Android TV - UP for Backdrop

[GrimReaper 4740]

As it is atm, once an item is selected, Info page is shown with "Play" (or "Play Next Up") button in focus.

If UP is pressed on the controller, one of the following happens:

1. If Pre-Playback Media Selection is enabled in settings, it takes you there

2. If synopsis is too long to fit in Info page, it takes you there

3. If neither 1. or 2. - NOTHING happens (same as if you continue to press UP after 1. or 2.), which is exactly what happens with most of my media.

Since I've seen numerous posts for more backdrops to be shown (I'm a sucker for them as well and particularly picky, I could literally sit in front of a good backdrop and stare at it indefinitely), why not make the highest-level UP keypress command to show backdrop only (or alternatively keep the Play buttons row with "Play" button in focus at the bottom)? By that I mean slide all the info (name, genre, synopsis, poster, clearlogo...) off the screen and have pure backdrop shown? I reckon it would look amazing, and besides, it's not like that UP keypress is used for anything else?

Cheers.

Edited April 26, 2019 by GrimReaper76

[CBers 7450]

As long as no other functionality is removed and this only functions when the final UP is pressed, ie. after all the other functionality is performed, then it sounds like a good idea.

 

You could at that point, then use left and right to see the next/previous backdrops, or just leave it to auto-rotate.

[maegibbons 1287]

As long as no other functionality is removed and this only functions when the final UP is pressed, ie. after all the other functionality is performed, then it sounds like a good idea.

 

You could at that point, then use left and right to see the next/previous backdrops, or just leave it to auto-rotate.

Agree with everything you have said!

 

Krs

 

Mark

[ebr 16182]

My first question would be why would a brand new user expect that to happen?  The navigational arrows are navigating you to elements on the screen that you can interact with.  When there are no more elements in the direction you are trying to go, then nothing happens.

[GrimReaper 4740]

My first question would be why would a brand new user expect that to happen? The navigational arrows are navigating you to elements on the screen that you can interact with. When there are no more elements in the direction you are trying to go, then nothing happens.

Well, I guess brand new user will likely be trying to explore and find their way around the app, from basic to advanced things/commands:

"Aha, Up takes me there... Aha, down takes me there... Aha, long press does this... "

So, I reckon it's as likely as not he/she would find this option as well. I'm quite sure more likely than long press on poster, for example.

 

Cheers

[ebr 16182]

My concern is, they try to go up and things disappear and then they say "WTH just happened..." because that would be quite unexpected.

 

BTW - long pressing to get a menu of further actions is an established paradigm both with touch and the TV.  Try it on your device home screen...

[GrimReaper 4740]

My concern is, they try to go up and things disappear and then they say "WTH just happened..." because that would be quite unexpected.

Hence the alternative option was to leave Commands button row (Play, Trailers, Watched etc...) on the bottom, so the page wouldn't be quite blank and create confusion, one would still get Play button in focus.

 

BTW - I WAS relating to that particular long press, would be interesting to make a poll and see how many ppl actually use it against single click to get into the item itself.

 

Cheers

[ebr 16182]

 would be interesting to make a poll and see how many ppl actually use it against single click to get into the item itself.

 

I can already tell you - very, very few people use any advanced feature.

[GrimReaper 4740]

I can already tell you - very, very few people use any advanced feature.

You read my mind.

And I'm positive ANYONE would find out Up for Backdrop inside first 10 minutes using ATV app - first or second time time they scroll Down for Cast/Crew etc and then back up.

[CBers 7450]

If only everything in the app was documented

[ebr 16182]

Oh, I know they'll find it.  That's my point.  The behavior will be unexpected.  There is no logical connection between trying to navigate further up on the screen and having some of the items disappear instead...

[GrimReaper 4740]

Oh, I know they'll find it. That's my point. The behavior will be unexpected. There is no logical connection between trying to navigate further up on the screen and having some of the items disappear instead...

Depends how you look at it, once you're a level or two down (Cast/Crew etc) you DO expect it to go off the screen when you press Up. Same logic.

[ebr 16182]

Depends how you look at it, once you're a level or two down (Cast/Crew etc) you DO expect it to go off the screen when you press Up. Same logic.

 

Sorry, that's not the same.  There are other items to navigate to and you are going there in that instance.

[CBers 7450]

Oh, I know they'll find it. That's my point. The behavior will be unexpected. There is no logical connection between trying to navigate further up on the screen and having some of the items disappear instead...

That's the whole point, you need to discover how things work in lieu of documentation.

 

There are still long-term users here that don't know about the UP operation, even though it's been in the app for ages.

 

It doesn't have to be intuitive, just functional.

 

You worry more about new users discovering functionality, then adding something when it is requested by long-term users to make their experience better.

 

OK, some suggestions are stupid, but the majority aren't.

[GrimReaper 4740]

Sorry, that's not the same. There are other items to navigate to and you are going there in that instance.

We agree to disagree.

That's why we do share our opinions and suggestions here. I still think that would be a nice addition to have and wouldn't impact any other functionality (and if one stumbles there by scrolling Up - it ain't rocket science to figure out that opposite, Down, is the way to go back to where one was before) but ultimately it is your decision whether to implement it or not.

 

Cheers