unity-design team mailing list archive

[Henri Sundelin <henri.sundelin@xxxxxx>]

On 6.11.12 16:04 , Mohamed Ikbel Boulabiar wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 6, 2012 at 2:43 PM, a.grandi@xxxxxxxxx 
> <mailto:a.grandi@xxxxxxxxx> <a.grandi@xxxxxxxxx 
> <mailto:a.grandi@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
>
>     What I cannot understand is how they're going to use Unity on tablet.
>     Unity makes no sense on tablet, or better: the UI does, but the rest
>     don't.
>
> The top bar isn't tablet friendly, it needs to be redesigned to be 
> used in tablets.
> But I have seen it redesigned in ubuntuTV.
Top bars could well be usable enough on tablets if menus & items are 
large enough for fingers. Menu bar on top is a clear usability item in 
tablet use case. Note that this "large enough" widgets, icons & text 
stuff relates to these "retina" high DPI displays, toolkit wise.
>     What I mean: it's useless to have a tablet interface if you're
>     executing applications that were made with desktop in mind. How can
>     you use Evolution, Firefox, Gwibber etc... that are currently
>     available in Ubuntu Desktop, on a tablet? You can "run" them, but you
>     surely cannot use them. (run and use are pretty different things!).
>
>
> These applications can be reused, but only if you completely ignore 
> their default interface and provide a new one by your own.
> Unity is being developed in this direction and now you're able to 
> search inside an application menu and execute commands.
> As they have managed to search commands, they are able to provide new 
> ubuntu's UIs for each one and the application will serve only as a 
> executing canvas.
> What is needed to be modified inside each application is the export of 
> their internal methods, and the ability to hide all tool bars, then a 
> lot of design and mapping effort.
> (which can't be easy done without a new dynamic mapper framework)
I disagree on mandatory new interface stuff. Many apps, like browsers 
can be reasonably utilized with just "leaned down" toolbars and big 
enough menus. Gestures should naturally be utilized as a UI key feature. 
Major concerns to be addressed asap are IMHO usable on screen keyboard 
and tappable multitouch screen without current X core pointer issues.

I'm very worried that this kind of thinking leads to segregation -- 
Ubuntu Desktop vs. Ubuntu Tablet. Both with a different set of apps.

At least for me, a major incentive for Ubuntu Tablet idea is the ability 
to use existing applications. (This works so badly with Win8!) Maybe we 
could do here something different and innovative, I don't think we 
should be an "iPad/Apple follower" or something like that.

I think we should create an "Approved for tablet" application scheme, 
which would make sure that app would play nice with UI, support 
multitouch gestures, on screen kb & stuff. Like a guideline that a 
certain set of APIs/toolkits must be correctly utilized, and app tested 
for usability with tablets. "Golden penguin" given to apps that have a 
specific tablet mode.:)

Lets fork this discussion a bit, unity strategy vs tablet tech. Lets 
continue on ubuntu-tablet with more technical tablet side stuff..

//HS