NOTE: I tried to post this earlier, but I might not have been properly subscribed, so this may or may not be a duplicate. -- Sorry, this is my first time using a launchpad mailing list.
First of all, I really like the idea of window status indicators. It could be an extremely useful feature. I also like the idea about being able to see them in alt-tab. However, I would like to propose another location to put the windicators, that could also solve some problems that the idea currently had, IMO.
I've heard that in unity, maximizing the window would add the windicators to the panel, thus saving space. However, this behavior could possibly lead to some negative consequences. The one I feel is most important is it would add clutter.
Lucid made several strides in cleaning up the panel - standardizing the indicator behavior, and making the icons look similar. I feel that this progress could be reversed if all windicators moved up to the panel with maximization. One example of this problem would be the addition of a second volume indicator if rhythmbox was maximized.
To get around these problems, I have come up with the following idea.
Applications could implement some standardized windicator options for their windows. These could include: (This are listed in the fashion "Windicator name (Statuses | Menu Options)")
- Online status (Online, Offline, Connecting | Connect, Go offline)
- Operation Progress (Working, perhaps showing a progressbar icon (ala battery icon) | a progressbar showing progress, cancel, pause/resume)
- Volume (Volume level | Volume slider, Mute)
- Security status (Secure, Insecure (locked/unlocked icons) | Lock, Unlock)
- More (but these categories should be applicable to multiple applications)
If this is implemented, then all the windicators could have copies of them already in the panel. For example, not only would rhythmbox have a volume indicator on the window, its volume would be added to the sound menu, which would display the system sound as well as application specific sound. Thus, users could see what the status of individual, unmaximized windows is by just looking at the window, without having to go to the panel, but if the window takes up the whole screen (maximized) then going to the panel is pretty much the same thing, so there would be no need for two areas of indication.
Not only would this eliminate the need to move windicators to the panel when maximizing windows, this would provide a centralized view of window statuses in various areas. For example, if Bob wanted to check how his download was going, instead of trying to find the download window, he could simply look at the panel under the Operation Progress area, and see the download progress listed underneath it.
This plan would significantly lower panel clutter as well as make the system more tightly integrated, because it would consolidate window statuses in panel applets.
One downside to this plan is that it limits possibilities for windicators, but I feel that this is actually a good thing, because the user will know what to expect from the top corner of a window, and applications couldn't develop indicators which really aren't necessary to be indicated to the user, or that don't apply to the whole window.
What do you think of this idea? Do you have any questions, comments?