Download - What's up about Plasma-MID?
Plasma and NetbooksImproving netbooks interfacesArtur Duque de Souza - MoRpHeUzJuly/2009, GCDS
Agenda
• Introduction• Important bits
• Panels• Desktops• Virtual Desktops• Activities
• Conclusions
Who are we?
• Nokia research institute in Brazil - INdT• openBossa - FOSS stream at INdT• Collaborating with Qt Software / KDE:
• Qt Kinetic <- that’s us :-)• Qt Webkit• Plasma Netbook <- that’s us :-)• ItemViews-NG
About me...
• Open Source developer since 1997• Graduated at UNICAMP - Brazil• Worked for IBM (Linux Technology Center)• Works for INdT (openBossa stream)• Contributions: Canola2, MythTV, HLBR, EFL,Maemo, MPlayer, KDE, etc.
• Plasma developer
Sed
sed s/mid/netbook/
NPD Research
• Online survey: 600 people• 60% thought the netbook could perform as wellas notebook
• 65% of 18-24 year-olds were disappointed
18-24 year-old people are the people that most buynetbooks
Netbook vs Notebook
• Definition• Intel definition:
’’...netbooks are for media consumption andnotebooks for media creation...’’
Netbook vs Notebook
• Definition• Intel definition:
’’...netbooks are for media consumption andnotebooks for media creation...’’
Important bits
• Panels• Desktop• Activities and Virtual Desktops
The Panel
Why do I need a Panel?
Panels are the perfect place to show information thatthe user needs to see all the time
• Clock• Systray (Notification)• Taskbar• Application Launcher
Panels vs Wasted Pixels
Panels + window decorations can be a problem...
Table: Wasted Height (pixels)
Windows XP KDE GNOMEWindow Decorations 25 20 24
Panel 35 35 24Total 60 55 48
Panel’s Location
Where should I put my panel ?
Panel at the top
Figure: Top panel and window decorations
Figure: Top panel and no window decorations
Figure: Top panel with autohide on
Plasma Netbook panel
• Panel at the top• Simpler: less code, less overhead• Space is optimized• Special applets: new taskbar (show windowseffect), window handler
ShowWindows Effect As Taskbar
The Desktop
The first desktop concept...
...a new concept...
1995: Windows created a concept that everybodyfollowed...
...until KDE 4
KDE4 Desktop
• Items are real-world objects• Desktop being useful: plasmoids• It’s beautiful ;)
Netbook Remix andMoblin
Misuse of the desktop
Figure: Netbook remix: Just a launcher
Average User
• Average user uses the desktop as a launcher• Research with non-geek users: ’I use this waybecause that’s the only way I know’
• The discovery of KRunner
Search & Launch activity
• Uses all the power of KRunner• Complex queries: user can search for what hewants
• Predefined queries: applications, multimedia, etc.• Favourite Strip to save queries• DISCLAIMER: the interface is not ready, it will notbe a ’stretched KRunner’
Search & Launch Activity
Virtual Desktops & Activities
Virtual Desktops
• Well known for KDE/Gnome/X... users• When users discover virtual desktops they justlove it :)
• Moblin: Virtual Desktops == Zones
Activities
• Containers of widgets• Different set of widgets for each context: home,work, travel, etc.
• Activity tied to a Virtual Desktop: union of twogreat features
• Integration with Nepomuk!• Perfect for small devices
Newspaper activity
• Column centric layout• Simple concept for average user: it’s easy tounderstand
• It’s better to use the available space
Newspaper activity
Applications vsWidgets
When should we use one or another?
Plasma IDEAS
Plasma Ideas - Summary
• Aimed for the average user, not KDE hackers• Simpler Panel• Newspaper activity• SAL activity: Search and Launch
Social Desktop
It will help KDE community to get in touch.Specially average users
Qt Labs America
• Qt / KDE place in America, starting in Brazil• Promotion and mentoring of FOSS projects• Tech-days in universities• Working together with KDE
Acknowledgements
• Celeste• Aaron Seigo• Marco Martin• Nuno Pinheiro• KDE e.V.• Trolls• Plasma team and KDE community• Reviewers: Leo Franchi, Richmoore and Alex Spehr
Questions?
Artur de Souza (MoRpHeUz)[email protected]
[email protected]://blog.morpheuz.cc
Freenode #qt-kinetic #plasma
Thanks !
