Re-placement of the task switcher to left lower corner. Please vote.

[sachin007]

http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/placement_of_the_task_switcher_at_the_bottom_of_th e_screen/

Please see this and express your ideas.

Thanks

[munky261]

Without having actully trying Fremantle yet, Id definitely jump on board and agree for it to be moved, but I want to actually get to use it before I pass final judgement.

[ragnar]

Moving it to bottom right because of the keyboard might not be that strong of an argument, since there already is a keyboard shortcut (ctrl+backspace) to access the task switcher from the keyboard.

Since you're using two hands anyway in that mode, you wouldn't win much here.

But of course the main issue is that would you then move the entire top row down: status area, app. back/close button etc. I perhaps wouldn't think that to be a very good idea.

[sachin007]

Moving it to bottom right because of the keyboard might not be that strong of an argument, since there already is a keyboard shortcut (ctrl+backspace) to access the task switcher from the keyboard.

Since you're using two hands anyway in that mode, you wouldn't win much here.

But of course the main issue is that would you then move the entire top row down: status area, app. back/close button etc. I perhaps wouldn't think that to be a very good idea.

Yeah i agree that moving the entire top row would be a bad idea. As i previously commented, the use of keyboard shortcut needs 2 fingers of two different hands while both the hands are holding the n900 which is not really ergonomic. If somehow only the task switches is moved either on the left(similar to previous maemo versions) or to the right lower corner you just need to extend your thumb and press the lower part of the screen.

Of course without using the device i am really not in a very good position to comment on this whole issue.

[ysss]

I'd vote to make it selectable (top or bottom) and reversible (left side or right side) to accomodate left\right hander..

[ragnar]

Yeah i agree that moving the entire top row would be a bad idea. As i previously commented, the use of keyboard shortcut needs 2 fingers of two different hands while both the hands are holding the n900 which is not really ergonomic. If somehow only the task switches is moved either on the left(similar to previous maemo versions) or to the right lower corner you just need to extend your thumb and press the lower part of the screen.


Kind of, but any use of the keyboard requires always two hands. i.e. If you are using the keyboard, you are already using fingers on both sides. Pressing them simultaneously is actually fairly trivial.

of course the problem is that not everybody knows of this shortcut... But that's what shortcuts are for: once you know them, then you can save some time by using them, and feel happy and empowered. :)

[sachin007]

Kind of, but any use of the keyboard requires always two hands. i.e. If you are using the keyboard, you are already using fingers on both sides. Pressing them simultaneously is actually fairly trivial.

of course the problem is that not everybody knows of this shortcut... But that's what shortcuts are for: once you know them, then you can save some time by using them, and feel happy and empowered. :)

Yeah but pressing one button on the lower part of the screen is lot less than pressing two keys on the keyboard simultaneously. Another factor here is that generally when i hold the n810 with my two hands in landscape mode, my left thumb generally occupies the left lower corner of the screen anyway so just moving it a little to press the task switcher is lot easier than extending my thumb all the way to the top or using the keyboard shortcut.

But since you have the device, you would have a better understanding. Just my 1 cent...

[qole]

...since there already is a keyboard shortcut (ctrl+backspace) to access the task switcher from the keyboard....

of course the problem is that not everybody knows of this shortcut...

Is there somewhere (online) where these shortcuts can be found?

[Jack6428]

no way, leave it where it is

[qgil]

I'd vote to make it selectable (top or bottom) and reversible (left side or right side) to accomodate left\right hander..

I'm lacking the technical knowledge, but perhaps you can customize the Maemo 5 UI providing alternative Hildon layouts that the interested users could download and install.

This way you avoid extra settings officially supported (with the extra hassle this bring to UI design and testing) and users willing to depart from the defaults can get what they wish anyway.

As said, I don't know enough about Hildon to tell whether this is technically possible or not. This is how far my Sunday post gets. :)

[lma]

there already is a keyboard shortcut (ctrl+backspace) to access the task switcher


Hm, can this be remapped? The ctrl+backspace combination already serves a useful purpose (delete last word).

[kanishou]

This is not like a desktop, where you just move the "panel" anywhere you like. Moving the task switcher button would also require rearranging every other component on the screen, so there is a lot more to consider than "what would be the most comfortable position to access the task launcher".

I couldn't vote on something like this, without a complete proposal to evaluate all the pros and cons. I think it would be too late for it anyway, considering that applications are being designed with the current placement in mind (e.g. games and such placing their own custom buttons in the same positions, toolbars being placed on the bottom for easy access, etc).

[Alex Atkin UK]

As someone coming from Windows Mobile I certainly have no issue with where it is now.

I think one reason for having it in top corner is because you are less likely to hit it accidentally either in landscape or portrait mode. Plus its natural for Windows users to look there for close, minimise, etc.

At the end of the day I think it comes down to this:

1. Novice users will not be used to multitasking so they do not need it to be quite as readily available as experts.

2. Expert users will know the keyboard shortcut so they have a quicker way of multitasking anyway.

So I find it hard to argue for moving it, unless its a trivial thing to add a configuration option for it. Its certainly not worth the manpower doing a major rehash of the UI for it.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to jump between applications like Alt+Tab on the PC?

Even better would be to have a keyboard shortcut to switch between applications DIRECTLY, you would hardly need to use the task switcher then.

Basically, allow you to favourite your top 10 applications so that pressing say Ctrl+Shift+1 launches your favourite application 1, or switches to it if its already running. Similar to how you switch virtual terminals in desktop Linux.

[lcuk]

i put a lot of thought into where the back button would be on liqbase.
it had always been a hardware button near lower left of my n810.

when i got hold of a device which did not have such an escape button, i had to choose a location.
the obvious easily reachable location is lower left.

thats exactly where it is now :)

now, when i get round to getting my larger format wall mounted display, this button location will be doubly fortunate! i will not get gorilla arm when using pressing it :D

im finding that it works best whether apps have horizontal toolbar or a vertical bar like old diablo :)

the way I wrote it i just avoid putting detailed active content behind it, but people can see through it to still have the feeling of space :)

[zerojay]

I much prefer the button where it is now to being in the bottom left corner personally. I like that the top is universally used for window operations... so just moving the button down would be terrible for UI consistency. Either the whole bar or nothing at all, but I would still vote to keep it where it is now.