Public bug reported: Description: Ubuntu 11.04 Release: 11.04
I was ambiguous about using the bug tracker to report this issue. But since it is really an problem that doesn't seem to have been addressed yet and the post about it on Ubuntu Brainstorm predate 11.04's launch, I've decided to report it as a bug. In Unity the menu bar and title bar of applications are located at the same place and the menu bar is shown only on mouse over. Besides breaking some applications (I had problems with Gvim and VirtualBox), this cause serious UX issues . 1. Hiding window controls when the window is inactive and maximized force the user to focus the window before being able to click one of the three title bar buttons (close, maximize, toggle) or access the application's menu bar. The problem is further annoying when working extensively with multiple monitors. I am aware that this is a side effect of the way Unity works with title bars/menu bars, but it is an accessibility issue nevertheless. 2. The same holds true for window titles, the user have to focus a maximized window to see it's title. Again, when working with multiple monitors the problem is only more evident. A maximized window in a inactive monitor has only a grey title bar that convey no information about the maximized window. This problem could be more easily solved than the first with more subtle rules for maximized window (ex: if maximized and raised, always show the title bar). 3. But above all, hiding the window menu bar cause a serious UX problem. As I couldn’t put it better: > Mystery meat navigation (also known as MMN) is a disparaging term coined in > 1998 by author and web designer Vincent Flanders to describe a visually > attractive but concurrently inefficient, confusing, or abstruse user > interface, usually one that is Internet-based[1]. Such interfaces lack a > user-centered design, emphasizing aesthetic appearance, white space, and the > concealment of relevant information over basic practicality and functionality. > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_meat_navigation 4. When the window is not maximized it's possible access a context menu when right clicking its title bar. However this context menu is not accessible when the window is maximized (nothing happens when the pseudo task/menu bar is right clicked. This breaks user expectations. My suggestion to solve issues 1, 2, 3and probably 4 is the following: introduce an option to have the menu/title bar either merged (like it is out of the box) or separated (old fashion). And if you're kind enough, you could bind a keyboard shortcut to toggle between the two modes. Brainstorm thread: http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/27346/ Thanks. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04 Package: xorg 1:7.6+4ubuntu3.1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-10.46-generic 2.6.38.7 Uname: Linux 2.6.38-10-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia .proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0' .proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: "" .proc.driver.nvidia.version: NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 270.41.06 Mon Apr 18 14:53:56 PDT 2011 GCC version: gcc version 4.5.2 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.5.2-8ubuntu4) Architecture: amd64 CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,snap,shift,resize,mousepoll,vpswitch,grid,gnomecompat,regex,place,session,move,imgpng,animation,expo,wall,unitymtgrabhandles,workarounds,ezoom,staticswitcher,fade,scale,unityshell] CompositorRunning: compiz Date: Mon Jul 18 21:40:50 2011 DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-06-26 01:26:01.979163 DistroCodename: natty DistroVariant: ubuntu EcryptfsInUse: Yes GraphicsCard: nVidia Corporation G94 [GeForce 9600 GT] [10de:0622] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller]) Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device [1043:82c2] InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" - Beta amd64 (20100406.1) JockeyStatus: xorg:nvidia_173 - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use) xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, Not in use) MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name ProcEnviron: LANGUAGE=en_CA:en PATH=(custom, user) LANG=en_CA.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=26bbb565-cc9c-429a-a523-ff1ab1d767f1 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 Renderer: Unknown SourcePackage: xorg Symptom: display UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-06-26 (22 days ago) dmi.bios.date: 03/11/2009 dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc. dmi.bios.version: 0606 dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M. dmi.board.name: P5KPL-CM dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC. dmi.board.version: x.xx dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890 dmi.chassis.type: 3 dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr0606:bd03/11/2009:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnP5KPL-CM:rvrx.xx:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion: dmi.product.name: System Product Name dmi.product.version: System Version dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.4+bzr20110606-0ubuntu1~natty2 version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs 20090808ubuntu13 version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.23-1ubuntu6 version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 7.10.2-0ubuntu2 version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.10.2-0ubuntu2 version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers N/A version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6+4ubuntu3.1 version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.0-0ubuntu4.1 version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.14.0-4ubuntu7.1 version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110107+b795ca6e-0ubuntu7 ** Affects: unity (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New ** Tags: amd64 apport-bug compiz-0.9 natty running-unity ubuntu -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/812669 Title: Unity's application menu bar accessibility problems To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/unity/+bug/812669/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
