Help make new default skin

[hvcpvr]

Why are you here?

I have not used GBPVR for some time because it gave me some problems. I tried one of the .93 version and was quite pleased with your progress. I think you without question have the most feature rich PVR package around. I may one day completely switch to it. But it really is a hard decision to make the switch when you come to depend on it. That is the why. If do not want me to talk about other PVR apps just say the word. If you do not want me here just say that too and I'll kindly leave.

[sub]

I have not used GBPVR for some time because it gave me some problems. I tried one of the .93 version and was quite pleased with your progress. I think you without question have the most feature rich PVR package around. I may one day completely switch to it. But it really is a hard decision to make the switch when you come to depend on it. That is the why. If do not want me to talk about other PVR apps just say the word. If you do not want me here just say that too and I'll kindly leave.

Nah, you're welcome. I'm just in a bad mood. Its been a long week.

[hvcpvr]

Thats good! with all the action this forum gets I would miss it. I may not participate much but I come here a few times a day with much interest to read all the post.

[dottore]

Dottore - I realize this was only a concept idea but I'd like to build on it if you don't mind.

I think it would be really slick if, when accessing one of the menus from the main screen the skin would transition the task.png to the upper left corner of the screen. The menu system could then switch from a horizontal orientation to a vertical one.

transitions won't work, as sub said. i am against transitions, they take time and slow everything down.
the plugins themselves could display a task-image in the upper left corner. this is actually working.

to summ up what the community has contributed:
- gbpvr needs a nice default skin. this is a matter of taste...
- gbpvr needs to be simple and fast, which means: no png-buttons
- gbpvr needs a more flexible menu: horizontal (maybe with included submenu), multiple columns, rows.....

for the first point: sub will have to decide. the second point is already done. the composite-images are well working. unfortunally my psp-ish menu won't work without png's

the third point is a very good idea. what than needs to be done is changing the config-app, so the user can define task-images for the main menu buttons.

This idea would implement an image scaling function which is implied by the look of the concept main menu you created. Do you think you could come up with a rendition of this? (Or could I play around with the idea?)

no, i can't ;-) i could try something in flash, but as i said: no animations..... but you are welcome to play around.

[Kevl]

- gbpvr needs to be simple and fast, which means: no png-buttons

By this I presume you mean that buttons must not be represented by a graphics file, with say 1 graphics file for an unpressed button and 1 for a pressed button etc?

If so why is it the case that such an arrangement must be inherently slow? Are there not mechanisms for making this appropriately fast. Cannot such graphics files be cached in Ram etc.

Cant really understand why really very simple menu and screen structures of the type usually associated with HTPCs would have speed issues when most HTPCs are likely to be running >1GHz PCs.

Pls note - I'm not suggesting you are wrong I am just surprised that putting bitmaps etc on the screen would be an issue.

Kev

[dottore]

it's not an issue, it's just faster. a few users reported slow responding when using a skin with lots of png's. you'll have to use png for transparency. i think, this slows the whole thing down, the mixing of backgrounds and transparent png's.

it is known, that painting "by hand" on the screen is faster than using bitmaps. the more pictures you use the more ram you'll need. especially for the mvp-users this could be a problem. not for a normal htpc, you're right.

it's not about speed. it's about highspeed :-)

most of the time i use the blumce2 skin. it's nice, good looking and all, but my tests with skins without png-buttons were a bit faster...

[daphatty]

How about taking the bleep-bloop sound concept to the next level? Graphical presentation isn't the only way to dress up GB-PVR.

[Kevl]

Many thanks. This thread is very informative. It is very hard to find out about skinning GBPVR as I can find very little info about it. I'm thinking of having a play with XLobby as the docs are a bit better.


Kev

[humpty]

If only there was a virtual blender...

What would I add for a default skin?

- The ease of use and speed of Blue
- The TV Guide from XMEDIA DX (the basic TV guide is VERY nice on this skin)
- The font selection from XMEDIA DX (very easy to read on both TV and PC)
- The polish of the BlueMCE2 skin (doesn't have to look MCE, but the subtle tones and simple colour scheme is smooth to the eyes)
- the buttons from dotter's new idea or something close(http://forums.gbpvr.com/attachment.php?a...1128497225)

I use an MVP almost exclusively for viewing. I do understand that for the PC users they want to have more graphics, etc. But for a DEFAULT skin I think it has to be basic - simple - and quick on both PC and MVP.

sub, I think some minor cosmetic tweaks to what you already have is all that is _neccessary_. The black backgrounds on some of the overlay menus doesn't give a smooth flow to the software. I think what you have is already 80% of the way there.

I wish I could do skinning, I don't have the time - more importantly the talent - to create.

Can somebody please -

- Move the menu of default blue to the left
- add a nice simple dark-ish background
- Make the buttons one colour with a highlight (like dotters)
- Make the TV guide and other pop-ups simple but not black (like XMEDIA TV GUIDE)

Great work everybody!

[hvcpvr]

Many thanks. This thread is very informative. It is very hard to find out about skinning GBPVR as I can find very little info about it. I'm thinking of having a play with XLobby as the docs are a bit better.

Kev

Xlobby has no built in TV. Plugins for TV are nothing compared to GBPVR. Skinning it is easier graphically but assigning and controlling functions is a nightmare.