Request for UI Enhancements: Dark Warm Color Palette and Updated Icons

[ardinesh 29]

Hello Emby Community,

I hope you're all doing well. I'm reaching out today with a suggestion aimed at enhancing the Emby Server's bundled web client. I've noticed some recent and appealing changes in the other web clients provided by Emby (like tv.emby.media and app.emby.media). These changes include a shift from a completely dark interface to a more inviting dark warm color scheme. Additionally, there have been updates to icons and overall functionality in these versions of the web client.

Based on the positive impact of these changes, I'm excited to request similar updates for the Emby web client that comes packaged with the Emby Server. Incorporating these changes would not only improve the visual experience but also bring consistency across different Emby platforms.

I understand the Emby team is dedicated to providing the best user experience possible, and I believe that adopting these enhancements could further elevate the usability of the web client. I appreciate the hard work that goes into making Emby such a fantastic media solution and I'm optimistic about the potential of this suggestion.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to being part of the ongoing discussions and developments within the Emby community.

Best regards,
ardinesh

[Abobader 3469]

Hello ardinesh,

** This is an auto reply **

Please wait for someone from staff support or our members to reply to you.

It's recommended to provide more info, as it explain in this thread:

Thank you.

Emby Team

[GrimReaper 4748]

Not sure what you're asking for here, hosted web app is always a bit ahead of local web app bundled with stable version as it follows beta development - if you want to see same interface, spin portable beta server instance and you'll see it on local web app as well, nothing new there. 

[ardinesh 29]

1 hour ago, GrimReaper said:

Not sure what you're asking for here, hosted web app is always a bit ahead of local web app bundled with stable version as it follows beta development - if you want to see same interface, spin portable beta server instance and you'll see it on local web app as well, nothing new there. 

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to explain the situation. I really appreciate your response.

I initially reached out to the forum with my question because I was genuinely curious and somewhat intrigued by the new interface I observed in the hosted web app. Your clarification helps me understand the differences between the hosted web app and the local web app bundled with the stable version of Emby Server, especially in relation to the beta development process.

However, I would like to reiterate that I was particularly drawn to the new interface and the design changes that I saw. While I did try out the beta release to experience the updated interface, I encountered issues with the server's functionality that I hadn't encountered in the stable release I was using. This becomes a concern for me as I have an extensive library of music, movies, and shows, making it somewhat challenging to frequently switch between releases.

I noticed the recent Emby Server update that was released, and I had hoped that the new interface might be included in that update. It's disappointing to hear that the update didn't bring the interface changes I was looking forward to.

I genuinely value the effort that the Emby team puts into developing and improving the platform. While I'm eager to experience the new interface, I also understand the complexities involved in balancing functionality and design.

Thank you once again for your response and the insight you provided. It's reassuring to know that there's ongoing development and improvement in the works.

Best regards,
ardinesh

[GrimReaper 4748]

3 minutes ago, ardinesh said:

While I did try out the beta release to experience the updated interface, I encountered issues with the server's functionality that I hadn't encountered in the stable release I was using. This becomes a concern for me as I have an extensive library of music, movies, and shows

I'm sure the Devs would be interested in finding out what issues you've encountered. 

[ardinesh 29]

2 hours ago, GrimReaper said:

I'm sure the Devs would be interested in finding out what issues you've encountered. 

Hello,

Thank you for your suggestion to reach out to the developers regarding the issues I encountered in the beta release. I appreciate your guidance.

I wanted to clarify that my intention in trying out the beta release was to explore the new design and interface of the Emby web client. With a significant library of music, shows, and movies, and an already stable server operating on my Windows 11 laptop with multiple users accessing it, I conducted the testing in various ways. I initially used the Docker Container Method, which worked well. Subsequently, I attempted running the beta release outside of Docker by directly running EmberServer.exe from the extracted archive downloaded from GitHub. This involved running two servers simultaneously after changing ports, as a workaround to see the new interface. I also copied the ProgramData folder from the stable server to expedite the setup process, considering its substantial size of approximately 5 GB.

Once set up, I had the opportunity to compare the stable and beta versions side by side in separate browser tabs. The beta web client's interface left me quite satisfied, but upon closer examination, I identified a few issues that I believe need attention:

1. Library Scanning and Display Issue (Main Issue): When I added new media files, particularly MP3 files with comprehensive tags, cover art, and embedded synced lyrics, I noticed a problem in the library scanning for music. In my regular server, the scanning process works as expected, and the cover image is displayed correctly in the album view. However, in the beta server, the image wasn't showing up. Interestingly, the image was visible when playing the music, but not when viewing the album section. This inconsistency negatively affected the music experience. It's worth noting that this issue didn't appear with the previously added songs, possibly due to the copied ProgramData from the stable server.

2. Scrollbar Absence During Library Addition (Possibly Important): While adding a new library, I observed that the folder choosing view lacked a scrollbar. Although this isn't a major issue since folders can be added manually, it might be worth addressing for a smoother user experience.

3. Synced Lyrics Highlighting (Less Important): I deeply appreciate Emby's support for embedded lyrics and synced lyrics. However, while viewing synced lyrics and clicking on a line, the line plays as expected but is not highlighted with a white color. While this might be a minor concern, it contributes to the overall user experience.

Considering these concerns, I reverted to using the Stable release due to the issues I encountered in the beta release. I hope this feedback proves helpful in further improving Emby's already impressive platform. I understand that perfecting functionality and design can be complex, and I genuinely appreciate the Emby team's dedication to this endeavor.

Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to contributing to the ongoing discussions and improvements within the Emby community.

Best regards,
ardinesh

[Luke 42083]

Hi, thanks for your feedback!

 Your built in web app will match what you see on  app.emby.media as soon as the 4.8 release goes stable.

 What 4.8 version did you try?

[ardinesh 29]

41 minutes ago, Luke said:

Hi, thanks for your feedback!

 Your built in web app will match what you see on  app.emby.media as soon as the 4.8 release goes stable.

 What 4.8 version did you try?

Hello Luke,

Thank you very much for your response and for taking my feedback into consideration. I'm truly glad to hear that the built-in Emby web app will eventually match the design and user interface of app.emby.media. This is definitely exciting news for Emby users who appreciate the user experience enhancements.

In my testing, I tried out the latest beta version, specifically 4.8.0.43. However, I also explored the previous version, 4.8.0.39-beta, which I found to be better in terms of functionality, particularly regarding the issues I mentioned earlier (library scanning, missing scrollbar, and synced lyrics highlighting). However, while it excelled in these areas, some of the UI aspects that impressed me on app.emby.media were still absent, leading me to revert back to the stable version.

Your assurance that the upcoming stable release of Emby Server 4.8 will include the new design elements and improved UI functionality is fantastic news. I'm eagerly looking forward to having the best of both worlds: a visually appealing UI with enhanced functionality. Could you provide any insights into the timeline for the 4.8 stable release? Your response has heightened my anticipation, and I'm sure many users in the Emby community share this sentiment.

Once again, I deeply appreciate your engagement and the dedication of the Emby Team to continually enhance the Emby experience for all of us. Thank you for your time and the valuable work you do.

Best regards,
ardinesh

[Luke 42083]

Quote

Scrollbar Absence During Library Addition (Possibly Important): While adding a new library, I observed that the folder choosing view lacked a scrollbar. Although this isn't a major issue since folders can be added manually, it might be worth addressing for a smoother user experience.

Resolved for next build. Thanks. I'll look at the other two.

[Luke 42083]

The lyrics highlight appears to be working just fine for me though.

[ardinesh 29]

14 hours ago, Luke said:

The lyrics highlight appears to be working just fine for me though.

Hello Luke,

I wanted to extend my sincere gratitude to you and the entire Emby team for your proactive approach in addressing the issues I encountered. It's truly heartening to see how dedicated you all are to creating an exceptional user experience and responding to user feedback.

I'm thrilled to learn that the issue regarding the absent scrollbar has been resolved. Your swift action speaks volumes about your commitment to improving the platform.

Regarding the lyrics highlighting issue, I understand that you haven't encountered the same problem on your end. Allow me to elaborate on the scenario I've been facing. In my usage, I've observed that when I click on a line of synced lyrics within an MP3 file (which Emby impressively displays), the playback position advances as expected. However, the line itself isn't highlighted with the characteristic white color. This, though seemingly small, impacts the overall user experience. Curiously, the text does become highlighted with the white color when the time for the next line approaches or when I click on empty space. This issue seems to be present not only in the current beta (4.8.0.43) but also in Emby for Android 3.3.27. I hope this description provides a clear picture of the concern.

Additionally, I've encountered a new issue with the user sign-out behavior in both Android and Emby web client 4.8.0.43-beta. Unlike the stable release (4.7.14), where signing out required re-logging in, the current behavior allows users to return to the app without needing to log in again by simply pressing the back button in Android or the web browser (Chrome or Edge). This behavior persists until a refresh or reopening of the app. I believe this unintended behavior might need attention.

In terms of Android, I'd like to suggest an enhancement for synced lyrics. Could the app be designed to prevent the device screen from locking or going to sleep? This would elevate the synced lyrics experience by eliminating the need to frequently wake up the device. On a related note, I encountered a UI issue in the Android music player. The mini audio player on the bottom bar, particularly with multiple artists, is displayed in a rather peculiar manner. I've attached a screenshot to help illustrate this concern.

Once again, I'm immensely appreciative of your engagement and responsiveness. Your dedication is inspiring, and I'm enthusiastic about the direction Emby is taking. Thank you for considering my feedback and for your continuous efforts to enhance the Emby experience for all of us.

Best regards,
ardinesh

[Luke 42083]

Hi, we’ll take a look at those. Thanks for reporting.