Comment Re:Hidden features and hierarchies (Score 1) 228
Some screenshots of Nautilus, part of Eazel's attempt to bring us a next-generation file navigation system.
One of the things I find interesting about Nautilus is its idea of 'zooming in' on the standard icon/list views we're used to reveal more information about the various file system objects represented there. While the example screenshots don't reveal much useful information (oh, WOW, an item count!), it at least suggests a drill-down method for further investigating a subset of documents. Combining this sort of technique with a data-soup method would let a user go straight to the file/folder they're looking for if they recognize it in the "big picture" view, or drill-down if they still aren't sure which item they're looking for.
In addition, Tog's latest column discusses some UI niceties he considers long over-due. Part of the column covers what he calls "screen objects." He brings up the concepts of piles, notebooks, and scrapbooks, but perhaps one of the most innovate ideas is how to convey time to the user through icons. He suggests having cobwebs or dust pile up on folders and files that haven't been touched in years, among other things.
Link summary:
