new default theme concept.

[denny]

Hi everyone.

I'm interested in taking on the challenge of creating a new default WPS for rockbox and so far I have come up with this:

*EDIT* see later posts for more up to date versions.

Its based off of a theme I completed for the 220x176 (h300, ipod 4g) targets, DGT. This layout was chosen as it seems easy to port to all the different targets.

I would just like some feedback on the concept above (anything at all). At present the only icons are for the battery and I would like to keep it that way on most targets so that it is as minimal as possible, and quick to load. Shuffle and repeat status are shown on the bottom highlight line in text. The backdrop is not set and the one here is just a quickly thrown together one, though it looks quite nice...

Cheers,
Denny.

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*edit: changes to be made*

'of' to be replaced by '/'
add clock on top line
add virtual HD light

[elborak]

Nice.  I'm a big supporter of a clean display with a good sized font (I'd rather have less info but easier to read as a tradeoff).  This fits the bill nicely.

My only (small) suggestion from a quick look is that I don't care for the volume in the middle of the progress area.  It would seem more consistant to have it either at the top or the bottom.

[denny]

Yeah, I'm definitely aiming for less clutter and a large font and have toyed with the idea of swapping the position of the shuffle and repeat status (from the bottom) with the volume in the middle. Might take another look at that. Thanks for your input.

[perfectdrug]

I'm not absolutely sure but i think the "of" between the number of the current song and the numer of all songs isn't good because of the multilingual support of rockbox

and i would like a unique backdrop which is perfectly useable for all targets. one which looks good in color, and for the greyscale targets in grey, so that the only devices without a backdrop are the mono ones.

and one other thing
i personally don't care about the next song info so i would like to see some other information on this line

but the tiny batterysymbol looks really good and the progressbar also

[denny]

Ah, good point about the 'of'. That was part of the code stolen from my other wps. It will be replaced with a slash.

The backdrop will most likely be blank on greyscale targets, or very minimal, to improve clarity, and I'll probably create a similar but improved backdrop for the colour targets.

The next track line is one that I will not sacrifice as it seems to be a fairly commonly used feature and is one that I personally like alot.

Thanks for the input

[thenrik]

I'm likewise a fan of clean, easy to read, themes. Likewise a slightly larger font would make it even better.  Have you tested it for readability in the sun?

It's clear and already gives the user the requisite information they need: name of song, time elapsed, time left etc.

Increase the default screen dim out time and it will make a huge difference--it looks like a mp3 display.

Great job.

You'll never be able to please everyone. I like the next song info while perfectdrug doesn't. We need a basic set. Perhaps you might include instructions for customization?

Again if the average user loads Rockbox and up comes your theme, it's something approachable.

Tom

[denny]

I'm likewise a fan of clean, easy to read, themes. Likewise a slightly larger font would make it even better.  Have you tested it for readability in the sun?

It's clear and already gives the user the requisite information they need: name of song, time elapsed, time left etc.

Increase the default screen dim out time and it will make a huge difference--it looks like a mp3 display.

Great job.

You'll never be able to please everyone. I like the next song info while perfectdrug doesn't. We need a basic set. Perhaps you might include instructions for customization?

Again if the average user loads Rockbox and up comes your theme, it's something approachable.

Tom

Thanks for the complements .

It is yet to be tested outside, but that will come into what the backdrop ends up looking like. I had thought about using a larger size 14 font but as a trade off ended up with size 12. Targets with larger screens will have much larger fonts.

[lights0ut]

Gotta agree with what is being said here, I'm also a fan of a clear, concise layout and this is what you have accomplished here. It does look very portable so i hope you have an easy time with that, one thought though, maybe you could add the time for RTC targets? (just hrs and min), and maybe a bit larger progress bar would be nice.

I like how you came up with a WPS that suites any backdrop, gives the user a chance to try out some quick and easy customizations. Maybe you could include 3 or 4 different backdrops that look good just to try out.

Nice work, keep it up

[denny]

I'll try out a clock on the top highlighted line. hadn't thought about that, thanks!. Initially i had a large glass type progress bar but the minimal single pixel one seemed to be just as easy to see and took up less room.

I don't know what the rules are on multiple backdrops in daily builds. I think it would be considered as bloating so may not be possible.

Thanks

[Yotto]

I like the theme as well.  My only nitpick is that the battery at the very top appears out of place  Instead of being over the %, I'd put it to the right of it.  Saves a line too.

As to the multiple backdrop, I'd add a readme text file with easy changes you can make. Not everybody will ever see it, but the curious will (I would have )

[denny]

I like the theme as well.  My only nitpick is that the battery at the very top appears out of place  Instead of being over the %, I'd put it to the right of it.  Saves a line too.

Thanks. Just had a go at some different arrangements with the battery and the top bar. for now I'm going to keep it how it is, but with a different/better fitting battery meter. Everything looked out of place when I altered it .

As to the multiple backdrop, I'd add a readme text file with easy changes you can make. Not everybody will ever see it, but the curious will (I would have)

I'll see about sorting something like that out when I get more targets sorted methinks.

Cheers.



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*edit*

Update:

This is a revised version of the concept:

Image removed, see later for complete version

Now has a clock on the first line and a smaller battery icon that fits in better. A virtual HD light is also ther now but i could not work out how to make it light in the sim.

[NicolasP]

Does the line underneath the volume and time info indicate the next track ? If so, I think it should say so.
Apart from that, I like the theme... Nice and clean

[bluebrother]

looks quite nice, but have you tried it on greyscale targets? I really would be interested in that

[denny]

Does the line underneath the volume and time info indicate the next track ? If so, I think it should say so.
Apart from that, I like the theme... Nice and clean

I have been trying to think of something to use to indicate that it means the next track. I'm not sure about using text for this as it would not be useful to foreign language users. I'll have a go at making an icon to illustrate that its the next track. Thanks!

looks quite nice, but have you tried it on greyscale targets? I really would be interested in that

A grey scale version is on the way . I have a h140 I can test things on so it wont be long.

[elborak]

I still don't care for the volume being in the middle of the display. Everything else which indicates the status of the DAP (as opposed to the status of the song being played or the next song to be played) is at the top. Why an exception for the volume?

It just seems very out of place.