Blue Devil Skin RELEASED - Page 33

ajamils · 11-14-2006, 10:03 PM

Today I installed the new version of RR and Blue Devil skin and while testing came across couple of problems. Firstly, when I try to go to RRConfig from the skin, it just gives me a blank screen with buttons on the bottom and on browser window....it shows buttons on the bottom that belong to weather page.

Another problem I have is that, I can never get anything typed using OSK. Even though it shows on the screen that its typing but nothing transfers to the address bar.

JohnWPB · 11-14-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ajamils

Today I installed the new version of RR and Blue Devil skin and while testing came across couple of problems. Firstly, when I try to go to RRConfig from the skin, it just gives me a blank screen with buttons on the bottom and on browser window....it shows buttons on the bottom that belong to weather page.

Another problem I have is that, I can never get anything typed using OSK. Even though it shows on the screen that its typing but nothing transfers to the address bar.

I will have to look into the RR config thing. Not sure whats going on there.

As for the OSK that has been an ongoing problem with Road Runner itself. This problem has been reported many times, and Guino is aware of it. I believe someone actually wrote an OSK plugin, to take care of the problem, but I can't remember where I saw that at.

JohnWPB · 11-15-2006, 05:02 AM

Ok, I have been tinkering with a mock-up of a new main menu replacement screen. The though being sometimes 8 buttons is not enough on one screen for some, but 10 would be enough, and the need for a 2nd menu would be eliminated. Of course the 2nd menu would still be created & included. The PSD's would be released as well so you could move the graphics and buttons around to wherever you wanted them.

Let me know what you think of this, it is borderline a little to busy for me, but I am really not sure.

The clock can be changed out for the existing one, I just like the sweeping second hand of this one a lot

I would still keep the screens as they are in the current release, this would just be an option. The volume and track times would also be "touchable" to jump to any part of a track right from the main menu.

Keep in mind, this is JUST a mock-up, an has never seen the light of day of Road Runner yet, it is 100% Photoshop at this point.

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afterdigital · 11-15-2006, 06:48 AM

i like it. Is this the main menu? I like the clock too. And all the indicators to the top right (sweet). I also like the volume bar - is it touchable?

Are you doing away with the car logos?

You know what i'm thinking. How about making the main page editable by the user? such as not to crowd the page with unwanted buttons.

IMO, on the main page,there is currently a few buttons that don't need to be there for regular use, such as DVD, Settings, SAT, and Exit.

For me, the radio, music, videos, gps, is what's really important. i would also like to see the phone added on the main page as it is a nice feature i'm planning on adding (don't have a compatible phone yet).

As for been editable, it would be nice to have a "config type" page in which i can drag-n-drop the menu buttons onto the main screen - the rest, by default, fall behind.

Easy? i have no idea...
Practical? to me, yes...

wfs1 · 11-15-2006, 07:37 AM

John,
The buttons are definitely big enough to use, now since you still have to use 2 menu screens. So below not in any exact order but the left side and right side should somewhat flow.

First Column on left side:
Music
Radio
Sat Radio
Open
Menu

Right Side:
WEB
Weather
Phoco
Open
Exit

The Video and DVD are " run only" unless you have it setup for dual displays.
The settings and launch also on the second menu. With that said, then having them on the second menu along with pics, games, etc can reslove another issue. Video, games, DVD on the first menu can get you a citation (in some states) if pulled over and they are in driver's view.
Also, the precious area at the top of the Main Menu needs to be somewhat open for Indicators like Strength Signals/sliders, Email, Text message, voicemail, missed calls, DUN/Phone, etc.. So the indicators need to be sized to allow this.

Just my thoughts..

nasa · 11-15-2006, 08:12 AM

Ok my 2 cents(which are actually only worth 0.5),

I really like the overall look, I think it would be significant improvement.

My suggestions:

1. As others have mentioned moving buttons for things that aren't to be used while driving to a 2nd menu would be optimal (I rather think of the safety issue vs the legal issue).

2. Following that, buttons that are adjusted the most would be better placed for the drivers convience (a main reason I like your new idea better than the last).

3. Volume slider looks cool -- but would you actually use it while driving?

4. With the present setup, the middle flash thingy (technical term) switches between differt monitors. Will that still be the case?

Anyways, my 2cents.

Thanks again for the effort,

Nasa

kbreeden · 11-15-2006, 08:51 AM

I like it, though I agree that it might be on the verge of being too busy. One thing I like about the current skin is its clean look.

I think everyone is going to have their own preferences about what buttons appear on the main screen. For me, radio and phone mean nothing. I'm going to try to replace those buttons with the browser and settings buttons (if I can figure out how to do it).

John, in that regard I have a question on button modification. You said the button labels are now non-rasterized. Does that mean the labels are now contained in text boxes which can easily be edited? I brought up the menu PSD using the Gimp and it looks to me like the labels are still in graphic format. Am I right about that? Unfortunately, I'm a total newb when it comes to graphics.

JohnWPB · 11-15-2006, 10:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by afterdigital

I also like the volume bar - is it touchable?

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnWPB

The volume and track times would also be "touchable" to jump to any part of a track right from the main menu.

Quote: Originally Posted by afterdigital

Are you doing away with the car logos?

This clock would not switch screens, and would not have the car logo's on them. The other clock will still be available to use if you prefer that one.

Quote: Originally Posted by afterdigital

How about making the main page editable by the user?

That request is a bit beyone me right now, maybe a little down the road, but I'm not quite there yet.

Ok, to answer a few of you at once, I will do my best to make the buttons as logical as possible, but there is no way it can work for everyone. It just can't happen. Where one person thinks the Radio HAS to be on the first menu screen, as they use that all the time, someone else has no use for it on any menu. The only thing I can do is release the PSD's for this when it is done, so anyone can modify it to suit their personal needs and taste. Which leads to the next question:

Quote: Originally Posted by kbreeden

John, in that regard I have a question on button modification. You said the button labels are now non-rasterized. Does that mean the labels are now contained in text boxes which can easily be edited? I brought up the menu PSD using the Gimp and it looks to me like the labels are still in graphic format. Am I right about that? Unfortunately, I'm a total newb when it comes to graphics.

Rasterized [SP?], means that the text has been "rendered" and is no longer text, but is a graphic, meaning that it can not be edited by simply backspacing and retyping the text.

The Photoshop files now on the download site are the plain text. You can simply change to the type tool, and move over the text you want to edit, and the cursor will turn into a "typing" tool. You can then click and edit away.

jeffreyd_tx · 11-15-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnWPB

Rasterized [SP?], means that the text has been "rendered" and is no longer text, but is a graphic, meaning that it can not be edited by simply backspacing and retyping the text.

The Photoshop files now on the download site are the plain text. You can simply change to the type tool, and move over the text you want to edit, and the cursor will turn into a "typing" tool. You can then click and edit away.

This does not mean that if you change the text, you change the function. That needs to be done in the .skin file.

kbreeden · 11-15-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffreyd_tx

This does not mean that if you change the text, you change the function. That needs to be done in the .skin file.

Yes, that I did know. I'm trying to get through this one step at a time.

kbreeden · 11-15-2006, 10:47 AM

John, thanks again for all your hard work on this great skin and your help along the way. Donation sent!

kbreeden · 11-15-2006, 10:58 AM

Regarding editing buttons with the Gimp, I just found this online:

I worked for a few years w/a Photoshop user (I think he had PS CS).
The caveats I learned from sharing files between the Gimp and PS were (from memory):

1. can't use masks in the Gimp and save to psd - they won't make it. Never figured out if the Gimp properly read in mask from PS though.

2. text layers just get rendered as pixel info - still look the same, but cannot be dynamically altered.

That would explain my confusion as described in post 487. I guess I'll have to pick up a copy of Photoshop. Can anybody give me some advice on what version to get? All I want to do is open up PSDs and move buttons around. In other words an older, cheap version would be great if it will allow me to do that.

hpric · 11-15-2006, 11:16 AM

Nice clock, I would like to add that to the current Blue Devil skin. Is it available?

JohnWPB · 11-15-2006, 11:19 AM

Thanks, I really appreciate it! In fact thanks to all of you that have made a donation!

So many thanks to Kevin, Dave, AfterDigital, Arnis & K&M! Sorry, from the PayPal, I do not know your screen names on the board.

I am working on trying to turn the donations into a decent car alarm. My last car was stolen about a year ago. This happened in a grocery store parking lot, in the middle of the day, in a nice area. With the car went my Frist CarPC, Touchscreen, 200 Gig USB Hard Drive, head unit, Radar Detector, and everything else that was in the car. Of course this happens only a little over a month that I made the last payment on it! I did not have theft coverage on the car, so unfortunately, I had to go car shopping the next day and started the car payments all over again! I did get the car back 2 weeks later, but it was stripped of ALL electronics, and pretty well trashed on top of that. They even stole the spare tire and crappy factory jack!

Here's a before the car was stolen, and after pic. I had JUST installed the CarPC, so I did not even have a change to get a picture of it installed before the car was stolen.

So lets just say I want to get an alarm with a engine kill, so even if they get in, they can't get anywhere with it! Also want to have the pager remote, so I can be notified if someone opens the door/trunk ect. At least I could go out shouting and hopefully scare them off, and not get shot in the process

I DO like my eclipse (My avatar) better, but I sure miss the convertible and that sweet digital dash!

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