Help make new default skin

hvcpvr · 2005-10-05, 01:35 AM

tipstir Wrote:CTPVR author has a nice idea, for his skins are basic not fancy and work very well on the Win-TV tuners. That's how I got into GBPVR I was bouncing from one to the other and just use GBPVR for the TV Guide I didn't have the right tuner card for this software last year until I had joined.

I like using GBPVR it's fun and entertaining, and I'll keep supporting it until the end..

tipstir I did the same thing as you bouncing between CTPVR and GBPVR. I eventually went the opposite of you. My 2 cents are simple and clean is the way to go as CTPVR has done. The Colors he uses are good. Fonts size are good and control is also good and quick. I tried skinning for Xlobby and GBPVR but I found it way too complex and tedious. Every screen needing an individual xml file made it too much work. I just started to make a one for CTPVR where only one xml file is required. In my case the hardest part so far has been making good looking graphics. I hope you guys come up with something good since every once in a while I still think about swinging back to GBPVR.

hvcpvr · 2005-10-05, 03:48 AM

tipstir Wrote:Wow! I see what you mean, much different than last time... Still not free though and GBPVR is I guess the cost of the host server and things to keep going on the CTPVR side. A lot of use of the TAHOMA FONT in play still has some rough edges but looks more polish.. GBPVR has MVP support...

tipstir I got my MVP because of GBPVR. It rarely gets any use since it is in the family room were the PVR system is. I guess I have no real need for it. I kind of created my own theme for CTPVR. It has taken about 2 days so far since I first tried creating my own buttons but could'nt. I ended up barrowing buttons from one of his other themes. My hope is to finish in another day. Overall the whole process was easy with good results plus succeeding in my goal. Here is what I ended up making.

dottore · 2005-10-05, 07:27 AM

let's talk about gbpvr.

i've attached five images. my idea was to implement the changing-backgrounds-idea. for now, this is autumn and winter. but the best would be, if the user could set a "background-directory" or could choose his own background while gbpvr is up and running.

the first three screenshots are just thoughts, how to use a horizontal menu. the last two are a skin-idea, which is running, i mean, it's gbpvr you can see. i removed the brown from the buttons in the last picture, since a few of you didn't like it.

hvcpvr · 2005-10-05, 08:19 AM

dottore Wrote:the first three screenshots are just thoughts, how to use a horizontal menu. the last two are a skin-idea, which is running, i mean, it's gbpvr you can see. i removed the brown from the buttons in the last picture, since a few of you didn't like it.

All the backgrounds look more like windows wallpaper than something that would be used for a PVR. The menus you have do not offer anything better than what GBPVR has right now. I though the idea was to improve upon not just make an equal.

In the first page in this thread Sub wrote "I'd like to replace the 'blue' skin with one that will give a better first impression."

I personally think the default GBPVR skin is not so bad. The background seems a bit dark and the menu buttons lack some dimension and personality. But that can be worked on to provide the improvements Sub wants. Unless he is just tired of that skin and wants a completely new one.

I mentioned the other PVR software for people to hear my concerns and maybe sparks some ideas of what can be done. I admit we steered of course a bit but it did not last long. I do not think any harm is caused by mentioning other software. Well maybe except for the insecure folks.

dottore · 2005-10-05, 08:33 AM

hvcpvr Wrote:All the backgrounds look more like windows wallpaper than something that would be used for a PVR.

we don't need another typical pvr-background.

hvcpvr Wrote:The menus you have do not offer anything better than what GBPVR has right now. I though the idea was to improve upon not just make an equal.

it's just a skin, no functionality. what can i offer more than gbpvr gives?

hvcpvr Wrote:I do not think any harm is caused by mentioning other software. Well maybe except for the insecure folks.

just mention it. i think, you are talking of ctpvr, right? you shouldn't forget, ctpvr is not free. and the skin looks....well.......just another mce-clone.

nkh · 2005-10-05, 08:59 AM

dottore Wrote:i've attached five images. my idea was to implement the changing-backgrounds-idea. for now, this is autumn and winter. but the best would be, if the user could set a "background-directory" or could choose his own background while gbpvr is up and running.

The first pictures with the horizontal menu is super nice looking. There are some big advantages to your design. First time users don't get confused (nothing on the screen to do so), it'll be easy to make a 16:9 version, there're lots of room for user specified panels ('cos that is really a matter of taste, the panels could be defined in the skin so it would just be a matter of enableling them), with the changing backgrounds you'll never get tired of how GBpvr looks.

The changing backgrounds would be even better if they could be changed on the fly and according to time/date, so GBpvr follows the world outside (just subtel changes though, maybe even blending the backgrounds, it doesn't have to follow the weather Wink

).

Any chance you can render one of them in 800x600? I'd love to see what it looks like on my tv Smile

dottore · 2005-10-05, 09:05 AM

actually it is 800x600. this is the resolution of my matrox g400 on the tv-out. looks quite clear.

you need a 800x600-picture, right? tell me which one you need, so i can post it.

nkh · 2005-10-05, 09:34 AM

dottore Wrote:actually it is 800x600. this is the resolution of my matrox g400 on the tv-out. looks quite clear.

you need a 800x600-picture, right? tell me which one you need, so i can post it.

When I click the links in your post I get a picture that's 400x267, so just a picture that's 800x600 would be fine. I just wanted to see it on my tv 'cos things tends to look very diffirent to what I see on my laptop Wink

dottore · 2005-10-05, 10:05 AM

here's a zip-file, containing your screens:

http://www.sitecomposer.de/screenies.zip

i haven't tried them on the tv-screen, so it's up to you. probably they look odd and the backgrounds don't work.

nkh · 2005-10-05, 10:16 AM

dottore Wrote:i haven't tried them on the tv-screen, so it's up to you. probably they look odd and the backgrounds don't work.

Thanks, I just tried them and they do look very nice on the tv too. The text might need to be a bit bigger, but in general it looks good on my tv, very calm.