getmusicbee.com

General => MusicBee Wishlist => Topic started by: Steven on March 31, 2011, 09:33:27 PM

Title: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on March 31, 2011, 09:33:27 PM
i've enhanced the layout choices for the now playing panel
- you can now dock the track info with the player controls in a compressed format - see http://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=3115.0 for the original proposal. Just right click on the panel/ Configure Layout/ Track Information/ Show in this Panel (compressed with player controls)
- the right click menu structure for the layout configuration has been improved
- you can now dock player controls in now playing panel with its in the left sidebar (you might have been able to get that to work before - its now properly supported)
- the tab colouring on the now playing window has been improved
- the docking state of the components within the now playing panel are separately maintained for when the now playing panel is displayed as a floating window vs. when its docked in the right sidebar eg. you could dock the player controls and compressed track info to the top of the floating now playing window but when docked to the right sidebar the player controls are not displayed within the panel

i've tested this a lot but because there are so many combinations of layout choices its possible i overlooked something, so keep a copy of your musicbee.exe just in case you want to revert to the older version

http://www.mediafire.com/?2exiks89et8lmlx

(http://getmusicbee.com/images/forum/CompressedFormatExample.jpg)
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Greb on April 01, 2011, 08:21:07 AM
Well, this is absolutelly AMAZING!  :)

Definitely, you have to include a screenshot with a nice group background picture and the 'now playing' floating window in the main webpage!

A couple of things:

- I found a bug. If you have the now playing window floating and in compressed format, and then you start to play around with 'Display in the bottom panel', 'Display in the right sidebar (top or bottom)' it starts to give some problems. The options in 'Configure layout>Track information' (that only give you the chance between top and bottom) work OK, so I think the problem is when you are in compressed format and go to 'player displayed in bottom panel' and go back using the old options.

- A hotkey that shows the now playing floating window (as the existing one for the lyrics floating window) would be great  :)  (and, once into it and if possible, a hotkey that turns 'on-off' the notification pop up would be great too)

- And, if that's easy and it's only about changing a property (I don't know about ASP.NET, so I have no idea), being able to select some transparence in the 'now playing' floating window could look really nice.

- Perhaps different track information font size in normal/compressed format (or a checkable option that reduces size in compressed format to 9 or 10)...

But, as said, it looks great!

Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 01, 2011, 09:22:16 AM
i'll change it so when you double click on the sidebar header it opens as a floating window (it currently opens the track finder but i think opening the floating window is more appropriate)
i'll also add a setting for the transparency.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Greb on April 01, 2011, 09:27:05 AM
i'll change it so when you double click on the sidebar header it opens as a floating window (it currently opens the track finder but i think opening the floating window is more appropriate)
i'll also add a setting for the transparency.

That could give a problem in case of using a visualizer with the now playing floating window: if you do so, then you have to double click first to open the floating window, and then to turn on the 'Show visualizer' option.

But when you show the visualizer after making the now playing window floating, then this window remains hidden. As it works now you have to show the turn on the visualizer first, and to show the floating window after it.

But if you turn on the visualizer first, no way to double click in the header...
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 01, 2011, 09:30:26 AM
good point - i'll also add a hotkey
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: antiPOP on April 01, 2011, 12:02:30 PM
Steven, could you add an option for last.fm buttons (service and love)?
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 01, 2011, 05:23:32 PM
I'd love to see the option to show Now Playing List with the track info and the player controls in a compressed format docked to it as the one and only Music Bee window  8) (without Main Panel and Top menu bar).

Some people like such a minimalistic view. When I tried to recommend MB to one of my friends he said the default GUI is too big for him :(
He is an AIMP user and asked me if MB could look similar, but there was no suitable option at the time.

I wish I've shown him the view presented in the Steven's opening post in this topic  :(
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 01, 2011, 05:34:25 PM
MusicBee is oriented towards people who need a Music Manager, quite probably with large music collections. If your friend only needs this minimal interface just for playing songs then AIMP is much better suited to that in my opinon - i dont see the point of making MusicBee try to do everything.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 01, 2011, 06:47:00 PM
MusicBee is oriented towards people who need a Music Manager, quite probably with large music collections. If your friend only needs this minimal interface just for playing songs then AIMP is much better suited to that in my opinon - i dont see the point of making MusicBee try to do everything.

Yes, I understand this approach. I don't want MusicBee to make me a sandwich ;), but when a music collection have already been organized, tagged etc. one can expect that it would be possible listen to the music in a Minimalist Player View (Playlist and Player Control Panel combined together).
It's very useful and looks great alongside other opened apps (Word, Web Browser...), moreover it doesn't occupy the the whole screen.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a must-have feature, but I know many people that got used to work with audio players this way. IMHO, if this feature is not hard to implement (as the above screenshot shows there is Now Playing list with the track info and the player controls docked in a compressed format, right  ???), that why don't use it in any way users would like to work with ???
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: soundmill on April 01, 2011, 07:28:00 PM
Hi

Without trying to cause a commotion here :)
I agree with Steven on this one, I manage a 2TB (and growing) mp3 collection in MB and I think it does a perfect job and I don't really want to have to many windows, panes, tabs, docked windows etc.

But - how about a MB gadget, would that be a compromise?

kr
Robert
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 01, 2011, 07:42:53 PM
at the moment the Now Playing window is "joined" to the main MB window - that means if you click on the now playing window, MB will also be bought to the foreground and vice-versa.
If it was made a detached window, so the main MB window could be minimised (or even hidden) so you are only left with the now playing window is that all thats needed here? of course you could still have both open at the same tiime as now for greb's setup.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 01, 2011, 07:57:28 PM
I'm also very happy how MB works with my music collection, but it's not the case. I don't know if a gadget would be right solution for those who have older operating systems (Windows XP for example), but thanks for the suggestion  :)
If it was made a detached window, so the main MB window could be minimised (or even hidden) so you are only left with the now playing window is that all thats needed here?

IMHO, that option would be awesome: MusicBee would be excellent alternative not only for iTunes or MediaMonkey, but also for  Winamp-like looking players (I guess it's a vast majority of users who got used to old Winamp GUI and keep using it even though it's far behind
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: soundmill on April 01, 2011, 08:03:52 PM
Whatever it takes to draw more users to MB, it is already the most awesome music collection player/manager out there!!

kr
Robert
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 01, 2011, 08:11:16 PM
i will make the now playing window a detached window and also add a new menu item in the View menu
View Micro Player (if anyone has a better name please suggest it, but that seems to a common name for an "in-between" player)
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Sarge on April 01, 2011, 08:13:11 PM
If you were going to detach it, I'd rather see it "docked' to the Mini player, but horizontally underneath it.
you could have the artwork to the left, rather than vertical
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Greb on April 01, 2011, 08:20:57 PM
I realized that the 'compressed' format affects the 'now playing' list that is showed in the mini player.

It's possible to select the miniplayer, to dock at the top and then to configure the now playing list with the compressed format, that way.

(http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/9354/11330889.jpg) (http://img691.imageshack.us/i/11330889.jpg/)

I think that this is even more confortable than the old 'winamp' style.


Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 01, 2011, 08:32:46 PM
i'm not sure what you mean. You can already set the configuration you have displayed. The now playing window for the mini-player is the same as the now playing window as used when set floating from the main application, minus the player controls. You can configure this window differently between when its docked in the right sidebar vs. when its floating.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Greb on April 01, 2011, 08:36:51 PM
Yeap, of course, this has not been photoshopped. MB can work that way right now.

What I was just telling: if somebody misses the old winamp/aimp style, perhaps using the miniplayer docked and configuring the now playing list to show the compressed format (the way in the image) could be quite a good alternative.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 02, 2011, 09:07:21 AM
Yeap, of course, this has not been photoshopped. MB can work that way right now.

What I was just telling: if somebody misses the old winamp/aimp style, perhaps using the miniplayer docked and configuring the now playing list to show the compressed format (the way in the image) could be quite a good alternative.

Very interesting idea, Greb  :) Thank you very much for the suggestion. Yet another very useful and unique feature of MusicBee  8)
The only drawback of this solution is that a good command of MB configuration options is needed to set this layout. (You have to know what to configure and where, what to hide and what to dock...).

I think the Steven's proposal:
i will make the now playing window a detached window and also add a new menu item in the View menu
View Micro Player (if anyone has a better name please suggest it, but that seems to a common name for an "in-between" player)
is exactly what newcomers need. This'll make Music Bee absolutely the best alternative to all music players and organizers  8)

Thank you all for a very constructive discussion  :)

Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Greb on April 02, 2011, 10:37:34 AM
Very interesting idea, Greb  :) Thank you very much for the suggestion. Yet another very useful and unique feature of MusicBee  8)
The only drawback of this solution is that a good command of MB configuration options is needed to set this layout. (You have to know what to configure and where, what to hide and what to dock...).

Yeap, configuring the layout is kind of hard if you are not used to the program.  :-\

Until that is fixed, I opened a thread (http://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=3137.0). The idea is posting screenshots with different layouts and how to get this layout. It could help  :)
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Nixander on April 03, 2011, 01:55:42 PM
is there a way to make this to be the miniplayer? i think its much prettier than the current layout because of the artwork and the docked playlist

http://getmusicbee.com/images/forum/CompressedFormatExample.jpg
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 03, 2011, 02:10:54 PM
yes that is what i am looking at now - the existing mini-player will stay, it will be an additional way to view the mini-player
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Nixander on April 03, 2011, 02:28:59 PM
awesomeee!! :)
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 03, 2011, 09:35:48 PM
i've added a new mini-player view. For now is called a very unexciting "View Mini Player with Playlist" and is available from the Views menu
it runs as a separate window and defaults to being top-most but can toggled
- there is a menu in this window that can be opened by clicking the musicbee icon (i will do the same for the main window later)
  which allows you to open playlists, switch skins, play the library shuffled etc
- there is a status bar which can be hidden. It shows the summary info (# files and total playlist duration) and also when the mouse is over the bar, it has a button to hide/ unhide the playlist
- you can configure the player controls to include all the controls that you see in the main player (show equaliser, scrobble status, repeat and shuffle) - right click/ Configure Layout/ Player Controls/ Show All Player Controls
- you can now display track rating and last.fm love status in the info panel. The rating and love status can be clicked and changed from the panel
- as with the immediate prior version there is a new layout to view track information in a compressed format with player controls
- but you can show the player controls and the existing track info panel if you want
- i've also changed the existing track info layout in the now playing window so it stretches across the window and looks much better i think
- there are still some things that need to be done eg. invoking this window from a hotkey...

http://www.mediafire.com/?aqaw28w497218wk

again i've done a lot of testing and it should work fine but this is really complex with the number of variations that need to be tested so i suggest you keep your current version of MB handy in case you want to revert

edit:
link updated with fix to minimise to taskbar tray

Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 03, 2011, 11:23:00 PM
fix a few minor bugs:
http://www.mediafire.com/?bc14be2i9a7c9tc
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: aidanw on April 04, 2011, 02:15:06 AM
Love it a lot!

Feature requests:
- One-click button to swap from Mini-Player to the new "Mini-Player with Playlist" view and back
- Add tab for Lyrics

Bugs:
- Add "track rating" in "Customise panel settings": Screen doesn't update until track is changed, until then the artwork is split and rating isn't shown.
- When rating is changed it is updated in the playlist but not in the top song information panel.
- Changed "<Title>" to 1 row span instead of 2. Didn't update in screen, but now the Song information panel is cropped by the play controls which have moved up about 10px and go overtop of the bottom line "MP3 44.1kHz 160k VBR etc".

Suggestion:
- Rename "Mini-Player with Playlist" to "Playlist Player"

Cheers for this great new feature!
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Greb on April 04, 2011, 06:08:26 AM
Not a bug but a strange behaviour.

This player is too big to be at the top constantly. When minimized, it disappears as a tray icon at it's necessary to look for it everytime you want to maximize the window.

Would be interesting the possibility of being able to minimize it to the taskbar.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 04, 2011, 07:34:09 AM
This player is too big to be at the top constantly. When minimized, it disappears as a tray icon at it's necessary to look for it everytime you want to maximize the window.
as long as you used the last link i posted:
http://www.mediafire.com/?bc14be2i9a7c9tc
it should, when minimised respect the "minimise to..." settings in the main preferences screen.
i am also planning to change the default so it doesnt always stay on top
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Greb on April 04, 2011, 08:02:56 AM
it should, when minimised respect the "minimise to..." settings in the main preferences screen.

It was that way.

I was rummaging through just now. In windows settings I had the miniplayer's option 'always on top' on. I checked off and then the 'miniplayer with playlist' minimizes to taskbar. When I check it 'on' again, it minimizes as a icon tray (besides being always on top).

By the way, the 'window setting' options only appear in the old miniplayer, but they affect the new one's behaviour too.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 04, 2011, 09:22:40 AM
- When rating is changed it is updated in the playlist but not in the top song information panel.
i just tried by change the rating in the playlist and in the panel - in both cases its ok for me. Can you re-confirm this bug and where did you change the rating?
also make sure you are using the last link i posted:
http://www.mediafire.com/?bc14be2i9a7c9tc
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 04, 2011, 09:28:11 AM
Steven, thank you very much for the enhancements.  :) I think the new view looks great, but it needs a little polish:

1) I agree with fish's suggestion to rename the view. "Playlist Player" sounds much better IMHO, because the name is short and clearly explains what it really is.

2) I think that's why right-click/Configure Layout/Now Playing List doesn't work when "View Mini Player with Playlist" is chosen (it's impossible for me to change the options). If it's not a bug, right-click/Configure Layout/Now Playing List should be removed form Mini Player with Playlist View (the layout options work when Now Playing list is docked to Main Panel though).

3) When Equalizer is chosen form Mini Player with Playlist View it's sometimes hidden behind the player (depends on the player position). I think it should be shown above the player no matter the player position.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 04, 2011, 09:31:21 AM
- When rating is changed it is updated in the playlist but not in the top song information panel.
I can't confirm it.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 04, 2011, 01:06:33 PM
2) I think that's why right-click/Configure Layout/Now Playing List doesn't work when "View Mini Player with Playlist" is chosen (it's impossible for me to change the options). If it's not a bug, right-click/Configure Layout/Now Playing List should be removed form Mini Player with Playlist View (the layout options work when Now Playing list is docked to Main Panel though).
its intentional to show that you cant remove the playlist
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 04, 2011, 01:30:58 PM
2) I think that's why right-click/Configure Layout/Now Playing List doesn't work when "View Mini Player with Playlist" is chosen (it's impossible for me to change the options). If it's not a bug, right-click/Configure Layout/Now Playing List should be removed form Mini Player with Playlist View (the layout options work when Now Playing list is docked to Main Panel though).
its intentional to show that you cant remove the playlist

Do You really think that someone is about to remove the playlist form Playlist View  ??? It doesn't make sense for me. 
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 04, 2011, 06:21:32 PM
Feature requests:
- One-click button to swap from Mini-Player to the new "Mini-Player with Playlist" view and back
- Add tab for Lyrics

Bugs:
- Add "track rating" in "Customise panel settings": Screen doesn't update until track is changed, until then the artwork is split and rating isn't shown.
- When rating is changed it is updated in the playlist but not in the top song information panel.
- Changed "<Title>" to 1 row span instead of 2. Didn't update in screen, but now the Song information panel is cropped by the play controls which have moved up about 10px and go overtop of the bottom line "MP3 44.1kHz 160k VBR etc".

Suggestion:
- Rename "Mini-Player with Playlist" to "Playlist Player"
renamed to "Playlist Player" (not completely happy with that either but its better than now)
A lyrics tab is now shown (and can he hidden) when track information is displayed with the player controls
hotkey added to show "Playlist player"
bugs are fixed, except i had no problems with "- When rating is changed it is updated in the playlist but not in the top song information panel."

3) When Equalizer is chosen form Mini Player with Playlist View it's sometimes hidden behind the player (depends on the player position). I think it should be shown above the player no matter the player position.
thats fixed now, along with http://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=3145.0

http://www.mediafire.com/?ycjvgig4cw21e36
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 04, 2011, 06:34:34 PM
Thanks a lot Steven  :) I regret to inform You the link doesn't work for me  :(
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 04, 2011, 06:40:51 PM
working fine for me
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 04, 2011, 07:16:12 PM
I've finally downloaded the player  :) Version 1.2.4111 works great for me. All the bugs I've reported recently have been fixed successfully  8)
Thank you very much Steven  :)
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Sarge on April 04, 2011, 09:13:50 PM
Now that we can customize the Notification window. It would be nice when you set the Width to the same as the Mini Player, and you could have it Dock up under it.
Plus option to set it to stay ON..It makes a nice cool Thin Mini Player.

Setting it to 100 high X the mini player width looks nice. You could toggle it on/off from the mini player
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: aidanw on April 04, 2011, 11:26:49 PM
All the bugs I reported earlier are gone too, cheers!

Yeah, I'm not super happy with "Playlist Player" either. Sounds pretty corny. It's more like a "Playing Now Playlist Player". ugh. I guess the function is that it's a cut-down main player, which is best described as "Mini".

I think someone earlier suggested renaming the current "Mini-Player" to be "Micro-Player" and make this one the Mini-Player. That probably makes sense, but I don't like "Micro-Player", because that sounds really really tiny to me, and I don't think of it being that micro.
How about:
"Mini-Player" becomes => "Mini-bar Player"
"Playlist Player" becomes => "Mini-window Player"
Still not super happy with these either...

Something unexpected: I can show playlist player at the same time as mini-player using the hotkey. And close it with the hotkey. But when I click "X" expecting to close playlist player, it quits MB completely.
(I know this makes sense, as X always quits, but when it pops up separately I expect I can close it like in WinAmp or other player that have popup extra windows).

Could there be a view switch button, like in Windows Media Player, to swap between views?
- provides a way to cycle through views.
- small enough to not take up too much space
- same icon on button in all three interfaces to make it recognisable: main player, mini-player, playlist player
- switches to the next view in a defined order.
- could be in the Control bar next to minimise/maximise/close
At the moment I worry for new users this feature isn't intuitive enough

Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: jlarrym on April 05, 2011, 03:11:40 AM
Following fish's train of thought. I suggest the bar player be named the "Bar Player" and the "Playlist Player" named the "Mini Player". My only other suggestion would be instead of "Playlist Player" maybe "List Player" which sounds a little less redundant. I do like the first suggestions much better though.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Greb on April 05, 2011, 07:01:35 AM
Last changes were really great  :)

A small detail. Last version, someway, the line in the right side of the panel (playlist view) disappeared.

(http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8187/65335614.jpg) (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/65335614.jpg/)

PS Some moment this week I'll change the icon in skin for the one in the mail. I'm making a new 'darker pop' skin that looks better with the new playlist view (yeap, I love this view too  ;D)
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 05, 2011, 07:38:24 AM
Following fish's train of thought. I suggest the bar player be named the "Bar Player" and the "Playlist Player" named the "Mini Player". My only other suggestion would be instead of "Playlist Player" maybe "List Player" which sounds a little less redundant. I do like the first suggestions much better though.
i think your first suggestion is a good idea. So the current mini player becomes "bar player" and current "playlist player" becomes "mini player". i guess the only downside is it will cause some initial confusion
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 05, 2011, 08:19:07 AM
Could there be a view switch button, like in Windows Media Player, to swap between views?
- provides a way to cycle through views.
- small enough to not take up too much space
- same icon on button in all three interfaces to make it recognisable: main player, mini-player, playlist player
- switches to the next view in a defined order.
- could be in the Control bar next to minimise/maximise/close
At the moment I worry for new users this feature isn't intuitive enough

+ 1 for this idea. It would be very intuitive this way  :)

Following fish's train of thought. I suggest the bar player be named the "Bar Player" and the "Playlist Player" named the "Mini Player". My only other suggestion would be instead of "Playlist Player" maybe "List Player" which sounds a little less redundant. I do like the first suggestions much better though.
i think your first suggestion is a good idea. So the current mini player becomes "bar player" and current "playlist player" becomes "mini player". i guess the only downside is it will cause some initial confusion

I like this suggestion too (especially Bar Player  8)) And what about Compact Player instead of "Playlist Player"  ???
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: hellomusic on April 05, 2011, 02:30:18 PM
Haven't been around for a while, but this new playlist ui is really great!
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 05, 2011, 10:14:58 PM
i've fixed the GUI bug and a couple of other things with hidden lyrics.
in the end i decided on 'Mini Player (Compact Mode)' rather than causing confusion by renaming the existing mini-player to "bar player"
also for the mini-player it now has a musicbee icon.
if you click the icon (including with the main player and compact player), it will show a context menu that has common functions you might use)

fish, it was a bug that you were able to open 2 players at once and i have fixed that. For now, if you click on the musicbee icon you can switch to another player view. I havent rejected your suggestion but i dont know how to do it on the new windows 7 glass caption bar so it might be some time before i do it.

http://www.mediafire.com/?89swzgnvvtjuqnw
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: carloscs on April 05, 2011, 10:30:14 PM
Small bug:

Closed MusicBee with compact player showing. After restart, both the main window and the compact player window are shown.
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 05, 2011, 10:50:33 PM
when you close MB from the compact player it should re-open just the compact player, so was that just a once off or does it always do that? or is it under certain circumstances?
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: VX on April 06, 2011, 09:07:06 AM
Thanks, Steven  :) I like the changes introduced in MB 1.2.4112, especially the new name (despite being a bit too long) and adding the MB icon with common functions in Compact view  8)).
Title: Re: Now Playing panel config enhancements
Post by: Steven on April 06, 2011, 07:04:43 PM
Small bug:

Closed MusicBee with compact player showing. After restart, both the main window and the compact player window are shown.
i haven't been able to reproduce but i made a change that hopefully will fix it:
http://www.mediafire.com/?d7zugld7lr4lajd