Re: Display bigger version of a photo on a tooltip

[Steve Dobson <steve dobson syscall org uk>]

Hi David

On Mon, 2008-03-10 at 12:18 +0100, David Prieto wrote:
> I've just filed this as a feature request on bugzilla, but would like to
> know everyone's opinion on it: I recently discovered that pressing the
> "v" key while you hover over the browser brings up a bigger version of
> the photo, that also shows you the photo's comment and some additional
> data. I find it extremely useful for browsing photos without having to
> open edit mode, but the fact that I had to sunk deep into the manual to
> find it tells me it's quite undiscoverable.

While the keyboard shortcuts may have been difficult to find in the User
Guide I found them quite easy in the on-line help.  So I think the
information is there for anyone who goes looking for it and help would
be an obvious place to look - hardly undiscoverable.  If users can't be
bothered to RTFM then that's there own look out.

Having said that I'll admit that I don't read documentation most of the
time.  I'll only do that when I start using an application a lot, unless
I use an application a lot I'm not likely to remember the keyboard
shortcuts.  The problem with your feature request is that it is fine for
new users but would be a real pain to experienced users, or people who
just want to look at the thumbnails. 

> Having that very same data appear as a tooltip when you hover the mouse
> over a picture would bring it to light and be much more discoverable for
> the casual user. I don't think it would be excessively hard to implement
> either.

After all to be consistent not just the 'v' key would have to be listed.
All the other short key cuts and the other controls too, like
Ctrl-Wheelmouse back and for to enlarge/shrink the thumbnails. This is
going to make the tooltip quite large and likely to obscure some of the
thumbnail images.  As we are in browser surely those are the very things
we are most interested in?

GUI design has always had this battle between being easy for newbies and
slick to advanced users.  I would never want to see a feature added that
caused a problem to either user type.

> http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=521546

I'll add my thoughts to the bug as that appears to be your intent by
referencing it.

Steve