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Comments requested on a user interface mockup


Question

I'm making a minimalist audio CD burner (ala Burrrn) on top of the IMAPI API and looking for feedback on the UI. Mostly, if I've forgotten anything, but also specifically in regard to laying out GUI elements.

The main use case is:

  1. User decides they want to burn an audio CD
  2. They launch my app, which shows the window I've attached below.
  3. The user selects a burner.
  4. The user drags their audio files onto the window, which appends them to the compilation.
  5. The user clicks burn, and a dialog is shown containing the status of the burn.

I'm trying to stick to regular controls (this will be a tiny, self-contained native Win32 executable), so the progress bar isn't great yet, but it seems to get the job done. The location of the burner dropdown is a bit suspect, though it looks more strange at the bottom of the dialog. I'm trying to make the interaction flow from top to bottom. I'm just not sure if burner selection is something that one would expect to do before or after adding tracks.

My other idea is to defer burner selection to a secondary dialog after all the user clicks burn. The app kind of looks like a toy when it is like that, though. :)

post-3348-1246812116_thumb.png

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Simple enough. Though I think you'll need something that will entice users into using your minimalist product over another burner that might offer more functionality whilst still being free.

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Needs a better icon instead of the default .net one.

And what is gonna make people use this over other programs? Windows even comes with Audio CD Burning stuff.

I would recommend adding a button to add files instead of requiring dragging. Some security policies on Windows disable dragging, and you cannot drag between windows with varying levels of authentication on Vista.

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I'd move the drive selector next to the Burn button.

Also, as you are aware, there's already a plethora of apps that support audio burning, from the bloated and complex (Nero, Roxio/Sonic/whatever-they-are-called-now, et al.) to the the light and simple (ImgBurn). Plus it's a function integrated everywhere, like the OS, media players, etc. So this is a fairly crowded field...

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Simple enough. Though I think you'll need something that will entice users into using your minimalist product over another burner that might offer more functionality whilst still being free.

That is my main worry. I found all the free burners to be very good generally, but a bit clunky at times. My selling point is one of simplicity. I'd like to bring elegant apps to Windows, too. My main inspiration was the Windows Image Disc Burner that is included with 7. I liked how it just did its thing and stayed out of your way.

Needs a better icon instead of the default .net one.

And what is gonna make people use this over other programs? Windows even comes with Audio CD Burning stuff.

I would recommend adding a button to add files instead of requiring dragging. Some security policies on Windows disable dragging, and you cannot drag between windows with varying levels of authentication on Vista.

Agree on the icon issue. Though this is just a mockup I made in C# to show you guys. I didn't know you could disable dragging via policies...I will play with adding some buttons and/or menus in there to add files.

Also, how do you burn an audio CD in windows?

I'd move the drive selector next to the Burn button.

Here's what that looks like. The bottom of the window seems kind of heavy.

post-3348-1246814706_thumb.png

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This looks too cheap. On a personal level, even if it used/had a size of 1 byte, I would use ImgBurn over this.

This is exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for.

Revision #2: it looks a little more professional now. Playing with having a menu bar in there instead but not sure how to break down the tasks into menu items yet.

post-3348-1246822221_thumb.png

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I would move the options to the top of the window. The bottom of the window looks a little too heavy. Try reducing the space between the options and the track panel back to what it was in the first one. Also, change the background from a dull gray to something else. Maybe make the window smaller by reducing the size of the track panel. Since you're going for tiny you don't want a large window.

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This is exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for.

Revision #2: it looks a little more professional now. Playing with having a menu bar in there instead but not sure how to break down the tasks into menu items yet.

That looks much better now :) I was going to say add a button to remove them as well but you've already done it. One thing you could add is a text box for the user to enter a name / title for the CD, as that seems to be pretty common in most other cd-burning software.

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Foobar2000 + Audio CD Writer component (foo_burninate) can do this. It also makes use of the IMAPI API.

Select tracks in your library/playlist/whatever, right click and Write Audio CD.

Dialog looks like this:

burninate.png

Good luck though! :)

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Still would go with ImgBurn.

Like someone said....you are digging to much into a market that is full of GUIs.

Want to make a Windows GUI that everyone will remember you for?

Aircrack-NG.

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change the background from a dull gray to something else

Don't do that. If it's one thing that I can't stand, it's apps that decide that they are so high and mighty that they will deviate from the standard Windows look and go down their own route (and sadly, a number of MSFT apps are guilty of this, too). Using the native system appearance makes things fit in better.

Also, the spacing isn't quite right. You'll want to make sure that the spacing conforms to the recommended guidelines described at the bottom of this page:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa511279.aspx

Finally, the box is just a big hunk of whitespace. Make sure that the window is resizeable and that the box resizes with the window. Then make the default window size smaller to reduce that void (and if the user doesn't want to scroll to see the tracks, s/he can then resize the window).

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Side note: just now figured out how to use the Quote button...judge away. :)

I would move the options to the top of the window. The bottom of the window looks a little too heavy. Try reducing the space between the options and the track panel back to what it was in the first one. Also, change the background from a dull gray to something else. Maybe make the window smaller by reducing the size of the track panel. Since you're going for tiny you don't want a large window.

I tried moving the burner selection to the top and it looks a bit strange. I agree with the heaviness. No to the background color change. The app should match the OS. I'm OK at graphic design but usually applications that are designed like that are trainwrecks of usability (Trillian springs to mind).

Foobar2000 + Audio CD Writer component (foo_burninate) can do this. It also makes use of the IMAPI API.

Found that today, looks pretty neat. Not everyone runs fb2k though. :)

Still would go with ImgBurn.

Like someone said....you are digging to much into a market that is full of GUIs.

Want to make a Windows GUI that everyone will remember you for?

Aircrack-NG.

Not looking to be remembered. Would rather write a utility that I myself would use regularly and others can appreciate. In the freeware space, OS X generally has better-designed applications than Windows. This is something that can be fixed by being meticulous about the design. I've used ImgBurn before but couldn't figure out how to burn an audio CD. I shouldn't have to Google to do such a simple task.

Also, if I really want to ensure rapid uptake of it, I'll name it uBurn, pontificate about software bloat, and wait for everyone to eat it all up. Seems to work really well. ;)

Don't do that. If it's one thing that I can't stand, it's apps that decide that they are so high and mighty that they will deviate from the standard Windows look and go down their own route (and sadly, a number of MSFT apps are guilty of this, too). Using the native system appearance makes things fit in better.

Absolutely. I detest all non-native UIs....even the Office UI seems gaudy and unnecessary. Using native controls ensures the application looks as modern as the OS that it runs on. Changing the look and feel of an application to sell more copies indicates (to me) that the application is feature complete. However, that is anathema to corporations.

Also, the spacing isn't quite right. You'll want to make sure that the spacing conforms to the recommended guidelines described at the bottom of this page

Correct. Didn't know that page existed...I just bookmarked it. Spacing is going to be whatever the .NET form designer has as its guide. This is just the UI prototyping phase.

Finally, the box is just a big hunk of whitespace. Make sure that the window is resizeable and that the box resizes with the window. Then make the default window size smaller to reduce that void (and if the user doesn't want to scroll to see the tracks, s/he can then resize the window).

Newest version behaves like that.

Revision #3: actually looks closer to a real application now! Buttons axed in favor of menus. Maybe a toolbar would do well here? Seems like there wouldn't be many buttons on it...initially I'm not going to support saving projects and all that mess. I'm starting to warm up to a burn status dialog that lets you set up the burn by choosing the drive, the speed, and other options that don't relate to the track selection.

post-3348-1246827757.png

Edited by antareus
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I've used ImgBurn before but couldn't figure out how to burn an audio CD

My apoligies. ImgBurn cannot burn/make audio CDs. I dont know who makes audio CDs anymore (everyone makes MP3 CDs) but ImgBurn can't do it.

There is a recommendation: Make a ImgBurn clone with the features that are missing from ImgBurn (such as CD audio burning)

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My apoligies. ImgBurn cannot burn/make audio CDs.

Actually, it can. ;)

It can burn Audio CD's from any file type supported via DirectShow / ACM - including AAC, APE, FLAC, M4A, MP3, MP4, MPC, OGG, PCM, WAV, WMA and WV.
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That last mockup starts really looking like something I would use, indeed. Although I wonder what the "track" menu is for... Also I'd like if you could display the total time in addition to the progress bar.

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It looks pretty good now. Dr_Asik made a good point about showing total time. Also, can you change the order of the songs after you drop them? You know, select a song and move it up or down the playlist order? I almost always change the order of songs on my cds before I burn them.

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There is a recommendation: Make a ImgBurn clone with the features that are missing from ImgBurn (such as CD audio burning)

The backend may not be as good as ImgBurn for awhile (since IMAPI is pretty weak) but I'd like to think it will get to be there some day. :)

Although I wonder what the "track" menu is for... Also I'd like if you could display the total time in addition to the progress bar.

Add/remove/view properties of a track, maybe something else. I'm no good at distilling all the functions a program should do into menus. Total time will be in there in, somewhere. No idea yet (any suggestions welcome) but I can always put it in the status bar, if need be.

Also, can you change the order of the songs after you drop them? You know, select a song and move it up or down the playlist order? I almost always change the order of songs on my cds before I burn them.

Was going to have drag and drop to do that. But you suggest a good point: it may not be immediately obvious that you can drag and drop to do such a thing.

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Was going to have drag and drop to do that. But you suggest a good point: it may not be immediately obvious that you can drag and drop to do such a thing.
Actually, I automatically assume that I can drag/drop with most user interfaces that I see in software. It is an extremely useful and intuitive UI concept. Unfortunately, I'm amazed at how few programs actually use it effectively. It must be a pain to implement in C++ Windows API programs.
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Im liking the look of this, it seems to be getting better and better with each revision, so that is good! :)

Are you only going to make it an audio burner or are you going to branch out into data burning aswell?

Keep up teh good work :)

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Actually, I automatically assume that I can drag/drop with most user interfaces that I see in software. It is an extremely useful and intuitive UI concept. Unfortunately, I'm amazed at how few programs actually use it effectively. It must be a pain to implement in C++ Windows API programs.

Correct, you have to implement a COM interface, which is a pain.

Are you only going to make it an audio burner or are you going to branch out into data burning aswell?

Branch out, probably. I'd like to get this to where it is effective as is and then go to do data. I'll still need to suss out a good UI, though. :)

Thanks for the comments everyone, I'm pretty close to something I like and I can code in a reasonable amount of time. If anyone has any name suggestions, let me know. I'll probably be using Google Code to host it.

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Correct, you have to implement a COM interface, which is a pain.

It's not that bad. :p

I used to be very involved in the optical drive community, so I would suggest that you also visit one of the forums (e.g., CD Freaks) dedicated to ODDs to see what kind of input they might have; people there care deeply about their burning software and would have a lot of suggestions. And if you ever branch out to more advanced features, the people at rpc1.org have a lot of technical expertise...

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