softworkz 5065 Posted September 7, 2024 Posted September 7, 2024 (edited) This topic describes the added and updated features which are available in the new Windows and Xbox apps. NOTE: This topic is locked. Please create a new topic for any questions. Edited September 4, 2025 by softworkz 5
softworkz 5065 Posted September 7, 2024 Author Posted September 7, 2024 (edited) Startup Animation EmbyStartAnimFlat.mp4 Why it Exists It had turned out that it takes a number of seconds until the web app environment is initialized and ready for the actual startup process which takes another few seconds until the app is ready for use. This cannot be accelerated, so the only option was to cover that time span with something visual. Showing a spinner is always the worst option for those situations because it doesn't provide any indication about progress, so you're unable to see how much time is still remaining (that's why spinners are typically used for cases when the duration is unknown). A progress bar can be followed and indicates the remaining amount of time, but too often those are used in a way that progress stops at 90 or 95% for much longer than it should, so nobody trusts them anymore these days. The start animation in turn has a fixed duration and once it's finished, the app is (almost, like 99.9%) guaranteed to be ready. The predictability of it makes it subjectively feel faster than a spinner or a static logo display. Can the animation be disabled? There's a "Hide" button at the bottom right which allows you to hide the animation and see what's behind. On fast systems and when you're already logged into to a specific server, you may gain 2 seconds by doing so, but no more and at the cost of seeing some ugly display changes. And not always. Applies To Windows App Xbox App Edited September 7, 2024 by softworkz 3
softworkz 5065 Posted September 7, 2024 Author Posted September 7, 2024 Windows Theme The new Windows app includes a new and exclusive theme: "Windows" WinTheme Overview.mp4 Features Fully adheres to the latest Windows design guidelines: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/design/ Uses outlined icons Uses the "Segoe UI Variable" font Precisely resembles Windows UI elements down to the pixel level Precisely resembles Windws UI coloring and dynamically adapts to changes at the OS level Follows Windows theme settings for applications (light/dark) Follows Windows accent color setting Allows overriding the Windows theme (light/dark) for the app specifically Uses original Windows application background materials On Windows 11 and later: Mica Material On Windows 10: Background Acrylic Supports Windows High Contrast Themes Adaptive logo display (left top) Large when sidebar visible Icon-only when sidebar is minimized Small when no sidebar and during video playback to save screen estate Rotating icon while wait cursor (spinner) is shown Dual Color Mode When light theme is active and the app changes to dark background for showing backdrops, the sidebar remains to have a light background Dropdown popups are positioned according to Windows guidelines View options and filters are shown as panel (right aligned) rathern than as dialogs In-app dialogs have the same appearance like Windows dialogs Cards are shown as integral elements (all captions are inside the card borders) Color intensity effect for card hovering Intuiitive control of sidebar appearance (show, hide, mini) Improved keyboard navigation with focus indicators following Windows guidelines Brightness attentuation setting in theme settings Rounded-corner appearance for main layout and video playback in windowed mode (like latest MS Edge browser) How to... ...enable the Windows Theme? Go to Settings (Gear icon), in the left sidebar choose "Display", find setting "Theme" and select "Windows" ...override the Windows (dark/light) theme for this app only? Go to Settings (Gear icon), in the left sidebar choose "Display", find setting "Theme" and make sure that "Windows" is select. Then hit the "Theme Settings" buttons below and use the options to select an override mode Note: Changing this setting requires a restart of the app Applies To Windows App (exclusively) 5
softworkz 5065 Posted September 7, 2024 Author Posted September 7, 2024 Brightness Attentuation The new Windows app has a brightness attentuation control which allows to reduce the brightness of UI elements without affecting the colors and brightness of video playback. This feature is the first of its kind in Emby, meant to test what can be done in this area. For technical reasons this is currently limited to the Windows theme only! BrightnessAttentuation.mp4 How to... ...enable the brightness attentuation feature? Go to Settings (Gear icon), in the left sidebar choose "Display", find setting "Theme" and make sure that "Windows" is select. Then hit the "Theme Settings" buttons below and use the dropdown selection to control the brightness attentuation strength Notes: Changes are applied instantly; "Minimal" attentuation is very subtle Applies To Windows App with Windows theme enabled 4
softworkz 5065 Posted September 7, 2024 Author Posted September 7, 2024 Display Control: Refresh Rate and HDR Mode Switching The new Windows and Xbox apps include an entirely new component for controlling display refresh rates and automatic switching of HDR enablement. Display-Control.mp4 Features Detects GPUs, connected displays and the connection type Detects possible refresh rates for each connection (depends on GPU capabilities, display capabilities, connection type, current resolution, current color mode) Detects availability of HDR mode for each connection Detects the display on which the Emby app is currently being shown (Windows app only) Dynamically updates the settings view when changes are made to OS settings or displays are connected/disconnected Allow manual switching of refresh rate and HDR mode (three-dot menu) Automatic switching of refresh rate and HDR mode on playback start can be enabled independently and separately for each display This will only be applied to the display on which the app is currently shown Revertion of refresh rate and HDR mode on playback stop can be disabled to reduce display mode changes (which can take a few seconds) How to... ...access the Display Control settings? Go to Settings (Gear icon), in the left sidebar choose "Display Control" Applies To Windows App Xbox App 4 1
softworkz 5065 Posted September 7, 2024 Author Posted September 7, 2024 Enhanced Gamepad Support Support for gamepad input has been significantly updated. On the technical side, unnecessary power drain is avoided and the reliability of key input detection has been improved. Functionally, mappings have been extended, allowing to control more things with game pad buttons. The new settings UI serves two purposes: It provides an overview over the functions assigned to individual gamepad buttons and sticks It allows to test all controls as to whether they are recognized by the app Emby_Enhanced_Gamepad_Support.mp4 How to... ...access the game pad settings view? Go to Settings (Gear icon), in the sidebar choose "Game Pad" Applies To Windows App Xbox App 4
softworkz 5065 Posted September 7, 2024 Author Posted September 7, 2024 Enhanced Remote Control Support Support for remote control input has been extended. More button mappings are supported, including all buttons found on classic Windows Media Center remotes (Windows app). The Xbox app supports a smaller set of RC buttons only. The new settings UI allows to test all remote control buttons as to whether they are recognized by the app Emby_Enhanced_RemoteControl_Support.mp4 How to... ...access the remote control settings view? Go to Settings (Gear icon), in the sidebar choose "Remote Control" Applies To Windows App Xbox App (subset of RC buttons) 3
softworkz 5065 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Posted September 8, 2024 Accessibility Features: Hight Contrast Theme and Keyboard Navigation The new Windows app is the first Emby client app, providing accessibility features for user interaction, specifically: Support for Windows High Contrast themes Enhanced support for keyboard navigation in desktop (non-TV) mode Proper drawing of item focus indicators according to the Windows UI guidelines Improved navigation with arrow keys (sometimes the use of TAB or SHIFT+TAB is required, which is normal though for Windows applications) . Emby_High_Contrast_Themel_Support.mp4 Prerequisites The "Windows" theme must be enabled in the Emby app No app theme override (dark/light) may be configured (see the "Windows Theme" post above) How to... ...enable a high contrrast theme for the Emby app? Prerequisites need to be fulfilled, then the app will automatically follow the OS level theme settings (including high contrast themes) Applies To Windows App 3
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