XX Interface

[stoneman]

Hi Peter,

I think the 09-y8 version sounds fantastic; its now overtaken my Mark Levinson 31.5 transport in SQ as opposed to being just 'equal but different'

One request I would like to make though is on improving the interface.  I really like the way you can get full size artwork.  I can get an artwork image of around 450x450mm on my 47" screen and when you get a high quality graphic it looks fantastic, better than any other player I have used.  The Library function with thumbnails works pretty well too.

My issue is that the overall control interface is difficult to see from a distance - I sit approx 3-4m from the screen and I use a Gyration Mouse.  If the buttons and tabs had a 'large' option it would be a great help.  A secondary request would be for the overall aesthetic - the standard windows grey buttons are perfectly functional, but they stop there!  Any chance of a makeover please?   

Now you are really nailing the sound quality, I believe an improved interface would get XX the recognition and take-up it deserves.

regards
Andy

[PeterSt]

Hi Andy,

Now you are really nailing the sound quality, I believe an improved interface would get XX the recognition and take-up it deserves.

Well, that is what I was thinking too. 0.9z ... 

But

Making things like the tabs bigger will be an issue (meaning : many more things are / will be smaller). But I wonder ... what exactly is the issue ? I can imagine that a too small screen with a too far distance won't allow reading everything. But, in the end this is not necessary, assuming at some stage you will know things by heart. Of course this is not the real solution to your problem, but the real problem will be that you are too far away.

Am I correct on this, or do I just not understand ?
Please let me know,
Peter


PS:

[stoneman]

Hi Peter,

Hopefully this photo helps to explain - sorry the screen itself is a bit blown out but you should be just able to make out the album art.  That is ~600m diag. on the screen which is ~1170mm diag.  I sit about 3m+ away since this is my sweet spot.  Now PC/XX is an integral part of my system it would be great to be a couch potato!   

As you can imagine (not see!) the controls and the track listing are very small from this distance, even on this screen.  Having set the artwork to max, it still only takes up <50% of the screen, leaving the potential for larger controls and listing text perhaps?   

regards
Andy

[PeterSt]

Yes, I can imagine ... But what about knowing it by heart at some stage ? will that be "feaseable" ? I mean, I know that the second tab is the Library tab, and the third the Settings (and the first the Playlist Area) ...


Some nice tower you have there ! What's all those "blade like" things at the bottom ? batteries ? PS stuff ?

And the wooden artwork, are those diffusers ?

[stoneman]

Yes Peter, very feasible - but my memory is fading fast! ;-)

I can actually see the details - but sometimes (after a few beers normally) I have to lean forwards to see better.  Having said that, I cannot be the only person who has a 'sweet spot' and a screen on the wall??  It would be both cool and practical to have a skin that is more in tune (excuse the pun!) with this kind of usage. 

The Windows '97 look and feel of XX has a geeky kind of charm to it when friends venture into my listening room - "never mind what it looks like, listen to the sound quality" is what I tell them - but they wont rush home and download it vs WMP or iTunes (sadly).

And I should know, my system is definitely a case of form over function!   The blades are 8 x Mana Acoustic Sound Stages with one of their 3 tier racks on top and with a Reference top supporting the ML 31.5 CD transport.  Mana is sadly no more, but they had a bit of a cult following:

http://www.malcolmsteward.co.uk/?page_id=205

Below the ML is a Hush PC with a Lynx22 and a 256Gb SSD & W7, then there is a Lyngdorf TDA2200 amp with Room Perfect (this is a 'power DAC' i.e. its a DAC with enough output to drive the speakers directly to 200W, it also does room correction, pre/power and crossover for the sub amp) below that is the PS power plant and then a Lyngdorf SDA2175 to power the subs.  The main speakers are Quad 2905 crossed over at 40hz to the Celestion 6000 dipole subs you can see poking out at the back.  And you are correct, the wooden trellises and plants are to calm the room down a little, before applying the room correction!

regards
Andy     

[PeterSt]

Hehe, nice ! Thanks for explaining it all !


Ok, that the GUI is to (and will be) changed is without doubt. So, you don't need to convince me about that. But I am afraid that after the change things will be WORSE. You see, not every button on a CDP etc. goes with a description, while here they currently are. But this will change to proper graphs on the buttons, which for sure you won't be able to see from that distance. So, I think there's just no solution to this ...

About you not being the only one with such a sceen ... I wonder. I have such a screen, but there is no way I will be using it. Why ? if only my remote does what I intend with it. Seeing the coverart is a matter of putting the monitor (just 17") somewhere in sight, and at 12m distance (which is most often my listening position !) I see more than enough of that. Notice though I use Unattended, and the Coverart will be filling the screen then *and* the GUI is away then hahaha).
So you see, you might have a dopted a "wrong" approach in the first place, which start with not having/using a remote ...

All 'n all, yes, you might be one out of a few only using a large screen for this.
Many, many people though, will be using RDC and a laptop right in front of them. So, it just copies the screen and keyboard data from the PC actually playing the music, although that too I wouldn't do because it will influence sound.

The remote is key ...

Peter

[stoneman]

Hi Peter,

I know nothing about coding so I really dint know the practical difficulties of such things - but my thought would be to leave most of XX as it is and add a very simple 'front page' which shows only the very basic controls, art, volume, track position and listing.  As you can see from this, I'm no artist! but something easy to see/control with an air mouse (I use a Gyration) would be great!

http://www.gyration.com/index.php/us/products/in-air-micekeyboards.html

regards
Andy 

[PeterSt]

Allright ... Since I'm working on it anyway, I'll sure try to take this into account. No promise it will be a satisfying solution though.
We'll see.

Peter

[Telstar]

I always found the mediaportal "my music" interface with HUGE text and black skin to be the nicest UI. Basically to giveup the classic windows look and go for something in xml and flash.
The library/gallery looks quite good (except the text too small) and lack of snappyness.

BTW Peter, i think you know that when you select a different folder the library window remembers the position, i.e. if i was near the end of "CELTIC" and i go to "INDIE" it doesnt start from the beginning of the albums in that folder (but it should).

[PeterSt]

About the latter, yes, I know. I always left that be because it gives some "random" entry. I mean, why to start at the top ? Personally I'm quite fedup with always seeing the same beginning after a selection which "hard" resets (like loading a Saved Gallery Result). I'd even be in favor of randomizing a "first view" explicitly !

About the snappyness ... can you elaborate ?

The size of the font in the Library Area ... hmm ... that can be changed. But of course, the larger the less you will be able to read (and most doesn't fit to begin with !).

But hey, any idea is good !! So you just as well may keep it coming (a bit contrary to what I said before btw ).

Peter