[mythtv] CVS UI Questions

[Paul Volkaerts]

I have thought about this too; and my preference is to create a new theme
called "custom" which allows me to go through the default theme and choose
menu options that I use most so they appear on the front page.   Everyone's
use is different so this should satisfy everyone.

For me, since I never watch Live TV but do schedule and watch recordings &
listen to music, my top level menu structure could look like ...

* Watch Recordings
* TV Guide
* Play Music
* Phone
* Other --- Links to default or classic theme


I think this is reasonably easy to implement and may have a go if I find the
time over the next couple of months (unless anyone else wants to).  You
could just create a new XML "button" type called "Favourite" which dips into
the database to a new table to find the favourites.  To add a menu option
into the favourites could be just going to that menu item and hitting a key.


Paul



> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-dev-bounces at mythtv.org
> [mailto:mythtv-dev-bounces at mythtv.org]On Behalf Of Bob Cottingham
> Sent: 09 September 2004 22:59
> To: Development of mythtv
> Subject: Re: [mythtv] CVS UI Questions
>
>
> 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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