Jamstix 3.6.0 Final Release Candidate Available
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:39 am
I installed Beta 14 two days ago. I have loaded and played around with it a fair amount. I have not seen any errors thus far. Particularly, I have NOT seen that white screen GUI with the error message, "can not create core element" at all since (I think) beta 12. I have not done a lot of creating NEW songs, parts, etc., but have done some editing of existing songs, parts, played with the mixer and kits, etc.
Bottom line: It seems to be working great!
After using it a while, I would like to comment on the new system of "sub-menus". I PREFER the new "click" in order to get the sub-menu as opposed to the "pause" or "hover" and then sliding the mouse horizontally. I am reminded that with the old hover system, it was a tad annoying to wait for the menu and then have to be careful, as you slide the mouse horizontally, that you do NOT move vertically BEFORE you get over to the sub-menu. I honestly think the click is easier and faster. I guess the absolute BEST solution is a "hover" or "click" option. For example, hover and wait it you like it and don't want to click, OR, click without waiting and have the click "pin down" the sub-menu so I can move my mouse DIRECTLY to the item in the sub-menu without having to carefully go across and then vertical. Of course, "better" is sometimes the enemy of "good enough".
That being said, I do see the worth of having the new sub-menu pop up beside the parent menu as opposed to REPLACING it. The replacing of the parent menu can be slightly "disorienting" and is not an inherently "natural" form of navigation. It certainly can be gotten used to and therefore not a major design problem. The second minor advantage of keeping the parent menu visible is that, sometimes, when looking for a particular command, or a "hit", it helps to be able to see what the other choices on the parent menu were (without losing the current sub-menu).
I also realize that with the multiple layers of sub-menus, the "placement" of those sub-menus becomes tricky for the GUI to handle and results in the displaced sub-menus on multiple monitors we were seeing before.
BOTTOM LINE on the sub-menu behavior...
I prefer the clicks to the hover but, if I could still see the parent menu, I would like it slightly more. It is perfectly acceptable and usable as is.
J.L.
Bottom line: It seems to be working great!
After using it a while, I would like to comment on the new system of "sub-menus". I PREFER the new "click" in order to get the sub-menu as opposed to the "pause" or "hover" and then sliding the mouse horizontally. I am reminded that with the old hover system, it was a tad annoying to wait for the menu and then have to be careful, as you slide the mouse horizontally, that you do NOT move vertically BEFORE you get over to the sub-menu. I honestly think the click is easier and faster. I guess the absolute BEST solution is a "hover" or "click" option. For example, hover and wait it you like it and don't want to click, OR, click without waiting and have the click "pin down" the sub-menu so I can move my mouse DIRECTLY to the item in the sub-menu without having to carefully go across and then vertical. Of course, "better" is sometimes the enemy of "good enough".
That being said, I do see the worth of having the new sub-menu pop up beside the parent menu as opposed to REPLACING it. The replacing of the parent menu can be slightly "disorienting" and is not an inherently "natural" form of navigation. It certainly can be gotten used to and therefore not a major design problem. The second minor advantage of keeping the parent menu visible is that, sometimes, when looking for a particular command, or a "hit", it helps to be able to see what the other choices on the parent menu were (without losing the current sub-menu).
I also realize that with the multiple layers of sub-menus, the "placement" of those sub-menus becomes tricky for the GUI to handle and results in the displaced sub-menus on multiple monitors we were seeing before.
BOTTOM LINE on the sub-menu behavior...
I prefer the clicks to the hover but, if I could still see the parent menu, I would like it slightly more. It is perfectly acceptable and usable as is.
J.L.