[Marketing] [IAEP] [Sugar-devel] [SoaS] Request for Artwork: Boot Screen

Gary C Martin gary at garycmartin.com
Sun Jun 7 10:13:15 EDT 2009


Hi Sebastian,

On 7 Jun 2009, at 14:37, Sebastian Dziallas wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> looking at the wiki page, I'm really impressed - great work! :)
>
> I also really like the idea of switching the logo color for each  
> release - this shouldn't be hard and is an interesting approach.
>
> Has there already been some kind of agreement on which version we're  
> going to use for the LinuxTag release?

Yes I was wondering this also, given the weekend was the deadline :-)

> Is the one with the progress bar something everyone could agree with?

FWIW, my two current favourites are the grey progress bar, or  the  
grey circle of dots:

	http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Image:XO-sugar-boot-with-progress-bar.gif
	http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Image:Refined-XO-sugar-boot-with-overlap.gif

> And could I possibly get the .png files, so that I can compose a new  
> snapshot with a preview of the new boot screen (we can still change  
> it afterwards, but I'd like to have some snapshot to test it)?

I don't want to short circuit a decision making process, but let me  
kick out their PNGs and email to you (will do that now). That way you  
at least have a couple of the possible candidates to experiment/test  
with now.

Regards,
--Gary

> Walter: Have you heard anything regarding the use of the XO in our  
> boot screen? Is this okay with OLPC?
>
> --Sebastian
>
> Sean DALY wrote:
>> Actually the logo color linked to a version idea was in my long mail
>> the other day about communicating the version :-)
>>
>> I too think 2 changes a year will give us time to cycle through the
>> twelve variants.
>>
>> To make that work, the actual place where the version number is
>> communicated (Control Panel / About my computer) would need to have
>> the matching color Sugar Labs (not just Sugar) logo.
>>
>> I like this progress bar boot screen because:
>>
>> * ultrasimple, unobtrusive, fits perfectly with Sugar HIG
>> * bar is universally easy to understand, no possibility of confusion
>> with graphic elements.
>> * keeping logo around that long=strong branding, which is vital for
>> Sugar to be recognized by name rather than just "the system" running
>> on XOs, netbooks, etc.
>>
>> I miss the iconic ring treatment though.
>>
>> And, no matter how clean we would like it to be, we still need to
>> address the questions of school/sponsor co-branding (if they have a
>> logo, they won't feel like jst putting their name in grey) and distro
>> co-branding.
>>
>> Perhaps we could solve those problems by putting them in the "About  
>> my
>> computer" page as well? Awful as far as co-branding goes (partners
>> would not be happy), but will keep boot minimalist and functional.
>>
>> For a shining example of how more-is-less packaging is ruinous, may I
>> direct your attention to:
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUXnJraKM3k
>>
>> Sean
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 9:44 PM, Gary C  
>> Martin<gary at garycmartin.com>  wrote:
>>> On 4 Jun 2009, at 16:35, Gary C Martin wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 4 Jun 2009, at 15:45, Sean DALY wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Yes that would be very helpful I think
>>>> I was just going to start tinkering again, I'll make an animated
>>>> version of Eben's XO and progress-bar for evaluation.
>>> Just uploaded an animated version showing Eben's boot with  
>>> progress bar
>>> treatment:
>>>
>>>
>>>  http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Image:XO-sugar-boot-with-progress-bar.gif
>>>
>>> FWIW: +1 on Eben's suggestion for changing the colour of the Sugar  
>>> logo for
>>> each major new Sugar release. It nicely avoids what looks like  
>>> jumping
>>> through lot's of technical burning hoops of fire, trying to set up  
>>> a boot
>>> anim that dynamically changes to match the owners own colours  
>>> (nice idea but
>>> I think a big ask at this point in time).
>>>
>>> FWIW2: Just incase any one was wondering, the colour dot versions  
>>> were based
>>> on the 1-12 official Sugar Logo treatment colour pairs, i.e  
>>> definitely not
>>> not random :-)
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> --Gary
>>>
>>>>> If we can reach consensus by tomorrow and finish the actual PNG  
>>>>> frames
>>>>> over the weekend we will meet the deadline
>>>>>
>>>>> but, we need a volunteer to do the frames (unless Gary what you  
>>>>> have
>>>>> is nearly ready; my stuff is cut/pasted mockup no color control  
>>>>> etc)
>>>> Sure, getting a series of PNGs from any of my mock-ups is just a  
>>>> "save
>>>> for web" away.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> --Gary
>>>>
>>>>> thanks
>>>>>
>>>>> Sean
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 4:40 PM, Christian Marc Schmidt
>>>>> <christianmarc at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>>>> I agree with Eben's points below...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Maybe it would help if one of us mocked up the alternative he is
>>>>>> describing?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Christian
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Jun 4, 2009, at 10:35 AM, Eben Eliason<eben.eliason at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 10:31 AM, Eben Eliason<eben.eliason at gmail.com
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 7:24 AM, Sean DALY<sdaly.be at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Marketing_Team/Boot_Logo
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Christian - I myself prefer the "rays" to dots which I feel  
>>>>>>>>> too
>>>>>>>>> closely resemble networks in the Neighborhood view,  
>>>>>>>>> confusion is
>>>>>>>>> possible (networks being connected to at startup?)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Fred - I'm willing to try that sunrise metaphor, tonight if  
>>>>>>>>> I can
>>>>>>>>> (travelling today)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Re splash page with logo: in my next mockup I'll leave off the
>>>>>>>>> example
>>>>>>>>> school logo.and move that frame to the end. It might be  
>>>>>>>>> better to
>>>>>>>>> "reserve" a frame for customizable logo or message, before or
>>>>>>>>> after
>>>>>>>>> the Sugar spash page
>>>>>>>> Yes, in that mockup the first screen is kind of overwhelming  
>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>> several logos and a few pieces of textual information. At the  
>>>>>>>> same
>>>>>>>> time, we tried very hard to eliminate the slideshow effect that
>>>>>>>> feels
>>>>>>>> (well, is) like a bunch of marketing material that detracts  
>>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> UI.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I think the Sugar logo should stand alone, so it reads
>>>>>>>> powerfully, and
>>>>>>>> then be replaced in short order by the XO. Perhaps we could
>>>>>>>> entertain
>>>>>>>> a text only solution to identifying the school, in gray  
>>>>>>>> beneath the
>>>>>>>> sugar logo. Thoughts?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Version info: In fact I feel strongly about showing version
>>>>>>>>> information... or its corollary, making it easy to find.  
>>>>>>>>> Teachers,
>>>>>>>> I think it's more important that we make it easy to find in  
>>>>>>>> the UI.
>>>>>>>> Kids won't reboot that often, and it would be silly to reboot
>>>>>>>> just to
>>>>>>>> find that info.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> parents, admins, G1G1 donors unfamiliar with Sugar will not  
>>>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> foggiest idea how to hunt down version information (Learners
>>>>>>>>> might not
>>>>>>>>> have trouble finding it - they will explore their machines ad
>>>>>>>>> infinitum - but they can't be expected to know about
>>>>>>>>> versioning). We
>>>>>>>>> are about to embark on hundreds of thousands of XO-1.5s  
>>>>>>>>> running
>>>>>>>>> v0..84
>>>>>>>>> which will coexist with a huge installed base of v0.82 (and  
>>>>>>>>> many
>>>>>>>>> earlier); SoaS with its simplified numbering scheme will (we
>>>>>>>>> hope) sow
>>>>>>>>> the seeds for preinstalled Sugar in distributions for  
>>>>>>>>> education
>>>>>>>>> projects. We may be deploying v0.86 at the end of the year...
>>>>>>>>> aside
>>>>>>>>> from how we manage the Activity compatibility matrix, we  
>>>>>>>>> need to
>>>>>>>>> make
>>>>>>>>> such info *extremely* easy to track down for someone  
>>>>>>>>> interested in
>>>>>>>>> checking if Sugar + Activities are "up-to-date". Our  
>>>>>>>>> strategy for
>>>>>>>>> teacher buy-in is star marketing on Activities (see press
>>>>>>>>> releases);
>>>>>>>>> making Activity installation/upgrade simple this summer is  
>>>>>>>>> part of
>>>>>>>>> what we need to do to make SoaS possible in the classroom.  
>>>>>>>>> Helping
>>>>>>>>> users understand what version they have (of Sugar, of each
>>>>>>>>> Activity)
>>>>>>>>> is a key aspect of that.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I agree that it's unpleasant to see numbers at boot time
>>>>>>>>> (especially a
>>>>>>>>> datestamped snapshot number). Why don't we borrow an idea from
>>>>>>>>> Apple?
>>>>>>>> We basically have this already. We ust happen to have an XO  
>>>>>>>> in the
>>>>>>>> center of the screen, instead of an apple icon in the upper  
>>>>>>>> left.
>>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>>> info is actually in the "About my XO" section of the settings,
>>>>>>>> which
>>>>>>>> might be one step too far. We could go back to an earlier  
>>>>>>>> design
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> the XO menu and have a direct "About my XO" menu item which  
>>>>>>>> jumps
>>>>>>>> directly to the correct settings panel.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We could also separate the "About my XO" panel from settings,
>>>>>>>> removing
>>>>>>>> it from the settings panel completely and showing it as it's  
>>>>>>>> own
>>>>>>>> modal
>>>>>>>> dialog accessible via an "About my XO" menu item.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I would be fine with either approach.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> They have a tiny apple icon in the upper-left corner of the
>>>>>>>>> screen;
>>>>>>>>> clicking on it opens a window with the processor, RAM and OSX
>>>>>>>>> version
>>>>>>>>> number. In addition to the "About my computer" section in the
>>>>>>>>> Control
>>>>>>>>> Panel, perhaps we could show the version in the Frame? The
>>>>>>>>> bottom bar
>>>>>>>>> has room I think.
>>>>>>>> There's no need to expose this information directly. It will  
>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>> needed on occasion, and the Frame is designed for the  
>>>>>>>> information
>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>> want to carry with you all the time.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> When we start to get consolidated feedback, we will know if
>>>>>>>>> difficult-to-find version info is a problem for Sugar /  
>>>>>>>>> Activity
>>>>>>>>> updaters or not. I feel sure it is and showing the version  
>>>>>>>>> in the
>>>>>>>>> Frame (the one-glance status communicator) seems to me a good
>>>>>>>>> approach
>>>>>>>>> which would let us skip info in the splash screen.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Nota: my idea would be for each version to change the Sugar  
>>>>>>>>> logo
>>>>>>>>> color
>>>>>>>>> too... potentially allowing troubleshooters to ask "what color
>>>>>>>>> is the
>>>>>>>>> Sugar logo?" and match that to the version number.
>>>>>>>> I would much rather see the logo change colors with each  
>>>>>>>> boot, but
>>>>>>> I meant to take this back before sending, and forgot to. I  
>>>>>>> actually
>>>>>>> think changing the colors with each release is a pretty awesome
>>>>>>> idea.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Eben
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> changing with each release is a pretty cool idea. I would  
>>>>>>>> support
>>>>>>>> that. I think there are enough of combinations to make  
>>>>>>>> "wrapping
>>>>>>>> around" a non-issue, as long as we only change the color for  
>>>>>>>> major
>>>>>>>> releases (2 per year, on average).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Finally, regarding the animation itself: I Think the gray  
>>>>>>>> dots are
>>>>>>>> still the best option, and the clearest. They fit the style,  
>>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>> won't
>>>>>>>> be confused with APs. If we can in any way manage it, coloring
>>>>>>>> the XO
>>>>>>>> in the child's chosen colors is really the way that color  
>>>>>>>> should be
>>>>>>>> introduced. The colored dots seem to undermine the importance  
>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>> metaphor, for me. Everywhere else in the UI, color relates to
>>>>>>>> identity; has meaning. (All the more reason to change the sugar
>>>>>>>> logo
>>>>>>>> colors with each release!) These randomly colored dots just  
>>>>>>>> don't
>>>>>>>> seem
>>>>>>>> fit within that concept.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Also, if no "dot" solution seems to gain consensus, we could go
>>>>>>>> back
>>>>>>>> to a simple progress bar, which is perhaps less interesting,  
>>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>> simple and clean and matches the UI.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Eben
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> thanks
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Sean
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 5:00 AM, Frederick Grose<fgrose at gmail.com 
>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Please indulge me to make another pitch for the 'sunrise'
>>>>>>>>>> metaphor for
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> growing ring.
>>>>>>>>>> Using the same color locations, the ring would build from  
>>>>>>>>>> sunrise
>>>>>>>>>> orange to
>>>>>>>>>> midday yellow to afternoon greens and blues to dusky red- 
>>>>>>>>>> violets
>>>>>>>>>> (perhaps
>>>>>>>>>> the darker one last).  These are just common earth metaphors
>>>>>>>>>> that might
>>>>>>>>>> come
>>>>>>>>>> to mind as children worldwide--who may have never seen a  
>>>>>>>>>> analog
>>>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>>> digital
>>>>>>>>>> clock--anticipate what may be waiting for them in their day
>>>>>>>>>> ahead of
>>>>>>>>>> them.
>>>>>>>>>> The ring would also build from one foot, and end  
>>>>>>>>>> symmetrically
>>>>>>>>>> on the
>>>>>>>>>> other--a growth surrounding the nascent learner like a  
>>>>>>>>>> cover--a
>>>>>>>>>> home--a
>>>>>>>>>> safe
>>>>>>>>>> shelter for learning or a shower of celestial opportunities.
>>>>>>>>>> "Will I
>>>>>>>>>> grow
>>>>>>>>>> too like the graphic is suggesting?"
>>>>>>>>>> OK, these are just potential metaphors...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 10:17 PM, Frederick Grose<fgrose at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> I like that a lot.
>>>>>>>>>>> I'm with others on leaving the version number as well to the
>>>>>>>>>>> 'About my
>>>>>>>>>>> Computer' panel. (It can be referenced and then read as  
>>>>>>>>>>> needed
>>>>>>>>>>> after
>>>>>>>>>>> booting, whereas the vanishing boot image just makes me
>>>>>>>>>>> nervous about
>>>>>>>>>>> writing down or memorizing a long number.)
>>>>>>>>>>> The Green Hornet, would of course only appear on a 'Graphic
>>>>>>>>>>> guidelines'
>>>>>>>>>>> page for deployments and packagers.
>>>>>>>>>>> I suggest you try this sequence:
>>>>>>>>>>> 1. a short, blank white field (infinite potential)
>>>>>>>>>>> 2. the small xo figure (just possibly me in a big universe)
>>>>>>>>>>> 3. the building ring and figure (what might be building for
>>>>>>>>>>> me? Will I
>>>>>>>>>>> grow too as suggested?)
>>>>>>>>>>> 4. the Sugar, and optional custom graphic,  pausing,  
>>>>>>>>>>> usually a
>>>>>>>>>>> machine-dependent variable time, allowing for reading  
>>>>>>>>>>> (fixing
>>>>>>>>>>> the name
>>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>> this tool and those who built it for me)         Do we  
>>>>>>>>>>> want a
>>>>>>>>>>> gray
>>>>>>>>>>> Sugar
>>>>>>>>>>> Labs opposite the fedora remix?
>>>>>>>>>>> (5. the living, playable, ready-to-open door to Learning-- 
>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> Sugar
>>>>>>>>>>> Home
>>>>>>>>>>> view.)
>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks everyone!       --Fred
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 8:50 PM, Sean  
>>>>>>>>>>> DALY<sdaly.be at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> Fred - I have uploaded a new variant to the wiki:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Marketing_Team/Boot_Logo#Eleven_Color_Ray_Variant.2C_Growing_XO_Avatar.2C_No_Prior_Outlines.2C_Starts_With_Logo_Splash_Page
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 4:37 AM, Frederick Grose<fgrose at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I mostly like it.  Seems to be close to what we want for  
>>>>>>>>>>>>> now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Please consider these adjustments:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1.  No fine print (leave that for the 'About my Computer"
>>>>>>>>>>>>> panel).
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2.  Scale the custom school graphic example (Green Hornet)
>>>>>>>>>>>>> to fit
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> other
>>>>>>>>>>>>> elements, leave out the fine print.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 3.  Let the rays grow incrementally to complete the ring  
>>>>>>>>>>>>> (no
>>>>>>>>>>>>> unfilled
>>>>>>>>>>>>> place
>>>>>>>>>>>>> holders).  I feel more anticipation and suspense from  
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the ring
>>>>>>>>>>>>> growing
>>>>>>>>>>>>> without the preview, and more satisfaction of seeing the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> completed
>>>>>>>>>>>>> color
>>>>>>>>>>>>> burst.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>      Thank you!        --Fred
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 9:33 PM, Sean DALY<sdaly.be at gmail.com 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Here's the second mockup:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Marketing_Team/Boot_Logo#Eleven_Color_Ray_Variant.2C_Growing_XO_Avatar.2C_Starts_With_Logo_Splash_Page
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This version includes a logo/copyright splash page and a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "growing"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "approaching" XO avatar.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Comments welcome please.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> thanks
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sean
>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Marketing mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/marketing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> Marketing mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> Marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>>>>>>>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/marketing
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!)
>>>>>>>>> IAEP at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>>>>>>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep
>>>>>>>>>
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