LinuxMCE Forums

General => Users => Topic started by: DragonK on September 07, 2010, 11:37:11 am

Title: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on September 07, 2010, 11:37:11 am
Hi All,

Im creating a new UI1 Orbiter skin. I got a few pointers from the Devs, but I want to hear what the users would like to have in a Orbiter skin.
My way of contributing back to the project.  ;D
I'm learning as I go along with the Orbiter skin design. The first time I opened HA Designer I thought WTF!? What do I do and Where?!
But then I stumbled across TSchak909's screencasts that explained alot about how HA Designer works.

The screencasts;
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=5732.0
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=5059.0

How to install HA designer;
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Installing_HADesigner


When Im done with this Orbiter skin, I will make it available to all.
Any advice, pointers and suggestions welcome, however the end result might not include some of the suggestions.

I've attached some screenshots for thus far. I do this in my part time in the evenings, so it might be another few weeks from completion.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: Kooma on September 07, 2010, 12:29:02 pm
Nice work. Have to say that the Dianemo WO2.0 looks especially appealing. I've though about (trying to learn enough to) make a similar default screen at some point for permanently installed wall orbiters.
I'm talking about this: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Image:Web_orbiter_20_in_chrome1.jpg. Have you checked that out?

Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on September 07, 2010, 12:43:37 pm
Hi Kooma,

Yes I have seen theirs, and it was one of the reasons why I started to design my own.
It is still in the beginning stages, so there is alot of room for improvement.
I dont want to copy their look.

I'll go to the drawing board and see what I come up with.
Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: bongowongo on September 07, 2010, 01:11:22 pm
They layout of the first screen is nice.
The colours hurt my eyes, if you see the colouring of the dianamo example, or our own standard screen, try to avoid to much hard contrasting colours.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on September 08, 2010, 04:59:49 pm
Hi Bongowongo,

Im changing the colors. So youre opinion about the the First screen is acceptable?
Round or square buttons?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: bongowongo on September 08, 2010, 06:29:06 pm
Round, because it emphasises the curve in the buttons.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on September 29, 2010, 04:58:23 pm
Hi,

So I have redesigned my original designs. The round buttons are still in my design, but the colors have changed. The layout has changed too. The "Floating buttons in the middle of nowhere" wasnt the way to go. I wanted to do something different but that layout sux. Lets be honest.

My question now is that I want to reload my core/hybrid (new server hardware) but is it posible to transfer the work I've done so far to the new installation?

Will post some pics later.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on September 30, 2010, 01:19:29 am
Did you do your work in a separate designobj folder?

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on September 30, 2010, 08:09:59 am
Yes Thom.

I Created a new Designobj category and everything is in it.


Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on September 30, 2010, 08:11:35 am
can you please check rendering the Basic and Titanium skins on one of your orbiters, to make sure you didn't accidentally mess it up?

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on September 30, 2010, 08:14:57 am
Thom,

They still work, because I use them on other orbiters.
I did mess it up before but fixed it again.  ;D

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on September 30, 2010, 08:16:22 am
okay, i will do a backup of our master database, and when we're ready, i'll look over your stuff and help check it in.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on September 30, 2010, 08:22:52 am
Thanx Thom,

But its not finished yet. I'm about 35%-40% complete with it.
I would love for it to be the "Default Skin" LinuxMCE ships with but I think I'm aiming abit high at the moment.

So the only way to get it onto my new installation is to "check it in"? If it is, then would everyone have my half completed orbiter skin?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on September 30, 2010, 08:24:33 am
correct.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on September 30, 2010, 08:56:37 am
Thom,

Then I'll finish it first and then we can check it in. I'll keep my existing system as a "development box" then......

Thanx again.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: RayBe on September 30, 2010, 11:16:31 am
Quote
Will post some pics later.

Karel

i really am looking forward to them  ;D

br,
Raymond
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on September 30, 2010, 01:45:14 pm
I'll put them up after the weekend.
What would users want on the "Home" or "Main" screen?
There is buttons for each category "Media, Lights. Climate, Telephony, Security and Advanced".
I've placed a button for room and user. Time is displayed, thinking of a "Now playing status screen" and maybe a volume control?

Any suggestions welcome.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on October 05, 2010, 09:26:47 pm
HI,

Well here is the screenshots of some of the menu's. There is still alot of work to be done before its complete. More than I initially thought. These pics are taken from my laptop running the windows orbiter.
I need some suggestions for the main menu. What to place in it thats useful for users.
I did put a "cd cover display" in that shows the thumbnail of the movie playing at the moment, but it's not working at the moment.

Any suggestions welcome.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on October 05, 2010, 09:28:46 pm
Two more.

Edit: I realised i need to put floorplan buttons on all the menu's to.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on October 05, 2010, 09:36:50 pm
Good job! keep going.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on October 05, 2010, 09:39:36 pm
Thom,

Thanx..... I must admit, this is much better than the first ones...

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on October 05, 2010, 09:41:40 pm
Keep in mind, that the button array for the reset buttons will create a button for each media director in the house. It doesn't look like you have much room for it below.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: davegravy on October 05, 2010, 09:52:57 pm
One very minor observation from an appearance point of view:

The graphics within the lighting, security, climate, and settings circles all contain diagonal objects (light bulb, key, thermometer, and wrench, respectively). They are mostly all 45 degree rotated, except for the thermometer which is a bit off. Dunno if you can rotate it to match...

Otherwise looks great!
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on October 05, 2010, 09:54:27 pm
are you using graphic icons from different designers/sources?

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on October 05, 2010, 10:06:42 pm
Dave, will look at the thermometer. Thanx for pointing it out.

Thom, its the H2O icon set from KDE-look.org.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: RayBe on October 06, 2010, 10:22:01 am
DragonK this looks amazing, superb work!
if i may make 1 suggestion, make the background a very dark color (almost black),
for instance very, very dark purple. this will give your great design a very classy and high-end look.
looking forward to using your skin,

br,
Raymond
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on October 06, 2010, 10:48:15 am
HI Raymond,
I'll experiment with the background colors and see what I come up with.

Anyone got some suggestions for the MainMenu???
It looks a bit dull at the moment..

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: totallymaxed on October 06, 2010, 12:05:50 pm
Two more.

Edit: I realised i need to put floorplan buttons on all the menu's to.

Hey nice work! Keep going... we'd love to see a thriving interest in new UI's designs and ideas being discussed and worked on here :-)

All the best


Andrew
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: RayBe on October 06, 2010, 01:55:30 pm
Quote
Anyone got some suggestions for the MainMenu???
It looks a bit dull at the moment..

i would say, very basic control-buttons for media playback and lights, so that you have quick access to them.

br,
Raymond
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: bongowongo on October 06, 2010, 02:55:59 pm
I would say, on the main menu a button <now playing>
So if you are in lightning screen you can quickly go back to your movie
etc etc
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on October 08, 2010, 07:58:50 am
Hi Guys,

Just some progress update.......

1.Changed the angle of the thermometor icon to +- 45 degrees.
2.Advanced menu's buttons are a bit smaller to provide enough space for the reset button array.
3.Home screen Now playing field shows the Filename of the current media and when pressing/clicking on the file name you get taken to   the media remote. Tested it with movies and music.
4.Finished up some more menu's and screens.
5.The darker background doesnt seem to "look" good....... to much of a contrast.

More screen shots after the weekend.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on October 19, 2010, 10:59:39 am
HI guys,

Sorry for the delay..... I know i promised scrrenshot, I got abit caught up in my Day-job......
I've made alot of progress though. Refining some graphics over the next few days and then will post.

For the experts... how can I add the Date to the "Home screen"? Got the time working (that was easy"
My cd cover on the home screen is also not working, but its a minor.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: Marie.O on October 19, 2010, 11:29:55 am
Take a look at http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Orbiter_Variables
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on October 19, 2010, 02:57:23 pm
Thanx!!!!

Thats gonna help me quite alot.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: Marie.O on October 19, 2010, 03:23:37 pm
If you come across more information, please update that page.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on October 28, 2010, 10:37:05 am
Thom,

Can you point me in the right direction........
I want to change the colors of the playlist datagrid.
The green and purple under the coverart.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on October 28, 2010, 02:38:03 pm
If you see this screen in Designer, you'll see that it is two data grids, side by side. The first grid, is simply styled by the data grid styles, look at the Style/StyleVariation tables. The second table, uses a designobj to specify the cell's style. If you open its designobj, you'll see the designobj #s. If you go to the designobj referenced, you'll see the graphic filename for the cell.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 15, 2010, 08:04:23 am
Thom,

Thanx for all your help and advise thus far. I really appreciate it.

I'm just curios..... in HADesigner, when creating a new Bitmap Design_Object, there is an option for "animate"....
Can this be used and if yes would it "animate" the the menus?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: Marie.O on November 15, 2010, 08:52:54 am
afaik, animate does not work atm
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 15, 2010, 09:46:24 am
[hmm].....

It would've have been a nice add-on...

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 17, 2010, 08:08:30 pm
Finally got some time again to carry on where I've left off.

Is this toooo dark?
The first two screenshots I've made frame darker. just playing around with some ideas.
Still alot I need to finish on the remote screen.
On the main menu if you click on the cd cover, it takes you to the remote screen.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: los93sol on November 17, 2010, 08:25:17 pm
You're really making some progress now!  Looking good, I don't think it's too dark at all.  Have you played with the idea of...where you have the 'content' area of the screen in a rectangle, maybe stripping off the rectangle to use the full width of the screen and have your default buttons across the top how you have them now and using a similar layout for custom screen buttons across the bottom like a play, stop, ff, rw, etc?  Just a suggestion, it's looking good, keep it going!
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 17, 2010, 08:36:16 pm
The thought of stripping the frame has actually crossed my mind today.
The frame doesnt take up alot of space, but there are a few places where I need that little extra.
I'm playing around with it, but just cant get it to "look right"

At the bottom of the screen I'm going to fit that annoying "status screen" that allways pops up in the top left hand corner.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: daballiemo on November 17, 2010, 08:42:44 pm
Karel,

I like it  ;D

rgds

Han
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 17, 2010, 09:38:42 pm
WE have to say somewhere that we are using LINUXMCE.....  ;D
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: los93sol on November 17, 2010, 10:52:03 pm
Good call on that popup dialog space being reserved, fully agree that it's quite annoying when it pops up and covers things up, it's also a bit annoying that we can't review past dialog messages, but that's another subject altogether...

Re: getting the look right with removing the rectangle, have you tried just going straight across it and doing like a roll effect on the edge so it transitions down to your content canvas nicely, and the same thing back up across the bottom.  I like the symmetrical look/design you've got going, what about slimming the LinuxMCE logo down to the size of the round buttons you have up top and centering it along the bottom edge so you still have room for the popup dialog on either side of it.  That should leave you with ample space for additional buttons at the bottom as well...just a thought, I'll try to photoshop my thoughts when I get home from work tonight.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: Kooma on November 18, 2010, 12:45:25 pm
DragonK, you've proceeded very well, looking forward using your design.

I also felt the frame being the only downside to your design. Not that it takes up some area but the sharp corners, there's something there. They, somehow, don't go with the round buttons optimally.

Have you tried rounding the corners of the frame? Might not look as  good as it does now, but might be worth testing?
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 18, 2010, 07:23:16 pm
HI,

Made the corners of frame round and dropped the frame.


I'll try to photoshop my thoughts when I get home from work tonight.

Adam, I really wanna see what you meant.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: los93sol on November 19, 2010, 09:31:13 am
Karel,

Sorry for my pitiful PS skills, but this is sort of what I had in mind, your last mockups were pretty close to this.  The area to the right of the LinuxMCE logo would make a perfect area of reserved screen real estate for popup dialogs...

(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/1439/mediabp.jpg)

And for the button arrays something akin to the blackberry style would probably look really nice...here's an example

(http://www.laptopmag.com/uploadedImages/review/cell-phones/2008/images/bbstorm_ui.jpg)
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 19, 2010, 10:38:02 am
Adam,

The BB black buttons would work nicely I think. Will give it a go.
From what I understand with the buttons at the bottom, the play/pause, stop ect.... will be on all screens? Similar to C4's screen?

Then I have came accros that popup block and was looking at it, but now I lost the piece of paper of what the design_object's number was. And I cant seem to find it again........ Do you maybe know?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: los93sol on November 19, 2010, 01:36:07 pm
The play/pause, etc. buttons wouldn't necessarily have to be on each screen, I didn't explain my thinking very well before, what I meant was, for instance, when you have media playing, or are on a phone call, etc.  If you're navigating screens outside of the control screen for the current 'audible activity' (ie. watching tv, listening to music, on a phone call), that space could be useful to place relevant controls for that 'audible activity' so that you could do things like drop the call, play/pause, maybe place light/volume controls in that space, just trying to think outside of how we currently do things in the UI to update the functionality while you're working through this.  Personally, I think this would make the experience much nicer.  I was thinking about the popup dialog too, that area could be a general information area of the screen so that when you have media playing, etc. that information could be shown there, and when a popup dialog needs to display, swap out the information...just a thought.  I'm one of those people that likes for things in the UI to be extremely fluid and symmetrical, I also like for things to be sensibly placed with pre-defined standards so the user can anticipate where certain controls will be on the screen without having to hunt around each time they see a new screen.

Again, you're doing great work, keep it up!
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 19, 2010, 07:39:35 pm
Thanx Adam,

That makes sense. I understand now what your vision is. And I agree with you about things being fluid and in its place.
Im in two minds about keeping the frame or dropping it.
I wonder if its posible to scroll a playlist/filelist datagrid to the sides instead of up or down?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: los93sol on November 19, 2010, 09:18:17 pm
Thom...if I ask very nicely, can you overhaul the media views so we can eliminate having a list and a datagrid and just have a navigable grid of coverart?  If no art is present just display the name in the space?  :)  That would be sooooooooooooooooooo much nicer than how it is now!

Media on our systems can change regularly, even daily, doesn't it make sense to be able to scan foe updates from the UI so we can start moving closer to a system that tags media for us?
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 19, 2010, 09:29:52 pm
Adam,

Isnt that what they want to do with clutter or qt?

http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=10214.0

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: los93sol on November 20, 2010, 12:50:01 am
Yes, but we still need to get a functional proof of concept.  Personally I don't think it's even going to happen, not enough people understand our current system, and there's not been any tangible progress on that front in almost a year already.  It's just such a massive undertaking, I don't see it ever happening and see more value in slowly migrating off of what we have already instead of trying to to a full blown overhaul, we really just need a few people do take ownership of it and continue to hammer it out.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 21, 2010, 08:56:30 am
Hi,

Adam, what are ur thoughts of keeping the frame for the UI1 and dropping the frame for the UI2 variant.
From the mockups, the buttons with the blue outer line, I'm thinking using them for highlighted or selected states.

BTW, i found the design objects for the Status/Alerts pop-ups. Just seeing how I'm gonna change them for this skin.

Im having some difficulty getting the datagrids for the filelist and coverart to work properly, so I'll be focusing on that for next few days.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 26, 2010, 02:08:10 pm
Hi Guys,

Changed a few things on the HomeMenu.
Still busy with the datagrids, but hopefully I'll have them working by the end of the weekend, or I'll have to ask Thom for help.....  ;D
Thinking im sticking with this frame and color scheme.
Will add the lights and volume buttons to the HomeMenu this weekend to.

Adam, there is no "control" keys on the HomeMenu for the media that is being played, because if you click/press on the cover art it takes you straight to remote screen for that particular media. What are your thoughts?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: totallymaxed on November 26, 2010, 03:27:48 pm
Yes, but we still need to get a functional proof of concept.  Personally I don't think it's even going to happen, not enough people understand our current system, and there's not been any tangible progress on that front in almost a year already.  It's just such a massive undertaking, I don't see it ever happening and see more value in slowly migrating off of what we have already instead of trying to to a full blown overhaul, we really just need a few people do take ownership of it and continue to hammer it out.

Hi all,

There are two efforts going on to update the Orbiter and the UI's we can build for it. The effort that Thom is leading is not intended to immediately deliver a new Orbiter...its an ongoing investigation into some of the 'candidate' underlying technologies that might be used in a future Orbiter. You should not expect the outcome to be a 'shiny' new Orbiter...but it will help us decide what technologies to build a new Orbiter from.

The second effort underway is to build out the technologies and capabilities of the Touch Orbiter and Proxy_orbiter to allow us to deliver new more modern UI's on devices that have a Touch Orbiter implemented on them. In some cases these Touch Orbiters may in the future use some of the technologies that Thom is researching so there may well be significant overalp at the level of the underlying technologies used. For Touch Orbiter we are keen to move towards a way to build UI's that decouples the design process from the underlying technologies used to impliment the 'guts' of the Orbiter. We envisage some kind of xml like representation of each screen and that different Touch Orbiters would render those screens in different ways...so that at one extreme you could impliment an ascii text only Orbiter that would still render the xml correctly on a simple text only LCD display - ie it would be upto the Orbiter to render the screen based on its own physical limitation. At the other extreme we may have a Touch Orbiter on an Android 2.3 Pad that has a beautiful hi-res display or an iPhone4 with a smaller but still hi-res display...both devices have rich UI architectures and UI paradymes that users are already becoming very accustomed too - these devices will render the screens and use the UI capabilities of those devices to the full.

So this work is very much an 'in-progress' effort but I would hope that you will start to see some output from the above efforts early in the new year.

All the best


Andrew
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: bongowongo on November 26, 2010, 03:46:48 pm
Yes, but we still need to get a functional proof of concept.  Personally I don't think it's even going to happen, not enough people understand our current system, and there's not been any tangible progress on that front in almost a year already.  It's just such a massive undertaking, I don't see it ever happening and see more value in slowly migrating off of what we have already instead of trying to to a full blown overhaul, we really just need a few people do take ownership of it and continue to hammer it out.

Hi all,

There are two efforts going on to update the Orbiter and the UI's we can build for it. The effort that Thom is leading is not intended to immediately deliver a new Orbiter...its an ongoing investigation into some of the 'candidate' underlying technologies that might be used in a future Orbiter. You should not expect the outcome to be a 'shiny' new Orbiter...but it will help us decide what technologies to build a new Orbiter from.

The second effort underway is to build out the technologies and capabilities of the Touch Orbiter and Proxy_orbiter to allow us to deliver new more modern UI's on devices that have a Touch Orbiter implemented on them. In some cases these Touch Orbiters may in the future use some of the technologies that Thom is researching so there may well be significant overalp at the level of the underlying technologies used. For Touch Orbiter we are keen to move towards a way to build UI's that decouples the design process from the underlying technologies used to impliment the 'guts' of the Orbiter. We envisage some kind of xml like representation of each screen and that different Touch Orbiters would render those screens in different ways...so that at one extreme you could impliment an ascii text only Orbiter that would still render the xml correctly on a simple text only LCD display - ie it would be upto the Orbiter to render the screen based on its own physical limitation. At the other extreme we may have a Touch Orbiter on an Android 2.3 Pad that has a beautiful hi-res display or an iPhone4 with a smaller but still hi-res display...both devices have rich UI architectures and UI paradymes that users are already becoming very accustomed too - these devices will render the screens and use the UI capabilities of those devices to the full.

So this work is very much an 'in-progress' effort but I would hope that you will start to see some output from the above efforts early in the new year.

All the best


Andrew

Like this........
http://www.meegoexperts.com/2010/11/digia-ui-running-lenovo-notebook-nokia-n900/

Hmmmmmm
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: totallymaxed on November 26, 2010, 03:51:36 pm
Yes, but we still need to get a functional proof of concept.  Personally I don't think it's even going to happen, not enough people understand our current system, and there's not been any tangible progress on that front in almost a year already.  It's just such a massive undertaking, I don't see it ever happening and see more value in slowly migrating off of what we have already instead of trying to to a full blown overhaul, we really just need a few people do take ownership of it and continue to hammer it out.

Hi all,

There are two efforts going on to update the Orbiter and the UI's we can build for it. The effort that Thom is leading is not intended to immediately deliver a new Orbiter...its an ongoing investigation into some of the 'candidate' underlying technologies that might be used in a future Orbiter. You should not expect the outcome to be a 'shiny' new Orbiter...but it will help us decide what technologies to build a new Orbiter from.

The second effort underway is to build out the technologies and capabilities of the Touch Orbiter and Proxy_orbiter to allow us to deliver new more modern UI's on devices that have a Touch Orbiter implemented on them. In some cases these Touch Orbiters may in the future use some of the technologies that Thom is researching so there may well be significant overalp at the level of the underlying technologies used. For Touch Orbiter we are keen to move towards a way to build UI's that decouples the design process from the underlying technologies used to impliment the 'guts' of the Orbiter. We envisage some kind of xml like representation of each screen and that different Touch Orbiters would render those screens in different ways...so that at one extreme you could impliment an ascii text only Orbiter that would still render the xml correctly on a simple text only LCD display - ie it would be upto the Orbiter to render the screen based on its own physical limitation. At the other extreme we may have a Touch Orbiter on an Android 2.3 Pad that has a beautiful hi-res display or an iPhone4 with a smaller but still hi-res display...both devices have rich UI architectures and UI paradymes that users are already becoming very accustomed too - these devices will render the screens and use the UI capabilities of those devices to the full.

So this work is very much an 'in-progress' effort but I would hope that you will start to see some output from the above efforts early in the new year.

All the best


Andrew

Like this........
http://www.meegoexperts.com/2010/11/digia-ui-running-lenovo-notebook-nokia-n900/

Hmmmmmm

Yes any platform or device could be targeted with Touch Orbiter... both the current version or future versions. If the underlying system supports rich UI development then the idea would be to exploit those features inside the Touch Orbiter rather than as we do now which is ignore them.

All the best


Andrew
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: aico on November 29, 2010, 07:17:37 am
Hello Karel,

your Orbiter Skin looks great.

I have here an idea for the Home Menu.
Is it possilble to split the Home Menu screen to show on the left side of the screen some weather information (outside temperature, wind speed, rain...) and information about the room where you are (e.g. room temperature) also date and time would be fine and on the right side of the screen some media playing info (like you did it in your example)

Regards
Johannes
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 29, 2010, 11:57:16 am
I have here an idea for the Home Menu.
Is it possilble to split the Home Menu screen to show on the left side of the screen some weather information (outside temperature, wind speed, rain...) and information about the room where you are (e.g. room temperature) also date and time would be fine and on the right side of the screen some media playing info (like you did it in your example)

Johannes,

The weather details is in my design, just havent implemented it yet. The problem is that I dont have a weather station or sensors connected to my core to test with. Do you have? and is it currently showing in the orbiter screen somewhere?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: aico on November 29, 2010, 12:15:07 pm
Karel,

I am sorry I don't have one - it was just an idea...

The problem ist, there are a lot of different weatherstations whitch can be connected to a PC how would it be the best way to get the weather data to the core - would it be a way to generate a xml-File with the weater data and store it on the Core or has the data to be stroed in a database? I have seen some weather station software that stores data in a MySQL database. The biggest problem ist, that most weather stations are shipped withh Windows software - how could this stations be connected? Most of this weather stations can also store the weather data in a text-file - i think it would be possible to generate an xml-file and send it to the core using an cron job... ???

This software http://www.weather-display.com/index.php (http://www.weather-display.com/index.php) supports a lot of weather stations...

Johannes
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: bongowongo on November 29, 2010, 12:16:49 pm
DragonK
Is there some why I can test your skin?
where do I retrieve it? How do I install it?
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on November 29, 2010, 01:24:16 pm
DragonK
Is there some why I can test your skin?
where do I retrieve it? How do I install it?

Sorry Bongowongo,

Its not yet available. There is still alot I need to finish before its remotely ready.
The first release will be a Beta release for everyone to test and provide feedback.
Hoping to have it ready by the 3rd week in December. Maybe in time for X-MAS........ My present to All  ;D

Karel.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on December 09, 2010, 11:24:45 am
Hi Guys,

Does anyone have rain, wind and temp sensors connected to their core?
If so, are the readings under the climate menu? Pointers to emulate it on my system as I do not have such sensors connected.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on December 09, 2010, 02:22:43 pm
Currently, such readings are only available under the floorplan.

However, one can change Orbiter to expose things as needed.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on December 10, 2010, 12:50:59 pm
Thanx Thom.....

I'll have a look if I can emulate something like that.
I'm looking at this.....
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/NOAA_Weather
might help with my design.... going to implement it tonight.

Any sugesstions of what else to add/change in my sorbiter skin?

I'm abit behind schedule on getting the "beta" version done.
Thinking.........I must get my ASS in gear and put some long hours in to get it out there!!!!


Karel

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: brake16 on December 12, 2010, 08:39:27 pm
Any sugesstions of what else to add/change in my sorbiter skin?

To go along with weather data:  indoor humidity.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: los93sol on December 12, 2010, 09:52:59 pm
Why not just use something like weather.com for most of the weather readings like every other project does? :P
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on December 12, 2010, 10:11:49 pm
I had hoped someone would extend the climate plugin, to get weather data, and to have a screen handler for a set of Weather screens.

I guess I could do that too :P

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: locutus on December 13, 2010, 12:15:53 am
Why not just use something like weather.com for most of the weather readings like every other project does? :P

After reading http://developerlife.com/tutorials/?p=18 (http://developerlife.com/tutorials/?p=18) i think you have to sign up with them, to get a license key.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on December 13, 2010, 07:01:40 am
I had hoped someone would extend the climate plugin, to get weather data, and to have a screen handler for a set of Weather screens.

I guess I could do that too :P

-Thom

Thom,

Would you be able to give me some pointers how to do it, then you dont have to do it too..........  ;D
I'm new to programming and starting with C+ only now, but I'm eager to learn from someone that would teach...

Extend the climate plugin to get weather data from "weather forecast" website? Where you can then view like a 3day weather forecast for your area? Or  am I missing the pot here?

K
Any sugesstions of what else to add/change in my sorbiter skin?

To go along with weather data:  indoor humidity.
Brake, do you have climate and Humidity sensors attached to your core? If you do, what devices are you using? I need to simulate these so I can test it it, or I'll ask you to test it for me???

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on December 13, 2010, 02:22:27 pm
Basically, a command to get the weather data can be triggered by the screen handlers of a few different screens. This would use CMD_Update_Object_Image to update the graphic of designobjs laid out on a set of weather screens.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: los93sol on December 13, 2010, 03:01:39 pm
Why not just use something like weather.com for most of the weather readings like every other project does? :P

After reading http://developerlife.com/tutorials/?p=18 (http://developerlife.com/tutorials/?p=18) i think you have to sign up with them, to get a license key.

You're correct, but I don't see how it's a problem...it's free, and it uses SOAP which is dirt simple to use http://www.weather.com/services/xmloap.html
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: daballiemo on December 22, 2010, 02:07:41 pm
Karel,

I am dy-ing to get hands on experience  ;D

tia

Han
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on December 28, 2010, 07:32:39 pm
Sorry Han,

Away on holiday. Wasnt able to finish "phase 1" for release as I wanted.
But soon it will be available.

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on December 29, 2010, 12:34:10 pm
Hi,

Would the Menu buttons at the top be too small if the are 200 pixels instead of 266 pixels?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: kyfalcon on December 29, 2010, 03:44:30 pm
Hi,

Would the Menu buttons at the top be too small if the are 200 pixels instead of 266 pixels?

Karel

Only one way to find out :) Give it a go and let's take a look. I'll be glad to give some feedback!
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on January 22, 2011, 12:10:15 pm
If you see this screen in Designer, you'll see that it is two data grids, side by side. The first grid, is simply styled by the data grid styles, look at the Style/StyleVariation tables. The second table, uses a designobj to specify the cell's style. If you open its designobj, you'll see the designobj #s. If you go to the designobj referenced, you'll see the graphic filename for the cell.

-Thom

Thom,

To create new datagrids, but with the same functionality, do I only create them in HADesigner and Mysql? Or is there some programming involved?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on January 22, 2011, 06:56:55 pm
you should not need to create a new datagrid to display the same thing, unless:

* the number of rows/columns changed
* you're wanting to change the designobj cell is being used to render cells/rows

basically, if the parameters need to change for some reason, and it's not a designobj variation break....

But all you need to make sure is that the parameters are what you need, at least PK_DataGrid and DataGrid ID, and Extra options etc is what you need.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on January 30, 2011, 07:16:47 pm
So I finally got some time on my hands to work on the skin again, but now my HA-Designer crashes  >:(

Code: [Select]
See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.ArgumentException: This constraint cannot be enabled as not all values have corresponding parent values.
   at System.Data.DataRelationCollection.Add(DataRelation relation)
   at System.Data.DataRelationCollection.Add(String name, DataColumn parentColumn, DataColumn childColumn)
   at HAData.DataAccess.MyDataSet.SetRelations()
   at HADesigner.MDIForm.MDIForm_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnLoad(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnCreateControl()
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl()
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ContainerControl.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///e:/windows/microsoft.net/framework/v1.1.4322/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
HADesigner
    Assembly Version: 1.0.2607.31288
    Win32 Version: 1.0.2607.31288
    CodeBase: file:///E:/HADesigner/HADesigner.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///e:/windows/assembly/gac/system.windows.forms/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.windows.forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///e:/windows/assembly/gac/system/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///e:/windows/assembly/gac/system.drawing/1.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/system.drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
HAData
    Assembly Version: 1.0.2607.31016
    Win32 Version: 1.0.2607.31016
    CodeBase: file:///E:/HADesigner/HAData.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Data
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///e:/windows/assembly/gac/system.data/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.data.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///e:/windows/assembly/gac/system.xml/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.xml.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.Data.Odbc
    Assembly Version: 1.0.3300.0
    Win32 Version: 1.0.4030.0
    CodeBase: file:///e:/windows/assembly/gac/microsoft.data.odbc/1.0.3300.0__b77a5c561934e089/microsoft.data.odbc.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just in time (JIT) debugging, the config file for this
application or machine (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
    <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the machine
rather than being handled by this dialog.

Any Ideas?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on January 30, 2011, 08:02:11 pm
I would suggest running /usr/pluto/bin/sqlCVS -v and fixing ONLY THE TABLES IN THE DESIGNER REPO.

I say this with quadruple caution, because this facility deletes table rows that do not have matching relations, getting the database back to a consistent state.

DO NOT LET IT DELETE DATA FROM TABLES IN THE LOCAL REPO
DO NOT LET IT DELETE DATA FROM TABLES IN THE LOCAL REPO

These tables naturally, do not have matching relations in other tables, so they will fail (due to MakeRelease prepping the database for end users)...

Be careful and make sure to only remove entries from tables in the designer repo.

Once you've done this, Designer should work again.
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on January 30, 2011, 08:23:35 pm
Would this delete some of my changes to? What I've done so far?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on January 30, 2011, 09:29:43 pm
it will delete the change that caused the problem.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on January 31, 2011, 06:42:56 pm
Thanx Thom,

It deleted my Style Variations......

In table: StyleVariation:FK_Style:27 Style:PK_Style:NULL
In table: StyleVariation:FK_Style:28 Style:PK_Style:NULL
Delete the offending records?  (BE CAREFUL!) [N/y]


HA-Designer now working  ;D Off to work then.....

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: kvelland on March 25, 2011, 01:55:36 pm
Any update on this Skin, is it possible to test it? And if so, how do I do that?
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on March 31, 2011, 03:22:56 pm
Hi Guys,

Firstly an apology to all for taking sooooooo long.
I was out of town for a few weeks (work related) and then on holiday and moved house to.....(sum stuff still in boxes), and was unable to work on this. But I'm back now and going to finish it now.
Firts phase would be Main screen and Media. Then we'll take it from there.

Thom,

What do I need to do to upload the new skin, so that what I've done so far is available to the community for testing?
Also I've added the needed design objects for Fearisept's LCARS skin, so that it can be chosen from the skin list in webadmin. No need to overwrite the basic skin anymore. (P.S got his permission to upload the skin)

Anyone that wants to pitch in and help, ur welcom to PM me and we can take it from there.
ATM its me and Raymond aka RayBe

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on March 31, 2011, 05:01:55 pm
sheesh, you guys have been working on your own for so long, I do not know the state of your database.

I am afraid to let you guys check in, but that's what will have to happen.

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on March 31, 2011, 06:29:55 pm
sheesh, you guys have been working on your own for so long, I do not know the state of your database.

I am afraid to let you guys check in, but that's what will have to happen.

-Thom

Thom,

Learning HA-Designer and to get things working properly was the most time consuming. And getting the Graphics right.
If I have to redo everything that I've done thus far, I dont think it would take nearly as long.
U suggest starting with a "clean" newly installed Database?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: tschak909 on March 31, 2011, 07:13:35 pm
Ok, just checked with Possy...

Let's try with my creds. Please log on and /msg me. I will give you my creds.

After you get them, you can select all the tables in the designer repo
do an sqlcvs diff in web admin.
be sure to add a comment, this is a big batch.

Look over everything as best you can, and if it looks okay, then check in.

Let me know when the stuff is checked in, and I will verify the integrity of the database, and we can go from there. :)

-Thom
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: totallymaxed on March 31, 2011, 08:23:06 pm
Just a heads-up for anyone working on Skins;

http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=11582.msg80407#msg80407 (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=11582.msg80407#msg80407)

All the best


Andrew
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: DragonK on March 31, 2011, 08:48:04 pm
Just a heads-up for anyone working on Skins;

http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=11582.msg80407#msg80407 (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=11582.msg80407#msg80407)

All the best


Andrew

Andrew,

I saw that thread, but does it mean that what I'm currently working on, will be a waste?

Karel
Title: Re: New UI1 Orbiter skin
Post by: totallymaxed on March 31, 2011, 09:02:28 pm
Andrew,

I saw that thread, but does it mean that what I'm currently working on, will be a waste?

Karel

No not at all. What we are aiming for is a new Proxy_Orbiter + Touch Orbiter and as a baseline they should be perfectly happy with an existing UI skin... ie Basic, your or any other UI1 style skin. You may not automatically get all of the dynamic UI elements (ie dynamic scrolling lists, sliders etc etc) but your Skin should work without breakages with the new Orbiters. Beyond that to get the full value of the new code you may need to make some changes/adjustments but these will still be changes to your existing Skin not a complete re-write.

We need UI designers to buy into this and we need to have it  happen with as little 'pain' as possible...people building new Orbiters have the most work to do initially and thats why we will deliver two different Orbiters + source code when we release ie iOS & Qt Orbiters...because we realise they need to see something that implements this stuff to gain confidence that re-writing their Orbiter code is worth the effort.

Join us in the other thread if you have any more questions... apologies for hi-jacking your thread!

All the best


Andrew