Guest asrequested Posted June 26, 2018 Posted June 26, 2018 I've wondered about this for a long time. Why are the apps so dissimilar? Yes, it's gotten better, but they are still worlds apart. Even the basic things are different, like icons. Why is there not a standard set of icons that are used in every app? The difference between the PC apps and Android are huge. It's like an entirely different company is developing them. When I switch between those apps, it's like learning a new language. The icons are totally different. I expect differences but this just seems so far beyond that. 3
arche 177 Posted June 26, 2018 Posted June 26, 2018 (edited) I agree, I figured I would just wait until server was further along and more stable before asking about getting the apps caught up visually and some kind of uniformity. I mean Emby in Google Play store is still showing screenshots from Media Browser days and the information has been lacking. But again, I am a patient person and figured I would just wait until server is more stable (not perfect, but at least more stable) before asking for the devs to catch up on the apps. Fixing bugs for me is the most important at the moment without the extras at this time. But I see they're slowly making strides to get it stable. Luckily for me, its mostly functional and most of my users are happy. But by the end of the year, I would hope server is stable and the apps might need to be revamped from the ground up, one at a time. If I have to donate to hire a temp third party dev to help revamp the app, I am up for it. Just my one penny thought.. Edited June 26, 2018 by arche
Waldonnis 148 Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 I can understand why some (often major) differences would have to exist. For instance, you can't apply all of the same design principles to a 10' interface that you would use for a web or phone client. That would end with one or the other looking rather silly Also, every platform has its limitations and quirks. You can do some things on Android TV that you could never do on a Roku because of differences in the OSes and APIs involved...and some things possible on those two wouldn't be on a given TV manufacturer's OS (for native clients on those). One could say just design to the lowest common denominator in those cases, but why limit all platforms' presentations because 1-2 can't do something? That's not to say that I don't think more consistency would be great, but I can understand the challenges involved in trying to get there. I also think that enhancing presentation where you can platform-wise is probably the way I would go as well if I were writing the clients.
Guest asrequested Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 Valid points, and so it makes sense to keep like devices, similar/same. And I'm not even including the nibbled fruit. They've proven terrible on all counts. And of course different brands/OSs will have things that are they're own style. So let's pick an example. I'll use the TV devices that I have. Android TV and Theater. They are almost nothing alike.
Jdiesel 1431 Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku all have their own design guidelines which need to be followed in order to have to app approved on their app stores. https://developer.android.com/design/tv/ https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/tvos/overview/themes/ https://sdkdocs.roku.com/plugins/servlet/mobile#content/view/4265438
Guest asrequested Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 That stuff seems very general and doesn't really mention anything to do with what I'm referring to. And they seem to be guidelines as opposed to strict criteria. There's nothing about choice of icon or what it should look like in the app, itself. The OS will have it's own general design, everything else seems to be up for grabs. Otherwise all the apps would look the same. I'm sure the plex app and emby app don't look the same.
Luke 42077 Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 I think Android TV and Roku are the two that stand out as being very different. The others should all be pretty close at this point.
Guest asrequested Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 I think Android TV and Roku are the two that stand out as being very different. The others should all be pretty close at this point. I don't have a roku, so I can't speak for that, but Theater and Android TV are worlds apart.
Spaceboy 2573 Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 I don't have a roku, so I can't speak for that, but Theater and Android TV are worlds apart. and hurrah for that. i don't think you'll find (m)any ATV users that prefer the theater interface. 1
CBers 7450 Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 I don't have a roku, so I can't speak for that, but Theater and Android TV are worlds apart. The vertical display in ET is very similar to the ATV app. Everyone knows I prefer the ATV app, but with the ET vertical display, it's a close 2nd. 2
Guest asrequested Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 The vertical display in ET is very similar to the ATV app. Everyone knows I prefer the ATV app, but with the ET vertical display, it's a close 2nd. I don't think it is. I find there's very little symmetry. But it looks like this is what's wanted. That would explain it.
Luke 42077 Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 The vertical home screens are similar but where they differ are things like spacing, poster presentations, etc.
Guest asrequested Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 It's amazing to me that I'm the only one that sees the differences. Maybe I have a little OCD lol
CBers 7450 Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 It's amazing to me that I'm the only one that sees the differences. Maybe I have a little OCD lol
Guest asrequested Posted June 27, 2018 Posted June 27, 2018 (edited) Lol.. I know, right? I should start taking the pills, again Edited June 27, 2018 by Doofus 1
ebr 16169 Posted June 28, 2018 Posted June 28, 2018 There is a good reason that just about every streaming box/service has adopted the same basic UI paradigm (the one we use in our TV apps save Theater) - it is simple and easy to navigate with a remote and is easily understood by just about everyone. Our TV apps are designed around this basic layout for this reason but also because they all use standard framework and UI components of the platform upon which they run. Theater, by contrast was designed as a clean slate and was formed around a UI principle originally implemented by MS in the XBox. This design, therefore, resonates with MS-centric users and HTPC enthusiasts but would be totally unfamiliar on a device like an Apple or even Android TV. Now, when it comes to icons and menu options and things like that, you are correct - we could do a much better job of standardizing these. One of the issues we've had with that is actually technical though. The mobile and theater apps use vector-based and even font-based icons in many areas and those are simply not available on all the other platforms. We should strive to overcome this though and get more standardization there.
Guest asrequested Posted June 28, 2018 Posted June 28, 2018 That makes sense, and I would imagine they are more widely used. I just odd to me why there was such a big difference.
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