Description of Deepin Dock’s Functions like Hidden Functions

Deepin Desktop Environment 2.0 continued to move toward maturity through the unremitting efforts of Deepin team including developers and designers. Since the functions of some modules of Deepin Desktop Environment 2.0 have been changed, this time we will introduce the changes of the current Dock.

Hidden Features

Dock is the fastest entry for the users to start the programs. In order not to cause conflicts with the desktop use efficiency, how Dock displays has been the focus of our attention. In the case of considering the needs of different users, Dock has the following three modes:

• Always show: Dock will always show unless some program is in full screen mode.
• Always hidden: Dock will remain hidden unless the users use the mouse which hovers over the bottom of the desktop to evoke Dock.
• Auto-hide: Dock will not hide unless the current program on which the mouse focuses is in full screen or maximized state.

 

 

The biggest change of Dock’s hidden features is its auto-hide feature. If users open this mode and there have already existed programs in their maximized state on the desktop, but the focus of the mouse or the window being operated is not in full-screen or maximized state, then Dock will not be hidden. Since the current Dock display will not coincide with the window the user is operating to cause conflicts, we designed the Dock to still display in this case so that the user still can use Dock to boot programs or to view the status of the current system.

Display of D Zone

In order to facilitate the users to view the status of the trays of program-level in D zone, the display mode of the current trays in D zone has been changed into smart display modes. For example, after a user logins on Skype and his/her friends send a new message to him/her, all the trays of program-level will automatically display in the D Zone, which helps users quickly view  the Skype message reminder in the D zone.

 

Display of Trays

Currently trays of system-level are mainly divided into two kinds: the non-custom trays and customizable trays.

• The non-custom trays: D zone, external devices and power tray
• The customizable trays: Network, sound and time trays

 

Trays of non-custom type do not allow users to make any modification to them. The trays in D zone will always appear for the “dock” function can not be canceled in them. The external devices tray will appear when there is an external device in the current system. The power tray will appear when the current computer is powered by batteries.

 

 

Customizable trays allow the users to choose whether to dock. The customizing way is to right click Dock panel to choose or to choose in the network, sound and time modules in the Control Center.

 

Expectations

Currently, we have received a lot of users’ suggestions on Deepin 2014 and we will continue to absorb their suggestions. We will continue to improve Deepin desktop environment to make it more convenient and beautiful!

Now we are developing taskbar mode of Dock like the traditional one on Windows 7. For more custom-made features, please wait!