V I S I O N

I'd like to thank everyone for all the great feedback I got from the screenshots I released a few weeks ago (Feb 26th). Jezz_X and I feel comfortable enough to let the public try this skin out. The sole reason for this beta release is to get feedback on this skin. Try it out, let us know what you loved or hated. This mostly what the skin will look like in the end, We will work hard in implementing what ideas are feasable, and change what needs to be changed for the better.

All information about this skin can be found at Team Blackbolts Website, everything you need to know, so I will keep this thread as simple & short as possible.

For those that followed my previous thread here your probably wondering what the suprise is that comes with this release, well here it is (Like I said, its small, nothing big, hopefully some of you guys will like it):

Icon Pack (DVD Posters)
Link: http://putstuff.putfile.com/59797/4488843
Screenshot:
Information: With the release of this beta comes a pack of DVD Posters! 500+ of them. I personally grabbed 500+ posters: Changed its dimensions to fit into xbmc perfectly. I also edited all of them, I took away small fonts you wouldn’t be able to read (Like critic reviews), Quotes from Movie, Enlarged the Movie Title if necessary, etc.

Icon Pack (TV Episodes)
Link: http://putstuff.putfile.com/59800/114516
Screenshot:
Information: Another Icon pack! This pack includes hundreds episode thumbnails to use with your TV Shows. The pack contains around 1,000 Episode Thumbnails from over 15 popular TV Shows. Every Season, Every Episode. All renamed correctly with season numbers, episode numbers & the full-correct episode name . If you plan on using these thumbs Vision, make sure you have your ‘TV Shows’ in Wide Icon View, and your ‘Episodes’ in View2 (Movie Poster View)… Because they look slick with these settings

This is just the beginning of these packs. I will be creating icon packs for a lot more TV Shows (Next will be ALL 18 Seasons of The Simpsons, Friends, etc). I will be releasing a DVD Poster pack with 1,000+ DVD Posters. So check back in this thread for more information.

Well try out the skin guys, a lot of work has been put into this project, and I hope it shows

First!

Awesome Skin, my new default, screw MC360!

Very slick, took me a couple of seconds to realise how everything works but I'm loving it so far.

Congratulations, this is superb skinning. The electric blue is gorgeous, and the background design gives such a nice depth, and all tied together with fantastic graphics. The navigation is unique and extremely well designed, with excellent use of the d-pad.

Thanks for the hard work and dedication.

sweeeeeeeeeeeeet, btw how do you shutdown the xbox with this skin?

Get off your arse?

world class work i love this skin

but the font is to small for my bad eyes
i dont see the names
but i think this option will added in the next versions

Right thumbstick, A.

Well i was trying to turn off the xbox using the xbox remote and not the controller.....I dont know if it's just me but the skin don't look as crisp on my hdtv with 720p enabled and where's the rss feed? Looking great so far though...good work!!!

I am using it in 720p and it looks fantastic, you sure you got it set right?

well everything else looks fine and crisp...the only thing that doesnt look as crisp is the bottom half of the home page....I see a lot of shadowing little spots...I forgot what those are called and also theres like a bunch of jaggies around the circle on the guide...a few more quirks is that when playing a video, navigating the options (play, FF, stop, etc) is painfully slow to me, and maybe putting a power menu to shut off, restart, etc. to access easier..and maybe adding some colors to the Weather, Network, System, and Appearance icons like the Videos, Music, Pictures, and Programs under the Settings menu...sorry if I sound like I'm complaining...I'm just trying to give some suggestions from my point of view...

Hello,


add

<zero>XBMC.ActivateWindow(ShutdownMenu)</zero>

to your XBMC Keymap.xml under

<keymap>
<global>
<remote>

and you have acess by pressing 0 to the shutdown menu.


By the way, is there no Record button in the Music Overlay Menü? I Want to record some tracks from southcast.

Great skin so far. Will be my default.

By

MAD

Wow!! Looks very nice. Great way of control too. Very innovative. One thing i noticed that makes it seem
a little busy on screen is the left sidebar when in settings, the background text is not a huge difference in shade/color used from the overlayed text, and looked somewhat busy/confusing. Possibly have the background on the sidebar a LITTLE less translusive so the text doesn't blend in so much with the background text. In order to make it easier to make out all the text within. I included a picture to better show what i mean.
Otherwise, it looks fantastic!!! Thanks so much for the great work guys.


Using last night's build

firstly i think this skin could be one off the best so far, looks very nice.
but i don't think it's as crisp as some off the other skins the top half looks abit blurry and the bottomn half
is abit blottchy.

also whats up with the big wide icons, one half fades can this be disabled?
were the rss feed gone?

apart from these little bits great skin

thanks

Sweet I'll try it tonight

Wonderful skin Great work guys!! Love the navigation sounds and the Home screen

Fantastic skin but where has the RSS feed gone? Could it not be put in a box somewhere near the top of the home screen?

This skin is fantastic. It is so original and such a great use of space. For beta 1 this is really stable and fast.

I do have a few suggestions:

1. I have a 42in plasma that runs widescreen @ 480p. At this resolution the fonts are a little small.
2. I love the List2 view with the big icons on the right. However this view not available under Picture and Programs...can it be added
3. The sidebar does make the settings a bit busy. I like how the system info screen is laid out. i think the setting screens should be like this.

Awesome, thanks NineT9

This is really neat. I can't think of much to add.
Maybe Wrap List, and adding shadows to the text on the "sidebar."
I absolutely love this skin. Especially the little slits for the BG visualizer.

First off, This skin blows my mind. It is the best skin out there.

I notice that with stacked movies or video I can't get it to play, most of the skins out there lets you pick from the first part of the video or the second etc. Maybe I'm doing something wrong so if I am can someone please let me know what I'm doing wrong.

One thing I would like to see is a wrap view, just a thought.

Anyway, great job on the skin and keep up the good work.

Thanks

Awesome! Congrats to all involved.

cool skin!!

- how come only the Big Wide view under Programs , wheres the other wide icon view ?

- in Big Wide the ends fade out way to much and make the icons look weird ..

great work , love the home page :]

i love u

































uhm mean the skin

awesome thanks so much!

First Impressions Of Vision...

This skin is really something, and deserves some proper 'first looks' attention, maybe those guys who did a review of MC360 skin would be interested?


I love the look and feel of the skin, beautiful colours from this default (and only) theme at the moment. The coverflow-esque (or at least 'apple-esque') viewing of huge images on the screen I think really brings this in line with other contemporary offerings in the commercial arenas. (such as AppleTV, which (is? or is not out yet).

Big positives in the viewing areas of the skin, tremendous use of space when viewing media libraries and playing also. One suggestion here: I do like the milkdrop vis's, however, maybe something like... (as an extra), when in full-screen mode, to have the album artwork displayed in the centre of the screen. (and with larger font?)

The font, speaking of which, is lovely, very nice on the eyes, however im slightly torn as to whether the dark(ish) blue is the best choice for highlighted areas on the menus/texts). Also, when playing music.. if you return to hte main menu, perhaps the font showing the alb/artist/song details is a bit small? (I have about a 28" tv, not widescreen (tho i wish it was), but this font size was just a bit small for me. The same I felt for the text on media libraries. It could be said that since this is quite obviously a highly visual skin, that text is not quite so important (since we now have huge displays for the artworks (if using "View: List 2" especially). But it may be something to think about. Just an idea.

When playing music, the main menu displays the cover art in the 'utility belt' area (sorry, not official terms here, just my interperetation); which is a nice touch.

File manager, scripts, weather and settings are tucked away nicely. I do very much like this aspect. I live with a female and she just wants something to watch media/listen media on. Whereas I have a slightly different hat to wear because i sort of setup the xbmc setup and home networking side of things). - it's good to have these things available, but tucked out of the way of the most important things, which is the media! smile.gif thumbs up there!

I can't comment enough about the display of artwork in this skin, for instance in the games/emus/progs menu, having huuuge icons for your items is really nice, and very sensible use of space at the bottom of the screen for the game/emu/prog names (XBE titles). (something that always narked me in other skins) because you'd highlight it and then it would scroll the name. (not that you'd forget what item it is! tongue.gif) because you have images anyways! but it just tidies it up a bit more. kudos.

While talking about use of space, I must also mention the inclusion of 'slide-in' panels. Which you can access from most menus using the Vision skin. They are great for keeping away the clutter, and only are called into view when you move left or right as far as you can go on the sreen you are viewing. They display things such as changing the view type, and also, quite handily, the time and weather conditions). nice!

One thing I think might be quite nice, when viewing music libraries in the List 2 view, I do quite like it when im able to scroll through a list from top to bottom, then when I'm at the bottom, have it loop so im at the top again. (list 2 dosen't work like this, once you're at the bottom, you're at the bottom!, and you're staying there til you move up again).

Pictures: When viewing images full-screen, the text is veeeery small, I do think it would be nice to increase the font size here.

Icons:
My personal opinion is that the best looking icons (used to identify media types and locations), such as.. media on the xbox hard drive, or over network, or on DVD. (as you see when you go into my music, my videos etc..); the best looking/best-designed icons IMO are those used in MC360. They are very clean, very slick. The icons used in Vision, again, im going easy because it's only BETA1), are not quite so nice. It's almost like taking a step back in time regarding icons such as the use of an image of the xbox on the main menu, and heapdphones and cameras to represent a music section or pictures section. In this sense, it's like the Vision skin combines some qualities of apple's aesthetic with some more traditional design associated with xbox media center and it's earlier days.



A suggestion for view types on different 'levels':
One thing I'd quite like, would be a way, perhaps in options, to set view types for different depth levels in media libraries.

To explain, I mean, I have my music organise A-I, J-R and S-Z. At this point, it's nice to view in List 2 mode, and also when I've entered into one of those folders.. to again view in List 2 mode. (cos i can see the huge artwork at the side), but when you then enter into an actual album folder, you would then have to switch through the List view modes, to see it displayed in List 2 fashion. (basically, I'm wanting to keep the album artwork on-screen all the time. so perhaps an option in music options to set different view modes depending on the folder depth levels or something like that? (cos as it stands, I'd have to go into each album, and set to List 2 mode), lotta work!

Well all in all, it seems like EX has almost come early! (despite that this is not EX, it holds some nice features that I think a lot of ppl looking forward to EX will appreciate!)

and so out of the blue too! Great work, looking forward to hearing people's views on the skin and future work that may take place on it!

Top job!

laugh.gif


PS - I think so many of us do quite like the Movie Trailers feature that MC360 built into its Media blade, would be lovely to see this make a return in Vision
And I second the idea of a shutdown menu from the front menu.

cool,

I appreciate the effort made to collect all the dvd covers and tv show icons into downloads, but how do you use them? I never did this before.. I usually just stuck a folder.jpg in a folder and picked it up over the network..

Thank you NineT9mustang ( and the rest of the team ) for the release!!!
Didn't try it yet but will in some hour or so!!!
Keep the hard work goin!! It seems that lately ( couple of weeks/months ) skins are just pooping right in our hands!!!
Thanks again!!!

This is actually more of an xbmc issue because you will notice that when you go to the settings then back to the side menu it fades out a lot more like the other ones do so its less obvious. The problem is in hat window I can't make the settings be the default control as its hardcoded to the menu items down the side so on window open the animation dosn't take place


Its a beta more views will be coming soonish you have to remember for me this is just a spare time factor between PM3 (you may of noticed a huge update to that) mc360 and Xbox-Classic and trust me making skins for xbmc is a very involved long process

Beautiful work guys. I have been looking forward to this. I have been using XBMC360 since I first got an xbox and modded it, but I have always been missing something. THe actual "Media Center" feel. With mc360 it is more of a gaming center feel (which is what it is made after) and since I do more video viewing than gaming I want something a bit more media like. Dont get me wrong I love XBMC360 and I love all the extra features like the built in AMT button and the downloads area. I tryed other skins and some are nice but lacking the extra features that XBMC360 has. Since this skin is in beta and our feedback counts in the production of this skin, I hope that some extra features can be added to this skin to make it stand out above all the rest beyond its look and feel.

Some suggestion I have are...

1. The time, can we get the time posted up somewhere were we can always see it?
2. AMT Incorperate that someplace. Maybe in the Videos tab.
3. Change the click sound to something else.
4. RSS feed, I dunno it might just throw the skin off. I dont know.
5. Home page seems a little to bare, maybe make the panel a bit bigger, or just add the Vision V up above the panel? Like when you hit the down arrow, it raises the panel and displays a V. That is beatiful.
6. Dont know if this is posible, but would you guys be able to make a screen saver to go with the skin, with the same theme of course?

Other than that, this thing is damn near perfect. Looking forward to see this thing blossom.

Solved my small font problem by substiting arial bold ttf for the TCM.tff. Just renamed tcm.ttf to tcm.ttf.bak in skin's font folder and copied the arial bold ttf font into the folder and renamed tcm.ttf.

I have had a few hours to spend with this skin and it is amazing!!! It's still in beta and missing a few things here and there, but it is now my default skin. I have tried many...many skins before (mc360 and XBOX Classic being my favourite alternatives) but I have always come back to PMIII. This time I really think I am staying put (till eX is out anyways, then all bet are off). Even my wife passed across when I was playing with the skin and went "Wow" and she nevers notices or cares about this sort of stuff.

And to top it off with SVN access I will looking at skin daily....

FUCK! And here he is telling me its nothing special and to be ready for disappointment. This skin is amazing. I've only peeked but I am in love... With the skin... And NineT9Mustang... Really...

The skin is looking good!!

One suggestion: when playing music and you are on the home screen, is it possible to enlarge the "orb" where the album art is displayed. I really like the idea of having it there but i think it's too small.

just love this skin ....but can u make the text biger...ill try what rramoutar did and see if i can get the text biger.....by the way did i mention i just love this skin!!!!!!!!

I too had the small font problem but now its half ok. Changed the font to another as suggested and now the fonts bigger everywhere so far except when using the lyric mod. Still real real small. Not sure if thats cause of the mod or still cause of the font.

I have rss enabled but I dont see one, I'm guessing its not still done yet (the rss feature), as this is still beta.

And can we get the big wide icons in music? And are they suppose to fade out that way? Looks a little hazy and then fades out. Fade out I like alot but the hazyness sort not so much.

And whenever a prompt comes up and you need to push ok, not sure if its set up this way or if a bug you have to hit back, cause hitting A does nothing.



Other then that outstanding. I'm sure gonna use this skin.

its so amazing .. its like the first nextgen xbmc skin

yeh i dont like the look of the big wide icon view...its as described above, kind of 'hazy' and it fading out too much...and the rss feeds is not implimented yet...also if i use 4:3 mode instead of widescreen, then everything is larger and i can manage to read the text....but other then that its all good

I think i'm going to stick with the new pm3 skin. Vision is a good concept but i don't like it. Can't please everyone

I don't like:-
. The home screen thingy, i keep pressing the wrong way and it's a bit fiddley.
. Wide icons fade to quickly.
. Slows down when music is playing.
. Can't read some of the smaller witing on my SD T.V.
. Not as crisp as some other skins.

I do like:-
. The general look.
. The navigation sounds.

I'm still looking forward to seeing future updates and improvements. The potential is definately there.

this skin is sweet, i luv it good work NineT9 and the rest of the team.

Everyone must have a lousy Samsung TV or something on here. I've used it on an SDTV, HDTV and even a Commadore 64 monitor that was made in 1438 and it looks fantastic on all of them. I have had no problems with the crispness of the skin.

I have a feature idea,

Since it seems like we're moving into a place where we have a DVD cover for example, a tv series.. and then a thumbnail to represent each episode..

how about.. a feature that, when you take a screenshot of a video, it adds that as a thumb for the video you are watching? (something like.. first screenshot taken is primary thumb of video), any subsequent screenshots are just stored in the screenshots directory.

sound good?

- note, not sure whether this would be a skin feature or xbmc feature... :s apologies if I posted in the wrong area. I figured that it has *some* relevance to skin because of the VISION poster's inclusion of thumbs packs for download.


Cheers.

I'm Amazed the skin is so awesome and the navigation is so creative and very nice, now thats my default skin. keep up the good work

Feed back

1- cant go to Scripts from home sreen + scripts dont work !
2- we need more skin options like custom backgrounds thankyou
3- I use the remote and I would love to see shutdown added to the skin.
4- font too smal I think & I'm not using my HDTV a normal crt @ 480p.
5- If you could move the sound volume level little bit down the screen and make it smaller will be great.

more feed back later ^.^

thnx







'Jezz_X' like usual when you touch a skin you make it rock. PM3 is faster now

thnx

thx to the whole vision team. this skin is great great, it´s my new default skin

i dont wanna start talking "do this, make that...", cuz it´s a beta...

just one thing:

pls add a "Restart XBMC" button to the shutdownmenu, not a big thing

thx

Lets not forget that this skin is in stage 4 of a 6 stage development. These are not the final graphics and overlays. So if you find it's not as crisp as it should be, just keep in mind theres quite a bit more development that will go into this before a final release.

Well done NineT9 and Jezz.
How many damn projects is Jezz involved in, she-it! I give props to you man .

Great skin, considering its a beta. Like the minimalistic look, more so than clearity skin. Only problem I have is:

The ON-SCREEN MENU WHEN PLAYING VIDEOS IS OBSTRUCTING. Maybe position it near the bottom or top, it would look and work a lot better.

Other than that its great. I got 3 xboxes, i've always used project mayhem skins. Never liked mc360, but this skin is definately an alternative I would consider.

Hello,

and please add a "Record" Button to the Shoutcast Radio Overlay Menü.

TIA

MAD

Love the new skin. Minimalist skins always appeal to me the most, and this one is hot shit.

I know that file views are going to change/be added, so if this is something that is already going to be addressed, forgive me.

However, I usually view my files in list mode, but I hate it when the selected file is twice as big as the rest of the files. It just comes off as sloppy to me. If a list option could be included that keeps them the same, I'd love that.

Also, when viewing CD's in list 2 mode, the "on the right" information doesn't display.

Thanks for the awesome skin, guys.

ooooooooooooooooooo
soooo sleek
love the colours too

Good job!

Great work, this skin has massive potential.

My thoughts:

1. While you were inspired by the longhorn background, I would prefer to see something that you have made (with a similar color scheme to obviously match the rest of the skin). Judging by your logo and other elements in the skin, I think you could come up with something killer. I would also like to see the background image in the home screen play off of the menu shape more.

2. I REALLY LOVE the home menu navigation, however I think it's a bit small. Maybe make it taller so that all of the menu options show. I really like how simple it is. Do you want to play a game, or do you want to do something with your media? Nice and simple. EDIT--Thinking about it, it could even fill half the screen. It really is the focus of the home screen and right now it feels like it's drowning in the background.

I would agree with some opinions that I've read in this thread stating that the home screen does look a little bare. Increasing the size of the menu may help this (as well as a different, self made background).

3. I love the sidebar, great addition. (although it is hard to read because the background is too transparent, but from what I've read of Jezz's comment this is an xbmc issue?)

Keep up the great work and good luck with this!

oooh, i like the simplicity of the skin and feel. any comments i have, people have already mentioned.

maybe make the shutdown be the middle button instead of being settings?