ADvantage.VLC:Sky - Beta Preview

[Spyme]

Update 27.01.2011: Beta (0.98) is out!

Download: Here or Here

Please report all Bugs and sugestions in this thread.
Mask can be like this:
[OS]: Windows 7 64bit
[VLC-Version]: 1.1.0
[Bug/Message]: Type your message here.

Known Issues:

• No Equalizer window
• missing volume slider on fullscreen controller
• missing save button on the playlist

Recent Changes:

• 27/01/11 -skin is ready for VLC 1.2 -fullscreen controller works now like the native one (0.98)
• 27/01/11 -some controls fixed (0.98)
• 27/01/11 -more tooltips added (0.98)
• 27/01/11 -added english playlist (0.98)
• 27/01/11 -language fixes for both german and english version (0.98)
• 06/07/10 -added English language support (0.95)
• 06/07/10 -added a language switcher between german and english (0.95)
• 06/07/10 -a DVD root menu button has arrived, if you play a DVD, simply cklick the home icon to go to the root menu of your DVD (0.95)
• 06/07/10 -menu entrys should have the correct function for their unskinned VLC eqivalent, if some other menu is opened, the original menu isn´t available to skins (0.95)
• 04/07/10 -changed overal font -since 0.9
• 04/07/10 -added add,remove,random,repeat and sort button to the playlist - since 0.9
• 04/07/10 -added the fullscreen controller (press i or middle mouse button in fullscreen mode) since 0.85
• 03/07/10 -added Cover-Art functionality -since 0.85
• added a german/english switcher for texts -comming in 1.0 RC

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Feature Page and Download: http://www.visual-district.de/advantage_vlc_theme.html
Alternate Download and Preview: http://spyme.deviantart.com/art/Advanta ... spyme&qo=0

I dont know about the release date yet, so remember on "When it´s done(tm)".

Watch this Topic for Changes, i´ll upgrade it frequently.

Thanks for Feedback
/Spyme

[3breadt]

Looks nice, but note that the playlist columns name, date etc. will not be possible as the skinned playlist does only show the title of playlist items.

[Spyme]

Thats weird, maybe there is a chance to get this working with LUA. At first, i have to check the circumstances before i give up some Ideas
And also, i worked on the animated Icons today, got a bunch of them into the prototype. But since the engine can´t play them only once a time,
i increase the frames to something around ~40fps, this hopefully get them smoother and more detailed.

[3breadt]

I don't think that you can use LUA with skins.

[CloudStalker]

It's a nice and sleek look, CloudStalker approves. This remind CloudStalker, he has got to get back to working on his half-completed skin one of these days.

[Spyme]

Decided to revive the skin-project and have done some work. You can see the full update on deviantart: http://spyme.deviantart.com/art/Advanta ... -153859959

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

WANT!

[Spyme]

Thank you. And don´t stop my creative spree with the words "it´s impossible". The right words are "planned for 1.0.X.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Well, it is doable with CSS on the Qt interface.

[Spyme]

So, we are almost there...

Actual preview should cover most of all elements. While i build the first Alpha Build in the next days, comments would be fine. I want to hold the most elements native (no sci-fi-alien-amazing-brushed-orbs) and if there is something that can be improved, please tell me before most stuff are done.

Well, it is doable with CSS on the Qt interface.

CSS means Cascading Style Sheets i think? Are there XSLT features too?
It would be fine, if you can post 1 or 2 links for Docs using CSS for QT4. (doesnt found docs on their site :/).

Some other questions:

- Can i use semi-transparent PNGs unitl now?
- Is the font rendering done by VLCs freetypelib in every case or is there a chance that ClearType2 / GDI++ is used, based on the OS?
- OTF usage in the Skin-Editor?

Thanks

[3breadt]

Semi-transparent images work on some controls. There is a thread about that somewhere. I haven't yet updated the skin editor to show them as they appear in latest VLC.
Font rendering in skins2 is always done with libfreetype afaik.
OTF can not be previewed in the skin editor with the latest stable Java Runtime Environment (6). Although if you really need it, you can install a Java 7 beta Runtime Environment, there OTF fonts work. (At least the last time I checked)

[rtjwilde]

Very nice indeed. Excellent.

[Spyme]

Thank you. I planned to release the skin with the 1.0.6 player release.

[Spyme]

First Beta is out. Read the entry post of this thread.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

WANT.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

So, you've released it?

[Spyme]

Yes, submitted it yesterday. But it´s still in last beta stage, so equalizer isn´t build in yet. All other features should work. I hopfully get the time, to update the full version with equalizer support soon.

[dephekt]

I wanted to suggest possibly making the "Audio" and "Video" settings buttons on the menu bar grayed out when no video or audio file is currently selected/loaded in VLC. After installing the skin, I first thought the buttons were not working, because I was clicking "Audio" and "Video" and nothing was happening. After I thought about it for a minute, it made sense, since I had no file loaded, but just as a UI pet peeve, buttons that can't function because some condition hasn't occurred shouldn't look like they will.

Another thing I noticed is that occasionally, the selected skin language is not being inherited on all parts of the UI. For example, if you open VLC and change the language to English using the UK flag, then mouse-over the Playlist button, the tooltip that appears is still in German. Another example would be the mute and un-mute mouse-over tooltips; both of them are still in German after a language change to English. I found those just on my initial use of the skin, so there may be other instances.

It also seems like the use of tooltips is a little inconsistent. For example, there's a mouse-over tooltip for the Playlist button, but nothing explaining the Fullscreen or Equalizer buttons besides the context of the button icon. I think if the buttons look equally (un)ambiguous, then either tooltip all of them or none of them, as long as you're being consistent throughout.

Another translation issue I found was when the main UI is set to English, opening the Playlist results in an entirely German playlist and I could find no discreet playlist language options to change it.

Just my opinions, by the way. Since it's still beta I figured you would want as much constructive criticism as possible.

Outside of those concerns, everything else looks great

[3breadt]

At the moment (VLC 1.1.4) tooltips and other texts in skins cannot adapt to the user language.

[Spyme]

Thanks for your feedback. As altglas described, tooltips in skins are not the same as within the native player. I allready filled a feature request for this. I´ll take a look at the playlist and whats wrong with it. I will also check for inactive menu bar entrys.

[jamba]

excuse me , I didn't understand if you can change language with VLC, because I don't speak english very good, but however if you can, help me and answer me soon please !!