I think in 11.10, the Apps available in for download lens in the dash needs to go. If someone wants more software they go to the software center.
DASH: Talk about dash improvements here
Archived thread 1743600 from Oneiric Ocelot Testing and Discussion (CLOSED). Markdown source: Oneiric_Ocelot_Testing_and_Discussion_(CLOSED)/thread_1743600_DASH_Talk_about_dash_improvements_here.md
I agree about the stupid apps for download, I also think that the main dash should go (the one you get by clicking the Ubuntu logo) because it is completely unnecessary when there is already a separate menu for apps and files. :? But, either way, I still have very high hopes for 11.10 and I can't wait to see what we get out of unity once it's more mature. I'm expecting great things in the upcoming months! :P :popcorn:
Am I the only person who finds the search in unity utterly useless? I have been manipulating large numbers of files through search for ages but now when I search for files I don't seem to be able to tell it where to search. It just pulls up results from wherever it can be bothered to!
I've found myself logging back into classic to use the old search instead.
macroshaft said: Am I the only person who finds the search in unity utterly useless? I have been manipulating large numbers of files through search for ages but now when I search for files I don't seem to be able to tell it where to search. It just pulls up results from wherever it can be bothered to!
I've found myself logging back into classic to use the old search instead.
If you want the old search back, just search in the dash for "search", and there will be a "link" (for lack of better words) to the old GNOME search. And i completely agree with you completely, so far, unity sucks for searching for files. :)
christoph411 said: If you want the old search back, just search in the dash for "search", and there will be a "link" (for lack of better words) to the old GNOME search. And i completely agree with you completely, so far, unity sucks for searching for files. :)
Thanks, that info is absolute gold!
The left dash needs to stay, but I think the system should automatically detect whether the screen format is Widescreen or 4:3. If the screen is in 4:3 mode, horizontal space is more important, so the dash should be very thin and on the bottom, by default. If the screen is widescreen, keep the dash the same, by default.
There should be a place somewhere where any user can decide to change the position of the dash, though.
linuxuser12345 said:
There should be a place somewhere where any user can decide to change the position of the dash, though.
I'm pretty sure this is on it's way. I think we can forgive the devs for leaving us lacking a few features right now, they did an amazing job doing as much as they did in such a short time!
I created menus of the programs I need and put them on the launcher bar. With that I find the dash to be redundant. If the dash was replaced with the original application menus it would be the best of both worlds. Icons for the most used programs in the launcher bar, and everything available through the application menus.
Is there a way to clear recent activity?
JRV said: If the dash was replaced with the original application menus it would be the perfect.
I agree, a menu would be much more compact, and thus help people that don't even know enough what they are looking for to search well. Dash is redundant with the gray icons in the Launcher dock, as was pointed out above.
Dash is rather unfamiliar to anybody from any computer background at all, which at this point is about everybody, so I would rather see the menu there. Even Window7 which has the same type of icons as the Launcher instead of the window list format (as default) still offers people that menu, so they can get started, or find something "completely different".
I love unity search! It's awesome! Just press super, type a file or app name (first few letters) and hit enter!
People will probably criticise but i still think that the Windows 7 dash is the best one i ever use. It's sleek and compact. Easy to browse for installed applications and to make searchs. I hope the Unity Dash evolute and create such a great experience as the windows dash.
[IMG]http://cdn3.windows7news.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/DexPot-MainMenu-400x461.png[/IMG]
benjamimgois said: People will probably criticise but i still think that the Windows 7 dash is the best one i ever use. It's sleek and compact. Easy to browse for installed applications and to make searchs. I hope the Unity Dash evolute and create such a great experience as the windows dash.
[IMG]http://cdn3.windows7news.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/DexPot-MainMenu-400x461.png[/IMG]
I disagree here, whenever I am forced to use Windows on someone elses computer I always use the search feature. I actually prefer the new search feature in Unity. The looking through folders ways to find your programs in Windows I find annoying especially as most of the time you need to remember the creator of a program.
Kicker in KDE is pretty similar
The Dash is more powerful because it searches all aspects of a program's package description for the keywords.
Dash may have a use but it should not replace a standard menu. Take the following example; To launch terminal, I can:
1) Use the mouse to click Applications - Accessories - Terminal 2) Use the mouse to start dash, type 'TER', then click the terminal icon
The first method relies on a single tool, the mouse, and needs 3 interactions, clicks, to complete.
The second method needs both keyboard and mouse with 2 clicks and 3 key strokes.
Considering Unity was aimed for netbooks and tablets, this lack of user comfort is worrying. Ubuntu's main opponent isn't Windows, it's OSX, and Apple do user comfort as 2nd nature.
I'll continue to try unity, but my main machine is Maverick until it matures fast enough.
shof2k said: Dash may have a use but it should not replace a standard menu. Take the following example; To launch terminal, I can:
1) Use the mouse to click Applications - Accessories - Terminal 2) Use the mouse to start dash, type 'TER', then click the terminal icon
The first method relies on a single tool, the mouse, and needs 3 interactions, clicks, to complete.
The second method needs both keyboard and mouse with 2 clicks and 3 key strokes.
Considering Unity was aimed for netbooks and tablets, this lack of user comfort is worrying. Ubuntu's main opponent isn't Windows, it's OSX, and Apple do user comfort as 2nd nature.
I'll continue to try unity, but my main machine is Maverick until it matures fast enough.
Super=> type "ter" => Enter.
Really, it can't get much quicker than that, short of a direct neural interface.
Just a small correction
Super+a => type "ter" => Enter.
I am using this all the time, its much, much quicker than navigating a menu.
Docaltmed said: Super=> type "ter" => Enter.
Really, it can't get much quicker than that, short of a direct neural interface.
Yes it can.
CTRL+ALT+T brings up gnome-terminal
Another thing I would like to see in the dash is something like the menu in gnome 3, instead of that horrible drop-down menu.
3 clicks compared to 3 keystrokes. I accept CTRL+ALT+T is fast, but those of us who didn't grow up with vi or emacs prefer to use a mouse or a touchscreen, why should we have to use a keyboard?
The point of dash and of Unity is to provide a natural interface when a keyboard isn't practical. Unity fails to do that now. The point should be, how to improve it. The suggestion of a Win7 combined dash and menu is the only one so far. Personally I'd like to see dash provide a search field at the top with a menu underneath.
I think that a way to improve the main dash would be to get rid of the huge links to programs, and make the main dash a place only for categories. So, the improved dash would instead feature links to: Internet, Multimedia, Games, Office, System, etc... Or, even better, they could just make the main dash customizable and let us add whatever we want to it (including filters, of course) Also, I believe that the dash experience would be much improved with the addition of a back arrow.
shof2k said: Dash may have a use but it should not replace a standard menu.
I agree, and it also should not replace a windows list. The traditional windows list with some text provides way more functionality than the little white carets. That text distinguishes things quickly for efficient window management, and gives important status feedback sometimes, like when something is done, or has changed state in the background. Really don't want to lose the status feedback.
Having a dash and a Gnome2 type menu is overkill.
This type of menu in the dash plus unity would be plain awesome
The main Objective would to remove the "frequently used" and the "apps for download" and this menu instead of the drop-down.
shof2k said: Dash may have a use but it should not replace a standard menu. Take the following example; To launch terminal, I can:
1) Use the mouse to click Applications - Accessories - Terminal 2) Use the mouse to start dash, type 'TER', then click the terminal icon
The first method relies on a single tool, the mouse, and needs 3 interactions, clicks, to complete.
The second method needs both keyboard and mouse with 2 clicks and 3 key strokes.
Considering Unity was aimed for netbooks and tablets, this lack of user comfort is worrying. Ubuntu's main opponent isn't Windows, it's OSX, and Apple do user comfort as 2nd nature.
I'll continue to try unity, but my main machine is Maverick until it matures fast enough. No mouse required for this action.
Super key>type TER> Shift+ down arrow> Enter to start terminal
Paulgirardin said: No mouse required for this action.
Super key>type TER> Shift+ down arrow> Enter to start terminal
Ctrl-Alt-T ;) [EDIT: ...Ah, someone already got there]
Going back on topic I think the gnome-shell Applications listing is far more intuitive. Best of both with the categories AND search.
I love the terminal for what it is, but starting applications through it is plain archaic. If Canonical wants to get more users,they need something appealing. And that is what 11.04 has started. 11.10 will give us a very sexy polish of this.
i only use the top left dash menu, so i got rid of the launcher 1's.
i think the main dash app's still needs work, i removed the other browser & just use epiphany browser, now i don't have a "browse the web", like epiphany's not even detected, it is set as preffered.
Both Unity now and Shell by 3,2 will rely on Zeitgeist to make the computer work for you. I.e., i think you need to type "ter" maybe once or twice. After that you'll just need to type "t". The same for other applications according to the way you use the computer. There really is no point in evoking the menu style orientation, because that is precisely what is trying to be avoided.
At the very least I want to see the dash support middle click or Ctrl-v pasting of text. It's so annoying that you can't do that with Alt-F2.
Paulgirardin said: No mouse required for this action.
Super key>type TER> Shift+ down arrow> Enter to start terminal
You have not understood my point. The point of Unity and Dash is to provide a natural interface where a keyboard may not be the best solution. Your point means we could do away with a GUI at all, why not just have a command line and be done with it?
Please be constructive on either deciding Unity is hopeless, or my position of Unity needs serious improvement before being a true usage option.
Sashin said: I love unity search! It's awesome! Just press super, type a file or app name (first few letters) and hit enter!
I'm starting to see the benefit of Unity, but, when I type in keystrokes in the unity dash search box, it is very slow. Usually, a few seconds for a few keystrokes to show up. Bad bad. Anyone else having that problem? http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1745036
A few basics that Unity needs to change:
- when the dash is open, clicking on blank space should close the dashboard
- customizable themes, customizable content in the dash
- auto-hide top bar (verticle space is a premium on new laptops).
- and above all, a top bar that can auto-hide. :)
First off, the Dash foremost an application launcher, not a replacement for a real file search. Normal search tools are included in 11.04. The dash is useful for finding recently used files but not much more
I'd like to depth navigation of user folders within the dash itself, as you find in 10.10 UNE. I'd also like to see implementation for real-time web-search results, as well as an actions quick list as you find in synapse or Gnome-Do.
It would make since to integrate shell commands into the main dash instead of an exclusive pane for that. It would also be nice to cut down on redundancies between the dash and the dock.
And for goodness sake, don't listen to those guys who want to take the software center options out of the search! I want everything at my finger tips as quickly as you can get it there!
shof2k said: You have not understood my point. The point of Unity and Dash is to provide a natural interface where a keyboard may not be the best solution. Your point means we could do away with a GUI at all, why not just have a command line and be done with it?
Please be constructive on either deciding Unity is hopeless, or my position of Unity needs serious improvement before being a true usage option.
Your being ridiculous. Keyboard launchers like Gnome-Do, Synapse, Quicksliver, Windows Start Menu and now the Dash are far superior for locating and launching programs in a GUI than the terminal. Of course, the dash still has a lot of growing up to do before it can compete with Synapse, Gnome-Do or Quicksilver.
That said, I will agree that the dash needs some re-tooling to be optimized for mouse or touch interfaces.
aeronutt said: I'm starting to see the benefit of Unity, but, when I type in keystrokes in the unity dash search box, it is very slow. Usually, a few seconds for a few keystrokes to show up. Bad bad. Anyone else having that problem?
No. I had this problem with 10.10 UNE, but not now. You could actually give Unity 2D a shot. It's very snappy.
I'm not a hacker and therefore am of no use in solving this problem or even understanding the practicality of the solution. But if I could surf through the Dash, find a file and hit space(or something) and view a preview of the file/folder while still within the Dash, Ubuntu would be not only amazing but highly efficient from a user's perspective. What do you think? Is it possible?
Here's one for you. Dash seems to randomly grab results from wherever it feels. Files I have viewed with totem suddenly show up when I start typing totem etc.
Sometimes you have files you don't want to advertise to the world, perhaps sensitive documents such as business contracts or your stash of boyband music you'd never admit to loving!
Is there any way to prevent dash from poking around in selected folders?
Zeitgeist, which drives the DASH results is not a simple search engine. It basically tracks you usage and returns results based on that. So searching for a file called FRED will return things associated with the usage of that file as well as the file itself. I guess initially, when your usage is limited, the results returned are may be limited as well ( such as other files opened on the same day). Hopefully as you use the system more the linkages will get better and more sophisticated, so that additional data becomes useful.
Zeitgeist allows you to blacklist files and directories to exclude inclusion in its database. However I do not offhand know how to do it.
Peter09 said: Zeitgeist, which drives the DASH results is not a simple search engine. It basically tracks you usage and returns results based on that. So searching for a file called FRED will return things associated with the usage of that file as well as the file itself. I guess initially, when your usage is limited, the results returned are may be limited as well ( such as other files opened on the same day). Hopefully as you use the system more the linkages will get better and more sophisticated, so that additional data becomes useful.
Zeitgeist allows you to blacklist files and directories to exclude inclusion in its database. However I do not offhand know how to do it.
I think a gui needs to be included to ban folders from the results. Not everyone wants 100% of their data on display to whoever may be looking over their shoulder.
I think, mmmm ... that the Activity Journal, (its in the repositories) allows you to do this.
ninjaaron said:
Your being ridiculous. Keyboard launchers like Gnome-Do, Synapse, Quicksliver, Windows Start Menu and now the Dash are far superior for locating and launching programs in a GUI than the terminal. Of course, the dash still has a lot of growing up to do before it can compete with Synapse, Gnome-Do or Quicksilver.
That said, I will agree that the dash needs some re-tooling to be optimized for mouse or touch interfaces.
We have a difference of definitions. I class the software you mention as part of the GUI; the windows start bar can be used via Keyboard or mouse. My point being that if you want to use a touch screen or be mouse driven, then Unity isn't fit enough for the purpose.
Unity makes it hard for macroshaft to hide his porn. Amends must be made!
shof2k said: We have a difference of definitions. I class the software you mention as part of the GUI; the windows start bar can be used via Keyboard or mouse. My point being that if you want to use a touch screen or be mouse driven, then Unity isn't fit enough for the purpose.I believe you were saying that Unity is designed primarily as a mouse or touch interface, and adding greater keyboard accessibility is a step backwards in UI design, back towards the CLI. I don't think that's quite true.
While I do agree that mouse accessibility is slightly reduced in Unity, and that isn't good, I don't see it as a major regression. I also think it is pretty obvious that Natty is not designed primarily as mouse or touch interface. If it were, it makes no sense why keyboard access is so greatly expanded, while mouse interaction becomes a bit more tedious. The uTouch gestures have been added in this release, but that project is still in it's infancy.
Furthermore, Mark Shuttleworth and his minions have specifically said that the focus for 11.04 was on reinventing the desktop interface, where there is a keyboard. They would like to have a viable tablet interface by 12.04, and there will probably be more development in that direction in the coming cycle, but it's not here yet, and that was never the plan. If you want to define the goals of the release differently from the people who finance and develop it, it's your own affair, but it's hardly the only way to look at things.
ninjaaron said:
I believe you were saying that Unity is designed primarily as a mouse or touch interface, and adding greater keyboard accessibility is a step backwards in UI design, back towards the CLI. I don't think that's quite true. No, adding keystrokes to make up for a shortcoming in a non keyboard process is not good. You stating that I should by bypass Unity and use Keyboard shortcuts means I can go back to Gnome2, Enlightenment, or XFCE since shortcuts can be used there.
While I do agree that mouse accessibility is slightly reduced in Unity, and that isn't good, I don't see it as a major regression. I also think it is pretty obvious that Natty is not designed primarily as mouse or touch interface. If it were, it makes no sense why keyboard access is so greatly expanded, while mouse interaction becomes a bit more tedious. The uTouch gestures have been added in this release, but that project is still in it's infancy.
Natty isn't primarily a mouse interface process, Unity is. You agree with my point that mouse accessability is reduced, but then claim its not worth my highlighting this, but I should work around it? How can it improve if people don't point out the problem?
Furthermore, Mark Shuttleworth and his minions have specifically said that the focus for 11.04 was on reinventing the desktop interface, where there is a keyboard. They would like to have a viable tablet interface by 12.04, and there will probably be more development in that direction in the coming cycle, but it's not here yet, and that was never the plan. Natty is a stepping stone to fully functioning Unity interface. I never said Unity will never work, only it doesn't work enough in this version. It will improve, and I suggested a way for it to improve at the beginning of this thread.
If you want to define the goals of the release differently from the people who finance and develop it, it's your own affair, but it's hardly the only way to look at things. Are we all employees of Mark Shuttleworth? If he wants to put a decision forward, he is welcome to and back it with his own money. I don't expect it to buy my silence. If I see something wrong, I want to fix it.
I have to disagree with you on people not using the keyboard more now than previously. Younger users are just as used to using a keyboard, as any other method of interacting with their system, be it a smart phone or a computer system of some sort. It's us middle aged users that seem to want to do everything with a mouse, I know I'm guilty of that myself.
The way desktop environments are used, is changing, whether we like it or not.
I've given away my age range :) I don't have any objection to the keyboard, but don't see why any device that is primarily touchscreen or mouse based, should have to use a keystroke combination to make up for shortfalls in the native interface. Would Ubuntu on the ipad need a keyboard attachment or the keyboard emulator? Ubuntus main opponent is MacOs not Windows. I think we have an opportunity with Unity to go beyond what apple can do. It isn't there yet, but I want to be part of the improvement.
I've posted this in a couple of places so apologies if you've seen it before.
UI designers have long recognised that the mouse/menu system is not the best way of driving a computer. Navigating a mouse to a small target, moving over multiple other targets before clicking requires concentration and coordination. Just watch a beginner try to find a menu target from a big menu.
Power users have for a long time deferred to keyboard shortcuts, command lines and searches to perform these tasks, even in MS Windows. They do it because it is quicker and easier - it allows the user to concentrate on the task in hand.
What Unity does is move focus away from the mouse/ menu towards an easy to use and easy to remember system of shortcuts. Allowing casual users to easily adopt the practices of Power Users.
If you are going to enjoy Unity you have to change you way of working somewhat to fit in with this concept. Once you do so it all comes together.
List of Unity Shortcuts
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/list-of-ubuntu-unity-keyboard-shortcuts.html
CreativeReach said: Another thing I would like to see in the dash is something like the menu in gnome 3, instead of that horrible drop-down menu.
I can't really see why you would consider the menu in Gnome 3 to be better than in Unity, or how going through the activities overview to get to it better than going through the dash.
I can click 'dash --> more apps --> all applications --> some category --> view more applications --> the application I want to open' quicker than it takes for the menu just to come up in Gnome 3, could just be the performance of that feature on my machine, YMMV.
And in Unity I can choose to skip the main dash window and go directly to applications by clicking 'Applications' on the left panel.
[sarcasm]Not that that saves anything near a significant amount of time, but I guess some people are worried about the amount of calories they might burn in a day having to do an extra click every time they want to open an application that is not pinned to the left panel.[/sarcasm] :P
Later, Seeker
CreativeReach said: The main Objective would to remove the "frequently used" and the "apps for download" and this menu instead of the drop-down.
Instead of suggesting the removal of "frequently used" I would suggest not showing the frequently used apps that you have pinned to the left panel.
Don't know abut the removal of "apps for download" either. Would you suggest removing "command not found" so that when you type in a command that doesn't exist you don't see a result showing what package you could install that supports that command?
Later, Seeker
Not sure why we need to remove those categories, they can be useful and they do not conflict with the functionality of the dash.
Peter09 said: Not sure why we need to remove those categories, they can be useful and they do not conflict with the functionality of the dash.
From what I've seen those categories are plain not useful. They are plain annoying, at least the apps for download is. If I want more software ill search the software center, with ratings and descriptions, not just icons.
OK - so you can ignore those ICONs, after all when you go to a menu you ignore all the other options except the target that you want to click - so what’s the difference?
Well the whole point of unity is to simplify. And that is what I call clutter. But I guess its not a big deal, and I can and am living with it.
Personally, I'd like to just have the search bar..
I use dual monitors and my spare is on the left. It's difficult to make the quick menu pop up.
macroshaft said: Here's one for you. Dash seems to randomly grab results from wherever it feels. Files I have viewed with totem suddenly show up when I start typing totem etc.
If you are on the main dash screen search is going to show results for everything, more or less.
If you are in the applications part the results will only be applications.
If you go to the files section the results will only be files.
Sometimes you have files you don't want to advertise to the world, perhaps sensitive documents such as business contracts or your stash of boyband music you'd never admit to loving!
Is there any way to prevent dash from poking around in selected folders?
Go to 'dash --> find files --> all files' click one of Folders, Documents, images, videos, etc...
For general history, I agree there should be a single place to clear that for things that are not specific to an application and for applications that use zeitgeist, akonadi, and other related technologies that work together.
As for history as it relates to specific applications, applications should provide a way to nuke their history whether zeitgeist, akonadi, etc.. are used or the application keeps track of history in it's own application specific way.
Outside of that, keep your guilty pleasures ouside of the XDG user directories. By default:
XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/Desktop"
XDG_DOWNLOAD_DIR="$HOME/Download"
XDG_TEMPLATES_DIR="$HOME/Templates"
XDG_PUBLICSHARE_DIR="$HOME/Public"
XDG_DOCUMENTS_DIR="$HOME/Documents"
XDG_MUSIC_DIR="$HOME/Music"
XDG_PICTURES_DIR="$HOME/Pictures"
XDG_VIDEOS_DIR="$HOME/Videos"But you can edit '~/.config/user-dirs.dirs' to change that. According to http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/xdg-user-dirs, it seems if you delete a line it will be recreated the next time you log in, if you use '$HOME' as the target the relevant directory should be disabled.
It might also be suggested that you get to know and love bleachbit.
Later, Seeker
I would like to be able to scale the dash down beyond its default size on a netbook so it looks similar to how it does on a desktop.
DogMatix said: I would like to be able to scale the dash down beyond its default size on a netbook so it looks similar to how it does on a desktop.
I believe that can be done in compiz? not sure so I'll check.
The only reason I do not like the "Apps Available for Download" section is because it takes up 33.33 percent of the search screen when you click "Applications" in the unity bar. Plus, I feel like I'm being advertised to...
Starks said: Yes it can.
CTRL+ALT+T brings up gnome-terminal
I put Nautilus at the top of my Launcher, and Terminal just below it. Then:
Super + 1 brings up Nautilus Super + 2 brings up Terminal
;)
I have to agree that I don't see the benefit of the dash. The search function is, as mentioned by several others, to say at least strange if not confusing. I had seen a mock-up of how the dash could combine the best of old and new here : http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/03/a-gnome-menu-style-unity-dash/ and like this idea a lot.
I also hate the fact that both the dash and the launcher are 'dead' to right-mouse-clicks. I think that basic info and hopefully later stuff like help and properties/preferences should be available. After all this has been the way to find out about a panel/object etc for ages.
Ans as usual, like several other things, the dash should be open for customization (and not just for people who are familiar with CCSM).
Furthermore, I really don't think comments like 'you have to adapt your way of working because up to date / hip people no longer just use a mouse' is the way to go. If the user can decide how many mouse clicks or keystrokes it takes her/him then everyone can be happy. If some people want as little mouse clicks as possible or don't consider themselves 'power-users' and don't want to have a huge post-it stuck to the computer with all the shortcuts, then this opinion should be respected and not mocked.
I totally agree - removing apps available for download in dash ! It is really anoying or at least provide a way to deactivate it; it is taking a lot of space and most of the apps icons are ugly !
Can someone give us a hack in order to deactivate it ?? We would appreciate it !
Hi, I wonder if this is the best place to post new ideas concerning dash. I'm curious if anybody from Canonical reads it, at least. I doubt. :confused: :?:
I wish there were some more customization options for dash. I want to be able to have dash open maximized, because the way it is now makes me maximize it every time, anyway. I have a large 1440x900 screen and plenty of space, so it makes me annoyed when it is minimized every time. ](*,) There should be an option to change it. Please, don't forget about PC users while going mobile. :!:
I want to be able to set icons in my own category groups. For example on top my favorite, and below some categories similar to gnome menu with ability to give custom names for category and choose icon that I want to add to this category. And on the right side there should be something like category list or just below search something like category bar so that I can click on it and see the category immediately without scrolling down - something similar the way Gnome Control Center works.
The goal here is to minimize numbers of mouse clicks and being able to reach the icon I want easily and quickly. Two, three mouse clicks should be a maximum.
New apps category should be optional. In Synaptic it serves very well but seeing it in dash all the time is annoying. There are no new apps available every day, anyway.
Being able to hide or getting rid of the apps for download is unanimously called for. :popcorn: Here that Canonical.
Not unanimously - I don't mind them .. :(
EGamerHDK said: The only reason I do not like the "Apps Available for Download" section is because it takes up 33.33 percent of the search screen when you click "Applications" in the unity bar. Plus, I feel like I'm being [COLOR="Red"]advertised to[/COLOR]...
I totally agree!
Yes, please drop those applications that aren't installed but can be downloaded. It is cluttered enough without these extra applications.
CreativeReach said: I believe that can be done in compiz?
not sure so I'll check.
I have tried
gsettings set com.canonical.Unity form-factor DesktopWith the variables
'Automatic' 'Desktop' 'Netbook'
But it doesn't offer scaling the dash down below the default size. I can't find an option in compiz for dash size. But I'd like one.
DogMatix said: I have tried
gsettings set com.canonical.Unity form-factor DesktopWith the variables
'Automatic' 'Desktop' 'Netbook'
But it doesn't offer scaling the dash down below the default size. I can't find an option in compiz for dash size. But I'd like one. It work for me!
CreativeReach said: It work for me!
When I set it to 'Desktop' on my netbook I get the collapsing dash but the dash and search bar disappear of the right hand side of the screen so I can't get to the resizing handle.
On my desktop computer also running 11.04 I see the resizing handle on the dash but clicking on it simply maximizes the dash to full screen I can't resize it smaller. Is this a bug? I thought this was how was supposed to be.
DogMatix said: When I set it to 'Desktop' on my netbook I get the collapsing dash but the dash and search bar disappear of the right hand side of the screen so I can't get to the resizing handle.
On my desktop computer also running 11.04 I see the resizing handle on the dash but clicking on it simply maximizes the dash to full screen I can't resize it smaller. Is this a bug? I thought this was how was supposed to be.
The re-size handle will not show by default on small screens, but the line of code (that you posted) did it on my small netbook.
Starks said: The Dash is more powerful because it searches all aspects of a program's package description for the keywords.
Why do you need the dash (a big cartoon menu) for search? If you like searh bar-launcher just install Synapse, it has the same functions as search in the dash but you don't need a dash to use it. It has an icon on the top panel, click it and a small search box launcher appears instead of a gigantic dash that takes up the whole screen (or 3/4 of it) .
I notice that the only good thing that anyone has to say about the dash is search, that basically means the cartoon menu is a design failure because search is essentially a way to bypass using the cartoon menu and as noted, it doesn't need the dash to implement.
cariboo907 said: I have to disagree with you on people not using the keyboard more now than previously. Younger users are just as used to using a keyboard, as any other method of interacting with their system, be it a smart phone or a computer system of some sort. It's us middle aged users that seem to want to do everything with a mouse, I know I'm guilty of that myself.
The way desktop environments are used, is changing, whether we like it or not.
Funny that it seems Unity's intended audience changes every time when someone brings up a criticism. If you say it is not customizable, the icons are too in your face then you are told Unity is meant for new user like grandpa and grandma (this is ageist but never mind) who don't see very well, basically only surf the web and check email so should keep everything simple and limited.
Now when someone points out Unity is not point and click friendly we are told Unity is meant not only for the "average users" but they have to be "young" too, because youth is so magical that even though they are supposedly inexperienced causal users but somehow are all keyboard jockeys who are accustomed to memorizing a long list of random key combinations to do simple things
If you cannot or don't want to remember arbitrary key combos with no logic or rhyme then it is because you are "middle aged" and that is of course your fault (I have no idea where you get the notion that the young generation are all good at typing and using hotkeys. I am not "middle age" and I know quite a few counter examples) What happens to the grandmas and grandpas?? Presumably they are not young even though they are not "middle age" either.
So it seems that Unity has such wide appeal that every imaginary group is covered (if you count different mutually exclusive scenarios) except the current users.
beew said: So it seems that Unity has such wide appeal that every imaginary group is covered ... except the current users.
If I'd asked customers what they wanted, they would have said "a faster horse".
-- Henry Ford
Merk42 said: If I'd asked customers what they wanted, they would have said "a faster horse".
-- Henry Ford The majority of users wanted a desktop overhaul, that's what we got. If you don't want it, move to another distro.
I have no problem with a new desktop, or UI. And I'm actually starting to understand the concept of the new interface, and am starting to like it. But, my concern, is this is turning in to a GUI war amongst releases and users. All the energy spent on upgrading, fixing, developing a new desktop is fine and encouraged, but ONLY if it does not put the underlying value of open source Linux at risk. The traditional value of Linux (to me) has been: security, broad range of open source tools, flexibility, performance, and 99.9% works out of the box. At least on 11.04, for me and my hardware, I've had to give up flexibility, performance, and works-out-of-the-box. I'm still struggling with fundamental problems (touch pad, graphics, performance, etc.), so much so, the desktop is by far a secondary concern.
For the first time since I've been bragging about the usefulness of Ubuntu (~3 years), I'm am strongly considering setting Windows7 as my default boot option, and it has nothing to do with the decision to pick Unity as default desktop. I've spent countless hours, and untold # of reboots just getting 11.04 to a mostly usable state, with still a few core problems.
beew said: So it seems that Unity has such wide appeal that every imaginary group is covered (if you count different mutually exclusive scenarios) except the current users.
It's got stuff to appeal to people who like to stick to the mouse/touchpad as much as they can.
It's got stuff to appeal to people who like to stick to the keyboard as much as they can.
Sure it's not going to be as attractive to people who like to endlessly customize things, but there are plenty of other options.
There seem to be plenty of current users who like it.
It's not perfect for sure, but there is a good base there to work from now.
Later, Seeker
Wow, this is the way to go for unity dash !
benjamimgois said: Wow, this is the way to go for unity dash !
Not going to even think of putting that image into the quote as it's way too big.
Anyway that looks gross, I'd rather Unity stay how it is than look like that.
lee.jarratt said: Not going to even think of putting that image into the quote as it's way too big.
Anyway that looks gross, I'd rather Unity stay how it is than look like that.
And I'd rather Unity be customizable so I could make it look like that, but only if I wanted. :):)
(PS, I kinda like it, but it needs to include search.)
CreativeReach said: The majority of users wanted a desktop overhaul, that's what we got. If you don't want it, move to another distro.
Well, that's exactly what I did and am extremely happy with Bodhi Linux and Enlightenment. I have worked with Ubuntu for many years and been involved with bug triage back to Intrepid and just found the direction ludicrous in recent times. I still keep an eye on the development of Ubuntu in hopes that something really innovative can rise out of it. For right now... it's not for me. I like my new ground.
So your suggestion is quite relevant for some of us.
shof2k said: 3 clicks compared to 3 keystrokes. I accept CTRL+ALT+T is fast, but those of us who didn't grow up with vi or emacs prefer to use a mouse or a touchscreen, why should we have to use a keyboard?
The point of dash and of Unity is to provide a natural interface when a keyboard isn't practical. Unity fails to do that now. The point should be, how to improve it. The suggestion of a Win7 combined dash and menu is the only one so far. Personally I'd like to see dash provide a search field at the top with a menu underneath.
I grew up with Windows and became a mouse junkie. But the longer I'm using Ubunu, the more I rely on my keyboard alone. It's just more natural and faster. So for me, THE Dash is à blessing
I like Unity to a large degree. Took me awhile to get it stable on my Toshiba but it is pretty good now. But the Dash needs to be customizable. Like right clicking icons and deleting them. Making those lenses sizable by dragging a corner. And being able to put the launcher on the top or bottom would be a feature I would like. But Ubuntu always seems to surpass my little complaints in good time. Someone mentioned it earlier, freedom is the key for me. Ubuntu/Linux has provided that for me and I sure don't want to lose that.
I've been using it for a couple of days, It works pretty well The only thing I've found is that you can't put shortcuts (LINKS) into it (well, some of them you can but they change their logo to the default launcher logo, and there is no way to change it) WHY?
kirill578 said: I've been using it for a couple of days, It works pretty well
The only thing I've found is that you can't put shortcuts (LINKS) into it (well, some of them you can but they change their logo to the default launcher logo, and there is no way to change it) WHY?
I found out that the 'shortcuts' in the Dash are controlled via 'Preferred applications'. So you can't add custom stuff but Dash will show your default web browser, email client, and multimedia player.
I switched to Unity-2d on my Laptop. My Desktop is dual-head and Unity doesn't really work across a multi-monitor setup. I've learned to like unity especially after I got Chrome to conform to the Ambiance-Evolution theme and got global menu working on Chrome. But the "Apps Available for Download" lens HAS-GOT-TO-GO! I'm not saying it was a stupid move. It's just completely redundant. You want apps? UTFSC.