Show all desktops
When you use the "Show all desktops" feature of Compiz, you get something like this:
Which is a very easy way to arrange your life computer. But, what I was thinking about is whether we should be looking at all the applications or the desktop as a whole. Should it look like this?
So I put the panel on there, big deal. While this is a small improvement I think that it helps in a few ways. It makes the whole feature about managing windows, which is what a window manager is for, if the windows are zoomed out or if you're using the title bars. It's now possible to start applications in the zoomed out view, so you could set up several desktops positioning windows between them easily. It also provides grounding for what you're seeing. It isn't a complete change of the display, just a repositioning of windows with your familiar and lovable panel right there still with you.
I think that the reason it was likely done that way today is to mimic a similar view from Apple. But, Apple has a slightly different problem. Since their panel is application specific it doesn't really make sense to have it available in a zoomed out view. But our panel isn't, our panel is desktop specific. So I think it makes more sense to maintain a visual anchor in the zoomed out view.
posted on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 at 17:28 | permanent link | 3 Comments
Slingbox with WINE
I'm simply thrilled. I have a Slingbox that is mostly used by my wife. I never really thought it would work under Linux so I didn't care. But, I noticed some instructions for getting it working in WINE. And it works! No, really! I am just delighted. Now I have to figure out why X is using 70% of one CPU and the player is using 40% of the other... Even looks nice with all the Compiz effects.
posted on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 at 00:35 | permanent link | 0 Comments