Re: [Rhythmbox-devel] rhythmbox interface

[Luca Ferretti <elle uca libero it>]

Il gio, 2002-11-21 alle 21:00, Jorn Baayen ha scritto: 
> Hi,
> 
> The current Rhythmbox interface isn't very good, and we've been thinking
> about improving it, but it's hard. So some input from you guys would
> rule.
> 
Ok, I'll try :-) 

> Current interface, with it's problems:
> ======================================
> 1. The interface changes when clicking a button in the sidebar, just
> like Evolution. My opinion is that it sucks, badly. I tend to remember
> where items are in the menus, and if they get messed up all the time, I
> get confused.
This in true, partially. Yeah, changing items in menus isn't good, but
sidebar as "music source selector" could be a good metaphor. 

In evo it sucks 'cause you switch between very different sub-apps (IMHO
I like more "email" "addressbook" "task" "calendar" single app in
different windows and a "Summary Page" window). But in music files
playing a list view is the best you can have and you can share it
between library, playlist and cd-audio. In all you can use a list to
show current selected songs: you just need a different way to choose
selected song 'cause lib, playlists and cd are different "source" with
different list handling. 

My little stupid idea is using sidebar whit only 3 or 4 entries:
"Library" "Playlist" "CD Audio" ("Internet Radio"), if we want to use
again sidebar. 

But if don't, we need something to switch, at least, between "Library"
and "Playlist" view. 

> 2. The toolbar with the playback controls and the area with the
> currently playing information are static; they don't change when
> switching between views, and act on the playing view. This is really,
> really confusing. Even though I wrote it, I still find myself being
> dizzy when using it. (Just hiding these wouldnt work either: because it
> still is playing. Or stopping playback is not an option either, since
> you may just want to browse your playlists or do some organization.)
But we need a well visible area whit "current status" :-) 

> 3. It's not obvious how to add songs to groups/playlists. (Right now you
> have to dnd songs from the lib to the sidebar button, or use C&P)
This is the current major difficult in rb, right. And the real kernel to
solve:-( 

> 4. Users cannot specify what song to play after the current one.
> Playlists are not enough here; if you are playing from the library, you
> want to be able to say which song is to play next.
> 
mmmhh, groups or playlist should be reorderable, library don't (or just
form title, artist, time... list header), isn't it? 

> 
> Current Ideas:
> ==============
> http://nl.linux.org/~jorn/Files/blaat.png
> http://nl.linux.org/~jorn/Files/blaat2.png
> http://nl.linux.org/~jorn/Files/altblaat.png
> 
> The view on the left would be the song queue/playlist view.
> 
> The problem with these is that the interface is crowded; I dont think
> it's very clear.
> 

Yeah probably 'cause you put in the same window library and playlist stuffs.
And you have 2 list showing current "playlist". 

----------------------------
Library and Playlist are antithetical and complementary ways to play
songs. Library rocks when you want to find a particular song or you want
to play all song from an album or an artist, playlist (== list of songs
to play) rocks when you want an exact sequence of song with a "personal"
order. xmms interface (== only playlists) sucks 'cause you have to do
pls for _all_ order you wont. Besides a lib only interface has 
limitations: you can only choose "Shuffle".[1] 

So: different way --> needs different interfaces 

Actual rb lib interface is the best we can have: browser + list (+
search entry) enable user to perform all search he wants and see results
in list. So I think we don't have to change Library. 

My idea is add a "Playlists" button in sidebar with a view like: 

____________    _________________________________________ 
| Playlists  |  | Title  |   Artist    | Rating    | Time | 
------------    ----------------------------------------- 
|List1       |  |        |             |           |      | 
|List2       |  |        |             |           |      | 
|List3       |  |        |             |           |      | 
|List4       |  |        |             |           |      | 
|List5       |  |        |             |           |      | 
|List6       |  |        |             |           |      | 
|List7       |  |        |             |           |      | 
 ------------    -----------------------------------------
                                                    | 
  |                                                 | 
  |                                                 | 
  +--- a list of all available playlist             | 
                                                    | 
               a list of all songs in current pl ---+ 

Or, more simple 'cause you can find all infos in lib and you need to
know only 
____________     ___________________ 
| Playlists  |   | Songs in <List1>  |  
------------     ------------------- 
|List1       |   |                   | 
|List2       |   |                   | 
|List3       |   |                   | 
|List4       |   |                   | 
|List5       |   |                   | 
|List6       |   |                   | 
|List7       |    ------------------- 
 ------------             ^ v         <-- this to order without d'n'd

where song entry is reorderable.

The real trouble is: how can I put a song from library to a playlist?????
mmhhh best prob is: let user find the better way. So we can implement
copy/paste from lib to pl, d'n'd from lib to pl icon in sidebar,
rgclick->Add to playlist-> |  New  | 
                           |-------| 
                           |list 1 |
                           |list 2 |
and, finally, something like a file selector using library order... but
it's too much expensive.... 

Finally, but just 'cause now I've other activities, a stupid glade
design: main windows with just player area (as actual: info about
current track) and source selector + current songs and secondary windows
(Library, Playlist...) where you can adjust things and select current
songs


[1] BTW: lib is the best if you have ripped album, but a little
"overloaded" if you have just downloaded mp3 :-)

new_interface.tar.gz