XNA Touchscreen Jukebox - What are REQUIRED Features? (see last post)

[nipsmg]

Some of you might remember that i had started a jukebox project a while back that got permanently stalled:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=40692.0


Well.. not anymore.
I've resurrected the project, salvaged the .net 2.0 backend, and have converted and extended a GUI framework from MDX to XNA...  This will be the frontend for the touchscreen jukebox now:

NOTE: There is no release date. 
This is something I'm doing for me on my time.  If I have time to clean it up to make it available for general release, I will.  If you're extra nice to me.. there'll be a better chance of it happening! 

Expect this to be a missioncontrol type project 

Proposed Features:

• Full screen XNA backend (no windows forms controls!)
• Fully Skinnable using XML
• Animations/Particle Effects
• Attract Screens (Now Playing/Newly Added)
• Pre-programmed screen transitions
• Extendable via plugins
• Full MP3, WMA, AAC, and OGG support
• Tag support (reading only for the time being)
• Filtering/Search
• Top 10 songs or Hot Hits section
• On Screen Keyboard

I'm trying to mimc the functionality of ECast or Touchtunes here, I think that should cover a good chunk of it.

I'm to the point that the GUI system works correctly, and have implemented image buttons and full windows-like event models.  I'm nowhere NEAR done, and this is only a demonstration of the interface:

ScreenShot is attached.

Video Link Below
link removed for bandwith concerns, will youtube it in a few days.


Note: this is not the final gui or final gui skin by any means.  It's purely the default skin for the gui that can be changed at will.  The screenshot and video are only a test of the windowing system, the event notifications, and the image buttons (which will make up a good deal of the non-config interface), along with some preliminary testing with compound controls.

[Ken Layton]

You best be very careful with "mimicking Ecast and Touchtunes" (or Rowe or Rockola for that matter). Some of the jukebox stuff pertaining to computers/hard drives/MP3 in a jukebox and/or commercial application is patented by the respective jukebox manufacturers. You would be well advised to make sure you're not violating/infringing patents.

[Space Fractal]

Freebox website have been shutdown once for a year ago or such, due a skin was to close. The skin have been of course removed since.

SilverJuke did the same with making a skin very close to WinCab (when it was named that), but they actuelly got a permission to the last. So here no problemo.

So watch out without haven the permission....

About the plugins: please support JPS (since you wrote it would support plugins).

[nipsmg]

Understood.  I meant that I was looking to have a lot of the functionality of these jukeboxes, not necessarily the look and feel.  These are also very common to every other jukebox app out there (queues or top 10 lists, most popular songs, display of albums, "now playing" screens, etc. ).  I don't plan on mimicking the interface, but it will be completely skinnable and configurable, so I can't control what others do with skin creation, but I would never offer anything for distribution that came close, nor would I condone it.


Also, there would never be a license for a commerical application of this software offered by me.  I'm not even thinking about getting into that mess.

[MameDownUnder]

hey do you need a tester amd any advice?

i have a jukebox at home and i cant find any good touch screen software, i have tried them all and mine gets used at all our friends parties and i have plenty of advice to give


pm me, wouldnt mind bouncing some ideas

[nipsmg]

Quick update:

Nothing exciting or visual, or anything really of interest to anyone but developers:

Updates:
   - Extended framework (interface and abstract class creation)
   - Moved input handling into controls (manager passes input vals to controls)
   - Created CompoundControl base class/Converted Panel object to CompoundControl base
   - Began creation of AlbumPanel class for album selection
   - Added drop-shadow support to framework for GUI controls.
   - 
TODO:
   - Add support for tiling control background. Stretching only implemented.
   - Fix hotspot traveling for Panel control
   - Finish support for Compound Controls
 
  I can make all of these changes, and generate basically the same video I did before, so sorry there's no visual updates.  The good thing is, I abstracted the GUI from the backend pretty well in the old windows forms version of this app (see first post), so once I'm happy with the GUI engine, I should be able to build a working app and get you guys a video VERY, VERY soon.



--Just as a sidenote: Some of this may come very quickly, some not so much.  I have never touched directX or XNA before this project, so I'm learning as I go along.  Some stuff that seems it would be impossible takes 5 seconds, some "easy" stuff has taken days :-/  I guess that's how it goes.

[nipsmg]

Update:

• Toggle Button added to Gui Framework
• Started porting Forms version of GUI to GUI Framework

Most of the code ported right over.  By Monday at the latest I'll have a video of a working prototype of the jukebox with basic functionality (no flashy transitions, non-final skin).  This will have hardcoded control locations, nothing dynamic.  Once I have it working, I'll start with the skinning system.

[Barry Barcrest]

The skin i had was a direct rip off of the latest touchtunes one, somebody told them and they came and shut me down. Not me personally but the person who was hosting for me at the time.

[nipsmg]

Ok, this is a quick and dirty video demo of the jukebox backend and XNA frontend.

It basically just shows that yes, it sorta works.  This is in no way a final skin, just a whole bunch of quick and dirty graphics thrown together to make a quick demo. There's tons more features to be added, better effects, optimizations to the code, and dynamic skins.

This is just a teaser.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_eCzw66FfM[/youtube]

[Lave Laar]

Looks great so far. Especially as it's only pre-alpha.  Looking forward to see the final program.

[nipsmg]

Quick update:

Started playing with screen distortions and transitions.  Besides the normal wipes and fades, some REALLY cool transition effects are starting to come to light.  It should be possible to add your own transitions to your skin by creating a transition texture.  REAL cool stuff.

Distortions as well.  I've got an idea for distorting the background behind "smoked glass" while something is going on in the foreground, and it seems to be coming to light. 

I also started work on the Skin designer, which is going to have to be completed before a release, as I'll be using it to make and debug skin issues.  Progress is being made, just slowly.  Screenshots/videos when I get a chance.

[nipsmg]

Executive decision made:  Skin designer is on hold.

I'm taking a quick step back to better plan the "final" feature set before moving forward with skins.  To be able to make everything dynamic and assignable, I need to know what features I plan on implementing, an ddecide how I'm going to allow launching of these features through the ui/skinning system.

Progress:

-- Fixed: corruption issue during database generation
-- Fixed: Focus issue for UI controls/ZPosition switching.
-- Added: Preliminary search/filtering
-- Added: Now playing splash screen
-- Added: new Music splash screen/animation
-- Added: Preliminary visualization support -- (MAY BE REMOVED IN FUTURE RELEASE)


Next Steps:
-- Add on-screen keyboard
-- Implement search
-- Convert initial static skin into dynamic skin
-- dynamic sprite effects: drop shadow, glow, mirror (a la coverflow).

[nipsmg]

Ok I'm posing a question to the community in general. 

While I plan on making this jukebox pretty eye-candy wise and simple to use, I want to make sure that I add all of the features that one would consider NECESSARY for a tocuhscreen jukebox application.

There are things that I won't be adding into this software such as Tag Management, Artwork Mangaement, etc as there is plenty of software out there that does this, and does it WELL.  Plus, this software is going to be touchscreen only, and there's a lot better ways to manage your library than using a touchscreen.

The following are features that will be included:

-Scan for MP3's
-Catalog by Tag
-Catalog by Directory Structure
-Select specific albums for display (you may want your favorite 100 albums available for browsing, every other song can be added by searching)
-Filter album list
-Show current song queue
-Save/Load playlist
-Add song to queue (multi-select)
-Play song now
-Remove song from queue
-Move song in queue
-Add entire album
-Search songs
-View "Hot" songs (popular, playcount)
-View newly added songs
-Lockable play controls (play, pause, next -- can be hidden via administrative menu)
-Configuration screens
-Auto-play if nothing in queue based on configurable criteria (popularity, genre, etc)
-"Coming up... -- " next song display
-"now playing" splash screen
-"Hot songs" splash screen
- user configurable splash screens
-Skinnable interface
-Configurable Screens  -- Pick what goes where. Want "10 hottest" on main screen, no problem.  Pick a control and set it to load that data.  Want "Now playing" display on main screen?  No problem, place it.  -- All data, all lists, all functions are configurable.  Define the control, define the control text, pick what action you want the control to have, and the skinning engine will configure it.
(Sorta the definition of a real skinning engine).
-Animated configurable transitions.


I think this will make for a pretty full-featured jukebox software.  I'm trying out a lot of software to see what features work, and what don't.  A lot of software out there has TONS of features, and it's an impressive list, but I just don't see the use in the touchscreen portion of the software, it's too much stuff to do with a touchscreen.

What am i missing here? What features are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for you to use a touchscreen jukebox application.  What are nice to haves?  What just aren't required?

[oznetradio]

A volume normaliser and crossfade (mixing) would be good too.

[Musicman]

Hi Nipsmg :
Your project looks, I mean is very interesting. I'm just a regular user and I've been trying out
a lot of software like you. One of them is Unclet's (which I'm impressed), but lately
I found Partytime Jukebox which has only the basics but very practical features and also
user friendly.

Did you already try out Partytime Jukebox???

Regards.

[nipsmg]

No I Haven't.  I'll have to check it out.

I think the perfect mix of simplicity and functionality that I've seen so far however is the skin Mountain is using for Xlobby for his "bartop jukebox".  It seems to have everything you need, nothing you don't.

That's the kind of thing I'm going for.  Plus some added features we haven't talked about 


(gotta have some surprises!)

[Ryanc501]

Any updates as of yet.....I'm looking forward to you program being finished. It Looks Awesome!!!!!

[nipsmg]

some small updates:

I have completely re-designed the data access code for the jukebox using NetTiers.  This really helped solidify the data access and killed a majority of the data access bugs.  This also makes it easier to add some client/server stuff to the jukebox (i.e. remote control via a web site/web services, Remote clients on Cell phones, etc..)

I've also started and scrapped the skin editor 3 times.  I know the path I'm going down now with that.  The skin editor is the major roadblock right now.  Functionality is there, but the visuals just aren't..  Once the skin editor is completed, the updates should come fast and furious.

Again: a reminder, this is a spare time project for me, and I had a ton of momentum in the beginning but have recently been put on a project at work that is sucking up 150% of my time, so I've have literally an hour here and an hour there to touch this.

Once this project is over in a month or so I should have a lot more spare time to get this to a releasable state.

I'll keep posting as changes occur.  Thanks for the interest!

[Neilyboy]

Awesome stuff nipsmg!! Looks very promising even in the video posted some time ago! I can not wait to see your progress. Keeu up the good work man!!

Neil

[Ryanc501]

I completely understand this is in your spare time, and i think we ALL appreciate you doing it. I don't know about other people, but for myself it's been hard to find something that is REALLY visually stunning. It seems like most things out there are kind of weak. This project seems like it will be more like that programs you see on touchtunes in the bar . The closest I've found is album player as of right now, but your software looks pretty bad ass!

[Barry Barcrest]

I completely understand this is in your spare time, and i think we ALL appreciate you doing it. I don't know about other people, but for myself it's been hard to find something that is REALLY visually stunning. It seems like most things out there are kind of weak. This project seems like it will be more like that programs you see on touchtunes in the bar . The closest I've found is album player as of right now, but your software looks pretty bad ass!

You want touchtunes... You have not looked too far then have you. 

[JackTucky]

This project seems like it will be more like that programs you see on touchtunes in the bar .

Be careful trying to make it look like touchtunes.  They protect their license and will send you a scary cease and desist if you try to make a skin available.

[Ryanc501]

i'm not saying i want touchtunes per say..........what i'm looking for is something that graphically looks impressive....albumplayer is pretty well done as compare to say freebox.....freebox serves it's purpouse, just not AS visually appealing.

[JackTucky]

I don't know about album player being visually appealing.  I followed the link to touchscreenplayer.com, and the screen shot looks like the old default skin of freebox.

Freebox now comes default with a user created "black and blue" skin that's really nice.

Buy everyone probably knows I'm a freebox fan.  What's your motivation for saying the software isn't visually appealing when it's completely skinnable?

*edit* I just saw on the album player touch screen skin that they have drop down boxes that drill down?  To skip to a letter in your collection, it shows a drop down with text letters...  That's not visual at all.  That's green screen.  LOL

=J

[Barry Barcrest]

The real problem is i don't think people have treid to use this software on a touchscreen. (Album Player) because if they have there are elements that just can't be used. I keep saying this time and time again but always somebody comes to the defence saying they can use these progams fine on a touchscreen.... Well they want to rethink that. Yes you can use them but when you can't quite click that fiddly button first time everytime it quickly detracts from the touchscreen interface and user satisfaction  Nipsmg's prototype graphical shots he posted a few years back looked like the kind of buttons you need for a touchscreen application.

[nipsmg]

Barry Barcrest.:  I'm with you on that.

I've stated from the beginning I want SIMPLICITY.   I don't want 50,000 tiny controls on one screen that I can only click properly if I use a magnifying glass and a stylus. 

If you like mine, I'd go with Freebox for the time being.  Mine won't be released for some time, and in the meantime you might as well go with a jukebox that is pretty widely used, configurable, and works very well in touchscreen environments.  Barry Barcrest.has been developing this over quite a few years and has gotten quite a few faithful followers.

[kizer]

Not to toot Barcrests Horn, but it just works and his support is amazing.

I think no matter what you release as long as your willing to listen to  "The Users" your app can be as crappy or amazing as you want, but its useless if you do not have a user base that wants to use it. Unless of course your building it for yourself.

To me thats always been the key. Listening to suggestions and willing to make changes even thou it wasn't your original direction because times change and lord knows technology changes.

I think it would be great to see another good Jukebox out there. I have my favorite, but you know competition is always a good thing to keep authors trying to out do one another. 

[Barry Barcrest]

I have my favorite, but you know competition is always a good thing to keep authors trying to out do one another. 

What you on about when somebody make something good enough, i'm retiring 

[nipsmg]

haha HELL NO.  then I quit already. 

[Musicman]

Any news???
 
Good things take time
Cheers.

[nipsmg]

Absolutely none. 

Still on the same project, and it's taken over my life at work.  60-70 hour weeks.

I still have the code, and the touchscreen and haven't lost interest.  I'll post as soon as I update.

Stay Tuned.

[v2m9]

thanks for tips