[Sugar-devel] Activity toolbar redesign: What to do with 'simple' activities?

[Gary C Martin]

Hi Somon,

On 12 Aug 2009, at 16:52, Simon Schampijer wrote:

> On 08/12/2009 04:34 PM, Gary C Martin wrote:
>>
>> I'll sit and stare at the HelloWorld toolbar screenshot,  
>> contemplating
>> it's emptiness and the eternal void, perhaps I be enlightened, but I
>> think this may be the price we have to pay for consistency in this
>> design :-(
>
> Hey Gary - did you see Eben's comment?

Yea.

> Would you prefer to that we go down that road? We are still open for  
> discussions :)

Yea we could... though toolbar consistency goes right out the window  
(as you already pointed out). The only thing we have that will be  
consistent when a kid looks at the top of the screen will be the  
"Stop" button! :-) Everything else will potentially look different,  
move about from activity to activity.

To help visual consistency, I was even thinking the dreadful,  
scandalous thought that for the minimal 1 toolbar case (if 'title',  
'share', and 'keep' move into the primary toolbar) that we keep the  
colored Activity icon in the far left (but with no down arrow, and no  
palette), basically just an icon with no function other than visual  
consistency as an Activity. Ewwww...

Right now (and I'm still contemplating the void), I'm trying to  
convince myself that the design (as per your screenshot) has enough  
positive features worth keeping just as it is:

1) All activity toolbars would, at least, be consistent (activity icon  
on left is a strong element).
2) Kids will not be distracted by title, sharing, or that blasted  
'Keep' miss-feature (that should be take out back and shot). Most of  
the time they won't go near this palette.

> Heads up,

/me ducks behind a sand bag.

Regards,
--Gary