First of all, awesome work! I'm slowly switching over all my ATVs from the Plex Client and loving it!
One feature I'd like to see (and don't believe it has been requested yet, but I could be wrong) is a settings option in the GUI to bypass the initial menu bar at the top of the screen and drop directly into the Library upon launching. You would still be able to press Menu to get back to that initial menu.
My reasoning for this is to improve the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor - but to be honest I would like this as well). It would be one less button push and it could possibly avoid confusion. Most day-to-day users don't need the first level menus and by dropping straight into the Library an seeing the available Sections, most people would likely be pretty comfortable. I think this would help to make the experience more "AppleTV-like".
OK. It was just a thought to streamline the UX. They may be goodies for the folks on here, but for most of the people in my household (and maybe others), they'll never be used.
I would second this, and Baa, I think you misunderstand his request. I do not think he is requesting a native turn on the Apple TV, and boom- Plex library (similar to the turn on Apple TV and your instantly in the movies sections, or photo stream as you suggested)
But I think what he is trying to suggest is a new setting option that would allow the Plex connect app interface on the Apple TV to automatically boot into the movie library section, minimizing the clicks necessary to “get to the good stuff”
I agree that this does get hide most of the goodies as you stated, but I also agree that the average person is only going to want to watch their movies, and this option would be a nice “easy mode” or “wife/kids/grandmother mode” or however you may want to word it. I have no idea how much effort this would require from a coding standpoint, but if it’s an easy enough fix I think it would be a valuable addition for many. Just my thoughts on the subject!
Baa, no complaints, just a feature suggestion/request. I appreciate all the work you and others do so please don't take it that way.
And maybe to clarify what I was thinking a bit (thanks Revanchist - I think we're on the same page), I wasn't thinking the aTV would start right in PlexConnect. My thinking was, if the option had been set in the PlexConnect Settings prior, the flow would be...Start aTV -> Select the Trailers app -> Select the Plex Section you want (e.g. Movies, TV, etc.).
So the first PlexConnect menu with Library, Channels, MyPlex and Settings across the top would be bypassed or hidden. I guess someone else may want to drop directly into Channels or MyPlex, so maybe making those options as well would be worthwhile.
I know it's a very small change in the overall UX and I have no idea what the coding effort would be. I just thought if it was something easy to add some folks might find it useful. I like Revanchist's wording here - an "easy mode". Thanks!
Well I certainly understand that we haven’t really seen any complaints to Apple regarding a similar setting for their own apps- but then, Apple isn’t generally known for allowing a lot of user customization either… Especially for something like this. I think what we’re seeing here is that since this is a community made project, everyone knows that we can kind of make it what we want within reason and if we can figure out how to do so. (as opposed to calling up Apple, telling them you want a new option in settings and hoping they’ll listen. Which would be ridiculous)
It’s not a make or break thing by any means, an extra button press or two isn’t going to kill anyone, but as Plex Connect matures over time, and all of the “big stuff” is taken care of, I imagine these are the types of things we’ll start to see. Little shortcuts, and tweaks that are simply a matter of preference that don’t really change what Plex Connect can do so much, but merely allow the user to streamline things to their usage style. For some, it’ll be the hardcore Plexers who do it all, and for others, making it easy to use for the wife and kids will be just as important, it just kinda depends I guess. Obviously there can’t be too much of this, or we’ll end up with 500 mini-settings for Plex Connect and no one will know what any of them do- but then that’s what the forums are here for is to discuss these things so what’s everybody else think? Are there a lot of people who would appreciate an “Easy Mode”? Or is it a niche thing?
It’s a lazy thing if you ask me. As it stands it opens with a list of your library sections and gives you the option to go to channels, MyPlex, or settings. Go to your desired library section and you get On Deck which actually is designed for ease of use. What have I loaded recently? Or what have I watched recently? etc. If you want to go to All Movies, you can then do that. MyPlex is the only possibly confusing thing there and I am a proponent of hiding it unless you are logged in.
Really, people must think their wives and kids are idiots if that is their reasoning, and I am sure they aren’t. Just show them what to do.
That’s true, it’s not hard to navigate to the movies section by any means, and they (wife, kids, whomever) can certainly learn. I suppose it really is a lazy thing, in the sense that it’s not needed, nor is it really a pain to deal with now. My only reasoning besides what I’ve already stated would be if you only have one section of media within your Plex sever. A “light weight user” per say. The other options would unnecessary, but again, we’re venturing into the realm of very niche features now. If there’s no demand, I completely agree- axe the idea.
