Re: [Ayatana] What about the Dash on Oneiric Ocelot ?

I think the simple fact is, it needs to be easy to find applications for a new user, and then customisable for the more able users to put exactly what they want into the dash. I feel this will take time, probably looking at 12.04 before this is well implemented.

For example, I would remove 'most frequently used' section, and would want the apps for download to appear only when i type something in. And then it would need to be a very close match to show up. Also, I would want the main page to show a games section rather than files and folders, given that I can use the launcher for files icon. And as the dash is not a file browser, I would mainly use nautilus anyway.

Obviously, not everyone would want a setup similar to me, which is why customisability is imperative. But before this, the basic layout and functionality needs to be sorted. You should be able to drag launcher entries to the bin to remove the application, or better yet, a small 'remove icon' and 'uninstall' section on right clicking the icon, allowing for apps to be uninstalled or have their launcher entries removed for the current user. The drop down category menu needs fewer entries and would benefit from being spread out to make switching categories easier. I prefer Unity to GNOME shell, but Unity should be looking at the good points about the shell and adapt them to suit the style of Unity.

Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 21:23:17 -0500
From: holyknightjoshua@xxxxxxxxx
To: ayatana@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Ayatana] What about the Dash on Oneiric Ocelot ?

my mockup still has a section for frequently used but only on the front page of the dash and i noted that it was meant to exclude any item on the launcher or the "bookmarked" section i also had in my mockup's front page. the bookmarked section was for easy access to sometimes used but maybe not frequent apps a person doesn't use enough to want on their launcher but would still like more readily available for them when they do want it. bookmarked section would also be useful for people who don't like launchers.

since the frequently used section would have much greater possibility for change if it excluded things on the launcher and bookmarked section i think it would be more useful and helpful than the current frequent apps sections.

outside of the front page there was no "frequently used" section and also the "available for download section was replaced by a single button located at the bottom of the dash.

not everyone likes having the apps and files&folders on the launcher and some people don't even like launchers in general. i personally like the launcher but would disable the apps and files lenses on it if i were to use Unity instead of Gnome2 as my usual desktop environment. i still use unity every now and then but as i said i don't find it enjoyable.

there's a lot about unity that i think needs to change. i in it's default 11.04 state i find it usable but not enjoyable. so i'll likely be using something else sooner or later unless there end up being more options available in unity. i believe i saw mark shuttleworth (i could be mistaken and it have been someone else) post on a different topic quoting a study about how where the app menu is doesn't make much of a difference in usability. while that may be true where the app menu is does make a difference in the enjoyment a user has while using the app menu. it might not be much but then unity is filled with situations like that for a lot of people and while one thing probably won't make or break the deal, multiple things will.

On Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 2:04 PM, Carl Ansell <afccarl1994@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I would think that there is no need for a frequent apps section at all. The apps I use most are on the launcher anyway, so it is wasted space at the top of the dash.

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