[Ayatana] New proposal for Unity: Launcher and left of top panel (w/ mockups)

[Eylem Koca <eylemkoca@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,
I'd like to propose some changes to Unity, in particular to the
Launcher and left of the top panel. I understand that UI is frozen for
11.10, and I hope at least that the decision makers will take this
proposal seriously and make a note of it (as I may not be around when
time comes for future releases).

The current design (as of 09/05/11) in Oneiric places the Ubuntu
button on the Launcher but does not extend the Launcher, hence leaving
the Ubuntu button below the top left screen corner (TLSC). While I
agree that the window controls (for maximized windows) should be
placed in accordance with their un-maximized-window placement, I
strongly believe that the Ubuntu button should be at the TLSC. Screen
corners are powerful. They are _the_ most accessible spots on a
screen. On the other hand, in my view, Dash is the most important
component in Unity; it's like the door that opens to all kinds of
functionalities, applications and possibilities. It is central in
Unity and I believe in the future, Dash will be even more central in
Ubuntu desktop experience. Hence, the Ubuntu button that activates
Dash should take the top spot, the TLSC. I know that Dash is
accessible with the Super key but that cannot be an excuse for not
placing the Ubuntu button on the TLSC. Not only for accesibility, the
Ubuntu button should be placed at the TLSC, in order to emphasize the
central role of the Dash, and for desktop branding and recognition
purposes.

My proposal below attempts to place the Ubuntu button on the TLSC,
while keeping the window controls appropriately placed on the TLSC.
Below are design specifications for the developers, not rules for user
interaction. It may read long, but the purpose was to be as clear as
possible, so please don't dismiss it for being wordy and take a look
at the mock-ups I made to help visualising the proposed changes and
compare them to current design.

For the desktop user, there are no changes in interaction and
everything works as it does now. In essence, my proposal relies on the
fact that
1) If the user wants to reveal the Launcher (by pushing the cursor to
the left screen edge), s/he wants to interact with _it_; therefore,
there is no need to show the window control buttons.
2) If the user wants to "never hide" the Launcher, s/he wants to keep
it there at all times and use the rest of the screen for windows.
Therefore, the screen area for windows should start where the Launcher
ends (the current design places the window controls on top of the
Launcher and thus outside the window area; please see the pictures).

I'm detailing the proposed changes below. Again, it is too wordy on
purpose, not because it is complicated. It is not any complicated than
the current design, and the comparative pictures should show that.
Please take a look at the pictures and don't mind the lack of color
uniformity in UI backgrounds (this is the best I could do). Please let
me know how you feel about it, thanks!


Changes in window control functions area:

1) For maximized windows, ALWAYS show the window control buttons, and
to the right them;
  - Show the window title (e.g. "CNN.com - etc. etc. - Google
Chrome"), if the cursor IS NOT on top panel.
  - If the cursor IS on top panel, show the application name just like
in the current design (in a limited area, therefore faded out at the
end), and to the right of it, start the application menu.

2) For un-maximized windows (in which case window control buttons and
window title are not shown on top panel), start the application title
from where the window control buttons would start, and fade it (if
necessary) when the application menu is shown.

3) Note that (from 1 and 2 above), in case of cursor on top panel, the
difference in the top panel views between maximized-window and
un-maximized-window, is that, in the former, window controls are shown
while pushing the application title to the right.


Changes in Launcher/TopPanel design:

1) Maximize the Launcher so that it covers the whole left edge. The
Ubuntu button (whatever the design) is at the top of the Launcher.
Hence, when the Launcher is shown, the Ubuntu button is at the very
top left corner of the screen.

2) If the Launcher is set to "never hide", then, for maximized
windows, move the window control functions (buttons, etc., see above)
to the right so that they start from where the Launcher ends.
http://i56.tinypic.com/wtykjb.png
http://i51.tinypic.com/2a83wxx.png

3) If the Launcher is hidden (either it's set to "autohide", or a
window is blocking it), then the window control functions (buttons,
etc., see above) start from the very top left corner on top panel.
http://i51.tinypic.com/etfy8z.png
http://i54.tinypic.com/2rhn4lz.png

4) If the Launcher is revealed (but it's not set to "never hide", see
2 for "never hide"), which means the window control buttons must be
hidden and the application title must be shown on the top panel, then
push the application title to the right.
http://i55.tinypic.com/mh8xzm.png
http://i54.tinypic.com/qzm2l0.png
http://i54.tinypic.com/2m4rt45.png

5) When Dash is shown, its window controls are placed as if it's a
maximized window, i.e., to the right of the Launcher.
http://i51.tinypic.com/wb4aba.png

6) Give an option to users to enable making the TLSC a hot-spot for
activating Dash without any clicks (ala Gnome-Shell).