Ubuntu QA:
BlogBrainstormPackage status
Log in
Ubuntu QA
The Ubuntu community has contributed 22700 ideas, 138270 comments, 2629576 votes
Idea sandbox Idea sandbox
Popular ideas Popular ideas
Ideas in development Ideas in development
Implemented ideas Implemented ideas

Contributor pascalio

Optimize Unity Sidebar for Desktops  
Written by psnizek the 11 Apr 13 at 09:55. Related project: Unity. New
Proposal is about:
- better cope with having many apps locked-in to the sidebar
- improve sidebar as task-switcher alternative to [alt]-[tab]

usability issues:
- often loosing sidebar when scrolling down (autohide)
- running apps are shown in the original locked-in "home" position which can become inconvenient (if many apps locked-in and scrolling is needed)

Suggestion:
- show running apps in the top area of the sidebar. When app is closed the app icon shall return to it's original "home" position.
- optionally have a "preferred apps" zone in the sidebar for apps that are being used often, but not running yet.
- keep a zone for locked in apps
- introduce column heads for "running", "preferred" and "locked-in" that allows expansion and collapsing of each respective zone (perhaps triggerd with "mouse hover" over the zone or with a click on the column head).

----------------------------
If I am forced to scroll the sidebar down, I often loose it (bar autohides) when not paying attention to an exact movement with of the mouse and need to start all over again which over time is annoying. It's really about dragging the mouse precisely in a straight line, scrolling, searching, playing seek and hide...

If I want to use the unity bar as task switcher then I often need to scroll the bar all the way down to the position where I have originally locked in my app. Not locked-in apps are listed even at the very bottom of the sidebar when running. That doesn't make awful lot of sense from a usability pont of view. In cases where many instances of apps are running concurrently [alt]-[tab] rotation is not very convenient.
19
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Turn Unity Sidebar into Unity Smartbar:
Written by psnizek the 11 Apr 13 at 09:55.
Proposal:

Smart, associative ordering of app icons in Unity sidebar:

The Unity side bar should order applications according to the following priorities from top to down:

Group 1 "running") At the very top: list all open (running) applications according to their window level on the desktop. So apps on the top (visible) first and apps at the bottom (partially or not visible or minimized) last.

Group 2 "preferred") second priority: show a configurable number of apps accordingly to "most frequently used" over a certain period of time. However, do not show apps that are running already here as they would belong under 1) If no application is started yet then apps belonging to 2) would show up first.

Group 3 "locked") third priority: User/OS defined order. Show all other apps that are registered at the sidebar according to the user (or OS, if the user didn't) defined order. Do not show apps here that are shown already under 2 or 1.

Behavior / associative "thinking":
If an app is "locked" and frequently used "preferred" then it is shown in Group 2. If one day the app is not anymore frequently used then it would fall back from group 2 to group 3. If the app is not even locked, than the app would disappear from the side bar completely.

Same with Group 1 "running": Once the app is closed it either returns to group 2 "preferred" (if frequently used), or to group 3 "locked" (if docked to the sidebar). Or the app disappears completely from the side bar if not frequently used and not registered.

Group 2) "preferred" can also show "unlocked" (not to the side bar docked) apps. An app can be frequently used even if it is not "locked" in the sidebar

Grouping:
Each of these groups (1. "running" 2. "preferred" 3. "locked") should get a group head. If clicked on it the group unfolds and if again clicked on it the group collapses. The groups should be draggable in order to change their vertical placement (order) in the bar.

Magnetic behavior of sidebar when visible and if switched-on autohide:
It would be great if the sidebar had a kind of "magnetic force" that helps to move the mouse vertically up and down in a straight line and to prevent an unwanted autohide. It perhaps could be managed by "mouse cursor pressure". If the pressure (configurable?) to the right border gets strong enough, the mouse cursor can escape the sidebar and autohide is triggered.

Benefit: I would save a lot of clicking, mouse dragging and wheel rolling to search and start apps or switch from one app to the other. Also it would make the user experience with the side bar much more robust (magnetic force). The Unity side bar would actually start supporting me similar to a Golf caddy who always gives me the right choice of golf clubs depending on the situation and my play style :-)
-8
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Show running programs in the upper (horizontal) bar
Written by Mathias the 30 Apr 13 at 16:40.
I used ubuntu studio for a while and there all the running programs ware displayed in the upper bar. This worked perfectly in my opinion. I was surprised to see that this isn't the same in ubuntu 13.04

Now I learned to use shortcut keys to swich programs but it would still be very handy if I could see the running programs up instead of "file - edit - view - etc..."

See the 8 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 13 Apr 13 at 17:25) >>

Easier "show desktop"  
Written by brk0_0 the 11 Oct 11 at 05:16. Related project: Unity. Implemented
It's hard to show desktop on ubuntu, and we don't have an easy and good way to do this.
78
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Add a "Show Desktop" icon on Unity Launcher
Written by brk0_0 the 11 Oct 11 at 05:16.
Add a "Show Desktop" icon on Unity Launcher by default and, when we click on it, every windows are minimized.

If you don't open any new window, clicking on it again brings back the windows that were not minimized. If you do, clicking on the icon minimize the new window(s).

-29
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#2): Add workspace swither on top panel.
Written by inder.vs the 12 Oct 11 at 06:51.
would be much easier to work on different workspace, keeping one workspace as desktop.
4
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#3): Extenion of Solution #1 and #2
Written by Jacko the 12 Oct 11 at 22:23.
create applets for the top panel as an option for those that want these features
10
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#4): Right-click or middle-click on workspace switcher.
Written by RobinJ1995 the 14 Oct 11 at 12:13.
Currently nothing happens when you right-click on the workspace switcher, clicking with the scroll wheel may also be an option but I think right-clicking would make more sense. Seems to me that it'd make sense to integrate it into the workspace switcher.
-14
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#5): Add a mini icon in the workspace switcher
Written by iso9660 the 15 Oct 11 at 21:24.
It could be added a mini icon in the work space switcher which unfolds when the cursor hovers on it.
0
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#7): Make a mouse gesture for a specific corner to show desktop, like Gnome Shell has
Written by MsG the 20 Oct 11 at 09:52.
Many modern operating systems have mouse gestures for the corners of the window. Ubuntu could make use of them for some events, like showing the desktop and stuff.
12
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#8): Add Mini Button.
Written by Drak the 20 Oct 11 at 16:17.
This solution is similar to # 1, but offers a slightly modified form.
Make a button like in Windows 7 - thin and small.
It will occupy much less space than a normal button, it is important for the small displays.
Place it at the bottom, under the trash, so it was could quickly click it (go cursor to the lower left corner).
-7
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#9): use the ubuntu icon in 11.04 launcher as a hotcorner/button
Written by saiki4116 the 1 Nov 11 at 20:16.
This would make drag and drop files onto desktop easy and more productive.The ubuntu icon(top right most corner of the unity launcher) in 11.04 has been replaced by a blank space in 11.10,so that place could be a ideal place for the hot corner/button.

basically merging solution #1 and #7
4
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#10): key combination to show desktop
Written by ody the 2 Nov 11 at 09:19.
There should also be a key combination to show the desktop (like "Super + d" in previous versions). This is only a functionality extension, not a real alternative to the solutions stated above.
0
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#11): Create a mini button exactly 1/4 the size of a regular button
Written by Jebeld17 the 6 Nov 11 at 00:06.
Do exactly as solution #1, but have a mini-button exactly 1/4 the size of a regular button. Allow the user to add more min-buttons if he or she decides to, and let the user configure it around a bit, a little like Windows XP's "quick launch" feature. Now, since the buttons are 1/4 the size, 4 of these can all be assembled in a square the exact same size as a regular application launcher, saving space. I would like these located at the bottom of the application list on the launcher by default, but I want it's placement to be user-configurable.
2
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#12): Have all the same features as #1, but with another tool added:
Written by Jebeld17 the 6 Nov 11 at 00:14.
Have all the exact same features proposed in Solution #1, but also have it take a "peek" at the desktop when the mouse hovers over the icon, just like in Windows 7.
4
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#13): As #1, but on the panel - the launcher doesn't need more icon bloat
Written by alms66 the 7 Dec 11 at 02:26.
As #1, but on the panel - the launcher doesn't need more icon bloat

See the 14 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 18 Jan 13 at 18:39) >>

Battery notifier could be more complete  
Written by pascalio the 16 Dec 11 at 15:58. Related project: Unity. New
On a laptop, the battery notifier is not elaborate enough since it only shows the current prognostics for the remaining time on battery power when you click on it, which does tell the actual current status of the battery.
88
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Show percentage as well
Written by pascalio the 16 Dec 11 at 15:58.
Show a more objective indicator as well (perhaps within brackets), such as the percentage of the battery that is remaining, as it can be found if you travel to the history tab of the power statistics.
31
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Show direct readings from sensors in System Monitor
Written by ross9885 the 24 Dec 11 at 19:10.
Graph battery voltage and current draw in the System Monitor and it's applet. Allow the user the opportunity to figure out clever ways of conserving power based on real data from their machine.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 11 Jan 13 at 17:10) >>

Unity Drag&Drop  
Written by martellc the 30 May 12 at 14:10. Related project: Unity. New
I want to propose a new way of interacting with files through Drag&Drop in Ubuntu.
In the current behavior, if you move a file to Unity, the apps which cannot handle it are shadowed. On the contrary, the ones which are able to do the desired operation remain active. I really love this new feature and I tried to replace both Drag&Drop and Right click with this new method… Unfortunately, my attemps were unsuccessful:

1) This feature works only for apps in the launcher; So that Unity Drag&Drop can’t be a complete replacement for the right click “Open” and “Open with” menu items
2) If you are writing multiple emails and you want to attach a file to a particular email you can’t. Dropping a file to the email client will always open a new email window
3) If you are chatting with some friends and want to send them something you can’t.
4) You can’t move files to removable devices even if they are displayed in the launcher (At least not in Ubuntu 11.10)

I want to replace the current Drag&Drop Unity feature with an adaptive Unity launcher. Look at the image below for an example.

I also discussed this idea in a post at http://christianmartellini.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/unity-and-the-dragdrop-way/ .

Briefly when you move a file towards the launcher, the latter reacts by changing its contents and shows the actions available on that file (in the proposed design all the actions are grouped together; however, here I split up them into different solutions, so that you can vote the one you like most):
68
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Adaptive Unity Drag&Drop (Applications)
Written by martellc the 30 May 12 at 14:10.
All the apps that can handle the file properly. The launcher could be smart enough to list the default applications together with some context related apps. In the audio file example, if you have a blank CD inserted in your CD drive, the launcher should also display the Brasero Burning Tool icon.
45
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Adaptive Unity Drag&Drop (Emails and IM contacts)
Written by martellc the 1 Jun 12 at 12:02.
In addition to Email and IM client icons (specifically Thunderbird and Empathy) Unity will display thumbnail icons for each person you are chatting and for each email you are writing. This means that you can use drag & drop to attach or send files to a specific person.

38
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Adaptive Unity Drag&Drop (Online accounts)
Written by martellc the 1 Jun 12 at 12:11.
In my opinion, Unity needs to be integrated with Online accounts. Now the question is: “How can the Unity launcher be social and integrate well with online accounts?” I think there are a lot of annoying tasks that often require several steps: uploading a video on Youtube, sharing your new photo album on Facebook are a few examples of that. How can we make these tasks faster? At this point, you probably know the answer: Unity Drag & drop can be the solution for your laziness.
47
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Adaptive Unity Drag&Drop (Devices)
Written by martellc the 1 Jun 12 at 12:20.
All your devices (removable and cloud) should be visible. As I use Ubuntu 11.10, I cannot be sure whether the latest Ubuntu release has solved this issue. Anyway, why can’t you copy a document to an USB stick or Dropbox share using Unity Drag&Drop?
40
votes
up equal down
Solution #5: Adaptive Unity Drag&Drop (The "right" folder)
Written by martellc the 2 Jun 12 at 07:34.
As a second improvement I would replace the current home directory icons with a file-type dependent “right” folder: if I drag a video file, the launcher will displays the Video folder (but only if that video isn’t already there). This is also a way to encourage people to use the proper Ubuntu directory structure when organizing contents
41
votes
up equal down
Solution #6: Adaptive Unity Drag&Drop (Opened applications)
Written by Faboy the 4 Jun 12 at 12:35.
Sometimes you don't want to open a file, but drop it in an running application (e.g. LibreOffice Writer). If this program is minimized or in the background it's very hard to drag&drop in it.
That's why opened applications have to be listes as well to bring them to the front, when the user is dragging a file to the icon.
6
votes
up equal down
Solution #7: Scriptable adaptable launcher
Written by rarkenin the 20 Jun 12 at 14:37.
There should be a config system to edit what icons are shown, and in which categories in order to allow easy customization.
3
votes
up equal down
Solution #8: Show thumbnails of opened windows right of icon during drag&drop
Written by JohnnyMcArthur the 14 Aug 12 at 18:35.
When the mouse cursor stays above an icon of a running application during drag&drop, show a row of preview thumbnails of all opened windows. if you then stay above one of these thumbnails, bring this window to front.
(similar idea as solution #6)

This solution could be combined with Idea #29850: "Simplify and speed up switching windows" where the same thumbnails could be used to quickly switch windows of one application to give a consistent experience.

See the 8 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 23 Nov 12 at 11:27) >>

For a faster Dash  
Written by pascalio the 3 Sep 12 at 18:25. Related project: Unity. Not an idea
Currently, Unity's Dash can take pretty much time popping up. I guess this is partially due to the fact that it compiles the data it needs for its “Recent Apps” “Recent Files”... at the moment the user calls for the Dash: it has to check the history file and then fetch a preview thumbnail from disk for all newly used files. On laptops, whose hard disks it may have to wake back up for this occasion, seconds can pass between when you press the Dash button and when you can type in it.
It is not optimal for such an essential feature of Unity's.
0
votes
closed
Solution #1: A low-priority daemon that keeps up with the data
Written by pascalio the 3 Sep 12 at 18:25.
A daemon, with low or very low priority in order to avoid having an impact on the user's actions, could be waiting for the history files to be modified and get the data in advance, so that when the Dash is called for, it just has to take the data from RAM without bothering the HDD at this time. This would make it snap fast (or at least much faster...)
The daemon should only compile the data for what is going to be displayed at first, not for all the “ See 78 more results” items; the user can wait an HDD fetch if they ask for them.
In order to avoid the daemon working or waking up disks needlessly, it should access the data needed right after it was accessed by a user program, thus waiting for an inotify event or something like that.

See the 7 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 7 Sep 12 at 12:24) >>

Simplify and speed up switching windows.  
Written by xl_cheese the 14 Jun 12 at 13:30. Related project: Unity. New
Say I have 3 firefox windows open. I'm randomly switching between them and find it difficult to use the standard unity effect. The three firefox windows are small and it's sometimes difficult to see which one I want.

I've grown to like the extra real estate unity allows, but I don't like having to click/hover/click to switch an app. I simply want to click once. I've also tried the alt tab down arrow method and I can't get used to it.

-4
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Option to ungroup Icons in the Unity bar.
Written by xl_cheese the 14 Jun 12 at 13:30.
I would like an option so that I can have multiple firefox icons in the Unity bar. One for each instance of firefox open. Or any application for that matter. When you hover over the icon it should display a tooltip of the website page title. Then all I have to do is click once to open the window.

A related feature I would like is that if I click the icon to open the window I should be able to click the same icon to minimize the window.
27
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Lens-like listing from the launcher icon
Written by pascalio the 15 Jun 12 at 21:20.
Currently, when hovering over an icon on the launcher bar, there is a lens-like comment instantly appearing next to it that says the name of the application (“Home Folder”, “Firefox Web Browser”....).
The idea would be that, when there are several windows grouped on the same application icon, hovering over the icon will not only say the name, it will also list the windows (vertically or horizontally, to discuss...), identifying them of course by the name of the opened document, web page, or window function (Settings, Preferences, Downloads – for Firefox, for example – etc...) as it would have appeared for example on a gnome-2 panel. This window listing would be immediate, not resource-hungry since it's just the names of the windows, no effect or images or previews, and it should occur by simple hovering: if you don't mean to switch to one of those window, just continue to another icon on the bar, if you do want to take one of them, click on the window name on this
“lens-like” listing. This requires only one click, is not heavy for the system (rendering and all that), and is very clear at once.
But, of course, this solution should by no means replace the current window switching method (window scale, or expo), which has its own great advantages: they should coexist.

(EDIT: perhaps, I used the wrong vocabulary. By "lens" I meant "quicklist" or so: quicklist-like listing, but I think you got the idea...)
10
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Extension of solution #2
Written by pascalio the 29 Jun 12 at 21:25.
Window listing as in #2 may offer another advantage too. Currently, if there are windows of a same app on different workspaces, you cannot get access to the ones on the other workspaces using the unity bar icon (ie: when I have a nautilus window in Workspace 1, another in WS 2 and one in WS 4, clicking the naulilus icon will only get me the nautilus window in the WS I'm in, not possibly take me for example to WS 2 or 4; however, it would immediately take me from WS 1 to WS 2 if I had no nautilus window in 1: this is an incoherence.)
By contrast, in the window listing, there could be added a reference to the instances in other WS's. If we take back the nautilus example, a listing like
"Home \
Documents \
< Workspace 2 > \
Music \
< Workspace 4 > \
/usr/bin "
... Of course, referencing the other WS's should only occur when needed.
This idea is just an extension of solution #2, so please give your vote separately for each of them.
1
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Clicking the launcher icon should switch to the next window when ONLY two window
Written by Lysios the 8 Aug 12 at 17:48.
When you have only two windows of the same application opened, the exposé view is a waste of time. Clicking on the application icon should automatically switch to the other window.

Let's imagine I have two LibO windows opened (Document1 & Document2). I already have a focus on Document1 and I want to switch to Document2.
At the moment, I have to click on LibO icon, find what window is Document2 (not so easy if the documents look the same) and click on it.
My idea is that when focused on Document1, one single click on Libo icon would switch directly to Document2.

PS1: this could come in addition of solution #2 and #3

PS2: could also work with 3 or 4 windows, then a click on the icon would focus the next window of the application
-1
votes
up equal down
Solution #5: Open thumbnails of opened windows instead of tooltip
Written by JohnnyMcArthur the 14 Aug 12 at 18:21.
When the mouse cursor stays above an icon of a running application, instead of showing the tooltip with the application name show a row of preview thumbnails of all opened windows (the application name can still be shown as a title above them).

You can click on these thumbnails to activate the window or open the system menu (ie. window-menu) on right click.

These thumbnail windows can also be shown and used to activate another running application during a drag&drop operation (see also Idea #29804: Unity Drag&Drop)

This is similar to solution #2, however showing thumbnails seems to be more intuitive and consistent in user experience to me.
0
votes
up equal down
Solution #6: Improve the exposé effect and using the scroll wheel
Written by gruenebohne the 14 Dec 12 at 17:23.
Currently it is difficult to distinguish between windows (especially true for several pdf-files). To help the user the title of the window should be rendered across the preview. Additionally, highlight the currently active window or omit displaying it at all (should the user currently use another window of the same application). This helps, since the user likely does not want to switch back to the same window.

To simplify switching rapidly between windows the user should be able to hover the mouse over the icon and use the mouse wheel to change the active window.

See the 10 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 29 Aug 12 at 18:05) >>

Display folder size in Nautilus on selection.  
Written by slugicide the 28 Aug 09 at 03:37. Related project: Nautilus. Not an idea
When a folder is selected in Nautilus the number of files in the folder is displayed, but not the folder size. If I want to see this information I have to right-click and choose Properties. This really slows down the work-flow when doing such things as creating backups.
79
votes
closed
Solution #1: Add folder size alongside number of items contained.
Written by slugicide the 28 Aug 09 at 03:37.
On single click the information at the bottom of the window would read something like:

"Documents" selected (containing 42 items) (9.4 GB)
-10
votes
closed
Solution #2: Do it the way TotalCommander (windows) does it
Written by BaukeP the 2 Sep 09 at 05:20.
On a folder pressing the spacebar gives the total size for that folder and all the subfolders. Takes only resources when asked for.

Bauke
3
votes
closed
Solution #3: Use gloobus-preview
Written by BadChoice the 7 Sep 09 at 07:27.
Use gloobus-preview for it, just click space and woah! folder space showed instantany

See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 4 Aug 12 at 08:25) >>

Improve the Workspace switcher button  
Written by pascalio the 15 Jun 12 at 18:43. Related project: Unity. Not an idea
Managing the workspaces in Unity isn't really easy and straightforward. Apart from the fact that you currently have to install the command-line or gui tools to do that, there is no quick way to do it, as there is in Xfce, for instance, where simply pressing alt+ins/alt+del will add/remove workspaces. However, it's not keyboard shortcuts that I'm suggesting here, since Unity manages workspaces in 2 dimentions (vertical and horizontal), maybe it would be simpler using a button...
0
votes
closed
Solution #1: Right click on the workspace switcher button
Written by pascalio the 15 Jun 12 at 18:43.
Currently, the workspace switcher button does just nothing on right click. Instead, it could display a set of lenses connected to a configuration script, like : "add a row of workspaces", "delete a row...", "add a column", and so on. (and a "back to default" lense possibly so that people aren't afraid to do something bad...?)
This makes it clear and simple to manage Unity's workspaces in the 2 dimensions.

See the 2 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 18 Jun 12 at 17:35) >>

Wider click area for maximized window exit button.  
Written by potatofarms the 12 Sep 11 at 03:01. Related project: Unity. Not an idea
The problem is that in Ubuntu, when you move your cursor into the top left corner and click, the maximized window does not close. Instead, you must click directly on the button. This can decrease productivity.
36
votes
closed
Solution #1: Extend the area the button can be clicked from to the edge of the screen.
Written by potatofarms the 12 Sep 11 at 03:01.
So when you move your mouse to top left corner of the screen and click, it will click on the exit button. This is a very useful to me because when I want to click a window, I don't have to take my focus off what I'm doing to look for the exit button.

See the 6 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 3 Mar 12 at 07:14) >>

Rearrange the Shutdown Menu  
Written by pascalio the 24 Dec 11 at 15:41. Related project: Unity. Not an idea
Gnome has great shutdown menu buttons, but the clustered layout makes it too easy to click the wrong button.
10
votes
closed
Solution #1: Bigger and with an icon
Written by pascalio the 24 Dec 11 at 15:41.
I think having these buttons (or at least the shutdown button) twice as high as regular menu buttons and accompanied by an icon wouldn't be too ceremonial!
8
votes
closed
Solution #2: Different layout
Written by cheesehead the 28 Dec 11 at 15:44.
Instead of a cluster, perhaps a line or a fan to make it more difficult to erroneously click on the wrong option.
-10
votes
closed
Solution #3: Track what gets used - make that one more prominent
Written by cheesehead the 28 Dec 11 at 16:03.
The system should track what gets used, and prompt with the most-used option first (biggest button, closest to mouse position).

For example, some laptop users suspend much more often than shut down.
22
votes
closed
Solution #4: Restore "Restart" to the shutdown menu
Written by Dazed_75 the 2 Jan 12 at 20:17.
While #1 remains a viable solution, implementing it would mean even more that there was no good reason to remove "Restart" from the Shutdown menu. PLEASE put it back where it belongs and where every computer user since GUIs were introduced expects to see it.

See the 7 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 18 Feb 12 at 23:07) >>

1 2 Next >>