Here is a list of potential new features, categorized from highest-impact to smaller refinements.
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Multiple Source Folders:
- What: Allow the user to add and remove multiple folders to source videos from, instead of being limited to a single folder.
- Why: Users often have videos scattered across different directories (
~/Movies,~/Downloads, a folder on an external drive, etc.). This would make the screensaver much more versatile. - How: The UI would change from a single "Choose Folder" button to a list view with
+and-buttons to manage a list of source folders.
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Video Scaling Options:
- What: Add a setting to control how videos are scaled to fit the screen.
- Why: The current "Fill Screen" (
ResizeAspectFill) behavior is great for covering the whole screen, but it can crop the top/bottom or sides of a video. Giving users a choice is a major improvement. - How: A new pop-up menu in the settings sheet with options like:
- Fill Screen (Default): The current behavior.
- Fit to Screen: Shows the entire video, adding black bars if necessary (letterboxing).
- Center: Displays the video at its actual size in the center of the screen.
- Recursive Folder Scanning:
- What: Add a "Search Subfolders" checkbox.
- Why: If a user selects a main video folder, they might have videos organized into subfolders. This option would allow the screensaver to find and play those videos automatically.
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Volume Control:
- What: Instead of just an "Enable Audio" checkbox, replace it with a volume slider.
- Why: This gives the user more granular control, allowing for quiet background audio instead of an all-or-nothing choice.
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More Transition Options:
- What: Add more advanced transitions like "Slide In" or "Ken Burns effect" (slow zoom and pan).
- Why: Provides more visual variety and a more premium feel.
- How: This would involve more complex Core Animation work.