New Compact Player Layout

[Alexis]

I am not sure I understand.  I am sure you mean with the overlay that contains lyrics or nowplaying list? If so,  that still looks good to me.  Thanks

[jistme]

I have not been following this thread most attentively so maybe I missed it, but...
Am I correct in thinking that the spectrum visualizer in the new compact player cannot be color adjusted through skinning?

[Steven]

I have not been following this thread most attentively so maybe I missed it, but...
Am I correct in thinking that the spectrum visualizer in the new compact player cannot be color adjusted through skinning?

thats right - the spectrum visualiser takes its colours from the artist or album picture depending on the user preferences

[jistme]

Any chance you are willing to make it skinnable?
To my personal taste it can sometimes display a little bit too 'candy cane'.

[Steven]

i've been doing some more with the Compact Player and now has support for a RDIO style background (see the RDIO style theater mode from redwing) and now extends the spectrum across the entire panel. Currently i am looking at how to do the player controls so they draw directly onto the artist picture (optional) - i will probably do it so the controls only show when you mouse-over the window. One question i have for anyone who is interested in this: do you think its important to always show the player progress bar and time position? ie. if i auto-hide the player controls, then the progress bar/ time would only be shown when you mouse-over the panel, or should the progress bar and position be permanently displayed.
I guess it could always show the progress bar right down the bottom and the auto-hidden player bar displays where the spectrum visualiser is

[redwing]

I guess it could always show the progress bar right down the bottom and the auto-hidden player bar displays where the spectrum visualiser is

+1

In my opinion progress bar at the bottom would be enough as you described without time position.

[redwing]

And I guess the player controls can be a bit bigger. Since switching to a higher-resolution display with bigger fonts, MB's player controls look so small as compared with other music players.

[Alexis]

I have been wanting this enhancement so much since the beginning,  so this is exciting.

I think the progress bar should always be visible in one form or another.   The bottom edge sounds great.

[Iasc]

the new changes your planning sound good. my preference would be to have the progress bar visible at the bottom.

[Steven]

http://musicbee.niblseed.com/V2_3/MusicBee_Exe_Patched.zip

- new option to use album colour mix (similar to redwings RDIO style theater skin)
- when the right panel is overlaid onto the main panel picture, you can now have more than one tab displayed
- option to overlay the player controls panel onto the main panel picture
- the spectrum visualiser now displays across the whole panel when the right panel is not overlaid onto the main panel picture and you are using medium or large album covers with the panel picture
- the number of controls displayed in the player panel for the compact player has been reduced and those extra controls (shuffle, repeat, equaliser etc) are now accessible from a single icon. That icon is now available for the mini-player as well

To be done:
- improved support for the Album Cover only background feature (it works as-is for the old settings but doesnt make use of the new features fully yet)
- integrate the library into the compact player rather than having the Now Playing assistant popup. It would work by clicking the search icon and would toggle between the Now Playing mode and library mode

[redwing]

Thanks for all the improvements! Looks great!

Some bugs and wishes when the player controls are overlaid and hidden:
- volume control doesn't work
- player controls don't show up after settings button(shuffle, repeat, etc.) was clicked
- player controls show up only when the mouse pointer is above some pixels from the bottom of the player. Would be great they immediately show up if the pointer is anywhere on the player including borders.
- Would be great player controls disappear immediately when pointer is out of the player. Currently they stay for a few seconds.

[Steven]

- player controls show up only when the mouse pointer is above some pixels from the bottom of the player. Would be great they immediately show up if the pointer is anywhere on the player including borders.

that was intentional so you can click the progress bar without the player control suddenly popping up but i will see if there is any other feedback on thar

[redwing]

- player controls show up only when the mouse pointer is above some pixels from the bottom of the player. Would be great they immediately show up if the pointer is anywhere on the player including borders.

that was intentional so you can click the progress bar without the player control suddenly popping up but i will see if there is any other feedback on thar

Ah! I see. Not a big deal.

[endeavour1934]

Sincerely, I like the old button layout better. Back/Play/Fwd on the left (and without borders), and volume and other buttons on the right.

For the overlaid controls option, it would be nicer if they were on the right, like the old Zune player. IMAGE 1 IMAGE 2

[Alexis]

For the overlaid controls option, it would be nicer if they were on the right, like the old Zune player. IMAGE 1 IMAGE 2

As seen in the images in the quoted post, I really thought this was the direction we were going, regardless of whether we use album color mixer or not. 

Thank you as usual Steven, but I think I misunderstood the direction the changes were going.