Re: [Ayatana] [Bug 692921] Re: Allow for the panel to be disabled (wishlist)

[zekopeko <zekopeko@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, Dec 21, 2010 at 12:21 PM, Mark Shuttleworth <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> We definitely need a natural way to move between "full screen" (no
> panel) and "panelled" mode, across multiple apps. And perhaps we need a
> good way for things like indicators to show up at appropriate times,
> when the panel is not being displayed.
>
> So kudos to the Elementary team for their explorations with wingpanel.
>
> In terms of space efficiency, though, if you maximise a window and have
> wingpanel float over it, you effectively have the same thing as the
> design goal for 11.04 Unity: maximised windows put titles / window
> controls / windicators into the panel themselves. And if you're not
> using a maximised window then space efficiency is by definition not your
> primary concern.
>
> I can see that there's a "lightness" of the desktop without the panel,
> yes. So I think this idea has merit and is worth exploration. I would
> welcome mockups and discussion on the Ayatana list, cc'd.
>
> Mark
>

I think that Apple has a nice solution in the coming OSX 10.7 for
fullscreen apps. They basically merged Expose (scale in compiz),
Spaces (workspaces in Linux) and fullscreen mode with their Mission
Control app. Activating Mission Control gives an overlay over the
desktop that has at the top (sorted horizontally in a line) all
fullscreen apps and below that non-fullscreen apps that have their
windows stacked on a per application basis in Expose (scale) mode.

The problem with this approach in Ubuntu is that Apple uses their
multitouch trackpads to activate that overlay since in fullscreen mode
there is no dock or panel present.

I think that a decent solution for 11.04 would be to create a
temporary workspace for the fullscreen app so that it shows in the
Expo (Workspace switcher) mode but once the app is un-fullscreen-ed it
would return to the workspace from which it originated (no fancy
animation transitions). Alt-Tab-ing while the fullscreen app is
focused would tab-between workspaces and not applications. If you
alt-tab while a non-fullscreen applications is focused (so you can see
the launcher and the panel) would tab between applications that are
currently open and the fullscreen apps.

It would be nice if we (and by we I mean people with relevant
skills/knowledge) could finally unite the disparity that exists
between window management (on the current workspace) and workspaces so
that workspaces become part of window management. Gnome-Shell is on a
good path in regards to that. Another solution to look at would be
Firefox 4's Panorama which would work wonders in fixing the need to
organize one's work/play/personal activities.