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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0016377MMW 5Syncpublic2020-03-06 21:53
Reporterrusty Assigned To 
PriorityimmediateSeveritytextReproducibilityalways
Status closedResolutionreopened 
Product Version5.0 
Target Version5.0Fixed in Version5.0 
Summary0016377: Improved messaging on initial connection of Android device
DescriptionCurrently, when the user first connects an Android device to MMW, MMW will prompt the user to configure the device profile, and the profile will show the summary screen e.g.
Nexus 5X
Connected, Last synced: Never
Capacity: xx
Free: yy

Do you think that whenever an Android device profile with last synced: 'Never' is shown, it would make sense to show something like:
Nexus 5X
Connected, Last synced: Never. To sync:
1) Configure this sync profile
2) Before syncing, install and run MediaMonkey for Android on your device
3) Initiate Wi-Fi Sync from your device or USB Sync from this window (note: USB Sync is not be reliable on some devices).
Capacity: xx
Free: yy
TagsNo tags attached.
Attached Files
Fixed in build2230

Activities

Ludek

2020-02-21 12:50

developer   ~0056781

Last edited: 2020-02-21 12:52

I think that something along this following could work:

"It is recommended to install _MediaMonkey_for_Android_ for better sync performance and metadata support.
Initiating Wi-Fi sync from your device is preferred (as USB sync is not reliable on some devices)."

But we should also unify it with the wording of the "Grant remote sync" checkbox below, see the screenshot.
I see two issues with the checkbox:
1) it is unchecked by default, shouldn't it be checked automatically once user plugs the device via USB? Is there a reason of not allowing (by default) Wi-Fi sync with a device that has been already plugged into the computer via USB?
2) The wording is unclear, "Grant remove sync / access rights" is different wording than Wi-Fi sync, why this ambiguity?
Shouldn't it be just like:
[x] Allow Wi-Fi sync with _MediaMonkey_Library_ (requires _MediaMonkey_for_Android)
?

desktop.png (11,977 bytes)   
desktop.png (11,977 bytes)   

rusty

2020-02-21 16:43

administrator   ~0056797

"When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended to install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for better sync performance. Once installed, initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync is not reliable on some devices)."

"When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended to install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for better sync performance. Finish configuring your sync profile, and once installed, initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync is not reliable on some devices)."

Re. the checkbox:
1) Remote access to a machine should never be granted unless the user explicitly configures it. Perhaps we can modify the message above so that it appears both as a message and as a dialog? e.g.

-Dialog-
When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended use Wi-Fi sync for better sync performance (USB sync is not reliable on some devices). Install _MediaMonkey for Android_ and initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device.

Grant '<DeviceName>' remote sync/access rights to the 'MediaMonkey Library'?

[Yes] [No]
----------

-Message-
When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended use Wi-Fi sync for better sync performance (USB sync is not reliable on some devices). Install _MediaMonkey for Android_ and initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device.
.
.
.
[ ] Grant '<DeviceName>' remote sync/access rights to the 'MediaMonkey Library' (requires _MediaMonkey for Android_)

---------

2) The wording was written so that it's clear what access is being given even if users don't understand what wi-fi sync is i.e.:
Remote access (like DLNA)
Sync (ability to write to the library)
Wi-Fi wasn't expressly written since it was assumed that the Wi-Fi sync feature would eventually work over IP (not just Wi-Fi). It could be simplified a bit to:
[ ] Allow '<devicename> to remotely access / sync with the 'MediaMonkey Library'

Ludek

2020-02-21 17:06

developer   ~0056799

Last edited: 2020-02-21 17:11

I don't understand what from the above you are suggesting, but I suppose that something like this could work:

...
[ ] Scan as soon as the device is connected
[ ] Auto-sync as soon as the device is connected
[ ] Automatically unmount device after sync
[ ] Allow '<devicename> to remotely access / sync with the 'MediaMonkey Library'
When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended to install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for better sync performance. Once installed, initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync is not reliable on some devices).

2) So why we are using both "remote access / sync" and "Wi-Fi sync" terminology? Shouldn't we unify it and use either "Wi-Fi sync" or "remote sync" ??

rusty

2020-02-23 01:59

administrator   ~0056806

2) Ideally it should be unified--I just want it to be clear exactly what rights are being granted vis a vis rights that are granted in the 'MediaMonkey Library' screen (and granting 'Wi-Fi sync' rights is somewhat ambiguous). Let's discuss live.

1) To clarify what I was trying to suggest above:
a) The summary screen would show:
Nexus 5X
Connected, Last synced: Never
Capacity: xx
Free: yy

When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended use Wi-Fi sync for better sync performance (USB sync is not reliable on some devices). Install _MediaMonkey for Android_ and initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device.
.
.
[ ] Scan as soon as the device is connected
[ ] Auto-sync as soon as the device is connected
[ ] Automatically unmount device after sync
[ ] Allow '<devicename> to remotely access / update the 'MediaMonkey Library' (or whatever string we agree on)


b) If the user clicks 'Sync' to initiate a USB Sync and it's the first sync operation, then the following dialog should appear:

-Dialog-
When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended use Wi-Fi sync for better sync performance (USB sync is not reliable on some devices). Install _MediaMonkey for Android_ and initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device.

Proceed anyhow?

[Yes] [[No]]

Ludek

2020-02-25 10:19

developer   ~0056866

Last edited: 2020-02-25 10:23

1a) I was rather trying to show the Wi-Fi sync suggestion text just below the '[ ] Allow '<devicename> to remotely access' checkbox so that user is aware that they are related and that he needs to enable the checkbox for allowing the Wi-Fi sync.
I was also suggesting the "...install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for better sync performance..." in general, because also USB sync performance is improved when MMA installed. This way MMW does not traverse all the MTP contents and takes the contents from MMA's database (and MMA is doing the housekeeping).

2) OK, so we might want to abandon the "Wi-Fi sync" and rather use the "remote sync" terminology like this:

...
[ ] Scan as soon as the device is connected
[ ] Auto-sync as soon as the device is connected
[ ] Automatically unmount device after sync
[ ] Allow '<devicename> to remotely sync with the 'MediaMonkey Library'
When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended to install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for better sync performance. Once installed, initiate remote sync from your device (USB sync is not reliable on some devices).

1b) I would not add this dialog at all as it is debatable whether the sync perfrormance is better via USB or Wi-Fi, I guess that it strongly depends on particular Android device, number of files on the device, number of files to upload, Android OS version, whether user uses the "deletion" options etc. etc.

rusty

2020-02-26 22:25

administrator   ~0056899

1a) OK, so let's revert to your last suggestion:

When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended to install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for better sync performance. Once installed, initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync is not reliable on some devices).

1b) OK

2)The string sounds good:
[ ] Allow '<devicename>' to remotely sync with the 'MediaMonkey Library'

As to placement of the message from 1a) I was thinking about keeping the message higher up so it's more visible and since there's no need for the user to interact with the option to enable remote sync (that option get's enabled automatically, and iirc is there primarily in case the user wants to disable remote sync but retain remote access).

Those are my recommendations, but go ahead and implement whatever looks best to you when you lay it out.

Ludek

2020-02-27 14:23

developer   ~0056926

Last edited: 2020-02-27 14:26

Ok, implemented in 2229

1a) As for the placement of the message, the options to allow Wi-Fi sync does not get enabled automatically, that was the point of the discussion on the original item 1) above where I suggested to make it automatically enabled once the device is USB connected. The rationale for this is that by connecting the device (via USB) the user has already access to the library -- so why he should need to confirm this again later !?

So far I made a compromise so that the message is prominent enough, but the related checkbox is just below it to check (alhough I still believe that it should be auto-enabled for the reasons above)

...
When syncing with Android devices, it's recommended to install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for better sync performance. Once installed, initiate remote sync from your device (USB sync is not reliable on some devices).
[ ] Allow '<devicename> to remotely sync with the 'MediaMonkey Library'
[ ] Scan as soon as the device is connected
[ ] Auto-sync as soon as the device is connected
[ ] Automatically unmount device after sync

So let's review in 2229.

rusty

2020-02-27 17:54

administrator   ~0056928

Tagging as resolved--I'll test it in 2229.

rusty

2020-03-05 19:37

administrator   ~0057057

Per discussion, the message currently always displays even if MMA has already been installed to the device being synced. But it's good that the current implementation tells users to give Wi-Fi sync a try. With that in mind, here's a slight alternative (note: I've retained the terminology 'Wi-Fi Sync' here since that is the name of the feature:

IF MMA isn't detected:

Nexus 5X
--------
Status: Disconnected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Capacity: xxx
Last synced: Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free: xxx
MediaMonkey for Android: Not detected. Please:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for improved sync performance.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync isn't reliable on some devices).

---
If MMA is detected:

Nexus 5X
--------
Status: Disconnected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Capacity: xxx
Last synced: Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free: xxx
MediaMonkey for Android: Detected. You may:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync isn't reliable on some devices).

Ludek

2020-03-05 22:06

developer   ~0057064

Last edited: 2020-03-05 22:17

hmm, it complicates things further :-/ I can detect MMA, but I cannot detect (with certainty) that the device is really capable to install MMA. Therefore the text "MediaMonkey for Android: Not detected. Please: install MMA" wouldn't be accurate in some cases.

I would prefer the current text in 2229 because there is no offense to install MMA (which I like) and also no indication whether MMA is installed or not, it is just a recommendation (which is fine)

rusty

2020-03-06 03:01

administrator   ~0057080

The problem with the current message is that it contains information that reads more like instructions rather than an element of the UI (since it describes situations other than the one that the user is in).

If you're saying that you _can_ detect MMA with certainty, but not whether the device is capable of supporting MMA, all we'd have to do is change 'Please:' to 'If supported by your device, you may:' i.e.

Nexus 5X
--------
Status: Disconnected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Capacity: xxx
Last synced: Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free: xxx
MediaMonkey for Android: Not detected. If supported by your device, you may:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for improved sync performance.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync isn't reliable on some devices).

---
If MMA is detected (no change):

Nexus 5X
--------
Status: Disconnected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Capacity: xxx
Last synced: Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free: xxx
MediaMonkey for Android: Detected. You may:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync isn't reliable on some devices).

This yields a cleaner UI, that is more appropriate to each of the 2 possible scenarios.

Ludek

2020-03-06 08:58

developer   ~0057082

OK, I can detect whether MMA is installed only when the device is connected.
If the device is disconnected (like in your example above) then I currently cannot detect whether MMA was installed or not.

I would still say that the current message is fine as it gives almost the same kind of information in just one row of UI, unifies the "remote sync" terminology with the [ ] Allow remote sync checkbox and does not require MMA detection.

rusty

2020-03-06 16:14

administrator   ~0057083

The current approach is fine, but it's not great:
- it's still a bit verbose
- it clutters the UI config section (which concerns MMW sync settings), when it would be better as a status indicator at the top, since it's really about the status of the device's Wifi Sync readiness.
- it removes the feature name 'Wi-Fi Sync' which is how the feature is referred to in MMA / documentation

If we want to keep it this way for 5.0, I've tried to shorten the text a bit to make it more concise and address the feature name issue:
"To sync with Android devices, _MediaMonkey for Android_ should be installed for improved sync performance.
Once installed, you may initiate Wi-Fi sync from the device (USB sync is not reliable on some devices)."

I also suggest keeping it as 2 lines of text (rather than 1 wrapping line) and to experiment with moving it to the status area. (as previously discussed, the _only_ reason for the "Allow '<device name>' to remotely sync with the <LibraryName>" setting is so that users have a way of disabling sync while retaining UPnP library access, so there's really no need to highlight a connection between 'Wi-Fi Sync readiness' and this seeting.

--

Based on your last comment, here's a suggested alternative that we could use for 5.1 that varies status messaging depending on Connection state, Detection of MMA, & Previous Sync History. It looks complicated, but it's actually really simple:
- When Connected: additional status indicators show
- When Connected: Wi-Fi status message varies depending on MMA detection
- When Disconnected: Wi-Fi status message varies depending on Wi-Fi sync history

a) Case I: Disconnected, Never Synced via Wi-Fi

Nexus 5X
--------
Status: Disconnected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Last synced: Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wi-Fi Sync readiness: If supported by your device, you may:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for improved sync performance.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync isn't reliable on some devices).

b) Case II: Disconnected, previously synced via Wi-Fi
Nexus 5X
--------
Status: Disconnected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Last synced: Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wi-Fi Sync readiness: Ready. You may:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync isn't reliable on some devices).

c) Case III: Connected, MMA not Detected.
Nexus 5X
--------
Status: Connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Capacity: xxx
Last synced: Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free: xxx
Wi-Fi Sync readiness: If supported by your device, you may:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Install _MediaMonkey for Android_ for improved sync performance.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync isn't reliable on some devices).

d) Case IV: Connected, MMA Detected.
Nexus 5X
--------
Status: Connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Capacity: xxx
Last synced: Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free: xxx
Wi-Fi Sync readiness: Ready. You may:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .- Initiate Wi-Fi sync from your device (USB sync isn't reliable on some devices).

Ludek

2020-03-06 16:44

developer   ~0057087

ok, added in 2230

rusty

2020-03-06 21:53

administrator   ~0057088

Verified 2230.