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). _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ayatana Post to : ayatana@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ayatana More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp