MediaPortal 1.2.0 Beta introduces a brand new look

Now that we are getting close to releasing 1.2.0 Beta, we are pleased to reveal a big surprise. With this new release of MediaPortal, we introduce a brand new look!

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Thanks to the tireless work of our designers and testers, we are able to bring you a new modern design for MediaPortal 1.2.0, both for 4:3 and 16:9 widescreen displays.

During the past months, sometimes our designers were not sure if they were working on a new skin, or were part of a sleep deprivation experiment. This was a huge undertaking involving many team members testing the following advanced features and functions of our new default skin:

Shadowed text in all screens
New coverflow layout with exciting new animations
Use of thumb masks makes display of thumbs and covers a new experience
Improved responsiveness and performance
Prepared for the use of Fanart Handler in Videos, Music, Last FM etc.
Information about recently added items (Video, Music, Pictures) on BasicHome
Prepared for InfoService RSS and Weather info on Basic Home
Complete new GFX for a modern and fresh look
Complete re-coding of all xmls (useful for new skinners to see "how it works")

Our four excellent Design Team Members contributed in different ways and areas: Harley provided the new nearly 3D-like GFX for the different MP modules, Tgx provided the GFX for top bar and other buttons, cul8er provided the GFX for the lists and push buttons, and catavolt re-coded all xmls, provided the rest of the new GFX and coordinated all necessary actions to be taken.

Our Test Group Members have been pre-testing the skin during the entire development period. As a a result, the skin works extremely well, even though MediaPortal 1.2.0 is still only in Beta status.

We hope you will enjoy this new face of MediaPortal in 1.2.0 Beta. We look forward to your feedback to polish the new look of MediaPortal for the final version of 1.2.0!