Jirka - This app really moves things in the right directions. It really feels robust and well thought out. The attention to detail is great- the documentation is good and helpful, things like the little scripts to launch the app at the right size show that the developers care about ease of use. Having seen Ondra at work a little on the PSUMoni app I know that the quality of the programming will be spot on too.
On the constructive criticism side - I see that you mention the original colour scheme, to be honest the scheme does look a little drab but I don't think it is much that a little "aquafication" and some transparency etc. wouldn't address. Might it not be a good idea to hire a graphic designer to spritz things up a little. Or you could do what others have done and make a call for design input. I am talking purely about the cosmetics here - I know that the "bones" of the system is amply catered for by the programming team.
I, probably in common with others, will use the Mac primarily for two things 1) GPS 2) Media playback, mainly audio. As I don't yet a GPS puck (but hope to do so soon) I can't really comment on the GPS function yet. However I do have a couple of suggestions on the media player front.
1) It takes a loooong time to navigate to a band or song beginning with S or T from the start of the list. Many people will have lots of songs on their hard disks. Might it be a good idea to have the ability to jump directly to the points in the list beginning A,B,C,D,X,Y,Z etc.?
2) It would be really nice to have some album art. It just makes everything more intuitive and looks a lot nicer.
3) For a lot of the QCar modules the main window size is fine but for the music player, and perhaps some other modules, the main window is just too small. I'd question the philosophy of keeping all the other modules visible and thereby limiting the useful size of the main window. I think I can follow the rigour of the approach but it results in a very small usable area for some of the modules. I think it might be better to allow every app to be displayed full screen if necessary. Since the majority of people use a 7 or 8" screen I think you need to maximise the use of the screen real estate.
I know its early days for the cosmetics but I think many of us like the in-screen display to look cool and most people that use a Mac are distinctly design aware. I think it becomes all the more important that the system looks, as well as functions, good as you are planning on selling the application.
All in all though I think this will be a winner. And I can't wait for the Phone integration module.
Could you please mail me (jirka.jirout/at/mac.com) the console log? It should be stored in /Library/Logs/yourusername/ folder. "Deletes the music player from the slot" actually means the whole module is released from the memory, typically due to some error/exception.
Yes, we have actually hired a graphic designer. The first visible output of her work will be new icons in the weather and navigation modules, but a complete change of look is also open. The thing is that I do not believe in aqua too much and I got rid of it in the old TatraApp after some time.Originally Posted by joesan
We are aware of this and will address the issue either by grouping items hierarchically in the browser or by some combo-like search function. We are also redesigning the browser to provide more space for its items at the moment.1) It takes a loooong time to navigate to a band or song beginning with S or T from the start of the list. Many people will have lots of songs on their hard disks. Might it be a good idea to have the ability to jump directly to the points in the list beginning A,B,C,D,X,Y,Z etc.?
I would certainly disagree about the "more intuitive" part, but we will re-consider this. While there is not enough space in the normal layout to display the art (or better "to display the art and something else"), a fullscreen mode for the player might be an option.2) It would be really nice to have some album art. It just makes everything more intuitive and looks a lot nicer.
First, it is called a workarea, not window ;-) Second - you can create a screen setup in which only the active module is visible or takes a significant part of the screen - check our standard setup for 640x480 resolution.3) For a lot of the QCar modules the main window size is fine but for the music player, and perhaps some other modules, the main window is just too small.
Some modules, for which it makes sense, can and do go fullscreen - i.e. Google maps, Movie player, e-mail reader.the modules. I think it might be better to allow every app to be displayed full screen if necessary. Since the majority of people use a 7 or 8" screen I think you need to maximise the use of the screen real estate.
Great stuff Jirka. Thanks for listening. I know that this app will be killer when finished because it is already so good now.
And if there is just one thing I've learned from using this it is that rotary controllers blow touchscreens out of the water when the app is coded to properly exploit them...
you are such a hooker.I read the whole thread. It made me smile.I've not got my setup up and running yet (okay, I haven't even gotten the components yet), but I do work on my Powerbook a *lot* and am willing to help in any way I can.
Thanks for paying attention to the oft-neglected Mac'ers out there.
Subscribed.
+1 for all of the effort put forth here. I read the beginning of this thread a few months ago. I am very excited at how far things have come. Hopefully in the next year or so I will actually get around to installing a system. (isfh)
Get ****ed, Ryan.you are such a hooker.
+1 for all of the effort put forth here. I read the beginning of this thread a few months ago. I am very excited at how far things have come. Hopefully in the next year or so I will actually get around to installing a system. (isfh)
I'm downloading the beta tonight so I can play with it a little tomorrow evening and offer worthwhile feedback.
You don't seem to like touchscreens very much... so right now the layout is really optimized for rotary controls. Will there be some kind of skin or layout or something to optimize QCar for touchscreens, i.e. full control of QCar via screen?
I really like what you are doing with the software, I'm just not comfortable with using some additional control device. So are you going to accomodate people (or better: customers) like me?
Looks fantastic so far guys.
This may sound a weird question.. but it sounds like this will be a "bring in your car and we will whack this gear in for you" kinda thing. Well, i'm in Western Australia.. whats the chance of being able to purchase the software only when its all finished?
My apologies if this has been asked already.. i've waded through the thread but i may have missed it (its huge!).
I have been testing for a while now, and have met jirka when he was in london, so he has seen my setup working...You don't seem to like touchscreens very much... so right now the layout is really optimized for rotary controls. Will there be some kind of skin or layout or something to optimize QCar for touchscreens, i.e. full control of QCar via screen?
I really like what you are doing with the software, I'm just not comfortable with using some additional control device. So are you going to accomodate people (or better: customers
I understand the desire not to rely on touchscreen on his behalf, and if you thought of it as a safety issue then you will understand that it is alot safer to use a rotary control, i primarily wanted touch screen use only, which is what i do most of the time, but i did actually buy a controller so if i need to do anything while i'm actually driving i have the option available to me as well.
As for how touch screen works, i have had no problems with the size of screen and the size of buttons, it works very well with touch.... It will be interesting to see how the touch developes when skins start to show themselves for this app, as i'm sure a few will be for touch based users...
CLICK ME
Smart Car due for completion beginning of march....
Log with pictures to go online shortly after.
I think I am going to start piecing my system together sooner than later. LMK what you think of the software b/c I may be going pcGet ****ed, Ryan.
I'm downloading the beta tonight so I can play with it a little tomorrow evening and offer worthwhile feedback.
if this isnt going to be ready-ish soon.
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks