What I Do In My Spare Time #1: Bubble Skin (Windows Media)

[Darius Wey]

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050114-BubbleSkinv110.jpg" /><br /><br />Okay, this isn't your standard news announcement. I'll openly admit that when I'm not at my desk, or online here at Pocket PC Thoughts, I'm doing what I love most - that is, creating content for the Pocket PC. <!><br /><br />I've made some PPC Tablet profiles before, as well as some Wisbar Advance skins, but recently, I started a few Windows Media skin projects - the first to be publicly released being this one: Bubble Skin. At the moment, it's only compatible with WM2003 devices running Windows Media Player 9.0. If I had a VGA device or even WM2003SE, I'd be working toward updating it to support landscape and VGA display modes, but for now, this is all it supports. Also, Windows Media Player 10 support may not be present since some of the code I've used isn't actively recognised in the latest version of Windows Media Player - again, I don't have a device to allow me to extend support any further at this stage. However, when the time comes, I will be happy to update it. :-)<br /><br />So, if your device is compatible, I'd be happy for you to try it. <a href="http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=149976&productType=2">Handango</a> and <a href="http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=16398&associateid=204">PocketGear</a> are currently hosting it so head over to either of the two, check it out, and let me know your thoughts (both positive and negative). By the way, it's free! ;-)<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> The skin is now compatible with Windows Media Player 8.5 for Pocket PC 2002. You can download the updated version (i.e. 1.15) from Handango or PocketGear. If you are still receiving the old version (i.e. 1.11), please try again in a few hours as the servers require some time to refresh.

[Janak Parekh]

I don't use WMP, but I've gotta say that's one really cleanly-designed skin. Nice work, Darius. :werenotworthy:

--janak

[that_kid]

Same here, I'll have to install it just for the beauty of it.

[Kati Compton]

Cool. I did a WA2 skin... maybe I should upload that somewhere. I like clean skins. WinAMP skins that require my whole computer screen for alien tentacles and shiny circles drive me nuts. ;)

[stlbud]

Thank you

[Jonathon Watkins]

Nice looking interface there Darius. Good job. 8)

[Vincent M Ferrari]

That skin epitomizes what skins should be: clean, functional, and clear.

Great job. Can't wait for more Darius productions :-)

[Phillip Dyson]

What is a PPC Tablet profile?

[shyloh]

Nice looking skin. I like 'clean' styles. So, were you listening to Armin Van Buuren? He's a fabulous artist!

[cab124]

Wow!! That is one great looking skin. You definitely have a future as a skin creator. Nice job!!!!

[alabij]

I'm amazed. That's one good looking piece of skin. Clear and clear

[pacemkr]

Same reaction as everyone, very clean skin, excelent!

Also, you might want to grab a pocket pc emulator for your pc from microsoft. I'm fairly sure it will alow you to test your skin on more devices. I really dont remmember exactly how to install it or from where. All I know is that its official and that it works.

[dean_shan]

Nice work. Very clean and elagant.

[yawanag]

I'm envious after reading all the glowing comments. I downloaded, but could not copy and paste through ActiveSync. "Paste" is greyed out.

Would appreciate any help as to how I can install.

[Sully]

great looking skin, You should take it a little farther and make a wisbar 2 version. seriously.

[QYV]

[veers off topic]

First, may I commend your taste in music. :mrgreen:

Second, if you listen to mixed trance music (as one might suspect), how do you rip it and play it in WMP on Pocket PC without getting irritating 1-second gaps between the songs? I'd love to use that skin, but until WMP supports gapless playback, I have to use another program.

[ctmagnus]

8)

This just replaced my long-standing WMP Silver skin. And it's 1/5th the file size as well. Excellent work!

My one complaint: That arrow-and-line thingy in the top right would be perfect for making WMP full screen, but WMP doesn't do full-screen. :(

[Darius Wey]

What is a PPC Tablet profile?

PPC Tablet is a program which allows you to control your PC remotely. The profiles provide different functions for different programs. So say for example, you wanted to control iTunes remotely, you can load the iTunes profile and control it from your Pocket PC. Or if you wanted to control a PowerPoint presentation, then you can use the PowerPoint profile, and so on. It's actually quite neat. So far, there are only three extra profiles on top of the ones provided by Amorphous Media. You can check them out here. (http://www.amorphous-media.com/ppctablet/profiles.asp) :D

[Darius Wey]

Nice looking skin. I like 'clean' styles. So, were you listening to Armin Van Buuren? He's a fabulous artist!

Thanks. Actually I was... I'm a trance addict, among other music genres of course. :mrgreen:

[Darius Wey]

Also, you might want to grab a pocket pc emulator for your pc from microsoft. I'm fairly sure it will alow you to test your skin on more devices. I really dont remmember exactly how to install it or from where. All I know is that its official and that it works.

I know what you're talking about. I'll have to give it a go one day. I'd really love to extend support of this skin to the newer devices out there - especially those with Media Player 10 (then I can add Album Art support).

I'm envious after reading all the glowing comments. I downloaded, but could not copy and paste through ActiveSync. "Paste" is greyed out. Would appreciate any help as to how I can install.

Which file are you trying to copy and paste over? Try this. I assume you've already downloaded the Zip file. Extract it on your PC (using something like WinZip or WinRAR, or even the Zip file handler in Windows XP), and select the "Bubble Skin" folder, right-click it and select Copy. Open up your Mobile Device in My Computer (with ActiveSync all connected up), navigate to \Program Files\Windows Media Player and right-click and select Paste. If that doesn't work, let me know.

[Darius Wey]

My one complaint: That arrow-and-line thingy in the top right would be perfect for making WMP full screen, but WMP doesn't do full-screen. :(

What version of Media Player are you using? That full-screen button is only active when playing videos. You can't get full-screen when playing audio - that's a limitation of WMP itself. If you fire up a video file, you will see the video launch into full-screen if you press that button.

[Darius Wey]

Second, if you listen to mixed trance music (as one might suspect), how do you rip it and play it in WMP on Pocket PC without getting irritating 1-second gaps between the songs? I'd love to use that skin, but until WMP supports gapless playback, I have to use another program.

You can't get gapless playback in WMP if you have the songs as track-by-track, which is a huge shame especially if you're listening to trance which tends to be one continuous anthology. The only way around this is to have one continuous track, instead of 11, 12, or however many the album has, or use another player such as Pocket Player or PocketMusic... Which brings me to my next point.

I don't use WMP, but I've gotta say that's one really cleanly-designed skin. Nice work, Darius. :werenotworthy:

Personally, I use WMP and other players, so apart from planning updates to the skin for WMP, I also plan on porting it over to other media players - the first on the agenda being Pocket Player. And I might just get a WA2 one going as well, since some of you have requested it.

Thanks for the wonderful comments everyone. :D

[ctmagnus]

My one complaint: That arrow-and-line thingy in the top right would be perfect for making WMP full screen, but WMP doesn't do full-screen. :(

What version of Media Player are you using? That full-screen button is only active when playing videos.

That explains it. ;)

I rarely watch video on any screen on the short side of a 32" CRT.

[marcm]

Nice work Darius! I'd be using it now if it was compatible with WMP10...(To replace the default skin... :duh:)

[T4RZ4N]

great one Darius. Thanks.
Matched my Mac-style WA2 skin as well with its white-ish look :)

Things (read: skins) can only get better from here, can't it? :)

[Darius Wey]

Things (read: skins) can only get better from here, can't it? :)

I hope so. ;) I've got a nice one planned for the next release.

[welovejesus]

This one's a winner!

[T4RZ4N]

Things (read: skins) can only get better from here, can't it? :)

I hope so. ;) I've got a nice one planned for the next release.

we are waiting ..... :D

[KTamas]

Very nice, any chance for an WM8.5 version for us, PPC2002 users?

[Darius Wey]

Very nice, any chance for an WM8.5 version for us, PPC2002 users?

I don't see why not. There are very few changes between the PPC2002/WM2003 variants of WMP so there's not much in the alteration of the coding of the skin definition file. I'll work something out soon.

[Darius Wey]

I don't see why not. There are very few changes between the PPC2002/WM2003 variants of WMP so there's not much in the alteration of the coding of the skin definition file. I'll work something out soon.

Okay, based on preliminary PPC2002 testing (thanks to KTamas), I've now extended support of the skin to WMP 8.5 for the Pocket PC 2002 OS. You can download the new version (i.e. 1.15) from Handango (http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=149976&productType=2) or PocketGear (http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=16398&associateid=204). If you are still receiving the old version (i.e. 1.11), please try again in a few hours as the servers require some time to refresh. Thanks for your patience, and if PPC2002 users are having problems with the skin, please let me know. Thanks. :D

[Moink]

love the skin and just wanted 2 point out that it works fine with WMP10,
except for album art i think :)

dont really use wmp that much, cant wait for the pocket player port :)

[Darius Wey]

love the skin and just wanted 2 point out that it works fine with WMP10,
except for album art i think :)

Ah, excellent! I didn't have WMP10 to test it out on so I wasn't fully aware of its compatibility. Album art support definitely wouldn't be present since I did not include the code which would allow it to render. Once I get my hands on WMP10, I'll add it in. :)

[robshobs]

I am unable to access any new skins. I've properly installed the files but when I press the next/previous buttons, nothing happens, just a "beep".

I have an IPAQ hx4700. Does anyone else have one? And are you able to access the skin?

Rob

[Darius Wey]

I am unable to access any new skins. I've properly installed the files but when I press the next/previous buttons, nothing happens, just a "beep". I have an IPAQ hx4700. Does anyone else have one? And are you able to access the skin?

WM2003SE and VGA support was not guaranteed, but IIRC, the skin should still be accessible regardless. It'd be great for another WM2003SE/VGA user to test this out so I can get confirmation on this. If indeed it doesn't appear, I'll work on an update soon.