I don't think many people haven't seen that. It's a very popular mockup ;) I am not at all convinced on the idea of docks with big icons being the be-all end-all of pretty interface design. In fact, I think it is an absolutely bizarre and stupid metaphor better replaced by an application list (instead of window list). The dock does replace the notification area for "iconifying" processes, but is visually confusing; there is not much to say "this program is running" and even less to help the user find said running program in a well populated dock.
One detail I rather like there, however, is the more visual NetworkManager applet. Right now, it has the same serious usability problem as Apple's and Microsoft's: People do not notice it. Nowhere does it actually explain being for wireless network connections until someone drags his mouse over it or clicks on it. Since it takes up so little of the screen, the chances of that being discovered by someone who does not recognize the icon are very, very small. NM 0.7 is much more verbose than the older ones, using libnotify to make status known, which should help discoverability. (I don't remember if it does or not, but "wireless networks are available..." would be a useful message for it to display once, then never display again). It would be extremely cool if there was a little label beside the NM applet describing its current connection. That, however, is again not art territory. In a more mockup-related thought, I like the different panel backgrounds there. It gives a much more expressive shading effect that could be useful to split up the two different types of panel applets. (Those being the applets to execute things on the top, applets to switch between and observe things on the bottom). I, too, have always been a fan of the soft, sandy brown seen on the wallpaper and bottom panel. -- ubuntu-art mailing list ubuntu-art@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-art
