TV Mode: Customizable Menubar

[PhillyMay]

Summary

In the newly introduced TV Mode I have just a few menu entries compared to the complete selection in the classical view.

To make the menu bar more useful, I'd like to See an option, where I can select custom entries.

e.g.: instead of having a library or a favorites entry, I just want to have a shortcut to my movies or tv shows instead.

Basic Example

Introduction of a new settings entry, where i can toggle each shortcut I already see in the classic vertical sidebar.

Drawbacks

The settings menu could be a bit crowded. But the default settings could be one, that most Users prefer.

Unresolved questions

No response

Implementation

• I would like to implement this myself!

[relic664]

I want to add on to this and say the new layout for Android TV is close to unusable. You can no longer browse your library and have to either 1) rely on search or 2) rely on filters.

So instead of movie_library -> scroll to entry

I have to library -> movies -> genre filter -> scroll to my movie and hope I picked the right genre

or

library -> movies -> recommendations filter -> pray what I want to watch is shown

Having some way to navigate to your actual library is a must.

[PartyDonut]

I want to add on to this and say the new layout for Android TV is close to unusable. You can no longer browse your library and have to either 1) rely on search or 2) rely on filters.

So instead of movie_library -> scroll to entry

I have to library -> movies -> genre filter -> scroll to my movie and hope I picked the right genre

or

library -> movies -> recommendations filter -> pray what I want to watch is shown

Having some way to navigate to your actual library is a must.

Saying it's unusable is a bit harsh don't you think?

You could either try pressing the "Search {libraryName}" button which takes you directly to the library screen with all items visible.
Or you could use the slightly "hidden" longpress on a library poster and it will take you to the same library screen.

The library search screen as it's called will always show all items if no text is entered in the search box.

[relic664]

Sorry if that comes off as rude, but maybe I need to caveat for a "normal user", it's not usable. I think Fladder is a great app and I'm a big fan, but I wouldn't use it as a daily driver for users in my house hold under this UI change. The pattern you describe is fine for power uses, but not great for more casual users.

In the UI, when you navigate up top to libraries, click a library (movies, etc), and you have no filters applied (e.g. recommendations / favorites / genres) and it displays "no results". You're proposing to either long press (fine, but should supplement UI navigation) or going to search and applying filters (either through the main search) or having to go to search under the library is unintuitive.

Consider a "normal"/casual user's perspective. The expectation would be when you navigate to a library, your content just shows up, without needing a long press or search. "Normal" users expect that because that's how most other apps function.

• Jellyfin -> (click desired library) -> all content is shown
• Spotify -> (click library) -> (click playlists) -> all playlists shown
• Tidal -> (click library) -> (click playlists) -> all playlists shown
• Google TV -> (your stuff) -> (click library) -> (click movies) -> all movies shown

In contrast

• Fladder -> (click library) -> (select library) -> (select search) -> all item shown
  or
• Fladder -> (click library) -> (long press library) -> all items shown

I think this could be resolved by simply doing

• Fladder -> (click library) -> all items shown (if no filters) - keep existing filters and search bar

[relic664]

And I think there's also something to be said about having a different UI pattern on TV versus mobile.

[PartyDonut]

I'll have a look. The biggest reason for removing the direct links to the libraries was to make the TV version easier to navigate.

For now I could create a separate toggle for the menu bar position. So users can revert to the menu on the left.

[relic664]

I think the dashboard works well for quick navigation. There's lots of customization options and gets users to common places easily. But accessing the library is harder under the new UI.

Maybe it could be a UI toggle like the author mentioned.

[PhillyMay]

I really appreciate that you want to reduce complexity for the average user. What I have observed is that the combined library view is more iritatitating than having dedicated shortcuts in the Main menu. I think of the avererage mom and pop setup. It is a lot easier for them to have a menubar on the top with a home, movies, shows, live tv and search Button. Those actions are simple, understandable and accessible at all times without too much clicking.

That was the reason why I suggested a toggle, because more advanced users may have a different taste or more complex needs. And in my naive eyes I thougth this would be a relatively easy solutiom, as all of the menu entries already there (in the sidebar view)

[PartyDonut]

I agree and while the implementation would honestly be quite simple. There is the problem of adding too much customization which I would like to prevent.

Maybe a better implementation would be to show only the libraries the user has visible and enabled on the home-screen as links in the top-bar?

[PhillyMay]

I think would be a good enough solution. Most people only have one library per media type. I think those shortcuts plus home plus search are enough. Then most people will have a clean and easy understand interface 😊