Verve ("Big Screen" clone/replica) skin in progress

  • I figured I would make a thread devoted to showing the progress on our "Big Screen" imitation skin. We can't use that name, so someone should come up with a better name.
    Currently there is three people working on it, myself, Chandler, and w84no1.
    Anyone how has an interest in helping out should contact Chandler, he can decide whether or not to give you access to the SVN.

    Here is would the real one looks like.

    http://mobilewares.net/blog/bstv2/layer_1.jpg


    Here are some screen shots of what we have so far.

    http://a30.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/4/l_2de1e3687c066e93870c71f0876e92b5.jpg

    http://a481.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/6/l_ebd25901a8fcdf4f4b27da9910c25bc8.jpg

    We will post screen shots as it progresses.


  • Forgot my question I was so tired, anyway.
    Is there a way to mirror text (upside down & backwards)?
    I can't find a referance in the wiki.
    The only thing my brain could come up with, would be to use a font that is that way already, I REALLY don't want to create a font from scratch, and I searched around for some, they are all either one or the other, but not both.
    Clearly I want to mirror the text on the "floor", and it would have been nice to be the first one to do it, but it's not worth my time to due it first if it means I have to create another font from scratch (the first one I did was for an 4x40 lcd simulator I wrote), so for all you skinners out there who add mirrored text using a inverted font to your skin 10 minutes from now, could you please post the link to where you got it. :)


  • I like the name Center Stage, also.


  • Oh, and I like Verve, so if no one objects, I rename it Verve.


  • And no, skewed images have not been implemented as yet.

    As for the differing view modes - they're saved per user. Nothing you can do to default them otherwise I'm afraid.

    Cheers,
    Jonathan


  • Can an xbox really output at 1920x1080?
    I was working on some different resolutions, and set it to 1080, and its HUGE!
    I wont even bother making a skin for it, if it can't really output that high, please let me know.


  • It would require code changes, as you suspect.

    The best idea I have to be honest is adding it to the tag. You could then combine it into CAngle().

    Cheers,
    Jonathan


  • What about "View"?


  • I'd absolutely love to test this skin!


  • Added the ability to set a custom background, it will mirror on the virtual "floor" as well.

    http://a206.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/11/l_788875dcca4ebee5e469ac86e24e6955.jpg

    Here is a screenshot of it set to windows bubble image.
    It can also be turned on and off by the skin settings menu.


  • What resolution is that?

    At this time this is Pal/Ntsc 4x3, the rest is Work in Progress :nerd:

    :laugh:

    Ps : What about "Splash Screen"..? If someone have a good idea to replace the actual name, post it here with your suggestions/comments/artworks etc..

    Good skills people are welcome, Pm me (with or without examples) if you want to join the Svn to collaborate with us.


  • Also has Jmarshall considered the 4-point icons yet, ie. TL=0,TR=50,BL=50,BR=100, so that icons can be skewed at angles like parallelograms?


    I looked into the animation code and just skewing would be very easy to add as it is an affine transformation (in that parallel lines are preserved), this makes it just another matrix transform along with the others (rotate, zoom, translate).

    The problem is that the general case "4 point" behavior is not affine in that it allows trapezoids instead of parallelograms and so a matrix will not work with it... at least not a current 2-d matrix (really its a 2.5d matrix since its 2x3 to allow for translation).

    I was thinking we could just bump this matrix up a dimension and add a simple projection matrix to get a desired 3Dish effect. After this you need to make sure you render all 4 points transformed instead of just the top-left and bottom-right. I need to give the interface to the skinner more thought though.


  • Active Center


  • This one should work.
    Sorry about the other.
    Download Verve (http://www.box.net/shared/s8s586qto7)


  • One suggestion....

    Kill the tabs. Make the options scroll and the current selection enlarged... this conforms more to the look & feel of the rest of the skin.


  • Maybe nice use of a diffuse image will do the trick for that?


  • When browsing the media files u think u can make the background customizable, another words let the user cchoose a custom wallpaper/background for each folder or section?


  • I could email what could only be called a pre-alpha to someone if they wanted . It's not very pretty, and I couldn't say you wouldn't get stuck somewhere, but it shouldn't be able to break anything :P. All the screens above are present, and it's really only for 4:3 ntsc, maybe pal.
    We have a SVN, Chandler could tell you how to get access, and you would only want it if you just like to have buggy software or you're a sadist. Bug reports are unnessecary, as I know what's broken, and am fixing things as I can. I someone really wants it, and just can't wait, msg me, and I'll send it to you. It's about 2.6 megs, and you'll have to throw chokemaniacs texture.xpr in media folder as we still don't have our own icons. But I'll send it if you want it, and if you think I'm taking to long, then ask Chandler for SVN access, and help us out. :)


  • Predictions when its "beta-able"?


  • CenterTain

    :p


  • @edwinmcdunlap

    To keep a clear thread you are invited to wait for direction and accord from MacGyver before posting work, the logo must have an approching look and feel of the skin, but it's a good initiative ;), more information soon.

    Ah, ok.

    I just can't wait for this skin, lol.


  • Like he said, I can only work on it in my spare time, and if you knew my job, you'd know I have very little time when I'm not at work. Anyway, I can code it quickly, but I have no talent for the graphics, and I'm having problems nailing down the layout for the settings page. I'm torn between 2 possible views, one is simular to PM3s but zooms bit and has reflections, the other is icons across the top of the screen, and the current selection zooms to a large reflected icon when selected. Honestly I think both don't look quite right with the style I used for the video and music and pictures screens. I could get it done alot quick with some icons to use, and dirction from someone with artistic talent. So if you want it done quicker, post transparent icons for the home and settings screens, and make picture of how you think the settings and home screens layout should look, I will code it to look that way. It don't have to be a great picture, even a pensil drawing is fine, just describe the way you envison it working. While you at it, if anybody has any ideas for different views for the media screens I'll listen.

    Here is a sample the crummy views I'm debating, as you can see the graphics SUCK, and the layout is crude.

    http://a576.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/19/l_dffd3cb88d721d88b2690e58aabc8757.jpg

    http://a358.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/25/l_ef73729d2815b8a8f0ebb5592b87aa65.jpg


  • Here the files that make up the themes.

    Download theme build files (http://www.box.net/shared/du66u2i8l4)


  • The tabs are kind of part of XBMC, It might be possible to set all the settings another way using individual buttons for each setting, but it would take a LONG time to code, and I can't visualize setting all those settings another way. They aren't really "tabs" per se as much as horizontal buttons that look like tabs. :)

    Backgrounds seem doable, I'll see if I can't diffuse an image against the background starting at the bottom of the virtual back wall (about 1/4 of the way from the bottom of the icon)

    I like Chokemaniacs graphics, and would love to use them, but I REALLLLLLY need some new ones, to release it as it is now, I would have to have my skin pull graphics from his PM3 skin's texture.xpr. That's easy, but not very pretty, and I'm sure he wouldn't be too happy, with me appropriating his IP that way.

    It's a running theme in most of my posts, and the SVN comments are the same, WE NEED GRAPHICS.

    I see what I can do about the suggestions some time this week if I can.


  • Here's my idea...

    I suck at making things in Photoshop.

    http://www.maj.com/gallery/Ykcab/XBMC/verve1.png


  • Thanks for the time yoiu've taken anyway MacGyver. I dont want to take the thread over, considering the time you've spent, but I astounded that no-one has mentioned how sexy that theme in the first link is!

    I wonder if it would translate?


  • ETA for a beta??


  • Ok, here are better screenshots.
    I also added the listview screen to the available views.
    http://a930.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/62/l_c739d1847eaaa2ca744ebe97b459b519.jpg

    http://a64.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/62/l_13eb54c93981bd02eab29d7892d10e17.jpg

    http://a819.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/47/l_6f6f1617f8ba3c8e0f6a9d3c4cb673ea.jpg

    A question, is it a bug that lists don't obey animate tags?


  • Added preliminary Filemanager, Weather, and Programs, added the abilty to set a custom picture for the bottom, top, and infobar surfaces separately, and added the ability to have it display them with or without diffuse on any of the color themes. Added purple theme (for my wife), and made blue the default theme (the brown/orange one was making me ill).
    I will try to work on it alot this weekend, Sorry for no pics, I'll post them tomorrow, I am going to bed now.


  • MacGyver, how did you do all those nice looking DVD covers?


  • Chandler,
    Does not matter if there is another skin or system or whatever named the same or simular... this is for XBMC and there is nothing else for XBMC called "Center Stage"

    If everyone likes it, I say use it.

    You're not about to change your name from Chandler to something else becasue other people already use your name? ;)


  • Well if you really need graphics go post it over on xbox-scene forums lots more people go there than here and lots of people there do graphics but not xml


  • I should come here to the XBMC forums more often, i loooove that dvd poster view you have in the skin (I first saw it in another thread which i just replied to, doh!), so many great xbmc skins ahhh!!!! wonder waht it woulda been like if all this was here a few years ago :D


  • I believe it was tslayer that said, "42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot"

    1. , , and are for navigation to other controls, they require an id. So make a blank button and use

    2. They do some info in the form of infolabels. check the wiki

    3. views can be kept on a user basis. Do you want to force a view?

    Looking good


  • Most people with HDTVs run 720p, not 1080i due to problems at that resolution.

    I would run it at 720p as well if I could, but my TV only supports 480p and 1080i...


  • There is already a skin exactly named Centerstage Gx

    http://gueux-forum.net/index.php?showtopic=110599

    http://serveurtmi.free.fr/jahell/Gueux/XBMC/Skin/centerstage/Preview.jpg

    Download (http://serveurtmi.free.fr/jahell/Gueux/XBMC/Skin/centerstage/Centerstage%20GX.rar)

    It would not be correct to use the same name, this skin is based from http://centerstageproject.com/ (Mac Mediacenter).

    ..What about "Elegance" ?
    :D


  • I love those views, i wanna make love to them :(

    I sure hope you get this skin done, good job


  • Let me clarify, these graphics are great, but they are not mine, and when I made them transparent, they look horrible. I can't use them anyway, they are just place markers while I design and code the layout. And I have no excuse for my spelling or grammar other then being tired.


  • Wow! looks great.. hanging out for a beta release...


  • Ok I redid the settings menu again, it's not finished, and the graphics will change, but I like this layout, each selection will open in the middle window, and when no selctiion is made, it will display the info from "Xbox Info". the buttons that are normally on the left, will be tabs on top of the middle window.

    http://a553.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/42/l_b87a93387e60a5c94763afbf7998d378.jpg

    Left me know what you think.
    PS I don't think I like the "windows title bar" at the top anymore, so I'll remove that.


  • Predictions when its "beta-able"?

    Soon.. very very soon... but when...?? :D

    MacGyver said :

    I could get it done alot quick with some icons to use, and dirction from someone with artistic talent. So if you want it done quicker, post transparent icons for the home and settings screens, and make picture of how you think the settings and home screens layout should look, I will code it to look that way. It don't have to be a great picture, even a pensil drawing is fine, just describe the way you envison it working.

    So don't hesitate to find, create free icons etc..
    I you don't want (or can't), no problem, we'll do it.. but in free time... :D


  • I could email what could only be called a pre-alpha to someone if they wanted . It's not very pretty, and I couldn't say you wouldn't get stuck somewhere, but it shouldn't be able to break anything :P. All the screens above are present, and it's really only for 4:3 ntsc, maybe pal.
    We have a SVN, Chandler could tell you how to get access, and you would only want it if you just like to have buggy software or you're a sadist. Bug reports are unnessecary, as I know what's broken, and am fixing things as I can. I someone really wants it, and just can't wait, msg me, and I'll send it to you. It's about 2.6 megs, and you'll have to throw chokemaniacs texture.xpr in media folder as we still don't have our own icons. But I'll send it if you want it, and if you think I'm taking to long, then ask Chandler for SVN access, and help us out. :)

    MacGyver is right, we can't release a beta for now and the current Svn is a private working place.

    The good news is that i'm thinking to open a Alpha/Beta Public Svn soon Only if the Authors agree, skins and frequence of update will be choosed/discussed with the different Authors (and encrypted if possible :p).

    But hey ! What about a concours, we still need icons and a logo for Verve, the winner(s) will have a permanent read/write access to Verve & maybe more on the Private Svn. If MacGyver is ok, we will start the concours :D


  • the skin looks very nice so far, when can we expect a beta or something?


  • it's a trick.
    First I lay down a black rectangle in case there is no cover available, then I lay down the icon if available, then I overlay all that with a transparent dvd case.

    All the icons come from the imdb except for a few I took from amazon and cut off the white border.
    A long time ago I let xmbc grab all the info for my files, then I pulled all the cached icons from xbmc, then I renamed them filename.tbn, and put them next to the video files.

    BTW. all the icons you see in my screen shots are with bogus video files, i just have .txt files renamed to .avi, and real .tbns with them (small memory stick) so they take up less space for development.

    All graphics on the screen are built on the fly from tbns. including cases and reflections.

    So, the skin itself actually generates the "DVD case" look?


  • Here's a few name possibilities...

    Showtime
    Encore
    Splash
    Forefront
    Center Stage (my favorite)

    btw... please make matching screens for scripts that are already formatted for PM3 so we can convert everything when we switch to using this skin! ;)


  • What resolution is that?


  • First post ever, anywhere, so go easy on me!

    How about "Verve"?

    Verve.

    n.
    Energy and enthusiasm in the expression of ideas, especially in artistic performance or composition: The revival lacked the verve of the original musical.
    Vitality; liveliness. See Synonyms at vigor.
    Archaic Aptitude; talent.


  • ETA for a beta??

    WID



    When it's done :p

    The actual progress is slow, the skinners work on it on free time, so you'll be informed here when something can be released.


  • The multi-thumbnail one or the list view one? We were keeping them separate and w84no1 is the one who is really working on the kaleidascape one, but there is no real reason the list view one can't be added, i guess, but adding different views is great and easy, but we need icons, we can't even release an alpha because none of the graphics in home and settings belong to us.

    oh ok, so there are going to be two separate skins? cool. I like that settings layout, by the way


  • Can an xbox really output at 1920x1080?
    I was working on some different resolutions, and set it to 1080, and its HUGE!
    I wont even bother making a skin for it, if it can't really output that high, please let me know.

    Yes, please include support for 1080i, that the only resolution I can properly run under..


  • Ok, here are the screenshots from today.
    http://a405.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/48/l_99852a99de12adc6d7843ce5e53745b4.jpg

    The top, bottom, and infobar, are all customizable, and you can set whether or not to diffuse them against the colored themes.
    There are currently 8 different colored themes (my wife wanted the purple one).
    Only the screens above and all the settings menus are created so far. Nothing else.
    All the code is on the SVN, talk to Chandler about access.
    As you can see, we still don't have artwork of our own, other then the crappy stuff I've made.
    For some reason the Win32 version diffuses the reflections worse then the real xbox, so the screenshots are not the greatest. Sorry about the compression of the screenshots (It's a huge picture). If someone wants some higher res images, I'll try to post em.
    Also I still welcome suggestions.

    One last thing, If someone has a full version of FontForge or similar font building program, please let me know, if I can send you a .vfb that I created with opensource fonts that have been flipped vertically, so I can use them in screens like weather where most of the screen is created with text, and add reflections.

    Let me know what you guys (and girls) think.
    Goodnight.


  • yep, I didn't have internet access on the computer I was using at the time, so I pulled them off a screen shot, but I can't use them anyway.


  • the gui can do it, but videos dont play very well in that res..


  • Ok, I got to work on it a little this weekend, so here is the updates.
    Completed:
    home 60%
    settings 85%
    video 85%
    music 70%
    pictures 50%
    settings-categories 90%
    all others 0%

    Since a pictures is worth a thousand words, here you go.

    http://a852.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/64/l_1413906ab9376ffb0d8446da77ab7bc3.jpg

    I have some problems I need some input on though.
    First, why doesn't this work?
    XBMC.ActivateWindow(Settings)

    Second, why doesn't the skin have access to the variables related to the SystemInfo.xml file in other windows.
    I'm trying to merge that windows information into the settings window, see above.

    Is there a way to tell the skin to display the use a different view if you are in the first menu dictated by the sources.xml file, .ie, the top level of video, music, photos, programs, to be displayed in a listview, and sub menus in a wrapview.

    Also has Jmarshall considered the 4-point icons yet, ie. TL=0,TR=50,BL=50,BR=100, so that icons can be skewed at angles like parallelograms?

    I still need graphics to replace ChokeManiac's. (to know how badly I am at graphics just look at the filling cabinet and xbox in the home screen)

    Let me know what you think, sorry it's so slow going, but I'm new to skinning and can only work on it in my spare time.

    Also, all the colors above are supported.

    I welcome any suggestions.


  • Ok, sorry for no updates.
    I really have no time to finish it.
    Understand it is not even beta, I tried to do it myself, but I have no time, perhaps Chandler can post the svn to a public place.
    I got a new 42" plasma, and tried to make some of the other resolutions, the 4:3 is mostly complete, the 16:9 is not so much, but it has a "DVD Shelf" view that the 4:3 doesn't have.
    It would be nice to see someone merge the views from the 2 together, and run with it.
    It's funny this was the first skin to use reflections (though they hadn't been implemented into the skinning engine yet), and then never finished.
    I hope someone with better graphic skills then myself can make it look the way it should.
    So here you go, let me know what you think, I may try to find time to fix some things if anyone cares enough.

    http://www.box.net/shared/gdqrqfqqhu
    http://www.box.net/shared/gdqrqfqqhu


  • ETA for a beta I can try? I am drooling over here..


  • GUIInfoManager.cpp/h is what handles all info labels.

    Not all of them are there obviously. The System Info area is GeminiServer's work. I don't know which ones are really necessary to be allowed to be movable - to be quite honest I find 95% of them completely useless.

    Cheers,
    Jonathan


  • @edwinmcdunlap

    To keep a clear thread you are invited to wait for direction and accord from MacGyver before posting work, the logo must have an approching look and feel of the skin, but it's a good initiative ;), more information soon.


  • Oh, and I like Verve, so if no one objects, I rename it Verve.

    I agree with Verve too :cool:


  • The multi-thumbnail one or the list view one? We were keeping them separate and w84no1 is the one who is really working on the kaleidascape one, but there is no real reason the list view one can't be added, i guess, but adding different views is great and easy, but we need icons, we can't even release an alpha because none of the graphics in home and settings belong to us.


  • I like the "Center Stage" name too.
    I did work on it some this week, but without someone to do the graphics and icons, I can't do much more.

    I will be trying to work on the Library View this week, so that the title bar get populated.

    I want also to make it pull database info in the normal view as well, was thinking of scripting it to do that, but without being able to convert filename to imbd.xml name, I think I would have to scan the whole databse just to match up the name to the ??????.xml associated with the filename. And that would be slow, and suck alot. It would be alot easier to pull off if the imdb xmls were named the same as the file (I know, 30 character file system limit limits that) so oh well.

    The new home menu is side scrolling, the new settings is zoming reflected, let me know if you think all the menus should side scroll like the video and audio. Also let me know if you like the "3rd from the right locked in place" look, or if you think the focused icon should move left or right with the menu, I did it that way for the 3D look it gives, from being slightly off center.

    Also make any suggestions you can think of, and if you can make graphics, post a link, and I'll grab the ones we like, and we will put your name in the credits. If you can post them in either transparent png or psd format that would be great, as I suck at Photoshop. I need settings,home, and button graphics, in the a style that fits the feel of the skin.


  • those gfx are in svn and should be transparent.

    did you do a screen capture?


  • Yes, please include support for 1080i, that the only resolution I can properly run under..

    Most people with HDTVs run 720p, not 1080i due to problems at that resolution.


  • The bogus button onfocus worked great, thanks Nuka1195.

    Jmarshal is there a list of ALL variables that the skin has access to?
    I looked in the wiki, but it can't be complete, I'm trying to populate some screens with info from the systeminfo.xml, but that xml is just like a settings sub cat window, ie. xbmc uses the skin to display rather then the skin displays varibles. look at the top left image above to see what kind of info I'm talking about.


  • ed, yes, below is the example for the cd view (dvd is about the same)
    nocdcase = black square
    ListItem.Icon = cached image from amazon
    cdcase = transparent middle cdcase image



    0
    080
    80
    80
    nocdcase.png
    stretch
    Focus


    0
    080
    80
    80
    ListItem.Icon
    stretch
    b0ffffff
    Focus


    0
    080
    80
    80
    cdcase.png
    stretch
    Focus






    0
    163
    80
    80
    stretch
    nocdcase.png
    20ffffff


    00
    163
    80
    80
    ListItem.Icon
    stretch
    -
    ffffffff


    0
    163
    80
    80
    stretch
    cdcase.png
    60ffffff



    Also I will try to port it to all resolutions, including 1080, but without graphics that are correct for that resolution (read BIG), it may not look so good.
    Also without the ability to see it at that resolution, there may be lots of graphics off by a pixel or two.

    Does anyone know which is faster, small image enlarged by the skin engine, or a nativley large image?

    Also is it faster to code every item, or is the skin faster with common control items called from ? I don't exactly know how the skin is cached so it's hard for me to tell, it's not really a big problem with 720x576, but I may need every bit of it as fast as it can be when I port it over to 1920x1080.


  • Question, would it be possible to add the ability to get the dimensions of the ListItem.Icon to use in another texture, ie. "height=ListItem.Icon(y), width=ListItem.Icon(x)" so that picture icons can be previewed in a frame with the proper aspect ratio?


  • Affini,

    The first link is pointing to an XBMC skin: http://gueux-forum.net/index.php?showtopic=110599


  • Are you still going to try to have the Kaleidascrape-like interface as one of the view types?


  • it's a trick.
    First I lay down a black rectangle in case there is no cover available, then I lay down the icon if available, then I overlay all that with a transparent dvd case.

    All the icons come from the imdb except for a few I took from amazon and cut off the white border.
    A long time ago I let xmbc grab all the info for my files, then I pulled all the cached icons from xbmc, then I renamed them filename.tbn, and put them next to the video files.

    BTW. all the icons you see in my screen shots are with bogus video files, i just have .txt files renamed to .avi, and real .tbns with them (small memory stick) so they take up less space for development.

    All graphics on the screen are built on the fly from tbns. including cases and reflections.


  • Chandler,
    Does not matter if there is another skin or system or whatever named the same or simular... this is for XBMC and there is nothing else for XBMC called "Center Stage"

    If everyone likes it, I say use it.

    You're not about to change your name from Chandler to something else because other people already use your name? ;)

    Remember what is the first reason we can't use "Big Screen" name, because of s. That's the same for Centerstage, and "Center Stage" isn't appopriate (with or without space) since the skin in our Svn isn't the same design of the original Centerstage, and it is not friendly for the authors.
    You can't compare with a nick.. :rolleyes:

    Mac Gyver will choose the name, and since he don't want to break s.. just suggest another name :D


  • I love "Center Stage", Affini!







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    If you have any other info about Verve ("Big Screen" clone/replica) skin in progress , Please add it free.
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