Indeed, several possible improvements of the interface weren't done because they would interfere with functionality. The editor window (again) comes to mind, as the most obvious improvements there to the layout would reduce the flexibility that BibDesk offers.
Christiaan On 13 Jun 2007, at 8:00 PM, Alexander H. Montgomery wrote: > Personally, I'm quite happy BibDesk has stayed far, far away from the > "Delicious Generation" look of apps coming out these days which have > a pretty facade, but then have serious usability and functionality > problems. (see: Papers) When a better UI improves functionality or > workflow, I'm all for it, but when I need to get things done, BibDesk > is the most valuable application I use. > > -A > > On Jun 13, 2007, at 10:42 AM, Michael McCracken wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> Indeed the developers of Papers have done a great job with their app, >> especially with the UI. I have a lot of respect for the effort and >> taste >> it takes to make a well designed UI. The ADA rules actually did spell >> out the weighting of aesthetics, it was as follows: >> >>> BEST MAC OS X SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING SOLUTION >>> >>> * - 10% PLATFORM INNOVATION >>> * - 15% USER EXPERIENCE >>> * - 15% TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION >>> * - 30% PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION >>> * - 10% USE OF OPEN SOURCE >>> * - 10% AUTOMATION >>> * - 10% SHARING AND INTEGRATION >> >> Interesting, to say the least. >> >> About your comments re: BibDesk's present UI - I've heard a few >> comments recently >> that BibDesk is either getting old or was never all that pretty. >> I actually think it's aging well, but there certainly are a few spots >> where we're using less current UI elements, and a few places where >> a redesign would be nice (I'm thinking of the publication edit >> window). >> >> The changes you suggest require programming more than design >> (although >> no small amount of design) and developer time is really short. >> >> My suggestion to BibDesk users who would like to see it clean up a >> bit >> for the modern OS X era is to either dig into the code themselves, or >> try and find a student who needs a project to show off and convince >> them >> to help out - kind of like a small-scale google summer of code. If >> you know >> a CS undergrad who's a real Apple fanboy and wants to work there, >> tell them we've got tons of fancy UI ideas they could work on to show >> off their chops :) >> >> On the other hand, if you're just talking about graphic elements and >> icons, >> that just costs money, and there's already a donation process at >> sourceforge you could use to donate for new icons. >> >> Thanks, >> -mike >> >> >> On Jun 13, 2007, at 10:15 AM, P Kishor wrote: >> >>> Hi Michael, >>> >>> Just 20 seconds before I got your email, I got done checking the >>> awards page, and saw Papers on that (congratulations to them). >>> >>> I haven't tried Papers recently, but I did try it a while back. It >>> was >>> very buggy, but it was well designed. >>> >>> I believe BibDesk is a more robust and capable product, but my sense >>> is that the Apple Design Awards place quite a bit of weight on >>> aesthetics and looks, and not just on capabilities. >>> >>> I am not going to shoot down Papers for its capabilities because I >>> don't know where it stands right now, but it was a good looking app. >>> If they have improved its capabilities, they have made a fine app. >>> >>> BibDesk is a damn fine product for its capabilities, but IMO, it >>> could >>> be improved greatly in the direction of the kind of aesthetics that >>> modern Cocoa products have come to embrace -- see Coda, Delicious >>> Library, CSSEdit, etc. These folks have spent a huge amount of >>> effort >>> on the icons and art work. This is where BibDesk could improve. >>> Unfortunately, while I can appreciate good art, I am unable to >>> create >>> it. If some of our users are inclined that way, and want to help >>> out, >>> it would be great. Or, perhaps some designer like Jon Hicks >>> (hicksdesign.com) who supports open source might want to help out. >>> >>> In the meantime, I continue to use BibDesk as my one and only bib >>> solution. >>> >>> On 6/13/07, Michael McCracken <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>>> Hi, we submitted BibDesk for an apple design award this year, and >>>> since I didn't make >>>> it to WWDC to hear in person, I just found out this morning that we >>>> didn't win it. >>>> (Although I understand they tell you ahead of time if you win) >>>> >>>> The category we entered was "best mac os x scientific computing >>>> product" and >>>> Papers from mekentosj.com won in that category. >>>> >>>> It's strange because I thought it was a weird category for a >>>> bibliographic app, >>>> but I guess at least this meant I picked that right. >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> -mike >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> - >>>> - >>>> ---- >>>> This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express >>>> Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take >>>> control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. >>>> http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/ >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Bibdesk-users mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bibdesk-users >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/ >>> Nelson Inst. for Env. Studies, UW-Madison http:// >>> www.nelson.wisc.edu/ >>> Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/education/ >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> - >>> collaborate, communicate, compete >>> ==================================================================== >>> = >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> - >>> - >>> --- >>> This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express >>> Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take >>> control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. >>> http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/ >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Bibdesk-users mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bibdesk-users >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> - >> --- >> This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express >> Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take >> control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. >> http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/ >> _______________________________________________ >> Bibdesk-users mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bibdesk-users >> > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > --- > This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express > Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take > control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. > http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/ > _______________________________________________ > Bibdesk-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bibdesk-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/ _______________________________________________ Bibdesk-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bibdesk-users
