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17

Consistent ordering of apps in the homescreen [released]

asked 2014-01-06 17:25:54 +0200

torcida gravatar image

updated 2015-01-13 09:52:40 +0200

eric gravatar image

After interacting with a cover (new message, new tab, etc.) on the multitaksing screen (and hence opening of this particular app) the app does not move to the first position (top left), like it should. It just stay where it was... So no matter from where (multitasking, launcher, notifications, etc.) and how (by pressing or by flicking) the app was opened - it should be on top of the running apps.

This should be solved in the next (possible) update.

@ Jolla-Sailors: What do you think about this? Can you please post your thoughts?

EDIT: Looks like the behaviour changed with 1.0.4.20 :)

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The question has been closed for the following reason "released in a software update" by torcida
close date 2014-04-01 00:43:52.366967

Comments

1

I can confirm that.

pycage ( 2014-01-06 17:28:51 +0200 )edit
1

yes. The same thing happens if you enter an app via the event-screen. for example if you tap on the mail-notification on event-screen, the app opens and if you swipe it away to the site it is not at the first position of the multitasking-screen. ...where it should be in my opinion, because it is the last app that was open.

Zandi ( 2014-01-06 17:46:30 +0200 )edit
5

I do not quite understand. Do you mean that a cover action (like check for mail or refresh browser) should re-arrange the windows? I would consider that a highly irritating behaviour, if not a bug.

ossi1967 ( 2014-01-06 18:07:22 +0200 )edit

Not the cover action itself, but if the cover action would open the app window, e.g. search in the store.

pycage ( 2014-01-06 18:17:01 +0200 )edit
8

My opinion is that the app covers should not change places. I want them to be were I last saw them, not having to look where some specific appcover went.

tapio.oling ( 2014-01-06 18:17:33 +0200 )edit

4 Answers

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17

answered 2014-01-12 05:17:45 +0200

corneliusg gravatar image

updated 2014-01-18 14:39:50 +0200

Thanks @jjaone and since you did not post as answer, I do. I do not see any benefit in reordering apps in home screen, except to give to N9 users the feeling, they have been used to. My feeling about reordering apps in home screen is, that I wonder why I have opened an app I did not want to open - ah yes ... it's been in another place again.

With Sailfish on Jolla the home screen is so much more, than a list of running apps on a multitasking device. The home screen in itself is an app for remote control and multiple access to the apps running on a multitasking device. Rearranging apps on the Jolla home screen disrupt the ease of using it and force you to readjust your orientation every time.

Contrary to Answer 1 I would suggest, that apps launched last, would appear in the last place in the home screen without upsetting all the other apps sending them around home screen. And that apps, that are already running, after being opened (like Tidings) and swiped back to home screen, return to the same position as before.

EDIT: @torcida Essentially my proposal is just: tell closing apps to 'go to last place', instead of 'go to first place'. Never thought of gluing any app and force a 'static behaviour'. Just enhance the Sailfish-homescreen use and experience.

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Comments

Yes well said, I'd be willing to accept this as the best answer so far.. ;) There have also been other supportive comments here..

foss4ever ( 2014-01-12 05:28:36 +0200 )edit

I see this as a possible solution and something I'd consider. There are some issues the Jolla engineers need to solve if this is implemented though.

  1. You should be able to manually reorder the open apps
  2. There has to be room for more than 9 active apps
Mohjive ( 2014-01-12 14:25:59 +0200 )edit

@Mohjive The problem and many solutions of having more than 9 apps shown in Home screen has been discussed here: https://together.jolla.com/question/691/extend-home-screen-horizontally-if-running-apps-9/

foss4ever ( 2014-01-12 14:35:31 +0200 )edit

@jjaone: yes, I'm aware of that thread (we've even been in the same discussion there), but what I'm saying is that that issue has to be resolved if this static behavior should be implemented.

Mohjive ( 2014-01-12 16:00:22 +0200 )edit

@corneliusg: I was just asking for some more consistence in the way of how it's now working (arranging covers should work no matter on how the app was opened)... And I don't want them (=Jolla) to change the whole concept (to not arranging covers) so I can't accept this as an answer.

Cheers

torcida ( 2014-01-13 00:16:33 +0200 )edit
6

answered 2014-01-11 22:32:56 +0200

foss4ever gravatar image

IMO the current behaviour is easier to understand and more natural. Not that they jump around in the Home screen. Best would be that they could be positioned to stationary locations and stayed always in that order.

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Comments

2

And also that they are stationary when activated through launcher and home screen then? Because if they're static, they should never move.

Mohjive ( 2014-01-12 14:22:29 +0200 )edit
1

static approach is best for speed. the eye doesn't need time to find and refocus to identify the cover you want to activate. you remember positions better than having to constantly re-scan the home screen each time you come up to it. i too prefer the static approach.

droll ( 2014-02-12 06:37:27 +0200 )edit

If you think so you can open new question/feature suggest. I'm not (!!) asking Jolla to change the whole concept, but just to adapt/optimize the current operation.

Last opened/used app is always shown first (top left position) and the question is why isn't this function consistent (e.g. when opening a link from a mail the browser - if already opened - doesn't move to first position)?

torcida ( 2014-02-16 18:33:38 +0200 )edit

@torcida browser doesn't move to the first position cause the app had been opened already, and cause it's the mail app that is still the one where users focus is.. IMO this is logical and consistent (and no change needed for this logic).

foss4ever ( 2014-02-16 20:22:29 +0200 )edit

Indeed. I always spend a lot of time while searching for the right cover. I have 6 dioptries and my recognition isn't fast, so if it is reordered, it's annoying. I think there should be an order selector in Settings. What would also help me a lot, would be a different background color.

Jan Molič ( 2014-05-15 16:51:27 +0200 )edit
3

answered 2014-01-11 19:25:58 +0200

Mohjive gravatar image

My suggestion (and I presume the original posters idea) is that applications on the home screen should be arranged in the order they are active, do it shouldn't matter if they are launched from another app, via link, the event view, launcher or from the home screen. Instead as of now only reordered if launched from home screen or launcher.

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Comments

Correct! That's exactly all I wanted to say - and without much philosophy. Nothing more to add here. Thanks.

torcida ( 2014-01-13 14:35:24 +0200 )edit

Except maybe that this might be very valuable input in regard to this post https://together.jolla.com/question/16455/edge-gesture-app-swap/

corneliusg ( 2014-01-18 14:10:26 +0200 )edit
1

answered 2014-02-12 03:14:43 +0200

Stefanix gravatar image

updated 2014-02-12 03:31:32 +0200

I also prefer the static approach. I don't like to see apps moving around as we use them. The idea of re-arranging according to last use is to make the frequently used apps easier accessible. But does this last opened app really belong to the frequently used ones? People with permanently more than 9 open apps might want their top apps on the top. I see two solutions:
1) Option to PIN app covers to a fixed position, e.g. reserve this position. This would mean that this position is not usable by other apps. There could be a greyed out version of the app cover. Tapping it could start the app. Maybe write "reserved" diagonally over the greyed out cover. As this is an option, nothing changes for users not reserving positions. Only 3-4 top apps would probably get reserved positions (limit?) and would be extremely fast to find and access.
2) Give each app a display priority. By default its "high" and behaves normal, positioned according to opening order. If put to "low", it would not be allowed on the home screen, reserving this space for other covers.
Both options could be combined.

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Why should we make another launcher out of the home-multitasking-screen!?

torcida ( 2014-02-12 19:25:01 +0200 )edit

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Asked: 2014-01-06 17:25:54 +0200

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Last updated: Apr 01 '14