Thursday, October 15. 2009Amarok 2.2.1 - We're getting there!
Here's a little teaser article, showing off some of the work we're doing for the upcoming Amarok 2.2.1. As some of you may know (or maybe not), we have decided to turn the 2.2 "Sunjammer" series into a longer lasting series, similar to the 1.4.x "Fast Forward" cycle. This means, we're not branching to 2.3 immediately, but instead we will make new releases about every six weeks, each including a number of new features and bug fixes.
This style of working was partly made possible by our migration to the Git version control system. I can only say, for us the migration was fully worth it. Our development speed has skyrocketed, as we are now able to develop new features in different branches, test them safely, and then merge them into our master branch. Also, the number of third-party contributions has increased dramatically, thanks to Git and Gitorious. You can find our Git repository online here: http://gitorious.org/amarok These are some of the improvements in 2.2.1 so far: Words are one thing. We want screenshots! So here goes - please remember, it's a preview snapshot:  Click to show full size Trackbacks
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Just one question: When will it arrive? Can'T wait for it.
And before anybody asks. As far as I know equalizers will arrive with the new phonon version. 
Nice changelog! Can't wait for the new release!
I have a permanent bother though: These Start/Stop buttons seem out of place... the only semi-working solution for me was the NG toolbar. I'd rather see these buttons somewhere embedded in the playlist window (maybe where the playlist managing buttons are?) In any case, keep up with the great work you are doing!
The "NG Toolbar" is staying in Amarok. We will just rename it to "Slim Toolbar" or so
everything is great except the toolbar which still looks bloody awful
p.s. On a somewhat related note, the post of anyone using serendipity who's aggregated on http://amarok.kde.org/en/PlanetAmarok also looks like crap.
I must say that I do not like the track position bar at all. It is not easy to see far away from computer but is needed to come closer.
And the ball brings the typical problem with positioning. It is harder to get it to wanted position (altought, what wider the position bar is, the more accurate it comes). And the volume bar is hided again by default, what needs new click. I will so on stick the current 2.2.0 version, if it is renamed as "slim". But when is the possibility to hide the menu comes? Amarok does not look so clean when menu is forced to show. I never use Amarok menu after I have first time configured all settings. Then it just sticks there and is on the way making it look ugly. Check out the Bangarang player what has got the menu hided in the first place already. Everyone is fighting to get menu hidden, and Amarok seems only to try to force all using it because few guys has on history mistakenly pressed Ctrl+M and not known first place how to do it. Dolphin, Amarok, Kopete and many other KDE apps users do not suffer for that. Just do not apply by default the Ctrl+M shortcut for such function if you developers are afraid some person does such mistake!
I must say, you should read more carefully. Also writing isn't one of your skills.
As I repeated many times, the "NG/Slim" toolbar will still be available in 2.2.1.
"As I repeated many times, the "NG/Slim" toolbar will still be available in 2.2.1."
As I didn't say so, I know that because I readed it. And as I said, I will be using the "Slim" version as on 2.2.0, because I know the current style is still there. ps. And my english might suck, because it is my fourth language what I read/write. And it is my weakest as well.
NOOO! Please don't remove volume bar!!!! It's not like there's space for it because frankly extra clicks sucks! Other than that BIG GJ!
Although maybe that main toolbar could use some texture or something. It looks kind of bare and a bit dull at the moment.Keep on rocking!
A pro tip: You can change the volume by using the mouse wheel anywhere on the toolbar. I use this all the time.
Wow, indeed ... I'd say this has serious discoverability issues
 Actually, if at all, I'd rather expect it to change the track position ...
I agree that this (quite useful) feature has discoverability issues.
Any ideas for making it easier to discover? I've pondered adding a tooltip, but this could quickly get annoying.
What about showing a tooltip if one clicks the volume icon? So the user is notified about an easier way to use a feature at the moment when he uses it the "hard" way.
No need to, we have replaced the volume icon with a small slider now
Jump to.. CONCLUSIONS Right?
Keep on rocking! Incidentally, could you please post a tutorial/guide on how to get daap shares to play in amarok 2.2? I have a share set up, and it shows up fine, but amarok cant seem to play any of the music.
Can we have an Icecast service? And a Shoutcast optional module (done much in the same way that Icecast is, and putting in the user the burden of accepting Shoutcast EULA)?
What about MTP mp3player support? (Creative & Co.) - it doesn't work in Karmic Beta and Amarok 2.2.0...
Some thoughts regarding the toolbar:
Since the beginning from Amarok 2 the main toolbar is one of the weakest spots as far as the design is concerned. It looks like you have no real idea what to do with it No matter if this are the old versions or the new one in the screenshot, the buttons in the middle don't really help here (apart from that I personally don't really like it, but that's not important).The problem is all the empty space and this enormously long progress bar (looks like: What should we do with all the space? Well, no idea, make the progress bar full width?) Another thing I noticed is that the most important info about the current track is distributed between toolbar - the progress - and the context applet - title, artist, cover, and perhaps album and rating (score and playcount I don't consider important here). IMHO this belongs into the toolbar. All the secondary information is perfect in the context area e.g. detailed track info, lyrics, wiki, whatever. So IMHO the solution would be to put all the important info into the toolbar. That would be a meaningful way to fill the space. Additionally the important info is always visible, contrary to the current track applet. This would also free space in the context area, as the current track applet wouldn't be absolutely necessary anymore. So a layout could be, left to right: buttons - cover - artist, track, rating (possible scrolling) above progress bar - volume.
+1 here. I don't want to start any fame-war but I think that iTunes does have it in the right spot. No empty (universum) space etc etc.
http://i.askask.com/2005/09/itunes_big.png 1.) Top iTunes, the rest Amarok 2.) The widgetbar works perfect...but I do not want to see it all the time. A lock like Plasma looks possible to me. 3.) And could we please add some fancy artwork somewhere? I know it is a music-manager but I think it should not look like it. Music is fun, experience....
I think the toolbar looks great. Much better visual balance with the default location of the context area in the center: better functional co-location of current track info and related actions. Definitely an improvement and I'm sure it will get even better. You Amarok folks rock!!!
Pretty great work so far, you guys are definitely in your prime -- I'm glad the move to git worked out as smoothly as expected, and produced such great results.
About the new track position indicator...I'd say it's somewhat of a regression in terms of usability. Were people complaining a lot about the old one, or was this just an experiment? Either way, the old one was much better at representing [1] how much of the track had been listened to, and [2] amount of time until the end of the track (could be judged easily by gauging speed of the indicator relative to 'time played' & 'time remaining'). If the new indicator is here to stay, it at least needs to be presented in stark contrast with the toolbar so as to be easily visible. It would also be nice to lightly fill in the slider-space that the indicator has already passed over, with a slightly darker, neutral color (perhaps chosen from the theme? Whatever happened to amarok's themeable capabilities...) One more thing that I've been wondering about for a while; the context-menu option for "Queue track(s)" is only available from the playlist. I believe at one point, it was available from the collection browser. I was wondering what the reasons behind this decision were? If you could point me in the vague direction of a mailing list or forum thread where this has been discussed at length (at least partly by some developers), that would be sufficient. It seemed counter-intuitive to me -- if something is in the playlist, it's easy to move it around for what order you want something played in. Conversely, the collection browser, separated from the playlist by the great rift that is the context view, seems like a much more logical location to be able to queue tracks or albums from. This is a usability issue I encounter pretty much on a daily basis, so it'd be nice to know where the dev team stands on it. Many thanks.
I don't like wasting with space in toolbar. I agree with Christos, start/stop/prev/next buttons should be embedded in the playlist window.
just out of curiousity, will the devs add support for pulseaudio in amarok for better integration with gnome and/or ubuntu? right now it has been a bit flaky and has been freezing in combination with flash movies.
I believe Canonical should do something for their pulseaudio configs. I have used PA now over a year and it has worked great. You only need correct settings (what PA page gives for distributors).
And I do not mention to say that I do not use Ubuntu in daily purposes.
I am using 2.2.0 on Ubuntu Karmic and Debian Squeeze
Amarok sees and uses the iTunes server on my D_Link DNS-323 NAS box and automatically connects and controls my Creative Zen 32Gb player. This is brilliant stuff. UPnP does not work. Are you going to add this functionality? Or, is it already there and mine just does not work properly.
Just shut up about the looks already... It is impossible for more than three people to be satisfied with the layout of any piece of software.
Evidence..... The vast majority of all changes in any developed software project in history. The only object of competition between Mac and Windows... The number one claim against GNOME, only because nobody seems to show regular people KDE. Ever..... Ever in any video, ever...... Even in public tests ever........ The reason why GNOME is at a virtual block-and-lock standstill with everyone. The reason why GNOME 3.0 has never surfaced. The reason why GNOME hasn't pushed development further. Reason why everyone loves XP. The only thing Gates publicly admits holds Linux back (after being shown GNOME).... The reason why GNOME still looks like Windows 95. I could list a lot more, but I just don't want to piss the other retards off. I just hope the KDE crew keep up the good work on what I call the most beautiful and feature complete window manager I have ever seen or used in my life. The other thing I will say is that the distribution of KDE that is chosen is just as important as Ford or Chevy in trucks..... People who think otherwise or don't realize are those retards that I refer to. Sorry for all the criticism, but most of the people who responded focused on the cosmetic changes that are virtually meaningless in software because it changes so often. What inconsiderate dicks.
Im missing my beloved v.1 less and less... so yes, 'were getting there' is the perfect title.
I love that finally its modular and I dont waste real estate with options I dont need or want but I was wondering if it would be possible to had a minimalist view with only a few options because let's face it, you dont need a full page audio player all the time. I also hope someone thinks of making a nice widget available for the desktop which would help with the minimalist thing. (seriously, I set up my music for a few hours and have no need for the programs after that Usually.) As well, many Windows users I have switched to KDE desktops who are seniors say they miss the Winamp Double The Size option they used which was great for weak vision. They can always zoom in to see better but that's not a solution any of them are happy with. >The reason why GNOME still looks like >Windows 95. Hahahaha! That's exactly what the wife said when I brought home the Dell Mini 9 last year. I changed it to KDE for her and she's been happy since.
I just feel better knowing that at least one person out there understands the gut-wrenching pain that is GNOME....
The stagnation in design is so awful that I cringe when 'Mark' proudly claims ownership of Linux in front of the Micro-exec fanboys, with 'rad' GNOME presentations. I was almost embarrassed as a Linux user when they announced that GNOME 3, the great and ever unreachable GNOME 3, is windows 95 with a black border around it and a search que. WTF!!! The years of wait make me feel like I've been screwed like a french whore. Thanks GNOME devs.... I'm... So... Proud... Then KDE comes prancing in with a compositor, then they blow my brains out the back of my skull with their extremely smooth stability and well crafted polish. Not to mention the amazing wealth of features that just don't exist in almost any GNOME configuration. I mean is it still really a choice? Evolution v. a slow and painful death? A waste of 'faith' and good code if u ask me...
"the great and ever unreachable GNOME 3"
It should be out within the year. What on Earth are you gabbling about? PS Look at the commit stats for GNOME vs KDE. GNOME is easily giving KDE a run for its money in terms of sheer development activity. Oh, and you should probably put GNOME and Windows 95 side by side - I think you'll be surprised by the total lack of similarity.
i absolutely agree - GNOME and Windows 95 are almost entirely dissimilar. What you should put side by side is GNOME and MacOS 9 or 10.1
"I was wondering if it would be possible to had a minimalist view with only a few options because let's face it, you dont need a full page audio player all the time."
If you do not mind switching a KDE style, you can have such function. The Bespin style has allowed user to do some changes for Amarok long time now. Like hiding the context menu and minimized UI what has only the mainbar. And with one button to show/hide the full view. http://kde-look.org/content/preview.php?preview=1&id=96140&file1=96140-1.jpg&file2=&file3=&name=Bespin+style+2008-12-30 I wish Amarok devs would implent something similar. But I think they believe the feature for that would be keeping Amarok player on systray and using a plasmoid to control it.
For the love of all that's holy: Please do NOT use Bespin.
It's very very buggy, and it will cause unexpected behavior and crashes with Amarok.
"It's very very buggy, and it will cause unexpected behavior and crashes with Amarok."
I do not use bespin. But that just offers something what people are waiting from Amarok. And when I used it long time earlier, it never did crash Amarok or cause unexpected behavior. That does not proof that those would not happen on other users. At least not on me so didn't. And I always do that when I notice a bug, I run it with the Oxygen style. So I exclude first possibilities if the crash would be from something what is not from Amarok. But same thing can be said to almost every KDE style as well. Like for Oxygen. What has bugs for sidepanels sizes forcing them to specific size etc. (not on Amarok altought). And bugs are waited to be fixed on KDE side, not on apps side because they were pinpointed to there by developers and KDE devels has be fixing them.
amarok 2.2.x is going to be awesome!
But i wish these improvements would be realized some day: 1.the video applet should have custom search function, so that one can search for songs on youtube that are NOT in your local collection and queue them in the playlist. 2.Show the Rating stars next to the song name in the collection browser. Often i just want to add the few songs of an album that i previously had rated good, but cant remember their names. i would help realize these improvements but i am scared of code greetings http://www.last.fm/user/mrjamesbond007
It's great to see amarok improving little by little. Nicely done!
I was wondering if we could bring back playlist buttons to circle through and indicate Shuffle and Repeat modes, like there was on amaroK 1.4? Also, do you think that maybe this could get in too? http://forum.kde.org/brainstorm.php#idea62212 This could be either a toggle button, somewhat like the "Jump to" feature, on the playlist or the collection, to link its displays. |
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