"CoverFlow" for MM3

[Fraxav]

iTunes' CoverFlow implementation in MM



Outline of the feature

• Support for XP and Vista operating systems
• Support for several angles and viewing modes. Not just a copy, but a better version of iTunes' CoverFlow.
• Use of native API's in Windows enabling this function hardware-accelerated.
• User and skinner-customization in terms of size and functionality.
• Clicking on the picture generates skinner-defined behaviour. For example a playlist similar to the ones on iPhone.
• Full-screen mode with more controls - intended for TVs and high DPI screens.
• Your wish.

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Quote from Fraxav:

Maybe it's an useless and resource-consuming function, but also a visualization with Milkdrop may be . And, not last, IT'S COOL! (the cover flow)
You could work on it to slightly modify it to fit with MM3, or to not to have copyright issues (is the cover flow under copyright? ).
Well, tell what you think!
Bye!

[nohitter151]

You could try installing Pretty Pictures. Its not the same as cover flow, but its the same concept.

[Fraxav]

I surely will and let you know. But let's say that I mean a native cover flow function.

[nohitter151]

I surely will and let you know. But let's say that I mean a native cover flow function.

Well, this is clearly a debatable/controversial/touchy subject, but I believe this is what makes MM so great. Features like cover flow are great for newer, faster, computers, but can significantly bog down older/slower computers. With MM, you can install an app that works well on an older system and use "extensions" to add in the heavier stuff, so that the program is optimized for whatever computer its installed on. I personally think adding a native "cover flow" into MM would be a mistake, even though I do use Pretty Pictures and think its great!

[Fraxav]

I really agree with you. I like MM cause it's simple and powerful. But I think that having too many plugins can be annoying if you have to install them apart every time. There are some features that I think should be added natively in MM (i.e. a feature for showing lyrics and the visualization embedder). If you don't need or just don't want a feature, you can always disable it via the option panel. REALLY old machines are becoming more and more rare to find, to me, so MM can afford some stilish and useless tool
I'm installing pretty pictures

[Morten]

I've stickied this thread for further discussion on the topic, as this is one of the most interesting discussions of MM --> implementing advanced music collection views.

CoverFlow working using WPF
http://pavanpodila.spaces.live.com/blog ... !380.entry
http://pavanpodila.spaces.live.com/blog ... !468.entry

Other WPF-effects library;
http://blog.pixelingene.com/?p=137

[Fraxav]

Lol thank you, thank you...
Btw...I just installed pretty pictures. It's not that bad and I need to learn to use and configure it, but I miss the style of the original cover flow...I mean, the black background, the glassy shadows, the album and title names showing under the cover...Maybe I could obtain something similar messing with the options, who knows. Also noticed that clicking on the cover of a song won't in any way let you play that song. And once again, I think that native and official is (often) better. Yes, making your covers flow can be just an useless pleasure for your eyes, but I think that cover flow also offers some advantages in organization and navigation.

P.S. what are those WPF and WPF-effects things in your post, Morten?

[Teknojnky]

I think it would be cool, but there are much higher priorities for my own preference.. like video/image support, particularly for syncing devices and general management.

[Fraxav]

Sure, not a critical priority, but just (as you said) a cool thing that can be useful too. It was just a wish, but it seems it's a common one

[MoDementia]

Please tell me this is a joke stickying this right?

There are still so many things that require fixing/whishlist implementing dating from MM2

I can't even get album cover view on the now playing node

[Morten]

Stickying this is not a joke, as this is one of the more "advanced" wishes adopting from iTunes - and clearly this is going to appeal to the "design"-freak in a lot more sense than just an average album-viewer.

I doubt it will come in the next few months, but it will eventually come. Surely this wish is not as important as optimizing the interface and enhancing album art views already existing and fixing problems. However, this is a very interesting feature if implemented well using the WPF-platform (which iTunes doesn't use) making it more usable on any NET 3.0 machine.

I stickied this to get a bit attention to this feature, as I have requested this before. Now I've reached what I wanted and can unsticky it again.

[Fraxav]

There are still so many things that require fixing/whishlist implementing dating from MM2

In total agreement.

this is a very interesting feature if implemented well using the WPF-platform

In the most total of agreements.

Btw...Yesterday I tried Pretty Pictures and messed a lot with it. That script is simply bright, but still misses something... The coverflow for MM3 should learn from it.
I.e. it has lot of customization possibilities (everyone will be able to create it's own coverflow style) that iTunes badly misses and a good programmer could add even more (I missed the black background and the mirror effects, so one could think about some settings in this sense). Absolutely needed is the playback interactivity (actually you cannot play a track clicking on it's cover art). A good idea could be to set the coverflow to automatically show the cover of the song playing (since if you are not playing just a single file, songs will change). Or what about a full screen coverflow mode? Just like you would do with a visualization with Milkdrop...
Ideas could have no end...

[GHero3]

This company has a .NET component similar to cover flow. It uses OpenGL for rendering so nothing to install.

www.componentdesigns.com

[Morten]

This company has a .NET component similar to cover flow. It uses OpenGL for rendering so nothing to install.

www.componentdesigns.com

Too expensive, and Petr can make this component just as good (or better) by himself when he has time.

[Fraxav]

Thanks for adding this to the wishlist. As you asked, I'm writing down my own requests for this new feature, although they are mostly included in your general outlines, which I quote.

• Resemblance. The MM3 version of CoverFlow should, by default, look like the original from iTunes in functions, settings and aspect.
• High personalization. iTunes' CF has different features, but no customization. Pretty Picture has some customization, but misses useful features. Every user should be able to easily edit the default settings of the new CF according to it's own preferences about aspect (adjustable docked window size; background color; covers size, view and scroll modes; drag'n'drop/scrollbar choice; glassy, shadow and perspective effects; etc...) and functionalities (action on click/double click/right click on cover; covers sorting criteria should follow main player's or be apart or both; show now playing or selected track cover as central cover; show author and/or album and/or title or nothing above/below central cover and choose font size/color; etc...)
• Extra functions. More useful (and still customizable, if necessary) functions could help making it even better than the original. For example a full-screen mode with basic controls (playback, volume...); the possibility to automatically add a cover to the tag simply dropping it on the track's empty space in CoverFlow; access to song properties right clicking on a cover and to option (and various: sorting criteria, ecc...) settings right clicking on the background.

I'll update the list as ideas come, but I think it's quite enough since I don't want to fill the "project" with too many useless functions, and cause simply merging well Cover Flow with Pretty Pictures means the half of the work is done.