Interface guidance

[aud10pilot]

I think the interface is quite intuitive, but I sort wished that it was a bit smarter than me! You know, maybe give a quick tour of some of the cool stuff hidden beneath the menu items... for first time users especially, it would help to hold their hands for a moment until they got the hang of it...

A bit more helper copy would be good too.... Example, when I click Music, rather than stumble around a bit, I want to be told what I could do... especially since it's my first time poking around. Maybe some clearer links that more explicitly say "Listen to music on my network." and "Listen to music on one of my music services"

[avneron]

totally agree.

we should find a way to make such a guide in time for the beta release

[Zenith]

I agree a guide is definitely needed. It's been fun finding out on my own too though! :)

[imrowan]

The easiest first step might be a list of default keybinds, for those of us not using a remote -- that can all be gleaned from UserData/Keymap.xml I'd think?

Your guide could probably be implemented as a plugin that automatically ran the first time Boxee was invoked. Like you say, a clear, concise summary of what you can play (locally, on a local network, or on teh internets) and otherwise do (chat/interact with other Boxee users/other internet things like non-music/movie websites). Plus an "I'm Feeling Lucky" type button that would skip the guide (still accessible later if you choose, under Help) and autoscan for possible local and remote sources, then display them as a list for verification?

[Gamester17]

AEON skin for XBMC (Boxee is based on XBMC) features something similar that the user can disable each tip once they learned what that specific functions does, maybe Boxee can learn something from it(?), ...it is not a initial start-up guide or tour but just tips for features that are unique to the AEON skin (those tips on AEON still assumes that the users is familiar with XBMC or that all other features are intuitive enough so the user do not need guidence to use them)

An initial start-up tour would be very nice to have in Boxee. I think a such start-up guide would do best if written as a semi-interactive python script.

http://www.aeoncentral.com
AEON is a very beautiful skin by the way, though IMHO it is not the most user-friendly skin out there.

[xain09]

I was thinking the same too. You could use a video presentation or a help-function with pop-ups explaining what does what. Cal it help-mode. To be turned on/off via the preferences. The "wives" will love it.

[NPerez]

+1 from me

not a high priority for the alpha phase, but once boxee really goes public it'd be useful. i find it really easy to get around, but if i were to show boxee to less tech-savvy friends, all parties involved would be very grateful for this feature:p

but if it's in the form of tooltips, those who know what they're doing will find it important that it's easy to disable all tips.

[Gamester17]

Like this video on Boxee overview and navigation?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwQG-4kT7FE
Video by Boxee's own Dave "GadgetGuy" Mathews.

:D

[belovedmonster]

I quite like the idea that there would be a special Boxee channel under Videos that could offer a bunch of tutorial videos.

[xain09]

A separate YouTube Channel would be great!

[marcel]

I for that as well ..:)

[DGMurdockIII]

http://www.aeoncentral.com i like that skin too