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Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

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Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#21

Post by pyre »

axod wrote: post #5
windsurfer wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It might make more sense for window controls to also be status applets, since not all windows can be minimized, maximized, or closed. For instance, if a particular window is no longer needed and only showing some completed action, the close button could turn green. If there's an error, it could turn red. If a process could take a long time, a progress bar could appear and the minimize button could turn green. If a we…

That sounds like a recipe for every app doing it differently, and lots of confusion.

It would only work in a 'Mac World' where there was a set of interface guidelines that were not only religiously followed by developers, but also rigorously requested by users.

Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#22

Post by igorgue »

bitwize wrote: post #19

Wait, what? You want to clutter up the window title bar with more garbage? This is why Mac OS X is the only viable desktop Unix. Apple knows how to distinguish between the simple, elegant, and useful and the eye candy which distracts and interferes with attention.

This basically works just like the OSX bar... I'd dare to say even better.

Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#23

Post by cookiecaper »

spot wrote: post #17
cookiecaper wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, but I don't know why they couldn't have just said "We're moving the buttons to the left to acclimate users and make way for a new feature we'll be introducing sometime in the near future, but are not ready to discuss right now." It would have been a lot nicer than their "because I said so" deal, which actually cost them at least one good developer (to my recollection; there was a story about it on here not that…

they did.

Ah, I didn't see it; the only explanation I ever saw was "we said so, sorry". They probably should have tried to publicize this more. Do you have a link?

Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#24

Post by w1ntermute »

unfair wrote: post #20

The Ubuntu changes make me cringe - I like how windows are now, and this sort of change makes me hesitant to upgrade. I like using Ubuntu, but several times when I've upgraded it trashed my system, or features didn't work right on an upgraded system while they did on a fresh install. Those are the issues I think they need to work on - making it flawless for the masses to use. A bad upgrade experience for a normal use…

I'm not anti-progress, but it seems like you should make significant changes after you have a large market share.

They're already the Linux distro with the greatest desktop market share. What more do you want them to wait for?

Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#25

Post by GHFigs »

bensummers wrote: post #3

The end result of a full screen interface with minimal chrome for devices with small screens is great. It's interesting how we've gone a full circle right back to full screen single tasking apps. Perhaps this is the iPhone's influence? Maybe we'll finally get the purple button in the next Mac OS X? http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2000/02/mac-os-x-dp3.ar...

From the Ars link: "Conceptually, it's as bad as adding a button for the audio volume control to the title bar of every single window!"

Granted, it's different with per-application volume control, but still funny.

Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#26

Post by barnaby »

lincolnq wrote: post #14
bcl wrote: post #11

Ick! So they are taking the functionality of dock/bar icon apps and reproducing it in each window title bar? Seems needlessly complicated and cluttered to me. I prefer a simple, streamlined design myself.

Analogously: Ick! So they are taking a chunk off the bottom of the window for a couple icons that could just as well have lived in the title bar? Seems needlessly complicated and cluttered; just put all the icons in one place.

I like that! Put more stuff in the title bar of the app.

Except, in Netbook Edition when you expand an application you no longer see its title bar.

Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#27

Post by barnaby »

unfair wrote: post #20

The Ubuntu changes make me cringe - I like how windows are now, and this sort of change makes me hesitant to upgrade. I like using Ubuntu, but several times when I've upgraded it trashed my system, or features didn't work right on an upgraded system while they did on a fresh install. Those are the issues I think they need to work on - making it flawless for the masses to use. A bad upgrade experience for a normal use…

Iterating on your product, like Canonical are doing with Ubuntu, makes a system that's BETTER than anything that ever came before. I couldn't wait to upgrade to 10.04 because so much new goodness.

It's like they're a lean startup, and this kind of stuff builds buzz that keeps them in the news. I suspect that their newsworthiness can only help in increasing marketshare.

Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#28

Post by barnaby »

bitwize wrote: post #19

Wait, what? You want to clutter up the window title bar with more garbage? This is why Mac OS X is the only viable desktop Unix. Apple knows how to distinguish between the simple, elegant, and useful and the eye candy which distracts and interferes with attention.

Why do I have the creeping suspicion that you haven't ever even used Ubuntu, and are just using this as a platform for your Mac fanboyism?

I LOVE Mac, but let me tell you, with this latest release, I LOVE Ubuntu more!

Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#29

Post by unfair »

w1ntermute wrote: post #24
unfair wrote: post #20

The Ubuntu changes make me cringe - I like how windows are now, and this sort of change makes me hesitant to upgrade. I like using Ubuntu, but several times when I've upgraded it trashed my system, or features didn't work right on an upgraded system while they did on a fresh install. Those are the issues I think they need to work on - making it flawless for the masses to use. A bad upgrade experience for a normal use…

I'm not anti-progress, but it seems like you should make significant changes after you have a large market share. They're already the Linux distro with the greatest desktop market share. What more do you want them to wait for?

Something higher than single digit percentages. Firefox, for instance.

Re: Window indicators for Ubuntu ("windicators")

#30

Post by viraptor »

I still don't get it. Why change the position of the controls and put indicators there? Why not use the left side for the indicators and remove the `arrow`?

Maybe I'm becoming one of the tinfoil hat people, but: They change the controls position and allow the application itself to draw the windicators. Application knows nothing about the controls position or the theme really, so it's possible that ubuntu applications will simply draw on the right. Suddenly people have to patch the applications to use them on another distribution and use themes that match what ubuntu apps try to do... Did I miss something?

All of this seems weird again when they presented screenshots with ~6 icons in the notification area as a "bad" example and now they put the same amount of icons per application (where applications can use their own icon styles).

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