Re: Proposal: Add item to Top Menu Bar that opens Application Switcher when pressed instead of the proposed windows list.

[Dean Loros <ubuntu1user gmail com>]

I really like this idea---another idea to "add" to this would be a bubble on hover that suggests to use <ALT><TAB> to get to the App Switcher at any time.....It could have a timed remove (say 10 restarts) and/or a gconf key to turn it on/off

Just my 2 cents worth.....

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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:23:55 +0200
From: Janne Liljeblad <janne liljeblad gmail com>
To: gnome-shell-list gnome org
Subject: Proposal: Add item to Top Menu Bar that opens Application
       Switcher        when pressed instead of the proposed windows list
Message-ID:
       <a72bf6480911260723i6edbd2bct8cdaa40e0980cd00 mail gmail com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

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

-- 
Dean Loros
Performance by Design Ltd
autocrosser at ubuntuforums.org