[Concept] New Ribbon UI !

[Zain Adeel]

It doesn't take up half the window... but past your exaggerations -

It's primarily there to give more visibility to all the commands, and to make it easier and more obvious to use them. Microsoft found that outside of power users, people were wanting to use tools that already existed, but they didn't know they existed because they were hidden in random boxes / menus / tabs etc. With the ribbon, they can surface a lot more options in a single area, whilst still giving prominence to each individual item. If you think it's big, just minimise it. Most users will appreciate how easy it makes using explorer now. It does greatly accelerate a few tasks (copy path & delete permanently are certainly enough for power users to appreciate being exposed)

You know i understand your point.

But its weird when MS teach devs to only show 3 4 buttons in their Metro apps and hide the rest under the 3 dot menu so its clean.

I understand they cant do the same for Desktop. They are just scared people will stick to Win7 if they change the UI of desktop to metro.

[.Neo]

It doesn't take up half the window... but past your exaggerations -

I'm sorry, about one fourth of the window.

It's primarily there to give more visibility to all the commands, and to make it easier and more obvious to use them. Microsoft found that outside of power users, people were wanting to use tools that already existed, but they didn't know they existed because they were hidden in random boxes / menus / tabs etc. With the ribbon, they can surface a lot more options in a single area, whilst still giving prominence to each individual item. If you think it's big, just minimise it. Most users will appreciate how easy it makes using explorer now. It does greatly accelerate a few tasks (copy path & delete permanently are certainly enough for power users to appreciate being exposed). Heck, in the ribbon and it's major tabs, there are over 60 exposed commands for Windows explorer to everyone to see, use and understand thanks to it's tooltips (which also handily expose the keyboard shortcuts in them too). That's a lot more commands than Windows 7 exposes by default.

I understand the idea behind the Ribbon, however to me it's clear that it too can become just as messy and crowded as any conventional menu can turn out. The current execution is just a screaming mess of differently sized icons and text that takes away a lot of focus of the actual content. I've come to the conclusion though that some people just love over-crowded interfaces because it makes them feel like a power user. Beyond that any of the new tasks you describe can be housed inside a menu bar or action button as well. You don't need a Ribbon for that.

[~Johnny]

I'm sorry, about one fourth of the window.

I understand the idea behind the Ribbon, however to me it's clear that it too can become just as messy and crowded as any conventional menu can turn out. The current execution is just a screaming mess of differently sized icons and text that takes away a lot of focus of the actual content. I've come to the conclusion though that some people just love over-crowded interfaces because it makes them feel like a power user. Beyond that any of the new tasks you describe can be housed inside a menu bar or action button as well. You don't need a Ribbon for that.

Though that's the problem, you're suggesting hiding them away inside a menu. Microsoft wants to expose options, not hide them away again where people might not find them :p They're also sized based on how commonly used those tasks are - most commonly used tasks get full sized icons, whereas less commonly used get normal sized buttons. In the basic sense - here are your main options, and here are some secondary options.

[.Neo]

Though that's the problem, you're suggesting hiding them away inside a menu. Microsoft wants to expose options, not hide them away again where people might not find them :p They're also sized based on how commonly used those tasks are - most commonly used tasks get full sized icons, whereas less commonly used get normal sized buttons. In the basic sense - here are your main options, and here are some secondary options.

Minimizing the Ribbon isn't considered hiding them away? :p Most of the functions are just as unexposed as they would be inside a menu simply because of the fact the Ribbon has the ability to overflow both vertically and horizontally. Not to mention the fact there can be multiple tabs. The only functions that are better exposed compared to a traditional menu or action button are the ones that are visible on the first tab and aren't being pushed away to the overflow areas. Are you really going to try to convince me move, copy, paste, delete, rename, new folder, select all etc. need that kind of exposure...? :rolleyes: Honestly, on paper the Ribbon is a cool idea but when you really start thinking about these things it makes less and less sense, especially in Windows Explorer.

To be frank Johnny, which self-respecting power-user is going to press a button to move a file and hit another to paste? You're not much of a geek if you don't know those basic keyboard shortcuts. :laugh:

[Panda X]

It's unfortunate that the ribbon can't be themed externally.

[~Johnny]

Minimizing the Ribbon isn't considered hiding them away? :p

And honestly Johnny, which self-respecting power-user is going to press a button to move a file and hit another to paste? :laugh:

Sure minimising is hiding them away, if you want to minimise it :p But even then, when you open they menu, options are given far more breathing room.

Eh, there's a lot of times where I'm just not using my keyboard so I'd rather click. Either way, even if you're using your keyboard, you're still pressing a button combo to copy and another to paste :p Power users used button combos to take the place of options that weren't immediately accessible to save time... but with the ribbon, a lot of them are more immediately available, so clicking becomes a slightly more attractive option for some, especially during lazy days. Course not everyone will like it, but the the general scheme of *all* computer users, the majority will certainly find it a handy addition.

[.Neo]

Sure minimising is hiding them away, if you want to minimise it :p [...]

I've edited my post to explain more about what I meant.

but with the ribbon, a lot of them are more immediately available, so clicking becomes a slightly more attractive option for some, especially during lazy days.

On my Mac that just translates to two fingers for right-click > select command. :p

[Kirkburn]

Are you randomly hitting that reply button without knowing/understanding what it is you're replying to, drunk, visually impaired or just really really dense? I can't tell which one of the four is the case.

Sorry, I apologise. My mind must have gone crazy when looking at that screenshot. Comment retracted.

[Zain Adeel]

It's unfortunate that the ribbon can't be themed externally.

O come on Panda X!! dont break my heart! :(

[ATLien_0]

The ribbon is not bad, but do find it ironic that in Vista and Windows 7 Microsoft simplified the explorer toolbar and made it really minimalistic, yet it was still enough to find all the commands I really needed. With the Ribbon it almost feels like too much for explorer at least from what I have tried on Windows 8.

[Zain Adeel]

Exactly.

The did great with Windows 7. They are taking a step back with Ribbon IMO.

but again. its good for touch. Very good for touch. But make it pretty please.

Also allow us to customize it :( ... else i wont be able to theme for windows 8 becaue i wont theme if the ribbon part will remain default.

[.Neo]

Sure minimising is hiding them away, if you want to minimise it :p But even then, when you open they menu, options are given far more breathing room.

You can achieve the exact same thing inside a menu... As far as I know there's no law saying a menu has to look as seen below. My main issue with the Ribbon is dat it makes the window extremely top heavy and much bigger than it has to be. It almost starts to rival the content space which can't be good. My second issue is that while you can minimize it you have to constantly click it open and click it to close: It doesn't minimize automatically after clicking something or clicking somewhere outside the Ribbon, unlike a menu.

[The_Decimator]

Someone's got to make the Ribbon themable... & make this the 1st theme!

[Zain Adeel]

Someone's got to make the Ribbon themable... & make this the 1st theme!

thank u :D

well @ MASTER260 : i have another idea in my head. But for that we will have to get rid of Glass. . .

The thing is..

with Metro. Now glass hardly makes sense as part of Windows UI. They need to tone it down to atleast balance it with Metro if not Go that way.

MS: my metro desktop app concepts has a searchbar (no need to go to start screen to search for legacy apps, meaning no break in productivity). Also no start button needed, as its already in the charms menu. And Its METRO! (no ribbon ofcourse!) simple menus FTW!

[Calum Veteran]

I've changed the title of the thread, as it was quite misleading and made it sound as if Microsoft had released a new Ribbon UI of some sort.

[firey]

Realising that Ribbon is here to stay. I challanged myself to make a Ribbon UI that is consistent. And beautiful. (also something mature)

I know you are talking about the ribbon in particular, but you were saying you want it like metro. But I personally feel metro is not beautiful, infact it's very plane jane. It's also not very mature, looks very kiddy in my opinion.

[.Neo]

I've changed the title of the thread, as it was quite misleading and made it sound as if Microsoft had released a new Ribbon UI of some sort.

Thanks. (Y)

[floopydoodle]

It's unfortunate that the ribbon can't be themed externally.

Yes, it is indeed unfortunate. I managed to find the actual resource files but they seem to be in an unknown format or encrypted/compressed.

[Zain Adeel]

Thanks for the Title Changing.

Guys i have a question.

What color tint do u prefer the most ? if at all.

And if you like the icons to have some more color. What main color should it be?

[SkyDX]

And as usual Zain makes everything so much better than Microsoft, nice one!^^ Though I agree a bit color wouldn't hurt >.<

I would suggest maybe try to add color relevant to the task, like green-ish for the clipboard and yellow-ish for organizing for example. Oh and another suggestion, maybe try to add Aero to the minimized ribbon and see how it looks :)

[Zain Adeel]

Thank U :)

Well I'll do a colored version when I get bored again

[Robbie Ride]

i like your concepts but how about this idea, if a user were to hover over an icon in the ribbon bar the icon itself would become a full colour icon and revert back when the cursor is moved from the icon.

[Zain Adeel]

the hover state will be inverted colors (which by fact is the most different it can be and that makes it easiest to notice).

[Zain Adeel]

ok guys.. the thing is..

ppl here think this is low quality linex distro like work.

The thing is i was going for the style that matches the conjusted design of ribbon and windows explorer. the direction i took suits it well..

but i said here that i was only skinning the present situation of windows 8.

Here is what i imagine a windows explorer with something like ribbon can look like if i get to play around with my rules.

My rules. My style. Metroish simplicity. But with little styles to give it a touch of our loved GUI from today. Ribbon options. But everything super sleek and sexy.

How about this? (please click to view fullsize)

[ccoltmanm]

That's not really Metro. Nor is your first post. Think tiles with invisible lines and nice big font with simple graphics. You are almost there.

Having said that, i wouldn't mind downloading that theme for myself. :)