User Interface
Context: This interface was developed years before the Microsoft Media Center PC (MCPC) and the Apple Front Row interfaces. It is designed to support 2' and 10' interfaces, whole-home entertainment, and interface home control / security / communications systems.
Features of the User Interface include:
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Big Screen, Touchscreen, 3rd Party Interface — designed to work well on the big screen (10 foot interface), a touch tablet (2 foot interface), computers (laptops and desktops), and gracefully degrading performance on limited graphical devices (PDAs and cell phones); |
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Minimized Video Obfuscation — if the user interface is displayed on the big screen, or when simultaneously displayed with video on the tablet, the interface is designed for minimum impact on the viewing experience by placing the controls around the edge of the graphical area; |
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Management of Playlists and Large Libraries — the screen layout was designed to facilitate navigation and searching through large libraries and playlists. Although displays (big screen, touchscreen, and computers) share a common interface, the interface is optimized for each platform. Each platform balances readability versus density of information. |
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Comparison to MCPC and Front Row
Since mediabank was never fully implemented, this table is designed to suggest areas for future development.
Although Front Row looks to be very limited in this table, in fact, it is a very user friendly interface and transitions quickly for iPod users.
| Media Center PC | Front Row | mediabank | |
| Whole-home Media Routing / Control | No | No | Yes |
| Playlist editing | No | No | Yes |
| Large Libraries | somewhat | No | Yes |
| Digital Rights Management (DRM) | Microsoft | Apple | originally proprietary |
| DVR Capability | Yes | No | Yes |
| External Browser Control | No | No | Yes |
| Open to 3rd Party Tools | Yes | No | Yes |
| Home Control | 3rd parties are developing | No | Yes |
| Communications Integration | none known | No | Yes |
| Portable Video Player (tablet) | No | No | Yes |
| Remote Costs | Low | Low | Higher* |
*Higher prices were reasonable in the market segment targeted by mediabank.
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