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[StrongBad]

Sorry for the delay, I've been busy.  It has been uploaded to AXS.  The topic has been updated.

AXS Download link: MXM_Devoid_1b-SB.rar [2.30 MB]

[dmb062082]

omfg this is amazing, wayyyyy better than the video. One day soon i plan to put out work like you.

[thetruethugg]

Can't wait to test it out..  But it looks great from the screenshots and preview video..  The music pairs well with the skin, though I don't like this kind of music..

[Crash N Burn]

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,,.........................................................Crash N Burn

[koldfuzion]

Sorry for the delays and confusion.  I was out of town all week, I will be sure to get all the MXM skins updated.

[BenJeremy]

QUOTE (koldfuzion @ Jun 20 2003, 08:05 AM)

Sorry for the delays and confusion.  I was out of town all week, I will be sure to get all the MXM skins updated.

Fantastic!

BTW: Any chance we'll see an MXM skin as a featured skin?  

[StrongBad]

Yeah, I agree.  Speaking of which, we need to find a way to mass market MXM.  

There are probably two reasons why we lag behind the other dashes (as seen in poll):
1. Configuration
-The configuration process is still a bit more involved than the others.  With the advent of the newer releases, BJ, you've relaxed the process with a couple autoconfig features.  But we need to keep at it to finally reach a psuedo plug and play status with things like sorting and such.  We, as in the MXM community, also need to work hard at writing up an improved guide and some more tutorials covering everything from configuration to encoding WMV.

2. Exposure
-This is probably the biggest reason, but for this, I'm not quite sure how we can improve.  Maybe we can learn from others.  What made AvaLaunch so popular?  Was it the IRC client?  A [supposively] kickass feature that no other dash had, hence the hype?  It wasn't that pretty upon launch IMO, but they're getting better with new skins and new proposed engine.  Maybe function is the key.  Maybe we should finally be satisfied with the extremely flexible GUI component that exists within MXM and switch focus to conjure up some nice complementary functional features (e.g. the new webclient).

my 2 cents,
sb

[TwisTz]

Question: whats does the web client do besides rip RSS feeds?

[BenJeremy]

QUOTE (TwisTz @ Jun 20 2003, 09:20 AM)

Question: whats does the web client do besides rip RSS feeds?

Well, it should be able to fetch any files. I'm playing with the idea of allowing images and movies to be brought in by the skinner. I'd like to fetch WAP pages/images, as they should be simple enough.

For now the RSS newsfeed will suffice...

[BenJeremy]

QUOTE (StrongBad @ Jun 20 2003, 08:52 AM)

Yeah, I agree.  Speaking of which, we need to find a way to mass market MXM.   There are probably two reasons why we lag behind the other dashes (as seen in poll): 1. Configuration -The configuration process is still a bit more involved than the others.  With the advent of the newer releases, BJ, you've relaxed the process with a couple autoconfig features.  But we need to keep at it to finally reach a psuedo plug and play status with things like sorting and such.  We, as in the MXM community, also need to work hard at writing up an improved guide and some more tutorials covering everything from configuration to encoding WMV. 2. Exposure -This is probably the biggest reason, but for this, I'm not quite sure how we can improve.  Maybe we can learn from others.  What made AvaLaunch so popular?  Was it the IRC client?  A [supposively] kickass feature that no other dash had, hence the hype?  It wasn't that pretty upon launch IMO, but they're getting better with new skins and new proposed engine.  Maybe function is the key.  Maybe we should finally be satisfied with the extremely flexible GUI component that exists within MXM and switch focus to conjure up some nice complementary functional features (e.g. the new webclient). my 2 cents, sb

Agreed.... when I get the dialog/controls UI stuff in, a LOT of functionality will be opened up, including configuration.

Part of the problem is perception, though... MXM is seen as terribly complex, but the reality is that it just offers many options for users, ranging from easy and simple, to detailed and complex.

The fact that MXM drops in and just works is often overlloked by new users who feel daunted when they look at all the possibilities.

Better doco would be great, but I **did** write some quick-and-dirty guides, and nobody ever reads them   Seems like somebody is always asking how to do the basic things described there. Still, individual guides, perhaps a "Dummies Guide" for each task, would get people reading.

Exposure is another thing... MXM doesn't get any attention, outside of this little corner of the universe. 95% of the people here on X-S haven't even seen it or heard of it. I am thinking about approaching some media types (like Kevin Rose) and see if they'd consider a spot on MXM. Maybe Slashdot could pop it over the edge, but I've really got to bring something new to MXM and the scene  (take it up a notch) to garner an article there.

[StrongBad]

Yeah, if only the uninitiated saw video of MXM in action.  Don't get me wrong, AXS is an awesome site, and probably the #1 resource for all dash skins, but screenshots don't do MXM justice.  I vote for video preview downloads from AXS as long as they're under 5MB.  MomDad? koldfuzion?

[PuddWakkr]

What I think would help alot is an auto installer along the lines of Slayer's. It does a great deal of the initial work for you then lets you tweak it to make it your own. I'm making the switch to MXM now and to start from scratch with no XML knowledge at all is pretty rough. A program that sets up a basic layout and lets you see what the lines in your MXM.xml do to your onscreen menu would be really helpful. This is just a n00b talking but then some people who would be switching would be n00bs who popped in Slayer's Installer and went from there. Just my 2 cents.

[BenJeremy]

QUOTE (StrongBad @ Jun 20 2003, 09:50 AM)

Yeah, if only the uninitiated saw video of MXM in action.  Don't get me wrong, AXS is an awesome site, and probably the #1 resource for all dash skins, but screenshots don't do MXM justice.  I vote for video preview downloads from AXS as long as they're under 5MB.  MomDad? koldfuzion?

I was thinking that a preview animated GIF might not be too bad...

[koldfuzion]

QUOTE (BenJeremy @ Jun 20 2003, 01:25 PM)

QUOTE (koldfuzion @ Jun 20 2003, 08:05 AM) Sorry for the delays and confusion.  I was out of town all week, I will be sure to get all the MXM skins updated. Fantastic! BTW: Any chance we'll see an MXM skin as a featured skin?

Good point, Currently I only have MS-MxM V2 as a featured skin.  Thought there were more than that featured.  Gonna add a few more.

[BenJeremy]

QUOTE (koldfuzion @ Jun 20 2003, 10:46 AM)

QUOTE (BenJeremy @ Jun 20 2003, 01:25 PM) QUOTE (koldfuzion @ Jun 20 2003, 08:05 AM) Sorry for the delays and confusion.  I was out of town all week, I will be sure to get all the MXM skins updated. Fantastic! BTW: Any chance we'll see an MXM skin as a featured skin?   Good point, Currently I only have MS-MxM V2 as a featured skin.  Thought there were more than that featured.  Gonna add a few more.

Thanks.

Would it be possible to use animated GIFs as previews? I'm thinking smaller ones, for sure, maybe only thumnail sized to keep it tight?