[Custom UI] Aspect : Fullscreen [QVGA / VGA] with clock outside applet window

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[Custom UI] Aspect : Fullscreen [QVGA / VGA] with clock outside applet window

(27 posts)

Started 7 months ago by evilc
Latest reply from michaelp

evilc
Member
The idea behind this UI is to maximise use of screen "real estate" in both portrait and landscape modes - Huge applet windows are often useless in landscape if the applets are meant to be portrait. So for a 4:3 screen, this UI will have a constant sized square applet window, with frequently used stuff as status buttons at the edges.

Portrait Layout:

Landscape Layout:

This UI features 8 customizable buttons at the top (Pick 8 from a list of predefined buttons - BT, WiFi, Activesync status etc, plus the normal favorites, messaging, quicklaunch, call log buttons) that are stateful (ie a Bluetooth button will show bluetooth state and toggle it on click).

In the middle is the applet window.

At the bottom is the custom softkey bar. In the middle is the applet Indicator - click it to add applets, hold it to enter the button picker. Also on the softkey bar are 4 slots for bar type readouts (eg Phone Signal, Battery Strength, Volume) which will also be pickable and orderable by the user.

In Landscape mode, things move around a little bit, but everything is the same shape and the same graphics. Low memory / cpu usage and fast portait/landscape switching.

The clock is built from images, and can be re-skinned. It is currently static, but I suppose animation wouldn't be a problem.

The date is currently text, but I will probably go with images in the end. Re-using the numbers from the clock would probably be possible.

So... I have the code generally there, thanks to help and code donations from the community, but where I really stumble is graphics. If there is anyone out there that likes the idea and is good creating graphics, please let me know.

Here is the button chooser, used to pick which buttons you want in the slots and in what order:
Attachments
1. Aspect_0.6.zip (206.1 KB, 384 downloads) 6 months old
2. aspect_landscape.png (131.7 KB, 18 downloads) 6 months old
3. aspect_button_chooser.png (157.3 KB, 16 downloads) 6 months old
4. aspect_desc.png (121.9 KB, 28 downloads) 6 months old
Posted 7 months ago #
evilc
Member

Current issues:
* If you change buttons, you need to quit out of Button Chooser, go back in, and quit again to see changes. Only button adds or reorders show, to see a remove take effect you must restart home.
* ~~0.5 crashes any time you return to the main screen (eg if you click on the messaging button, when you return afterwards, it hangs) - please help me work out why!~~
*~~When starting, the default softkeybar shows, you have to open the menu using it, then hit back for it to go.~~
*After changing button selection or order, when you go back to the main screen, it does not reload and show the new button setup. (Because I don't know how to do that).
*~~SoftKey Bar covers left of screen in landscape. See this post.~~ Re-coded my own softkey bar for now.
*Need a full list of registry codes for BT and WiFi and what they mean so that icons can be created. Thread here.
*Need images - any decent artists that are interested please make yourselves known!

===========

ToDo:
*Animations (In / Out)
*Bluetooth button (~~Code~~ / ~~Images~~)
*WiFi Button (~~Code~~ / ~~Images~~)
*Start Button (~~Code~~ / ~~Images~~)
*4th undecided button (~~Code~~ / Images)
*Clock (~~Code~~ / ~~Images~~)
*Date (~~Code~~ / Images)
*~~Add background for date~~.
*Image-based date
*Animate clock?
*~~Fix SoftKey Bar~~
*Make message counter sizes smaller (~~Code~~ / ~~Images~~)
*~~Solve taskbar popup issue~~ was a ROM issue
*~~Make buttons programmable~~

===========
Version History
v 0.6
* Button Chooser now uses applet tag in the XML, not aspplication. No more need for large EXEs to point to for icons. Download ZIP is now 10% of the size it was!
* Button Chooser now shows changes properly after adding an item.

v 0.5.1
* The same as 0.5, I just fixed the crash bug.

v 0.5
* MUCH nicer code. Buttons are their own class now, Controls nest, and Collections are used to simplify things.
* All 8 buttons at the top are pickable / orderable now, not just 4 as before.
* Bug help request release - this build crashes any time you return to the main screen (eg if you click on the messaging button, when you return afterwards, it hangs)
* More sample gfx - all BT and WiFi states are now covered.

v 0.4
* Button Chooser now working
* Softkey bar re-coded
* QuickLaunch replaced with appIndicator
* Icons for default buttons

v 0.3
* Button 4 set to quit Home2 for now (Handy for development).
* Date in, text for now, but probably will be images later.
* Counter font reduced in size.
* Replacement counter background images live in the Aspect\ subfolder, to avoid overwriting default ones in default theme.

v 0.2
* Bluetooth + WiFi buttons working and placeholder graphics in
* Clock in (Thanks cardefbel for code!) with placeholder graphics

v 0.1
*Basic layout mockup - VGA images only, but if images swapped for half size ones, it should work on qVGA.

Installation:
*Back up PointUI folder
*Copy contents of zip into home2 folder (overwrite)

Only screenhome.cs is changed. All other files are untouched.
Some new files are added, but all are in an Aspect subfolder.

Posted 7 months ago #
gronostaj
Member

Nice idea, but that's made for fullscreen. What about normal view? I mean with the top bar visible. It's 26 px height on QVGA, 52 xp on VGA. I think the buttons will be too small or the applets won't be square anymore. But keep working, it's a good idea.

Posted 7 months ago #
evilc
Member

I am working under the premise that if you are going for a full on UI replacement for windows mobile, the first thing that needs to go is the windows task bar (At least in its default form) - that gives the game away instantly ;)

Unfortunately, I am having issues with the windows task bar keeping popping up when I slide the keyboard out, but I have another thread about that. I am also working under the premise that this is a bug (May or may not be pointui...) and is ultimately solveable.

I have reserved space for a start button, so I don't really see the problem with removing the task bar altogether...

Posted 7 months ago #
evilc
Member

Version 0.1 (proof of concept) uploaded. Check post #2.

Oh, and I am not sure about what to call it, maybe some suggestions?

I have been trying to think of something to do with math / proportions / ratios - I have been thinking along the lines of "Golden Ratio" or "Fibonacci", but I am no math expert.

The one that seems to stick at the moment is "Aspect" (As in Aspect Ratio - as that is what this is all about, the 4:3 / 3:4 that is xGA)

Either that or some "Perfectly Proportioned" supermodel or somthing lol.

Posted 7 months ago #
colincoxau
Member

Hello Evil, this is looking promising, I like the idea of having the clock available all the time.

Posted 7 months ago #
gronostaj
Member

Start button is unnecessary because everything from Start menu can be accessed with Pointui: Programs, Settings, Favorite Apps. Buttons 1 and 4 could call favorite applications or B1 could navigate to first applet and B4 switch sound modes: Normal, Vibrate, Silent.

AspectUI sounds nice, it's short, simple and UI suggests Pointui. Or maybe Aspect.ui, what do you think? :)

Posted 7 months ago #
colincoxau
Member

I like AspectUi it does sound nice. B4 to switch modes also sounds good.

Posted 7 months ago #
evilc
Member

Regarding the programmable buttons, after seeing the Pointsense V2 video, I am beginning to wonder if it is worth re-inventing the wheel. Surely it would make more sense to try and get blueocean to allow placing of applets on the base canvas and moving the applet window around. I would hate to have the top of my UI like I want it but miss out on the kind of functionality coming in pointsense V2.

RE: The start menu, I dunno, I think it is still handy to have around. The Programs menu in Home2 only links to the programs folder in the start menu, not the root of the start menu. The root has handy links to the office apps (eg contacts, calendar) and if you have other apps set up as default apps (eg a different default contacts app) sometimes you just need to get to the windows one.

Posted 7 months ago #
mr-scarface
Member

If an applet has all the functions and icons that the windows taskbar does, why on earth would you not run full screen and keep the windows taskbar?

My problem is that I'm using the mystatus applet but I don't run full screen cause the applet has no indicator of what your volume is set to, nor does it show your activesync status. Those 2 things force me to keep the windows taskbar.

This applet idea looks interesting though, I'll bet some people would be interested in the ultimatelaunch style where the top stays constant but the applet is dynamic.

Posted 7 months ago #
evilc
Member

Thanks for the feedback scarface. So you would need activesync and volume. But you could sacrifice say one of bluetooth / wifi / start menu link to keep within the number of buttons down to 4?
How would you like activestync button to work? What should it do when clicked and what info should it show? I never see an activesync icon on my taskbar.

Posted 7 months ago #
evilc
Member

0.3 up. This one is functional, everything does something, just all the buttons are hard-wired.
I need nice graphics, bad - any artists out there?

Posted 7 months ago #
colincoxau
Member

Hi evilc, looking good, where do u intall this? I am using nextgen, is it another UI or an applet?

Posted 7 months ago #
Montecristoff
Pointui

Hi evilc,

This is a nice concept, very clear layout, efficiency-oriented!
Thanks for your work, waiting for your design updates ;)

>>> Added in the Store

Posted 7 months ago #
evilc
Member

Colin - it is a complete UI.
It is very similar to the default UI, the only files it actually overwrites at the moment is common\screenhome.cs and menu\menu.xml (though the menu change only adds an item, so doesn't need to be uninstalled to revert back).

So as long as you rename screenhome.cs, if you just copy the files into an unmodified home2 folder (The folder structures match) then you are good to go.

If you wanna uninstall, replace the original screenhome.cs (and optionally the menu.xml) and delete the Aspect folder in the default theme.

Posted 7 months ago #
gorf1000
Member

You can also pull this into the customization applet and create a theme.xml to transfer over the screenhome.cs file. Then you can switch back and forth to your hearts content. See this thread.

Posted 7 months ago #
evilc
Member

New version up, you can now choose and order buttons (Though there are only 4 button types in this version, so it's only real use is to pick order).

Buttons don't currently re-load after you select them, restart home for now.

Posted 6 months ago #
mr-scarface
Member

evilc^

The activesync status icon will only display on the taskbar if you are actually using activesync to connect your mobile device to a computer (either via bluetooth or usb cable). I've seen 3 different statuses in that icon - Syncing, Synced, and error syncing.

Ideally, the button should work like this:
you click on the button and it launches activesync in the background and automatically connects. The button's appearance must be dynamic so that it shows activesync's current status.

You must see how the default activesync icon behaves to understand what I mean.

Anyway, regarding the other buttons, a volume indicator would be great - this would totally eliminate the need for the default windows taskbar. I think the start and quit buttons are unneccesary.

Posted 6 months ago #
victorjr
Member

were can I download this?

Posted 6 months ago #
evilc
Member

scarface - understood on the explanation.

If there is a registry key that can be monitored, it would be a simple task to write a button to reflect that reg key's state - I have already written the classes, I would just need to extend them. Otherwise it may get a bit more complicated.

I am pretty sure there is a volume reg key. Plus, I have now totally re-coded the softkey bar. It is no longer a softkey bar (You don't need softkeys on the main screen) but instead there is space for 4 readouts. Default readouts will be Signal Strength and Operator Text on the left (eg 3G T-Mobile), Battery Strength and Volume on the right. These will be pickable like the main buttons at the top.

Posted 6 months ago #
evilc
Member

New version up, 0.5

It works, but there is a significant bug (crashes any time you return to main screen) - I have mainly put this version up so I can ask for help on solving the bug.

Posted 6 months ago #
evilc
Member

victorjr - the latest version is always attached in the first post.

Posted 6 months ago #
evilc
Member

New version, 0.5.1 up.

I fixed the crash bug. YAY!

I now only really see one hurdle to overcome - I have to work out how, when you quit the Choose Buttons screen, to delete all the old buttons and load the new ones (Without having to reload Home).

Posted 6 months ago #
evilc
Member

New version up, 0.6

Posted 6 months ago #
evilc
Member

I am looking to abandon extending the quicklaunch screen, I have bigger ideas.

I sat down to redesign the widget system and think I have come up with something rather spiffing. See here.

Therefore, releases of this branch will probably stop until the new branch catches up.
Unless the new branch falls off :/

Posted 6 months ago #
evilc
Member

Mission success. The new engine is written.

I can now merge this change into Aspect, and get on with a much better UI!

Ok, long night, coding, caffeine and nicotine. You know the drill. Gotta go grab a couple of hour's sleep before I shred.

Posted 6 months ago #
michaelp
Member

Great work evilc. Looking forward to this progressing.
I really appreciate the passion for excellence across this forum!

Posted 6 months ago #