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Hi.
I believe that good HTPC software should have interface based on only 6 keys: 4 directional keys, select and back. Any feature the software support should be activated by navigating to a screen button or menu item. Even though it is possible to customize any remote control to use other keys, remember each key function and action in each software and screen is very confusing.
I'm using XBMC with PM3 skin, and though many features can be accessed using 6 keys only, there are still other functions that you can't reach that way (exit visualization, music context menu, all the "green", "white" buttons and so on).
Do you know about any skin that was built on the 6-keys concept?
Thanks.
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Hi there, and welcome to the forums.
It's a keymapping issue rather than a skin issue. You can remedy much of this by altering keymap.xml, and obviously any suggestions in this regard are more than welcome!
I think you'll find that six buttons isn't enough as it currently is, though you can get close. I think it should be possible with 2 "select" buttons available currently (you need one for the context menu.)
Cheers,
Jonathan
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Hi Jmarshall,
Thanks for your reply. I think I was not clear in my post.
Of course I can map 2 more keys in my remote as workaround. However, doing this for each of the 4 or 5 applications I use in my HTPC, with each application has it own several different screens, result in a total confuse: It is hard to remember what exactly any button does in a each screen of any application. Now I'm in the photo slideshow screen - what was the button to zoom in? to see photo info? to go back to the menu?
Take a look at SesavTV frontend as example: Every feature (it doesn't have so much) can be accessed by navigating a cursor on the screen. In terms of UI it is far more intuitive then XBMC. Back to the slideshow example, if pressing "select" will pop up 4 small buttons on the screen corner (zoom in, out, back, etc) it will be much better then trying to figure which remote key was assigned for these actions.
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Ok, maybe I will do it.
Do you know any other applications that was designed with this "6 buttons concept" in mind? For example, I really interested in file browser (like windows explorer) that can be operated using 6 keys only.
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I'm not sure of the specific number of buttons, but I agree with the OP's sentiment of wanting a skin that is intuitive for the whole family to use. I currently use the xTV skin, and I love it, but there are a few things that require pushing other buttons, which is not intuitve, IMO. I don't really see any reason why a skin like this couldn't be adapted (assuming it's possible within the skinning program model) to work more like a TiVo, for example. So, in addition to highlighting the "Movies" item on the home screen and "selecting" it, I could highlight it and navigate right to select and dig-down into the Movies section. When I find a movie I want and select (or navigate right), I would like it to bring up the Movie info screen, providing additional details and options, rather than having to press the "Title" key on my remote to do that.
