unity-design team mailing list archive

[James Putt <putt.james@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 4 November 2010 04:59, Alex Launi <alex.launi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>  On Wed, 2010-11-03 at 10:15 +0000, Matthew Paul Thomas wrote:
>
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> cmaglothin wrote on 20/10/10 04:43:
> >
> > Why not try this:
> >
> > 1. Instead of having the obscure "copy track data" feature, why not
> > simplify the buttons in indicator-sound to something
> > like http://imgur.com/ueC7X.jpg
>
> Because that's a visual scope error: clicking a button would change
> things both above it (track data) *and* to the left of it (album art).
>
>
> I'm not sure I agree with this reasoning. The buttons there are clearly
> nestled into the warm embrace of the album art and the track metadata. If
> the controls were not clearly associated with both then this could be a
> reasonable argument, but the three are all very tightly coupled visually.
>
>

What about changing the function of the metadata item? As has been
mentioned, copying track data to the clipboard is not particularly useful
(to me, admittedly). When clicking it and not seeing anything happen I
assumed it was a selectable no-op, until I read otherwise on this list.

Matthew, I think "selecting an informational item should display more detail
about that information" is an excellent pattern. You should get it
formalised :)

I was thinking if the metadata were split up its pieces could better
represent themselves. I attached an image of what I mean.

"All Music" is the current playlist. I'm not sure whether that should open
the playlist or be a submenu to playlist controls (maybe a limited selection
of songs in the playlist, or shuffle/repeat controls). Because the
rhythmbox/music library item could open to the current playlist, I lean
towards wanting to make the playlist item a submenu. I might even have it
say "Playing from All Music." Though I find submenus annoying when the menu
is too close to the right edge of the screen :/

Player controls come next (though I'd rearrange them, but at this stage
that's just preference :) followed by the playing track item, and then the
track's artist.

The track item would focus the music library as specifically as possible on
the track (eg Banshee's Now Playing view or similar). Likewise, the artist
item would focus on the artist (eg an auto-playlist/filter, or a search).
The missing icon should represent a playlist (it's a playlist for the
artist) and the icon for the track should represent a music file, or at
least be distinct from the music library icon.

Finally, I also attached a fairly average mock up of how i'd have the player
controls

So that's my little spiel. I'd like to know if any of this is interesting to
others? Ie worth me hacking it together. Or pros and cons etc?

James

Attachment: sound-menu.png
Description: PNG image

Attachment: player-controls.png
Description: PNG image