> In a previous email I suggested that we should borrow some > inspiration from BitTorrent clients. Here are some examples: > > Transmission: > http://transmission.m0k.org/screenshots.php > > This one is interesting because of its simplicity, just a toolbar > across the top with the basic functions, and a list of files being > uploaded and downloaded, along with a progress bar for each (I prefer > the appearance of the mac version). Each progress bar has a > magnifying glass symbol next to it which (I believe) causes a pop-up > window with more detailed information about the download or upload in > question. I think I prefer this approach to Thaw's current approach > of having a permanently present "side bar" with detailed status > information (much of which the vast majority of users won't > understand). We shouldn't present users with too much information > unless they ask for it. > > In general, I think a problem with Thaw's current UI is that a lot of > functionality has a permanent place on the UI, where really the > functionality should be present in a pop-up window that only appears > when needed. I think this applies to both the upload and download > tabs, which we should consider replacing with separate windows that > appear when the user needs to upload or download a file, and also the > status area to the right of the UI. > A popup mechanism may require a lot of rewriting, and so I prefer to avoid it at the moment. But a simpler idea would be to right panel (the one with all the details), hideable (and hide by default). I will try to find a stylish way to do that.
-- Jerome Flesch.
