I wanna go home

Turbolqk

@kugiigi I see, I haven't used UT in a few months, so I might've missed a few things.

In that case, my suggestions are to add minimizing to the apps on the side bar. This will solve the issue on going to the home screen quick.

If apps are allowed to be added to the desktop, that will make the home screen feel like one. It will also separate it from the side bar and the app drawer clearly.

My suggestion for the lock screen is to make it look like it is on Android. It's simple and it works - a clock, date and notifications.

In addition, the background apps screen could be improved too. If its opened with a swipe up it would be more intuitive IMO. The layout could resemble the tab layout that Firefox on Android uses - simple 2x3 grid with an "x" above each app if you would like to close it. It wold be cool to show free/available ram at the bottom. Finally, a button to close all apps would be great.

That way you get:

A task bar with opened apps, which allows you to quickly switch between them, or get to the desktop quickly.
An app drawer.
A desktop with apps of your choice functioning as a home screen.
A "running apps" screen which allows you to manage/close apps.

One last idea:

If the "running apps" is a swipe up, then a swipe right could be used to quickly get back to the desktop too.

sixwheeledbeast

@Turbolqk Most sound like awful ideas. If you use it for long enough they're already implemented better than you think.

arubislander

@Turbolqk said:

@kugiigi I see, I haven't used UT in a few months, so I might've missed a few things.

These things you think you might have missed have been implemented for years, so even the few months ago that you used UT last, you should have come across them.

ralf

@Turbolqk
swipe-up, too, is already reserved for app-specific functions

Linus67

I’ve been using Ubuntu Touch for four months. So I have no experience of older versions prior to 24.04.
The frequently cited arguments that “users were unsettled by these or those changes” therefore don’t apply to me.

My conclusion: Getting started with Ubuntu Touch was a bit bumpy, but I now really appreciate how it works. What I appreciate most is the app chain on the left-hand side. This efficient, unique selling point should definitely not be tampered with. Switching between apps is also brilliant. I don’t miss a home screen, desktop, etc. at all. Least of all do I feel the need for the interface to resemble that of Android or iPhone.

I might have one wish: a multi-page app drawer (vertical or horizontal) or some other way of grouping apps rather than simply sorting them by name. Perhaps with horizontal dividers or spacing.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

libremax

@Linus67 said:
I might have one wish: a multi-page app drawer (vertical or horizontal) or some other way of grouping apps rather than simply sorting them by name. Perhaps with horizontal dividers or spacing.

It is currently under development and there is a €2,000 bounty for it (issue #127):
https://os-sci.com/lomiri#Contribute

Linus67

@libremax Thanks for the link. That’s exactly what I mean, only even better.

kugiigi

@Linus67 Yeah. I think the priority is to improve the app drawer and add features there. That's kind of the "home" in UT. I don't think there's immediate need to do drastic change to have an actual home. The desktop is also empty but I don't think it should also be a priority. Maybe on the desktop use case but not on mobile.

Zer0

I made just this, and its an actual home screen. Not an app.
https://forums.ubports.com/topic/12319/release-homespike-v1.0-a-real-home-screen-for-ubuntu-touch-multi-page-dock-drag-to-reorder-three-placement-modes-true-multitasking

CiberSheep

@Zer0 please, I would suggest you don't spam on old subjects. One thread for your app is more than enough