A little UI/UX detail that drives me crazy

[The Solutor]

I have no idea if the matter was ever discussed here but there is something in the client's UI that always felt wrong to me.

I mean the up/down arrows can mean opposite things.

If you think at the channel number the arrow up button means obviously CH+

But if you think to the general GUI (say EPG or Channel Page) up means moving toward the top of the list, so CH-

This is not only a NPVR thing, Kodi in some skins has the same problem, except that NPVR makes the matter even worse placing the CH+ button on the left, while on everything else when you have a "something+" it is placed on the right.

The result is that on the stock GUI I have always to think twice before realizing "which is which"

So why not just stick with something with a unequivocal meaning like CH-/CH+ pr even just -/+ like in WMC ?

I modded my NPVR4 skin, years ago, I'm not a designer but just to give you the idea I attach a comparative screenshot of my setup

[sub]

It's been like that for probably like 10 years, so I'm not sure something I'd actually change now.

That said, I never use those changing channels. If you press the up or down arrow keys in live tv in nextpvr.exe, it'll show the mini guide where you scroll through the channels, and press enter to select one.

[sub]

You can also use the mouse wheel to trigger the mini guide to appear

[The Solutor]

It's been like that for probably like 10 years, so I'm not sure something I'd actually change now.

Well MS added a few improvements in notepad.exe after 20+ years of inaction, it's never too late to make changes 

That said, I never use those changing channels. If you press the up or down arrow keys in live tv in nextpvr.exe, it'll show the mini guide where you scroll through the channels, and press enter to select one.

Sure I use that as well, but when I do just some aimless zapping I prefer the one click solution. That's matter of personal habits, while a consistent meaning of the UI elements is not personal.

What would you think of a car with the accelerator pedal in the middle and the brake pedal on the right?

[sub]

I think you’ll find just about every set top boxes represent it both ways, and that often dictates what people are used to. what suits one user will feel totally alien to another.

[The Solutor]

I think you’ll find just about every set top boxes represent it both ways, and that often dictates what people are used to.

In set top boxes (I'm totally inexpert of them) the remote controller represent the the main or only input device, while PC mediacenters are supposed to be usable (and enjoyable), with the mouse as well.
So I may agree with about the button symbol but not about the swapped placement.

Frankly I don't remember a single program (mediacenter or not) where the + function is on the left.

 what suits one user will feel totally alien to another.

Sure, about that point, Jon von Tetzchner the cofounder of Opera and actual CEO of Vivaldi, is used to say, when in doubt make it an option. I totally agree with him. 

[NumberFive]

It is an option. You can edit the skin file.

[The Solutor]

It is an option.  You can edit the skin file.

Indeed is what I did years ago.

Suggesting an UI/UX improvement is not the same as requesting a feature, the latter s for myself, the former is for everyone