gnome taskbar

[Jan Claeys]

Op do, 15-06-2006 te 03:48 -0400, schreef dan trevino:
> I know this is a GNOME issue, not an Ubuntu one, but IMO, there needs to
> be a discussion on the taskbar, system tray, and notifications.
> 
> As was brought up recently on OSnews, there are some issues with the
> taskbar. ( http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=14811 ) Recently on
> Ubuntu blog, there was a post regarding a tool call 'alltray', which
> enables any application to be minimized to the system tray.  Something I
> just happened to be looking for at the time.  Its a nice tool, but only
> works one app at a time.
> ( http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2006/05/24/minimize-any-application-to-the-system-tray/ )
> 
> IMO, this 'minimize to an icon' functionality should be the default for
> all applications.  It would solve the variable size taskbar issue (if it
> really is one).  Basically this would amount to not showing the app
> title in the taskbar.  It would also get rid of some inconsistencies.
> For example, why does gaim go to the system tray, but epiphany doesn't?
> I know gaim doesn't _have_ to go there, but you get my point.  How is
> the behavior of gaim or amarok or whatever sitting in the system tray
> any different from firefox or openoffice when they are minimized?  A app
> running is an app running, no?

The "systray" (actually named "notification area") is for applications
that have/want to show status information.  (Often, these applications
do not have a window open all the time.)

The "taskbar" is one possible way to show a list of windows (there is at
least one other widget with the same function in GNOME).

When you click "minimize" applications should never close their window,
because that's what the "close" button is for.

Please note that the close button closes windows, not applications,
although closing the last window of an application _might_ also close
the application, but doesn't _have_ to close the application.


-- 
Jan Claeys