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Hate the dock? Vote to replace it!
groundcontrol.heistuman.com — I love OS X in all in it's glorious shininess, but one aspect that could be done a lot better is the dock. Check out the proposed productivity app and spiritual better of the dock. Like what you see? Vote for it at: http://mydreamapp.com/vote/ it's currently in danger of being eliminated, help save this great app!
atezun- 246 diggs
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- drackett, on 10/12/2007, -21/+9be sure to check out some screenshots at: http://groundcontrol.heistuman.com/ I'd hate to see this app go, as its one of my favorites from the contest!
- drackett, on 10/12/2007, -15/+6Alright, so I thought this story would be pointing to the vote page, which its not, so ignore my link above and be sure to visit http://mydreamapp.com/vote/ to vote.
- 23r17i05o42n, on 10/12/2007, -15/+70I love the dock. SCREW YOU!
- punx45, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21granted I didnt read everything, and mostly just looked at some of the screens, and will probably sound ignorant, but at first glance this looks like nothing more than windows/vista/KDE-ifying (cant believe i mentioned all 3 in one sentence)the gui. to each his own i suppose
- nandabanaotakun, on 10/12/2007, -5/+23The dock is an incarnation of juicy awesomeness.
Please don't take it away from me.
Can't you just kill it with Onyx or something if you don't like it? - punx45, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6"The idea has grown on me, as I realized that not everyone likes their dock on the side — and it **does take up even more screen space** at lower resolutions"
and yet all the screenshots are of Ground Control completely overwhelming the screen as well as the dock. - zetsurin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13"be sure to check out some screenshots at"
There's something strangely Vista-ish in those screenshots. I'm happy with the dock the way it is. - DaMOT, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I actually do like the idea. I do like the dock, but it could use a little bit more functionality. I would definitely try using an app like Ground Control, which seems to be a mixture of the dock, Stattoo and the Windows task bar. Don't know if I'd actually use it in my everyday computing, but I'd give it a try.
- machx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4maybe it's just me, but this app makes it look like it would decrease productivity. I say this because you've modified a dock from being able to see dozens of icons at a time to 5 icons which means constantly toggling the view
additionally while those pop-up things are great like the one for iCal I just love it, unfortunitely it seems like something that really to be done well would need to be implemented in iCal itself and not some 3rd party app - xenixninja, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Wow. That was just ugly and bulky.
- jholdaway, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4love the dock. Its so much better than anything out there. you can have hierarchal menues and so much other stuff.
- leucippus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13This is too good of an idea to let it die this early in the contest. If people just took a moment to look at the website Russell put together! Individual effort and creativity should be rewarded, especially versus hijacked ideas like DW and rehashes like iGTD.
- MicrowavedH2o, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Even if you don't like it, you still have to admit its a better idea than a crazy cookbook application... Seriously, what audience are they shooting for 60 youer old grandmothers?
- MicrowavedH2o, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Even if you don't like it, you still have to admit its a better idea than a crazy cookbook application... Seriously, what audience are they shooting for 60 youer old grandmothers?
- kevinmotel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12i like both this and the dock. the dock is simple, but this has a lot of the dock's features as well as a lot of features of dashboard
- kidtwist, on 10/12/2007, -4/+41I like the dock.
- imbatman05, on 10/12/2007, -4/+32This monstrosity looks like the Google Desktop sidebar. The dock is perfect as it is. Its incredible simplicity is what makes it so good, it doesn't need all those features!
- wild, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12I would never use it. The dock deos what it does very well. I don't need a dumb toolbar at the bottom. I need an app launcher.
Sorry, no vote from me. - chmod, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Agreed. You don't like the dock: turn it off. You want more functionality: download quicksilver. Don't try to make OS X look and feel more like windows/kde/gnome, most of us like it just as it is.
- smeager, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I was thinking the same thing, a combination between Google Desktop and Vista's Widget Bar. I don't have a problem with the Dock as it is now. Its there when I need it and gone when I don't. It tells me the staus of my open apps, new messages and status of running apps (% done). I have all of the most used apps on the Dock and if I have to use something thats not there I either open from the Applications Folder I put on the Dock (right click on it gives you a list of all installed apps) or I use Quicksilver.
As for the effort I think it is a well thought out idea execpt that in order for all of those modules to work (iCal, Address Book, Calculator, iChat, Mail, iTunes, iPhoto, Activity Monitor) you would have to have all of those programs activily running to make use out of any of them. I do a lot of process/memory intensive tasks and I don't want all that extra stuff running in the background. (It may not take up processes but i sure uses a lot of physical and virtual memory, which I need for apps like Photoshop, Motion and Shake.) - uownedge, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Agreed. The dock does exactly what it was designed to do, and does it well. I really don't have a problem hitting F12 to access dashboard either. When I want more advanced things, >F12, and there I have them.
I'm not sure what the deal is with people claiming the dock takes up more space. You can adjust it's size in system preferences to suite your needs at any resolution.
Beyond that, the only thing I've done on my Macs is use TransparentDock to make the background completely transparent, and place the dock's position at the far left, rather than centered, as I like my listed apps (such as IM) to sit on the right hand side of the screen (and they typically fit nicely from top to bottom, with the dock moved to the left). - zetsurin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"I'm not sure what the deal is with people claiming the dock takes up more space."
Exactly, don't people use the zooming effect as you mouse over the icons? I have mine ultra small at the bottom of the screen and it's only used by me for switching between running apps because launching is performed compliments of the incredible Quicksilver. - jaythree9, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2good point @chmod.
you don't like it, you turn it off. im up for alternatives but there's not legitimate reason to take it away completely.
what about adding deeper preferences and skins for it? lol that sounded dirty. - greerso, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Put me down for Quicksilver too, rarely look at the dock anymore. Quicksilver for OSX and Launchy on Windows rock.
- wild, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12I would never use it. The dock deos what it does very well. I don't need a dumb toolbar at the bottom. I need an app launcher.
- gargantuan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6i fear it. I love the dock. But then again I feared OS X because I loved OS 9. This might just be the best thing ever. But something about it screams 'Windows'. Should the dock do more, or should it just be a dock? I'm undecided.
- alecks, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4Regardless, seems like voting is over and this app got cut. Surprising that this got cut and something like Herald made it...
- gwalbridge, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6How is the voting over? I just voted for it. Don't mislead, not cool.
- bradym80, on 10/12/2007, -2/+28I like the dock. I dont want it to turn into the windows system tray.
YOUR VIRUS PROTECTION IS EXPIRED! YOU ARE AT RISK!
NEW UPDATES ARE AVAILABLE!
***** bubbles making me lose mouse focus!- Veamon, on 10/12/2007, -19/+2So turn them off, newb. Figure out how to work your system before you bitch about stupid little things like that. I hate the fact that every time I try and "close" an app in OSX, it's not REALLY closed, unless I Apple-Q it.
- somnus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I hate those bubbles so very much. After using OS X and changes my preferences in *gasp* the preferences pane -- in the same place in EVERY program -- changing anything in Windows requires either a hunt in the system for the option (usually hidden in something arcane or unrelated) or for me to go online and look it up. I don't understand why people defend its usability.
On a more related note: I agree with a lot of the posters here. The dock is simple, that's why it works. This menu bar is functional, but brings back the inherent problems of the task bar in Windows: screen real estate. It takes up a lot of room, and each app on the toolbar now takes up 100px or so instead of 25-50ish px. - Quix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14"So turn them off, newb. Figure out how to work your system before you bitch about stupid little things like that. I hate the fact that every time I try and "close" an app in OSX, it's not REALLY closed, unless I Apple-Q it." - Veamon
I guess you need to figure out that in OS X, closing a window means you're just closing a window.
Newb. :) - somnus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@Veamon:
I think the program/window management in OS X is far more logical. Close windows, quit programs. What doesn't make sense to you? In the Windows program/window management, if you have 5 IE windows open, the taskbar and alt-tab consider it 5 programs. What the hell? Worse yet, you waste screen real estate on 5 menu bars. It really makes no sense. To me, it gets in the way of productivity and screams disorganization. You'll notice program suites such as Adobe's and Macromedia's include their own windows management systems. This should be a pretty big clue that something is wrong.
- cyberworm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2don't be silly. If you need access to more than you can fit in the dock (without clutter to the point of uselessness) then shift apple A and get over it.
- orbz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I prefer Todos myself (prefer it to shiftappleA not to this mock or the deck)
http://www.dbachrach.com/opensoft/index.php?page=Todos
- orbz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I prefer Todos myself (prefer it to shiftappleA not to this mock or the deck)
- neom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16Pardon my ignorance.. but didn't microsoft do this and call it the taskbar?
- ryllharu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3On the surface it nearly looks identical to anything you can do on a Windows PC with Object Desktop, and anything else in the Stardock suites. I used them for a while, and I actually got a slight *decrease* in productivity from the system drain. Now, Object Desktop isn't the leanest App out there, but I've always found the less clutter you have on one screen is what increases your productivity.
And widescreen or dual monitors will do you even better.
Both the dock and dashboard keep stuff out of the way. Someone explain how more things on my desktop makes me more productive.
- ryllharu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3On the surface it nearly looks identical to anything you can do on a Windows PC with Object Desktop, and anything else in the Stardock suites. I used them for a while, and I actually got a slight *decrease* in productivity from the system drain. Now, Object Desktop isn't the leanest App out there, but I've always found the less clutter you have on one screen is what increases your productivity.
- manicdvln, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I also prefer the dock, even though this dock/dashboard hybrid looks more productive, the simplicity of the osx dock is less intimidating to potential new customers and computer illiterates.
- deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6The dock is one of the best features of OSX. This app looks pretty neat but it looks too cluttered to me. Reminds me of Vista actually...
- dmurray14, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I have no problem with the dock. Simple and straighforward.
- geoken, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7To me it seems like a bunch of widgets replacing the dock, with one of those widgets bieng an app launcher.
- thespace, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1------
- mouthster, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12Do not ***** with the dock.
- Noctem, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Wow, let's make it look exactly like KDE. Great idea. *rolls eyes*
- gwalbridge, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Go and vote for this! Ground Control is clearly better than the Dock AND Dashboard, and comes together in one nice interface. He's only at 7.6% of the votes at this time, which puts him in 10th place. Let's get his percentage up!
- Tilneys, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I love the Dock. This app looks like its trying to do an idiotic Windows Start Menu.
Keep it, no vote from me. - grahamcase, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I like the dock in its simplicity, but I agree that this is way better than some of the other ones.
however, if it gets voted out, maybe it will be made as freeware by some awesome developer! - fba199, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Whoops, I thought it was Windows. Looks cool, but the dock is what makes OS X different from Windows. If you hate the dock hide it.
- DaffyDuck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I love the dock. This particular idea really doesn't appeal to me. I'd rather stick with the dock+dashboard combination.
- bkorte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2+Digg because its a very nice implementation. If it wasn't for the sheer awesomeness of the dock, this would top the list of replacements.
Well designed and thought out product but just not what I'm personally looking for. - right75, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This reminds me of the Windows taskbar, which I don't much care for.
- jackmon, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1The dock does suck, but not nearly as much as the piece of garbage that is the OSX Finder. Priorities, people! Priorities!
- pumacub, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Interesting idea, but it lacks serious polish and looks like something more suited for Vista.
- OrangeTide, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Less is more.
The Dock worked fine for NextStep/OpenStep, and it's the right tool for OS X. - gwalbridge, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Everyone here is confused. This is NOT to replace the Dock permanently... You actually think Apple would open up voting for such a thing? This is simply a third-party app that you can choose to install if you want increased productivity, or you can keep the dock if you want. If you think the app has any potential to increase productivity, especially for the greater good, then go vote for it.
- DaffyDuck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Maybe the problem is the title of this digg. In my opinion, this is really a dashboard alternative, not a dock alternative. It would maybe be received better here if it had been described that way.
- redrighthand, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I want the built in ability to adjust transparency to the dock (without a 3rd party app) but aside from that I love it
- somnus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1When I first discovered the ability to change opacity in ICQ back in the day, I accidentally set it to '0' and couldn't find the program. I had to randomly click and drag until it reappeared. No joke =(
- jgreene777, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1this thing looks like crap. it is very vista-ish and cluttered. 'nothin' wrong with the dock imo.
- opuszczony, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This app is already called KDE kicker, learn to use your X server if this is your wont.
- Lane5slacker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Looks big and bulky. I for one love "the dock"
- stevensj2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0The dock, while works pretty well for what it does, could use an improvement.
I've always thought the lack of a task bar of some sort made OS X clumsy in the "knowing what windows are open" department. Sure, expose works great, but that is one more click than should be necessary.
As an avid OS X user, I'm not saying the dock is bad. What I'm saying is it _can_ be done better, and there is never anything wrong with improvement.
I would cast my vote for the Hijack app, but I'm not registering to a site simply to vote.- tizz66, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1If you don't want to click for Expose, use the hot corners. I have Dashboard in one corner, Expose in another and Show Desktop in a third. Couldn't be simpler to have the display I want right at my finger tips without clicking or typing. It takes zero effort to flick the mouse to a corner :)
- viperic5, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The dock is too sleek and elegant to be replaced with this taskbar... It would make OSX no different than any other operating system... The dock needs to stay, or atleast give you the option to use either the dock or this if it does get voted in....
- LeeVal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I wouldn't mind having the option to choose one or the other, Everyones happy
- lskywalker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If this is such a good idea, raise capital, build it, and sell it. What the heck is "voting" about. Its not a democracy, its capitalism.
- lunarworks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The headline is more than a bit misleading.
You're not voting to "replace the dock", you're voting in a software design contest that has nothing to do with Apple. - MacParrot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1While I like the Dock, it isn't the be-all, end-all of Application launchers and open app place holders. There is something to be said for the Windows taskbar. One thing I like about the taskbar (and this app as shown) is all the open documents are easily switched to. Expose makes this easy as well (and I wouldn't want to get rid of it), but it's a two step process instead of one as compared to the taskbar. I also like the integrated Address Book and iChat capabilities. The Mail part? Eh, not so much, but there is a lot to like here.
Apple and Microsoft have gleefully stolen ideas from each other over the years, why should this be any different? Dugg for thinking different. - greedonever, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yes, feels like a windows task bar to me. Don't forget to "Think Different." It is a lovely effort though. I will be voting for Atmosphere:
http://mydreamapp.com/contestants/view/cameronwestland/
Yes, more useless bloat-ware that makes me love my Mac even more. I liked fuzzy dice back in the day too. They obstructed my vision and did not emit a pleasing aroma, but they looked cooool.- neom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I also voted for Atmosphere, looks like an amazing application, hope it wins!
- Kajico, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Donelleschi's Dock Fun enhances the dock by letting you have various different sets of docks (like a virtual desktop, only a virtual dock) and it let's you launch applications by clicking on the icon, and going down an organized category list and launching it.
The dock has never, hindered, restricted me or cause me any trouble what-so-ever. I don't think there is enough people out there who could possibly go out and whine enough about the dock to have Apple kill it.
The Dock is simple, and efficient for what I need it to do, and Dock Fun enhances it to be more flexible while keeping it simple.
http://www.donelleschi.com/dockfun/ - JROCKinAK, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I love the dock why in the hell would I want to replace it with this app? That's just crazy, if I wanted my items in to look like that I will just use my windows PC. This idea is stupid!
- fraggle35, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I like the dock, if hiding is turned on it takes no space at all until you need it.
- somnus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The only problem with it is -- as someone mentions below -- that in some apps, when I have go to the bottom of the screen to do something, the dock might pop up just as I'm clicking: "AGH! Force quit! Force quit!". This is, admittedly, a minor problem
- Palex95, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Funny, my XP machine looks very similar to this. I have been running object dock for some time now. It is a little buggy, but my windows looks better than any GUI I have used before, simply because I designed it myself. Unfortunately, Windows runs so poorly, I could toss the thing out the window. If my Mac was more customizable, I'd probably never use Windows again, as much as I hate saying that.
- thespace, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2i like stickit actually, i think its the most useful for anybody. I can't stand those little sticky notes but if you could assign it to anything at all like any app and you closed that app or webpage and it disappeared and reappeared when you opened it again that would be stupid cool
- felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I have only one problem with the Dock - I want the option to keep the Dock area of my screen protected from other windows. It drives me nuts when I'm mousing to an item on the bottom of an application screen, and it's sharing space with the Dock.
Other than that, I love the Dock. I don't need it to turn into some kind of feature-laden bloatware. - tizz66, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If you want an application launcher, install PathFinder and it gives you a handy little menubar icon that acts like the Start Menu in Windows.
This app idea is basically just Dashboard but on your screen all the time. I don't want all that info on my screen at once. The beauty of the dock is how simple it is. The beauty of Dashboard is that it gives you more info *when you want it*. A mashup of both means both of those positives becomes diluted. - abagchee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm neutral about the dock (at least was). After looking at this app, I love the dock! This looks a lot like the inefficient Windows taskbar without information popping up. There are much better solutions out there like DragThing that supplements the dock.
- hobg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Top Ten Nine Reasons the Apple Dock Still Sucks http://www.asktog.com/columns/044top10docksucks.html
Apple Employee #66, Apple's first Interaction Designer and only Human Interface Evangelist, weighs in on the scientific evidence against the Dock and the sales reality that keeps it in place. - MBX1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2i prefer the dock over this other dreamapp suggestion that looks more like some windows vista "more is less"-philosophy.
- morouxshi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2That thing is so big and bulky its something Microsoft would come up with, oh wait, their windows button was that horrible and it was introduced years ago. i guess they already came up with.
The dock just works, even if its just barely, quick access to the information and programs i need is vital, and that just would completely destroy that. - Powell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i like the groundcontrol - although it reminds me of Vista
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