[ryerman]

Originally Posted by MrSinatra

.....but that can be accomplished anyway, EXACTLY the same way as ratings are done!.....

Maybe I'm missing something.
In my Local Media views, ratings can be set only via the right-click menu. Yes, the stars are exposed when hovering, but clicking on them does nothing. Is there some preference or option to allow changing ratings by clicking an icon? I don't see the point of exposing the stars.

However, I like the idea of constantly displaying informational-only icons but hiding functional icons until hovered. It seems equivalent but smoother than right-clicking for a context menu.

There seems to be some question as to whether or not multiple files will be processed from the Library.
In post #43, DrO reports:

Originally Posted by DrO

there is a cloud-specific right-click menu in the library and also in the cloud sources views - though in most cases it only deals with the item which has the selection mark instead of the whole selection (that will hopefully be resolved at a later date - speed issues prevent that at the moment).......

Here is another proposal, inspired by MrSinatra. (MrSinatra, I'm not implying you agree with this, but that your creative thinking helped clarify my thoughts.)

If processing multiple files is not supported:
1. Functional icons are hidden. Hovering over the Cloud column would expose all hidden, pertinent, functional icons available to perform some action. Tooltips to identify their function would be good. Don't display any particular icon if it can't or shouldn't be used. (eg. Don't display an icon for removing a file from the cloud if the file is not in the cloud.).

2. Only icons that convey information about the files relationship to the cloud or other devices are visible. They are non-functional.

3 A file without an icon means it exists only in the Library, without connection to the cloud or any device. (I might change my thinking about that if I ever decipher what DrO is saying in post #28. I don't understand all the terminology.)

4. An up-arrow is suitable as a functional, but hidden icon for files available for uploading.

5. Don't bother exposing non-functional icons by hovering. (Any relevant icons are already visible.)

6. Don't use a context menu.

If processing multiple files is supported:
Keep the functionality as described above for single files but add a context menu for processing multiple files.

I get the feeling that there is some sort of managerial "prime directive" to make the cloud implementation consistent for all Winamp devices. As well, there are hints that the Cloud column in any view will eventually be used to indicate a file's relationship to all devices, not just the cloud. So I won't be surprised if my suggestions are unuseable because of some restriction caused by those plans.

I have no experience with any Winamp except the desktop version and I'm just "brainstorming" in response to the posts in this thread and providing some ideas. As always, others can extract the good ideas, and throw out the trash. And that is not a complaint or even directed at any particular person.

There, that's enough of my rambling.

btw I wonder what happens when the Library is cleared. Is all the Cloud column information lost the same way playcounts are?