mjp14:

Portal45:

3) I agree I just didnt have time to fix this.  The next version will not display the calendar.  I'm thinking of a graphic of some sort indicating a bad login.

4) What do you think of the operation of the padding?  If people like it, I was going to add settings for 'Show Last Years Months' and 'Show Next Years Months' with a configureable time scale.  (terminology is off the top of my head)

6) Do you mean the currently selected day, or 'Today'.   The image you posted looks like the currently selected day is highlighted.  The number of 'Today' is actually colored yellow but it is quite hard to see. So, that will change. Im just trying to narrow down this issue as I saw something similar on my extender last night.

Bug:

1) I found that last night to.  I think I once had a key handler for backspace in there but took out the functionality.  There might be some lingering code that should go away. Next release.

Thanks for the input!  I would say Wed for a new release....

3. I don't think you need to even take it as far as a graphic. It could be text centered where the calendar is (or overlayed) inidicating the user is not logged in.

4. Sorry, forgot to comment on that. I actually like the layout you have it in. I also like your suggestion of having previous/upcoming months configurable.

6. To put it simply, I was thinking that when the calendar loaded, "Today" would be automatically highlighted, and therefore "Today's" events would automatically be listed to the right under "Events". If you can do this, then I think the yellow might be fine to leave (although it is rather dim/light when not highlighted).

Also, I had another idea. What do you think about creating a context menu ("i"/"more" button on remote) that allowed for quick access to certain features. Here are a few things that could be placed there:

1. "Today" -- Press "i"/"more" and choose "today" to jump back to the current day very quickly.
2. "Month View/Week View" -- When/if you add the ability to view weekly schedules, then the the context menu would be a quick way for the user to toggle those views. This would be very similar to the "view small/view large" toggle under Media Center's Picture Library. 
3. "Settings" -- App settings could be quickly accessed here as well, or the regular settings could be totally migrated here. It would keep the interface/settings in sync with the rest of media center as well.

Thanks!

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-P45

Portal45:

6)The next version will bring you to 'Today' thus displaying the current days events upon loading.

 I def like the idea of a context menu.  Using the 'i' button would be the best option, but to my knowledge Microsoft has not exposed that functionality for addins.  I think MyTV might use it (so there is a work around), but I'm not familiar on how to do it.  I will do more research and see.  If anyone knows of a good reference source feel free to jump in. 

I'm thinking of something like this for the context menu:

Week View/Month View (depending on which is the current view)

Today

Modify Events (of currently selected day; this will be an eventual feature)

Settings

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Google Calendar Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mcgooglecalendarbeta/

Song Lyrics Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mclyrics/

How about an Agenda view

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~Mark
nMediaPC 200BA HTPC | Dual Core Pentium D 830 3GHz | 4gb DDR2 800 | Vista Ultimate TVP|
Nvidia 8500GT | 2x400GB Sata | 1x750 GB eSata | PVR150 | A180 | HVR-1600 | HVR-1800 | 2 x DMA-2100

mjp14 -- The only resource I am familiar with is Media Center Sandbox. I only know of that one b/c moderators frequently direct questions from developers to this site.

I like the "Modify Events" suggestion for the context menu a lot.

I also forgot to mention that I just purchased a Linksys dma2200, so I'll try and provide feedback on the extender front as well.

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-P45

portal45:

mjp14 -- The only resource I am familiar with is Media Center Sandbox. I only know of that one b/c moderators frequently direct questions from developers to this site.

I like the "Modify Events" suggestion for the context menu a lot.

I also forgot to mention that I just purchased a Linksys dma2200, so I'll try and provide feedback on the extender front as well.

I have a 2100 and the only thing that I've noticed is that the days do not return to the un-focused state when you move around the calendar.  I'm looking into a fix.  Anyone else let me know if there are any other extender issues.

---

Google Calendar Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mcgooglecalendarbeta/

Song Lyrics Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mclyrics/

new version available.... V0.0.2.0

http://code.google.com/p/mcgooglecalendarbeta/

 

Changes:

1) added assembly version on settings page

2) added support for all types of reoccurring events (daily, weekly, week days...etc) 

3) reformatted start/end times text.  ex) 10a - 11:30a    OR 1:30p - 2p

4) calendar now 'jumps' to today, when it loads.  Thus, displaying today's events

5) fixed backspace not working when a day is focused

6) added 'login failed' message on calendar view when login is unsuccessful

7) minor UI changes

 

Keep me posted on issues.  Next version will be focused on adding user customizable settings.

---

Google Calendar Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mcgooglecalendarbeta/

Song Lyrics Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mclyrics/

Looks great!

2 comments

1. days still remain white when not in focus on my PC and extender. They do default back to the light blue when changing months

2. Might it be possible to have the day details brought up in a seperate window. Reason is with full a day items are wrapping and it makes it hard to read . Or maybe some kind of seperator between items. Maybe even make the time frames a different color

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~Mark
nMediaPC 200BA HTPC | Dual Core Pentium D 830 3GHz | 4gb DDR2 800 | Vista Ultimate TVP|
Nvidia 8500GT | 2x400GB Sata | 1x750 GB eSata | PVR150 | A180 | HVR-1600 | HVR-1800 | 2 x DMA-2100

mpjbell:

Looks great!

2 comments

1. days still remain white when not in focus on my PC and extender. They do default back to the light blue when changing months

2. Might it be possible to have the day details brought up in a seperate window. Reason is with full a day items are wrapping and it makes it hard to read . Or maybe some kind of seperator between items. Maybe even make the time frames a different color

replies:

1) I know about the extender.  I still have to research that, and Im not at home to debug with my 2100, but you are seeing this behavior on your PC as well?  Anyone else?  Both of my PCs work properly.

2) What screen ratio are you using, 4:3 or 16:9?    There is a bullet indicating each new item, perhaps it needs to be made larger.  A divider line is possible, maybe a user defined setting??  A 'Day' view is planned though, farther down the line..

---

Google Calendar Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mcgooglecalendarbeta/

Song Lyrics Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mclyrics/

Displays are 16:9

Yeah the bullet is a bit small. You can tell when the new line starts by the time frames in parens. I guess its really just the ammount of the appointments text throwing me off. I'm sure it can be lived with if a complete day view is available.

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~Mark
nMediaPC 200BA HTPC | Dual Core Pentium D 830 3GHz | 4gb DDR2 800 | Vista Ultimate TVP|
Nvidia 8500GT | 2x400GB Sata | 1x750 GB eSata | PVR150 | A180 | HVR-1600 | HVR-1800 | 2 x DMA-2100

Awesome! One day ahead of schedule! I'll download tonight and try it out.

Also, you might want to update your original post with the updated information or throw in a couple screen shots. It may help to bring others into the project if they see how far you have gotten.

Thanks again!

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-P45

mjp14:

mpjbell:

2. Might it be possible to have the day details brought up in a seperate window. Reason is with full a day items are wrapping and it makes it hard to read . Or maybe some kind of seperator between items. Maybe even make the time frames a different color

replies:

2) What screen ratio are you using, 4:3 or 16:9?    There is a bullet indicating each new item, perhaps it needs to be made larger.  A divider line is possible, maybe a user defined setting??  A 'Day' view is planned though, farther down the line..

2. If the text size is the issue, then maybe a user defined setting for changing text size should be added in settings?

My 2 cents on the idea of a separate window:

A separate window for the days details actually has some merit in my eyes, IF it can be done in the style of a POP-UP window. This would provide a couple advantages:

1. A pop-up would negate the Events section on the right which would add screen real estate which would in-turn allow for the calendar to be larger which would allow more day to day event text to be shown in each box.
   
2. It would allow the screen to look "cleaner". I actually think it looks good now, but removing the "events" would take away one less thing on the screen and essentially leave the calendar.

The only disadvantage that immediate comes to mind is that the user would have to select (OK) each day they want to see details for, and subsequently dismiss those details to return to the calendar. Having those details just appear w/o any further actions removes two keystrokes.

Comments?

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-P45

portal45, mpjbell:

First, thanks for being so active.  Your input is really helping me.

Second, I completely understand about having a popup style window for the daily events.  My very first version (not released) had this.  There was no events list, as you suggest.  I personally found it cumbersome to continually hit ok/cancel or whatever.  BUT, far be it for ME to decide how YOU like to view your calendar.  Which brings me to my point.  I'm seeing this program having many user customizable features regarding the UI.  One of mine, and many others major complaints about media center is the lack of customization.  Now, I can't change this for the general VMC interface, but I can for programs I write.  The use of a popup window for event views is on the list of user customizable features.  Suggest any/all you would want to see.  I may not be able to do ALL of them, but the more suggestions the more I can determine what users want.  

---

Google Calendar Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mcgooglecalendarbeta/

Song Lyrics Addin

http://code.google.com/p/mclyrics/

mjp14 -- I completely understand where you are coming from with the customization points. I used to be very active with Meedio plug-in devs when I was actually using Meedio/BeyondTV and everyone relished the customizations the plug-ins brought.

Oh, and a new features JUST came to mind. My wife and I have stopped using regular calendars and now just print a month of our Google calendar to place on the fridge. I am not sure how feasible it is, but maybe a "Print" command could be added to the context menu that would print to a predefined printer. For me that would be the HTPC's default which is a shared network printer. I think this feature would be awesome for quick printing updates when needed. Obviously this is a "down the road" feature, and I'm more or less just thinking aloud.

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-P45

Here is an example of a sort of full day http://www.pilgrim.com/downloads/googlecal.jpg

I have a whole seperate menu bar just for your Google Apps :)

Let me tell you my wifes likes being able to just turn on the tv and check her calendar before she even gets out of bed in the morning!

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~Mark
nMediaPC 200BA HTPC | Dual Core Pentium D 830 3GHz | 4gb DDR2 800 | Vista Ultimate TVP|
Nvidia 8500GT | 2x400GB Sata | 1x750 GB eSata | PVR150 | A180 | HVR-1600 | HVR-1800 | 2 x DMA-2100

Mark - Wow, I see what you mean. The text is rather large. If text is reduced in size (via user configurable settings, or otherwise), then the vertical space the events taken up will be reduced. Although, if/when multiple calendars are supported then that extra space will be used.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot Mark. Don't forget that Nana has yoga at 5:15p.

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-P45