Hi, I'm believe getting rid of window list buttons in Gnome Shell and not providing drop down window list might actually be a good idea. It reduces visual noise and after 15 years of clicking those buttons I myself am ready to try something new. There are obviously some problems with this:
- almost all users are completely mentally trained to switch applications by pressing task bar buttons - minimized windows just disappear and have no representation outside of the Activities Overview These two problems (and others) might be show stoppers for wide acceptance of gnome shell. I believe there is a simple solution that solves both of these problems or at least makes them markedly less drastic: Let's make Application Switcher first class member of the concept by giving it representation in the Top Menu Bar Top left corner of screen would look something like this: ----------------------------------------------- - - | Activities | @a Firefox | @w 3 | ----------------------------------------------- - - - @a is application icon - @w is an icon representing window, a simple rounded square with thickened top side to represent window decoration would probably be best - 3 is number of windows in current workspace. This changes when windows are opened or closed or workspace is switched. The proposed Application Switcher Item should/might also slightly flash when apps are opened or closed to signal change: ---------------------------*********----------- - - | Activities | @a Firefox |* @w 3 *| ---------------------------*********----------- - - - ZING, change happening So what happens when user presses this item? Well... the exact same thing that happens when user presses ALT + TAB: Application Switcher appears. The Application Switcher Item should also have the same "selected background color" when Application Switcher is displayed either using this new item or by pressing ALT + TAB. The pros and cons of this idea are in my view as follows: The Pros: - makes Application Switcher more discoverable and important item by giving it visual top level representation - provides migration path from the current paradigm. When users try Gnome Shell they *will* press this and discover Application Switcher. A suggestion to use ALT + TAB instead would be displayed when item pressed for the first time - minimized windows will have representation outside of Activities Overview - minimizing and closing windows actions differ visually. Closing window causes the item to flash and the number in the item to change - gives touch operated interfaces better access to app switching - replaces the proposed windows list with the preferred solution from the design point of view The Cons: - makes concept slightly less "pure" by making it more window oriented - many users will use item to initiate task switch thus doing two clicks instead the currently one. This, however, is a choice that should actually be represented but not encouraged. - makes Activities Overview slightly less important whitch might reduce the novelty/consistency of the concept. This might also be considered a pro. - displaying the number of windows in a workspace is often redundant Overall, I believe this would be a big win and should be implemented. Regards, Janne Liljeblad
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