu system.
>
Personally, this makes a bit more sense for me, although you do need to
add a catagory for setup and tools.  It may be possible to enable a theme
to incorporate it's own menu structure using jump points for everything
and that may be the best option to meet your design goals.

Bob C



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