I really like the idea of having the dash flip on interaction with the ubuntu button. It is surprisingly elegant as a space saver.
However, I do find some problems with it.
1. It makes accessing places somewhat harder, and since this is something I use often, it seems to detracts from my work flow at least.
2. It effectively hides the wonderful shortcuts of <super>a and <super>f, making it less clear that they could in fact always be available (as you would suspect them to be, i.e. global/universal).
3. I like how from the places icon in the dash you can search for files, and that you can do the same from the applications icon, but in the end I often use universal search (synapse, gnome-do, kupfer) to find what I need, which seems to be something that the ubuntu button could do very well when clicked (it does need some improvements, like selecting the most likely result, etc, such as these launchers do).
4. We cannot DnD to the folded side of the launcher.
These seem like harsh critiques, but they're not, really. I'm simply stating that these are some problems with the idea, but I suspect they can be fixed somehow.
Some possible solutions:
1. Not too big of a problem, may not need a fix at all...
2. When holding down the <super> key we could show all icons with shortcuts, so mix the places and app icons in or, maybe show them in a second row of the launcher (sort of like unfolding it) temporarily.
3. We could solve this one by adding an icon on the folded side of the launcher for universal search, or show the current version of the dash, just as we do now, combined with the flipped launcher.
4. When DnDing, unfold the launcher, just like in 2.
Thank you all for you're time. I hope we can make this idea work!
But maybe the workspace switcher would fit better on the "applications view" of the launcher, instead of in the "dash view"?
It is used to switch between workspaces and opened applications, so it does not belong to the dash view... at least imo.
With configuration, for those who choose not hiding the dock, to
have by default applications launchers, one click on Ubuntu icon
switches to dock with Dash, Places, virtual desktops, trash...,
another click re-switch back to applications icons etc...
It leaves more space on launcher dock to put many applications
icons, perfect.
On 10/03/2011 14:12, Marc Lajoie wrote:
Okay, here is a more elaborate mockup of what I
intended, built on top of David Reichling's preliminary mockup
(thanks btw!). Unfortunately I don't have anywhere to host it, so
I'm just attaching it as an archive. If someone could put it up
somewhere that would be great. As it is it can be used locally
(it's only html and _javascript_). I've tested it only in Chromium
browser and on a netbook screen, so if it comes out wacky it's
probably my fault. Cheers!
Marc Lajoie
On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 5:47 PM, Luke
Benstead <kazade@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> Let's see what people who try it have
to say. Don't worry if there is
> negative feedback, that's what exploring and
testing are all about.
> Thanks for making the testable mockup.
>
I really like the flipping* dock idea, it declutters the
"application
area", I like the separation of applications and places.
It's touch
friendly, easily discoverable (well, as discoverable as the
Dash...)
and simple. What's not to like?
Luke.
*Obviously, a vertical rotation of the dock around the
Y-axis would
look awesome!