[vdr] Re: Enhancing vdr UI usability

[bernd_muc@gmx.de]

At 15:00 03.06.2004 -0400, you wrote:
> On Thu, Jun 03, 2004 at 08:46:18PM +0200, bernd_muc@gmx.de wrote:
> > Personally, I think using the color keys on the remote is a good idea
> > as it saves a lot of unnecessary keystrokes.
>
> Just curious, but do remotes in Europe have coloured buttons on them
> like this?  Here in North America, they do not.  I am just curious to
> know where this concept of coloured "action" buttons came from.
Yes, they do - at least the newer ones. I think the concept was started by 
the broadcasters that offer the videotext service (almost all do). 
Videotext is unknown in the US.

> > Actually I think pressing "OK" to get a menu to select something is
> > more "computer person like" than Klaus's.
>
> As an example, with my Star Choice (Canadian DBS) satellite receiver
> (manufacturer by Motorola), if I bring up the IPG, I move the highlight
> to a program and hit Enter/Ok and it brings up a new screen asking me if
> I want to record the show, etc.  That's the sort of thing I would like
> to see in vdr.
It works the same way in vdr:

Hit the green button (or the menu key and then 1)
Select the prgramm with the arrow keys
Hit the red button and the OK

> It looks like I am alone in my thinking, though.  Had I expected such
> resistance when speaking on this topic, I would not have bothered with
> my original post.
Well - if you don't have the colored keys I can understand you. Maybe you 
can dedicate 4 keys to the colors (red, green, yellow, blue), life will be 
a lot easier.

> > Why? Just hit the green button and then again and you see what's on all
> > channels.
>
> But then I have to select a channel and hit another button (yellow, I
> think) to display the programming on that specific channel.  Compared to
> a scrollable grid like most STBs have, it's awkward.
True - but maybe the calendar plugin solves this problem.

> > I recently used a Sat DTB and the interface for the guide was about
> > the same (without the green key). But Klaus mentioned the calendar
> > plug-in - it might be worth a try.
>
> Ok, now we are getting somewhere...  perhaps the STBs that I am used to
> are very different in operation from the STBs you guys are used to?
I don't know where Klaus got his ideas.

But the grid EPG is known here, too. I actually like that approach better, 
too. :-)

Bernd