???
Ok. So last evening I was trying to flip some media from the living room system into the playroom. It uses UI2-Alpha Blended. I called up the media map, went to select the playroom and the media that was playing, and using my gyration remote, and my mce remote, it will not allow me to select anything.
Now, this is the first time I tried this from anything other than the orbiter I run on my laptop. But out of curiosity, i went into the playroom, which runs UI1 and was successful in switching the media, i.e I was able to select the MD, and the media. I could also do this from my MD in the Man Cave, which runs UI2-Masked.
So I went back into the Living room on the UI2-Alpha Blended and figured I would try the Lighting Map. Same result.
So I am guessing something is awry with my UI1-Alpha Blended Orbiter.
I usually use the laptop to do these things, so this may be old news, as I have never seen it before, but then again I have always used UI2-Masked in the living room until recently.
Just thought I would post to see if anyone else has experienced this.
Regards,
Seth
Quote from: seth on February 03, 2009, 06:57:35 PM
???
Ok. So last evening I was trying to flip some media from the living room system into the playroom. It uses UI2-Alpha Blended. I called up the media map, went to select the playroom and the media that was playing, and using my gyration remote, and my mce remote, it will not allow me to select anything.
Now, this is the first time I tried this from anything other than the orbiter I run on my laptop. But out of curiosity, i went into the playroom, which runs UI1 and was successful in switching the media, i.e I was able to select the MD, and the media. I could also do this from my MD in the Man Cave, which runs UI2-Masked.
So I went back into the Living room on the UI2-Alpha Blended and figured I would try the Lighting Map. Same result.
So I am guessing something is awry with my UI1-Alpha Blended Orbiter.
I usually use the laptop to do these things, so this may be old news, as I have never seen it before, but then again I have always used UI2-Masked in the living room until recently.
Just thought I would post to see if anyone else has experienced this.
Regards,
Seth
Its a bug in the screens for UI2-alpha I would guess. We never use UI2 Alphablended at all so would not have noticed this... but its surprising that others here have not!
All the best
Andrew
I suspect that very few people are using AB because of the tearing issue...
Quote from: colinjones on February 04, 2009, 02:56:12 AM
I suspect that very few people are using AB because of the tearing issue...
Yep I agree. But you'd expect some 'avid' UI2 alpha 'users' to have seen this by now I would have thought....http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6901.msg46764#msg46764 (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6901.msg46764#msg46764)
;-)
All the best
Andrew
Quote from: totallymaxed on February 04, 2009, 03:07:41 AM
Quote from: colinjones on February 04, 2009, 02:56:12 AM
I suspect that very few people are using AB because of the tearing issue...
Yep I agree. But you'd expect some 'avid' UI2 alpha 'users' to have seen this by now I would have thought....http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6901.msg46764#msg46764 (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6901.msg46764#msg46764)
;-)
All the best
Andrew
I know :) I've been following.... !
Hi,
I've spotted that problem quite some time ago and I'm pretty sure there is still mantis entry in older system (I'm using MD in living room with AB UI2)...
I also see that something is wrong with rendering background pngs uner UI2 AB too, cause it seems like when you select certain room, then you can see that all other backgrounds are also rendered one on top of another... Also it seems that devices accumulate on floorplan (so you see much more devices that you should). But beside that I can turn lights on/off when it works, but have not caught any pattern on that yet...
Definitely UI2 and floorplans calls for some check...
Regards,
Bulek.
Hi,
I can confirm buleks issue.
As for playing files and moving them to other MDs, I did have some problems with that but can't exactly remember what..
br,
sambuca
Quote from: totallymaxed on February 04, 2009, 03:07:41 AM
Quote from: colinjones on February 04, 2009, 02:56:12 AM
I suspect that very few people are using AB because of the tearing issue...
Yep I agree. But you'd expect some 'avid' UI2 alpha 'users' to have seen this by now I would have thought....http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6901.msg46764#msg46764 (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6901.msg46764#msg46764)
;-)
All the best
Andrew
So where exactly do I claim to be an 'avid' UI2 alpha 'user' then? ::) How childish to drag that into this thread and put words in my mouth while your at it.
This is odd. I will get another MD setup pronto and give it a go. I just moved so im finishing up wiring (someone keel me! there are so many damn wires!!!!) Reason I say its odd is that I always use the alpha blended ui and have only had an issue with multi-level floorplans, which there is a patch for I think for some reason. Anyways, ill report back my details later today.
P.s. the tearing is so much of a problem for me as I watch 99% of my recorded media and some myth recordings through a upnp device that upscales everything. Live tv still goes through myth but there is never an issue with tearing...or am i used to it... will double check that too.
until next time
golgoj4
I can confirm the issue on my system also. It is a shame because even though i've read a couple post stating that alpha-blending is overrated, every individual i have showed linuxmce off to has negative reviews for the ui1 and ui2 overlays. They say that they prefer alpha blending for aesthetics and it helps to hide the fact that the "selections don't fit in the rows" ;D
:)
I can confirm it is re-produceable. Last evening I switched back to UI2 masked, and this issue went away. Then I switched again to UI2 alpha blended, and the issue returned.
I would use UI1 masked, but I get a terrible lag while viewing mythtv or watching recordings from the mythtv recordings menu.
However watching the recordings from the LMCE video menu, or any dvd, I do not get this lag issue. I do get the "Z" shaped tearing while using UI2 alpha, but the interface runs smoother. Perhaps there are some X-Settings I can review, to get my UI2 Masked to not be so sluggish during mythtv bits (unfortunately, this is what the Living Room MD gets used for mostly, the wife watches TV on and off through the day, and says the 20 to 30ms lag using the "LiveTV" entries in controlling the Dish receivers is not for her) maybe I can find something to turn off or add to my xorg.conf file.
I'll dig into it further this weekend.
Regards,
Seth
Hi seth,
quote
the Dish receivers is not for her) maybe I can find something to turn off or add to my xorg.conf file.
turning wives off is very easy, I've got rid of 2,......much easier than stuffing 'em into a file .........or did I mis-read that part ;D ;D
regards,
Ian
Is this issue being addressed in 810?
Quote from: compaqpresario on February 06, 2009, 01:57:24 AM
I can confirm the issue on my system also. It is a shame because even though i've read a couple post stating that alpha-blending is overrated, every individual i have showed linuxmce off to has negative reviews for the ui1 and ui2 overlays. They say that they prefer alpha blending for aesthetics and it helps to hide the fact that the "selections don't fit in the rows" ;D
Our feedback is not just based on a few minutes exposure to UI2 + Alpha during a demo. Our feedback was obtained after, in some cases weeks of usage. At that point users have got over the 'eye candy' effect that you get with any UI to some extent and are now focussed on the real everyday usability... and thats when in almost all cases feedback has been negative about UI2 + Alpha - it adds nothing to usability based on our user feedback. That is not to say by any means that UI1 or UI2 were deemed perfect either... they were'nt. But on the whole they were received much better after they had been in real use for a reasonable period of time.
To be frank we a little surprised by this but it was a very consistent response with approx 80+ % responding this way.
Andrew
Quote from: totallymaxed on February 24, 2009, 03:06:07 AM
Quote from: compaqpresario on February 06, 2009, 01:57:24 AM
I can confirm the issue on my system also. It is a shame because even though i've read a couple post stating that alpha-blending is overrated, every individual i have showed linuxmce off to has negative reviews for the ui1 and ui2 overlays. They say that they prefer alpha blending for aesthetics and it helps to hide the fact that the "selections don't fit in the rows" ;D
Our feedback is not just based on a few minutes exposure to UI2 + Alpha during a demo. Our feedback was obtained after, in some cases weeks of usage. At that point users have got over the 'eye candy' effect that you get with any UI to some extent and are now focussed on the real everyday usability... and thats when in almost all cases feedback has been negative about UI2 + Alpha - it adds nothing to usability based on our user feedback. That is not to say by any means that UI1 or UI2 were deemed perfect either... they were'nt. But on the whole they were received much better after they had been in real use for a reasonable period of time.
To be frank we a little surprised by this but it was a very consistent response with approx 80+ % responding this way.
Andrew
Andrew - I understand, but I think from what you and others have said previous (and from using it myself) that it is mostly a visibility thing, beyond the tearing (lets just pretend that's been fixed for now)... perhaps all that is needed is a change to the alpha map? Perhaps make it more opaque? Still get the eye-candy, without the visual confusion?
Hi,
I use UI2 on daily basis on home theater MD and we like it. But can imagine that it confuses some users... I'd propose to make UI2 less transparent (I spot problem with visibility of some folders in media browser....)... That would make it more convenient for all users...
Regards,
Bulek.
Quote from: colinjones on February 24, 2009, 03:31:53 AM
Quote from: totallymaxed on February 24, 2009, 03:06:07 AM
Quote from: compaqpresario on February 06, 2009, 01:57:24 AM
I can confirm the issue on my system also. It is a shame because even though i've read a couple post stating that alpha-blending is overrated, every individual i have showed linuxmce off to has negative reviews for the ui1 and ui2 overlays. They say that they prefer alpha blending for aesthetics and it helps to hide the fact that the "selections don't fit in the rows" ;D
Our feedback is not just based on a few minutes exposure to UI2 + Alpha during a demo. Our feedback was obtained after, in some cases weeks of usage. At that point users have got over the 'eye candy' effect that you get with any UI to some extent and are now focussed on the real everyday usability... and thats when in almost all cases feedback has been negative about UI2 + Alpha - it adds nothing to usability based on our user feedback. That is not to say by any means that UI1 or UI2 were deemed perfect either... they were'nt. But on the whole they were received much better after they had been in real use for a reasonable period of time.
To be frank we a little surprised by this but it was a very consistent response with approx 80+ % responding this way.
Andrew
Andrew - I understand, but I think from what you and others have said previous (and from using it myself) that it is mostly a visibility thing, beyond the tearing (lets just pretend that's been fixed for now)... perhaps all that is needed is a change to the alpha map? Perhaps make it more opaque? Still get the eye-candy, without the visual confusion?
Colin to some extent thats true... except as with all 'eye candy' it only makes a real impact when you first experience the UI... very quickly you dont notice the UI per se... a good UI disappears over time and this is why the alphablended UI gets a bad response... it doesn't. Its in 'your face' shouting 'look at me' ;-)
Andrew
Andrew,
I understand your stance on the alpha blending but i do agree with compaqpresario and those who do think that UI2 alpha blending is the best UI aesthetically. I have been using UI2 alpha and overlays for a good while now, and other than the tearing issue and the floorplan issue, i don't find alpha to be confusing at all. Those who have spent a considerable amount of time using linuxmce in my home have negative reviews of UI2 overlay. The "eye candy" effect is still in full effect in the 4 households i have turned onto to linuxmce. That could be do to the fact we all migrated from windows mce. As for usability, we only have the two above mentioned problems. To me it's a matter of opinion, i think it's good to give everybody the option to choose for themselves but the floorplan issue hampers use a little. That's why i wanted to know if it could be fixed in 8.10. Thanks ;D
Quote from: widescreen on February 24, 2009, 06:05:11 PM
Andrew,
I understand your stance on the alpha blending but i do agree with compaqpresario and those who do think that UI2 alpha blending is the best UI aesthetically. I have been using UI2 alpha and overlays for a good while now, and other than the tearing issue and the floorplan issue, i don't find alpha to be confusing at all. Those who have spent a considerable amount of time using linuxmce in my home have negative reviews of UI2 overlay. The "eye candy" effect is still in full effect in the 4 households i have turned onto to linuxmce. That could be do to the fact we all migrated from windows mce. As for usability, we only have the two above mentioned problems. To me it's a matter of opinion, i think it's good to give everybody the option to choose for themselves but the floorplan issue hampers use a little. That's why i wanted to know if it could be fixed in 8.10. Thanks ;D
I think you need a bigger sample to be frank. I am not suggesting that UI2 + Alpha should be removed from LinuxMCE at all... I am just relating feedback we get from a large (90 +) sample of users.
As to whether it will be 'fixed' in terms of tearing in 0810... from current tests I would suggest that the answer is 'no'. So video performance is far more important to us than anything else and I would imagine this is probably true of most users... and this therefore means that an Alpha blended UI is a 'trade off' too far even if you can't get enough 'eye candy' ;-)
All the best
Andrew
Andrew