Dear Xara... Re UI poll

I just got an e-mail with a poll.. about the interface. So here's something from me:

Dear Xara,

Please don't plan to release "brand new Xara Xtreme 6" which would be XX 5 with.. a changed interface?

Please, please, pleeeease... please DO read people's problems, suggestions and keep them in mind? Please make the new XX more professional and usable.

If you plan on turning XX into "everything for fools to create web sites", please hold back with such ideas. Xara is a vector graphics tool, not a WYSIWYG web designer tool - it never was, never will be. All (semi)pro designers use a lot more than simplistic WYSIWYG tools.
Come back to Xara Web Designer series, don't combine it with XX...

Please don't ruin my favourite GRAPHICS tool.

Thank you. In advance.



PS
Implementing some nice slicing system would be nice, though!

I received an email about the interface for Web Designer, Xtreme Pro, and Xtreme.

The suggested changes to monochrome buttons is a huge retrograde to the old days of Windows 1 and the original monochromatic Mac interface.

They seem very counter productive in my eyes.

I just did that poll as well with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Those dark interfaces may look 'cool', but they are not nice to work with, I hate Photoshop Bridge with it's black interface - it's really hard to read - nothing wrong with my spectacles >:)

So long as any UI theme colour changes are user selectable via the program options then I think the alternatives could be a viable means of attracting new users.

Forcing a UI change is risky.

I too hope there are more substantial improvements, but I have to say I like the existing color icons on the new dark background. It seemed easier to locate and identify the buttons for me. There were also other subtle improvements in all 4 designs that looked good.

Maybe skins???

slodger I agree with you... it's like in Paint Shop Pro X2.. option, not an obligation.

Monochrome sucks all the way.

And more changes, more functions, of course!

Don't care what it looks like as long as I can read it. Wholeheartedly agree with the second part of this request Xara Pro is a vector application and it should stay that way. I bought WD for the occasional use and any improvements to web stuff should generated there and it would be another thing to buy to broaden your user area.

The present interface is fine, I would rather see more hotkeys.

I second the plea to keep Xtreme as a vector program and not to "dilute" its usefulness simply to broaden it's appeal. Perhaps the web and 3D programs could be more closely integrated, so that it works more like a "modular" program, so to speak. By that I mean, if it was very easy to switch work between all the programs, more like just clicking a button - like Photoshop to Imageready, then users could design their own package and focus on the things that they need.

I thought the new icons with the black background looked very good. I also suggested, as someone else has said, that the colour or darkness of the application be user controlable to some extent. As long as it works like it does now without slowing down its fine with me whatever happens.
People are changing to Win 7 in their droves because of a new look taskbar so I would think that a new look for Xtreme would bring new users as well or cause people to 'upgrade'; which is the main point I would assume.
All said and done concentrating on maintaining functionality and speed whilst delivering new and/or improved tools without the need to rush out a buy a new PC is what really counts. The last thing I want is to have to buy another box full of fans before I can do what I already can with the existing one.
Derek
PS the fact that the menus are in German on the examples leads me to believe that its the new(ish) bosses who are driving the update priorities this time.

Yes, I though the monochrome look was awful. Boring and depressing.

And while I've found the dark background occasionally useful in Paint Shop Pro X2, I'm much more likely to work with PSP X, which has a light gray background. The color icons on the dark background in the survey were very hard to read.

Please, please, please don't muck with the interface.

I haven´t received any mail (maybe i´m not subscribed to that list). Any way can someone please post the images of the interface you guys (and gals) are talking about? I would love to see them... (or point me to the mailing list)

Thank you

Miguel, Please see PM

This may of course be down to internal processes/procedures within Xara, but as I completed the questionnaire (and BTW I'm siding with those who didn't like the mooted dark interface) I'm sure that the survey URL was a Magix rather than a Xara one. Let's hope that this doesn't indicate an increasing trend from Magix to impose on Charles and co.
Jon

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ginger44

... I hate Photoshop Bridge with it's black interface - it's really hard to read ...

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You know you can change the black interface in Adobe Bridge by going to Edit --> Preferences --> General and using the sliders to change the grayscales?

I've noticed many applications which have gone slate grey in recent versions generally have the option for the user to choose variations. I think this is the sensible approach.

Adobe Lightroom has a very attractive UI to my eye and works very well as a RAW developer application where Adobe wanted to emulate a photographers darkroom. Other applications might become harder to use.
So long as the user has a choice, I don't see any harm in going for a change to the Xtreme UI.

"You know you can change the black interface in Adobe Bridge by going to Edit --> Preferences --> General and using the sliders to change the grayscales?"

No, it didn't even cross my mind to look ( major 'duh' moment :o ). Have had a quick look - thank you very much for that, just wrote it off to crappy, new trendy interface.

Yvonne

I too took the survey. I didn't see anything revolutionary. They could have used the survey to throw some really original ideas out there and see what interface and more options we liked. For example, show me some variations with the Galleries, or workflow, etc. A survey about whether I liked a light or dark interface with color or monochrome buttons seemed like a waste of time. They could have dug deeper.

Just my two cents.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RedWombat

They could have dug deeper.

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I'd guess their pockets would need to be deeper for a complete UI overhaul.
And in turn this level of change could create a price shift for future versions

I was thinking of just the survey. They could have asked more than they did. Something to create a roadmap from. A UI overhaul would be too expensive for a single version update, that's true, but if they had roadmap based on more indepth user input, they could spread it out over time. Besides, don't they have Magix to foot the bill now? :D

Yes it's a MAGIX survey..