[Owncloud] Re: ownCloud design evolution

[François K.]

Hi guys,

It's been quite a long time since I last participate to ownCloud. But I'm still keeping an eye on it, although I don't really understand some choices that were made.
Allright, since I'm really digging UI design, I'll try to provide my thoughts about that mockup, in a constructive manner.

> 1) The file list seems to float around in space. We need to give
> ownCloud
> a stable look.

I can agree with that. What's currently existing is mostly based on my work, which was a WIP when someone decided to integrate it. So yep, it wasn't finished at all and was clearly needing improvements.


> 2) I used ownCloud on a netbook last week.

What I understand behind this is that the current CSS doesn't fit small screen sizes. Well, we have mediaqueries to handle this, there is no need to change everything.
We could apply the same strategy for smartphones : imho, there's no need for an Android app or a WebOs app. We just need to work out a CSS.


> 4) I did some usability testing over the last weeks.

What kind of tests ? How ? What did you test ? What are the results ?


> The changes, I’ll start from the top:
> 
> Header
> The bar does not really need to be that big. It’s reduced to fit the
> height of an input field (the search bar). Logo changed to text next
> to
> icon. Everything else stays the same.
> I’m undecided yet if it’s a good idea to put the music player controls
> there. But we might as well try it out.

The top bar sets ownCloud identity. I never thought about it as a "controls" place.
I never understood why the search bar is here. Never understood why the buttons have no text either.


> Files control bar (breadcrumbs etc.)
> Since the current home symbol does the same as clicking on "Files", it
> makes sense to just connect the two. Files will always be the top app.
> The
> buttons for Upload and New Folder are placed right next to the current
> folder - that which you would upload to or create a new folder in. For
> smaller windows, the breadcrumb entries will just vanish to the left.
> The
> last ~3 should always show, if it gets narrower then that the labels
> of
> everything but the current folder will abbreviate: Doc… > Kittens >

This would be an error, IMHO. You are putting navigation and controls in the same zone.


> File list
> Fills the whole width of the window, no floating around freely in
> space.

I agree.


> The modified date will be displayed relatively (last week, yesterday,
> 2
> hours ago) and in similar brightness as the file size - the older, the
> lighter.

I think date format should be an option. I personnaly hate to deal with relative dates.
I don't understand that brightness thing. I should probably give the latest version a try to see what it is about.


> Currently the check box column is useless unless you multiselect. It
> will
> be combined with the icon column to show a checkbox on top of the icon
> when you hover. That will also make the heading "Name" start flush
> with
> the actual filename.
> Except for the checkbox, when you hover a file, there will be inline
> options to rename, download, share (see the icons) and delete on the
> far
> right (because it’s a dangerous action, especially atm). No dropdown
> anymore. (For tablets, the icon can be clicked to select, then the
> options
> will appear as well.)

I don't think relying on "hovering things" is a good idea. As you said it, everything tactile doesn't provide hover facilities.
I also think the dropdown thing isn't that great and should be replaced. But it clearly needs to be more efficient. What do others projects provide ?


> Rename will convert the file name into a text field and enable inline
> editing.

That seems to be a good idea.


> Clicking "Share" will open up a lightbox/popup of some sort
> with
> sharing options, not sure yet.

Seems to be a good idea too.


> And I finally solved how to properly do multiselect (no mockup for
> that):
> As soon as more than one file is checked, the actions that show on
> hover
> for each file (except for rename) will be shown in the table header
> bar,
> between "Name" and "Size".
> Also, "Name" will change to "1 folder, 3 files" or whatever you
> selected.
> "Size" will change to the actual added up size of those files. I don’t
> have an idea for "Modified" yet but it might as well vanish.

To me, it doesn't seem to be a good idea. We could just add a little zone to display that. We shouldn't change the table headers.


Well, again, these are just my thoughts about it.

Cheers,

-- 
François