2010/5/21 Conscious User
<conscioususer@xxxxxxx>
The combination thing is more or less my point: changing status is
common, and responding to messages is common, what I don't think
it's common is doing *both* as a reaction to a message (the
"annoying message" scenario you brought up).
Annoying messages are only an example.
In the real life, I turn on/off my phone by a switch near the display.
No one use his TV remote control to turn on/off his phone.
This is simply, I think.
> Moreover, all other interfaces similar to Ubuntu indicator (like dock
> in Mac OS X) work with the behavior that I will.
> There is a reason, I think. The reason is usability and simplicity.
> Users expect this, IMHO.
But they do this under a application-oriented intention...
Messaging Menu is function-oriented, but each part of it is (partly) application oriented.
So you can open contacts, see past messages, create a new message, etc. according to functions of each application.
You can start to receive messages from applications through it, but you cannot stop.
A behavior I don't particularly agree with. I agree with
receiving broadcasts in the messaging menu, but only if
they are directed at you (thus, messages).
Well, this could be only partly reasonable because pratical reasons, not design.
I think to know the number of unreaded messages from gwibber or pino should be useful and consistent.
And none of them include status changing, which is the core of
my point. :)
My point is usability.
To have memenu and messaging menu nearest could be a partial solution.
But a switch to stop messaging from an application should be the goal. This doesn't involve the global stautus automatically.
Re-reading my previous email, there was an epic fail in my
part in not making it clear that I wasn't defending the
developers' point of view (specially because I am not one),
but my own. My intention was disagreeing with you flat-out
saying there's no logical reason, because I see one.
Well, I never said there are no reasons at all. But this reasons should be mixed with usability reasons and with simplicity.
It isn't useful to make GUI more complex.
Sorry for the confusion.
That's a very interesting point of view, because a lot of
people agree that the text field in the Me Menu should be
for IM custom status. I personally think an experiment
where it would do *both* would be very interesting.
I think this too.
And, by the way, presenting my view includes disagreeing
with Mark *and* specifications if necessary. :)
Well, it was a misunderstanding.
Gospel says: "The Sabbath was made
for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27)
So I think specifications are made for users, not users for the specifications :)
If you felt offended by any of
them, I am sorry.
Let's just have a beer and keep discussing productively. :)
No problem, have a beer for me :)
(in particular, the very interesting "IMs have broadcast
functions" point you brought up is something I'd like to
focus on)