First impressions, bugs and features of Infill G4 & Street Deck 1.1.0.0

**parksgm** · 10-03-2007, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by mangus580

SD wants to stay ON TOP. Makes it very difficult to do anything else WHILE PARKED with the computer. When you do toggle to window mode, there SHOULD be a minimize button to get SD out of the way for other window functions. After all, isnt that why there is a toggle full screen button??

I agree with this. If SD allows toggling out of full screen while parked, then it there should be an option to minimize. Such a function wouldn't interfere with safety concerns, as currently, if SD is running and minimized when the car begins to move, I believe that it automatically maximizes and goes full screen.

However, it shouldn't necessarily minimize automatically, as there are times when one needs to control SD as well as access the desktop. So why not have two buttons...one that toggles full screen and leaves the window as is, and one that toggles full screen and minimizes. If there is concern that two buttons would unnecessarily complicate the UI, then make the minimize button accessible only if the user mods the skin and physically adds it.

I also think that until SD is fully functional (with the features advertised at time of sale implemented), the minimize button is a necessary concession to usablity. Because email and BT phone are not yet implemented within SD, I must use external applications for both. It would be much easier to do so if SD did not always try to stay on top when not in full screen, and until those promised features are implemented, SD should facilitate a workaround.

**mangus580** · 10-03-2007, 10:45 AM

I dont understand why SD doesnt switch to a norma 'windows window' mode.... that has the standard close/restore/minimize functions....

**Caelric** · 10-03-2007, 10:47 AM

I care, and I read your thread, but I have become relatively dissatisfied with SD as of late. Not something I want to get into a discussion about, though, and I have found that "discussing" it on these boards generally devolves into something not worth my time.

**parksgm** · 10-03-2007, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by mangus580

I dont understand why SD doesnt switch to a norma 'windows window' mode.... that has the standard close/restore/minimize functions....

My guess would be because the developers want it to look the most OEM and the least like windows as possible, and the absence of that function prevents people from running it in that mode all the time.

**mangus580** · 10-03-2007, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by parksgm

My guess would be because the developers want it to look the most OEM and the least like windows as possible, and the absence of that function prevents people from running it in that mode all the time.

I meant when only in 'window' mode....

I agree fully with the function of full screen mode. but when you do toggle out, it should act just like any other windows window....

**strohj** · 10-03-2007, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by mangus580

I meant when only in 'window' mode....

I agree fully with the function of full screen mode. but when you do toggle out, it should act just like any other windows window....

I just added the XP shortcut for show desktop to my external apps in streetdeck.. this enables me to minimize everything when I need to get to something in XP

**RedGTiVR6** · 10-03-2007, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by mangus580

But in order for SD to be a continuing sucsess, its not all about Chuck. Its about the end users of the software.

That is correct, however Chuck has quite a bit of experience in this field. He's tried a number of different things and has gone to school to learn more about human interface designs.

I have noticed many times now that 'Team SD' is very critical of users opinions, questions, comments. It almost feels abrasive to me at times. This thread is one of them.

This is not the intent. However, when we're constantly bombarded with change requests based on what a user or two wants it gets to be quite tiresome.

Any of our comments/suggestions should be taken somewhat more openly, and considered as time goes on. Not beat down, saying its not a bug, or its already submitted in a bug report.

If it's not a bug and it's a change someone wants to see implemented then it's a feature request.

There are a LOT of people who talk about how buggy the StreetDeck software is. When you ask them what they mean by that they point out the number of bug reports there were in the past. They didn't take the time to read those bug reports, or understand that most of the time it was a user configuration or machine specific problem...or that the 'bug report' was in fact a 'feature request'. This caused a lot of problems on both ends of the spectrum. It gave users a wrong impression and it also created a TON of work on our end. It ment we had to chase our tails trying to figure out what really was a bug and what wasn't.

We have here a very nice concise REVIEW of Streetdeck, and he is adding to it to help other users and 'Team SD' out.

A review is great, however, this is not just a review. His post is filled with changes HE wants to see implemented based on how HE wants to use StreetDeck on HIS machine...not based on what is best for the general user base.

Why berate the guy for repeating some things that may be listed in a more scattered manner?

I'm meerly pointing him in the direction of those threads so that he can A) put his voice on them and B) see where things stand currently, because it's apparent that he's not aware of many of the ongoings that have been discussed in great detail in the past.

**RedGTiVR6** · 10-03-2007, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by mangus580

I think you are missing his point here. Its not really a function of promoting or not, the toggle full screen. You provide the option to toggle it when the vehicle is not moving. What he is complaining about I find quite annoying too. SD wants to stay ON TOP. Makes it very difficult to do anything else WHILE PARKED with the computer. When you do toggle to window mode, there SHOULD be a minimize button to get SD out of the way for other window functions. After all, isnt that why there is a toggle full screen button??

Then it's a feature request and should be addressed as such.

**RedGTiVR6** · 10-03-2007, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by parksgm

I don't have any relationship with SD at all (other than being a customer). However, I have been around the forums for a relatively long time now, and my perspective on the use and utility of the forums has changed somewhat. It is CRUCIAL to maintain good organization of information posted, as otherwise good ideas are lost amid the resulting chaos. It is also important to avoid creating multiple parallel threads discussing the same issue, as this also leads to idea loss among the clutter. I make both of the above points because the forum admins are saddled with the herculean task of maintaining order while still promoting open discussion...and the attempt to balance the two is a fluid, ongoing process.

This is absolutely true. I've been trying to consolidate the basic information that's been gathered on these forums for a while now. It's not easy, but I can tell that it's helped. If we have two or three threads going on the exact same topic at different times it becomes very difficult to maintain some sort of a train of thought ad to get very far with the ideas in the threads.

**mangus580** · 10-03-2007, 02:59 PM

Thanks Jan.... Your responses to my post are more typical of what I would expect, not what I have seen here of past (my limited past that is). Worded as you have now, it reads alot smoother, and doesnt come across quite as abrasive.

FYI, I know how you feel on the 'same thing over and over' again. I run www.steelsoldiers.com and I cant tell you the # of times a person comes in with their first post asking something a 5 minute search could have found....

I appreciate everyones time they put into SD, and this forum. I dont want you to think that I have a bad overall opinion of the place.

Keep up the good work!

Thread: First impressions, bugs and features of Infill G4 & Street Deck 1.1.0.0

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