First off, I want to start out by saying I take no credit for the design of the Visual Style, Icons, or any graphics used to make this. I just put this shot together to give a good visual for what I am trying to explain. I hope this isn't a problem. Also, I don't know if anyone has made a concept like this either, I made this based on what I would like to see, I'm just looking for some feedback from the community. Who knows, this could be implemented in the next-gen OS.
Ok, now I could be wrong, but I believe I have been seeing a progression of more and more ppl using application launchers like OD, RocketDock, Circle Dock, etc. With this happening, the function of the start menu is slowly becoming obscelete (at least to me). My Idea here is to integrate a few things into Explorer, and remove the start menu. Therefore the start orb will open an explorer window based on this design, offering you all the options of the start menu along with some advanced file management, all accessible from a single explorer window. I based the main "Start" page on the Welcome Center. I'd like to have tabs integrated without a third party app like QTTabs. Also, I would like certain tabs to open everytime the start window is opened. This will cut down on shortcuts pointing to My Computer, User Files, Hard Drives, Control Panel, Recycle Bin, etc. One explorer window to replace all shortcuts and start menu. With the tabs, I'd also like to have advanced ways to transfer files. There are a lot of things I transfer to my External HD, and some I keep on the PC but want on External. Something like right click and drag will "move" item to folder when placed on the locations tab, and right and left clicking while dragging will make a "copy" while retaining the original in its location. One thing I miss in explorer are the delete and new folder buttons. There is an app out there to put them in, but doesn't seem to work on SP1. Search option is already included in explorer. The biggest change you'll see is my navigation pane shows the standard folder tree, but also has "All Programs" launcher like the start menu. This will work the same way, but you will also be able to click on the middle mouse wheel to open an application folder in a new tab for easy editing/skinning of apps. Log off and shutdown options are located under the pane. The final addition to this explorer concept, is utilizing the status bar, which to me seems pretty useless. I've added the date and time, along with the same cpu and memory featues that are on the task manager window. It seems like a lot, but I was going for an all-in-one interface, and maybe it be made to integrate more. Possibly a picture viewer, Windows Media Player, and Internet Explorer for a few. I don't know, not even sure if something like this would be possible or beneficial to anyone. I don't know the first thing about programming/coding. I just wanted to put my idea out there and see what kind of reaction it'll get. Please critique honestly, add some feedback, ideas, maybe even someone more talented than my copy and paste technique can make a better looking concept and maybe elaborate on this. Thanx to everyone who took the time to read this, hope its all clear.
