@Adrian I think the issues you and other people are experiencing could be sum up in a few bugs that need reporting:
1- Filters: show them by default; proposal by Jo-Erlend : https://lists.launchpad.net/unity-design/msg08031.html 2- An easier default view when showing/scrolling all apps: Alan Bell: https://lists.launchpad.net/unity-design/msg08005.html 3- Zoom in / out: (already submitted bug); https://lists.launchpad.net/unity-design/msg08027.html 4- Apps available for download: These suggestions are useful for *searches* or after clicking on specific filters/categories, but not when showing all (as it becomes too random). It should always show most relevant first and a link to "get more apps" could also be shown. 5- Recent apps: This is now in the home lens too, so is kind of duplicating. It could be kept in the apps lens, but it could be *fully collapsible* (instead of 1 row semi-expanded) to hide it fully if the user doesn't want it. This could become some sort of multi-bug report or is better to keep them separate ? > Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:01:07 +0200 > From: syra...@gmail.com > To: pjssi...@gmail.com > CC: unity-design@lists.launchpad.net > Subject: Re: [Unity-design] Some impressions about the current status of > Unity > > On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 13:17, pjssi...@gmail.com <pjssi...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Dear Adrian, > > > > On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 6:31 AM, Adrian Maier <syra...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Wow , that's a shocking suggestion : in order to see what's > >> available I need to start an application. > >> And this is supposed to be a progress compared to the old-style > >> desktop environments that can display a quick list of categories > >> without external software. > > > > The Dash is part of Unity just like the "Application menu" is part of > > Gnome 2. > > > From the user point of view there isn't a new application to open. > > What do you mean by that ? > > > >> I'd really like to understand the rationale against the idea of having > >> some sort of applications browser that is usable like an old-style > >> Applications menu : see a list of categories and be able to see > >> the contents of a category WITHOUT clicking on anything. > >> > > > > You still have an application browser, the only difference, as you > > said, is that you need to click on the categories, instead of just > > moving the mouse. > > It's more than that : it's also a problem with how the results are > displayed. > > After clicking on a category it shows only one row of applications . > In order to see all of them i have to click on "see more N results" . > > This gives me a constant feeling that "probably there are more things > in there that i don't know about " . > > The "Apps available for Download" are eating much too space. And as > a result the user is forced to "See more results" after every filter > search . > > > > >> Please believe me that in gnome2 or xfce I use the apps menu a lot . > >> It's easy enough so that i rarely feel the need to create shortcuts > >> on a panel. Every application has it's own well defined place inside > >> the menu. > >> > > > > Here is the key for your discomfort. You are used to open your > > applications using the menu and did not like the idea of typing the > > name (or description) in the Dash. One of the main characteristics of > > the Dash, IMHO, is that the best way to find an application using it > > is by typing Super+"name or description of the application" instead of > > using the mouse until pointing the right place. You should give it a > > try, it is much faster than using a mouse and you'll get much faster > > after one of two days. If you insist on using only the mouse, than the > > Dash is certainly not a good choice for you. > > The source of discomfort is that navigating around applications > categories is clunky . > > Let's imagine that the user clicks on a category (even though in a > classic apps menu it's enough to hover) . > > After clicking i don't immediately see the entire list of application > is that category ! > The screen is cluttered with: recent results , "see more N results" > , and "apps available to download" . > This is like a click-click puzzle game with colourful icons , not > efficient browsing . > > > The first version of the Unity (the netbook remix 10.10 if i > remember correctly) used to present the applications in a nicer way > : there was a big list with all the applications divided into > categories . It required some scrolling , but was better than what > i see now in 12.04. At least I could quickly form an idea about what > application are installed ! > > > >> Hmm... perhaps this is what irritates me about searching/filtering > >> in the Dash : when using these filters there is too much visual > >> noise (huge icons , see more 666 results , apps available for > >> download ) and a particular application will never appear in the > >> same place on the screen . > >> The visual clutter gives me a constant feeling that I never know > >> what's available for use . > > > > But 99% of the time you know exactly what you want to open. You know > > you want to open firefox, or thunderbird (or e-mail application), or > > Writter, or emacs. Just time its name, it is fast and usually you'll > > get a single option after 3 or for letters. > > When installing a new version of an operating system, it's > interesting to look around and see what new applications are available > by default . > > The Dash doesn't offer a comfortable solution for discovering > (browsing) what's available . > It's a fancy-looking search that requires 3D graphic acceleration , > nothing more . > > > Oh, and by the way : when filtering for "All" applications , > the results don't display the categories anymore . > > > > Where I think the Dash fails is for people that can't really type. I > > have two children, one is 5 and the other one is 8. The one with 5 > > learned to recognize the word "Game" from the old Gnome 2 menu and > > then to click on it (or hover ) to see the list of games. Now with the > > Dash he needs first to click on "Filter" (and this does not seem > > natural all for him). It would be nice to be able to have the list of > > categories always open as an option. > > > > best, > > > > Paulo > > > > > >> > >>> Now, neither piece may yet be ideal, but we should improve the design of > >>> those pieces for their specific purposes, not try to make everything do > >>> everything. > >>> > >>> Mark > >>> > >>> > >>> On 22/02/12 15:29, Adrian Maier wrote: > >>>> > >>>> On Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 17:19, nick rundy<nru...@hotmail.com> wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>> The problem is having to "expand" options, like the "See more results" > >>>>> option. Too much stuff is being crammed into the dash. > >>>>> > >>>>> For example, on the Applications Lens, users should be able to use > >>>>> setting > >>>>> to configure it so that it ONLY shows the applications installed on the > >>>>> machine. And by default shows ALL results. This way the user doesn't > >>>>> have > >>>>> to > >>>>> click so many things to get an expanded view of Applications. Also the > >>>>> filters should not have to be expanded (which I believe is the case in > >>>>> 12.04) > >>>>> > >>>>> @Adrian: > >>>>> > >>>>> if the Applications Lens defaults to show all stuff by default, then > >>>>> Unity > >>>>> is just as convenient as old-GNOME. > >>>>> > >>>>> 1. tap SUPER+A > >>>>> 2. click GAMES > >>>> > >>>> That sounds like just a workaround for solving a problem that didn't > >>>> exist before changing something that used to work well enough ... > >>>> > >>>> If there is a big list with all the applications , it implies > >>>> scrolling in order to find the category and then finding the > >>>> application. Too much visual noise for getting done a simple thing. > >>>> > >>>> I really mean that the right solution is to have a real classic menu / > >>>> list view . > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>>> Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:39:36 +0200 > >>>>>> From: syra...@gmail.com > >>>>>> To: unity-design@lists.launchpad.net > >>>>>> Subject: [Unity-design] Some impressions about the current status of > >>>>>> Unity > >>>>>> Hello people, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Today I've been curious to see what is the current status of Unity > >>>>>> compared to the version shipped last year with 11.04. > >>>>>> So i've installed the Ubuntu daily beta 12.04 in a virtual machine . > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> The main thing I would like to comment about is : navigation around > >>>>>> the available applications . > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I have chosen a simple task : " let's see what games are installed > >>>>>> " . Steps : > >>>>>> - CLICK on "ubuntu button" > >>>>>> - looking for the word "categories" on screen. Couldn't find it. > >>>>>> Finally figured out that "Filter results" might help with my task > >>>>>> - CLICK on Filter Results > >>>>>> - CLICK on Games > >>>>>> - it displays : Aislerot Solitaire , Freecell Solitaire , Mahjongg , > >>>>>> Mines > >>>>>> - hmm. Are there just 4 games installed ? apparently not - there > >>>>>> is a link "See 1 more result" > >>>>>> - CLICK on "see 1 more result". > >>>>>> > >>>>>> The next task "now let's see what development software is installed" . > >>>>>> Steps : > >>>>>> - the screen is still showing the previous screen with the games . > >>>>>> - CLICK on Developer in "filter results" > >>>>>> - nothing changes in the search results ! > >>>>>> - CLICK on Games , to deselect > >>>>>> - the Developer software finally > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Result : after 6 clicks I have been able to see what games and what > >>>>>> development tools are installed by default in 12.04 beta . > >>>>>> Too big icons , on a normal display there will always be necessary > >>>>>> to click on "see more N results". > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Now let's see the steps needed to do the same tasks in Ubuntu 10.04 , > >>>>>> gnome 2 : > >>>>>> - CLICK on "ubuntu button" > >>>>>> - move the mouse over "Games" . Read the list of applications. > >>>>>> - move the mouse over "Programming" . Read the list of applications. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Sorry for ranting , but killing productivity for visual cuteness is > >>>>>> not progress ... > >>>>>> It should be possible to have a classical menu with applications > >>>>>> categories (maybe on right-click on the desktop). > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> My personal conclusion : the current Unity is just as disappointing > >>>>>> as last year. > >>>>>> Starting an application multiple times seems to be handled ok now > >>>>>> (useful particularly for terminals). > >>>>>> But there is still zero configurability (in settings -> appearance > >>>>>> the user can only change the wallpaper and autohide the launcher . > >>>>>> Quite hilarious in a sad way ) . > >>>>>> No possibility to disable the global menu . > >>>>>> My main showstopper : no classic applications menu. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Cheers, > >>>>>> Adrian > >>>>>> > >>>>>> -- > >>>>>> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~unity-design > >>>>>> Post to : unity-design@lists.launchpad.net > >>>>>> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~unity-design > >>>>>> More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Adrian M > >> > >> -- > >> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~unity-design > >> Post to : unity-design@lists.launchpad.net > >> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~unity-design > >> More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp > > > > > > > > -- > > Paulo José da Silva e Silva > > Professor Associado, Dep. de Ciência da Computação > > (Associate Professor, Computer Science Dept.) > > Universidade de São Paulo - Brazil > > > > e-mail: pjssi...@ime.usp.br Web: http://www.ime.usp.br/~pjssilva > > > > -- > Adrian M > > -- > Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~unity-design > Post to : unity-design@lists.launchpad.net > Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~unity-design > More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
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