Do you hate Mission Control? Here's a workaround!

[baryon]

I hated Mission Control ever since I got Lion, and I hate it more and more every day. Here's why:

• I can't rearrange my desktops
• The small thumbnail previews
• The fact that these previews aren't "Exposé-d"
• You can't change your desktop picture on all your desktops with one click
• Mission Control pretends to let you create and remove desktops "on the fly" by putting an "add desktop" button, and close buttons on each desktop, but then you realize that your app bindings to specific desktops get lost too easily
• Full Screen apps create new desktops, and you can't decide on their location
• Windows are stacked by application. I'm looking for a specific window, not an app. Let me see the windows one by one!
• Can't drag windows from one desktop to the other, unless you're dragging from the current desktop
• When you enter Mission Control, it takes me a long time to figure out which desktop I'm on of all the ones at the top. The faint grey border isn't obvious enough, and the actual desktop you're on doesn't "zoom out" into the thumbnail representation, so there's no good indication of where you are and it breaks your workflow. In Snow Leopard's Spaces, there was absolutely no question about which space is the one you were currently on, and where the other ones are relative to it.
• Desktops rearranging automatically is a mess, as you don't necessarily want to get to certain apps by clicking their icon in the dock, especially in full screen mode (dock is super-hidden). Turning that off completely makes you lose the ability to control the order of the desktops.

I really feel that Mission Control should be about "controlling" your workflow, instead of completely losing control in this giant mess.

However, I have found a semi-solution. I found that many issues come from the use of Full Screen mode, as it creates new desktops in unexpected locations, and it's impossible to change their location (even less than non-full screen windows). Moreover, Full Screen mode doesn't allow "Show Desktop" to work, and it completely goes against the idea of multi tasking. So the easy thing to do, is simply don't use Full Screen apps! You didn't have them in SL, why would you suddenly need them? Sure, they're nice and it's cool to have that much space, but it's also nice to be able to multi task and to make the best use of this ridiculous mess that is Mission Control.

Conclusion: Stop using Full Screen apps, your workflow will become so much smoother!

 

[*LTD*]

Understand that Lion treats full-screen apps (that you choose to view in full-sceen) in a special manner. They are apps "in focus." As such, they get their own Space and are separated from the rest.

You choose to view something full-screen, Lion thinks it's special. Lion thinks you really want to get into it and experience it fully, no distractions.

 

[AdeFowler]

I'm still getting apps (Pages, Numbers, CS5) open in the same 'Space' as the Finder instead of the 'Space' that they're fixed to. It happened in Snow Leopard occasionally as well but I hoped Lion would fix it, but it's worse

 

[baryon]

For Mission Control to get fixed, Apple doesn't just need to fix some bugs, they need to seriously redesign some things! Maybe not as drastic things as we think, but the feature is still not complete at this stage if you ask me...

 

[Thunderbird]

Steve still doesn't understand that people don't experience themselves working in apps, they experience themselves working in windows (of apps). People look for the windows they want to work in when they need to switch, especially when working with multiple apps and multiple windows of multiple apps.

This app-centric obssession in OS X is its fatal flaw. If the engineering and programming team could see things from an end-user point of view, and design a more consistent GUI that was more windows based and allowed users more control over their desktop and workflow, Mac OS would be much better off.

 

[sn]

and sometimes this happens. there's more windows off to the left of the screen but you can't see them. annoying.

 

[*LTD*]

Steve still doesn't understand that people don't experience themselves working in apps, they experience themselves working in windows (of apps). People look for the windows they want to work in when they need to switch, especially when working with multiple apps and multiple windows of multiple apps.

This app-centric obssession in OS X is its fatal flaw. If the engineering and programming team could see things from an end-user point of view, and design a more consistent GUI that was more windows based and allowed users more control over their desktop and workflow, Mac OS would be much better off.

I wonder what give you the impression it's "fatal."

 

[KingCrimson]

Steve still doesn't understand that people don't experience themselves working in apps, they experience themselves working in windows (of apps). People look for the windows they want to work in when they need to switch, especially when working with multiple apps and multiple windows of multiple apps.

This app-centric obssession in OS X is its fatal flaw. If the engineering and programming team could see things from an end-user point of view, and design a more consistent GUI that was more windows based and allowed users more control over their desktop and workflow, Mac OS would be much better off.

Exactly. In Windows 7 when you hover over an application on the taskbar, you get thumbnails of all the windows. Still it isn't perfect because the "expose view" is still app-centric.

 

[gr8tfly]

Steve still doesn't understand that people don't experience themselves working in apps, they experience themselves working in windows (of apps). People look for the windows they want to work in when they need to switch, especially when working with multiple apps and multiple windows of multiple apps.

This app-centric obssession in OS X is its fatal flaw. If the engineering and programming team could see things from an end-user point of view, and design a more consistent GUI that was more windows based and allowed users more control over their desktop and workflow, Mac OS would be much better off.

That's the problem; though up until now, Steve et al have understood this, as it's always been the Mac's strong point vs the more app based paradigm of Windows (and the wasted desktop that goes with it). Full screen is fine, for certain applications, where you don't normally need to interact with other apps (such as FCP, Aperture, or perhaps Photoshop). Fullscreen Safari is not, IMO, one that needs or should be used in fullscreen. What web site needs 1900 px in width? Most [sites] are fixed to a particular layout, and so, leave a ton of white (wasted) space to either side of a page's content. You can't reference other documents alongside a Webpage, so other interactions suffer too (copy/paste).

I know there are those who like Safari fullscreen, and that's fine. I'm just using Safari as an example - the new Mail app does lend itself a bit better to fullscreen. But to try and change the UI paradigm from document based to app based is a huge mistake. It's good to have workflow options, but a full featured OS, on the whole, needs to maintain the document based UI. Lion, so far, is doing fine at integrating the two types (Mission Control is a good start, but does need some tweaking).

Just as a side note, I think a lot of Lion users are jumping to conclusions regarding Fullscreen apps and Mission Control, and need to do a bit of RTFM (or equivalent) and realize that Lion still can be used in almost the exact way we were using Snow Leopard - just more refined (IMO, at least).

I will add that fullscreen (for general apps) is probably more useful on lower resolution displays, where there is limited space for multiple open windows anyway (and why we won't see that on an iOS device). On a high res display, though, apps like Safari just don't really work well with a large desktop (in fullscreen).

Just my $0.02....

 

[KingCrimson]

Honestly I don't think Jobs cares about OS X anymore. It's all about the iDevices and iCloud. He already said that it's all about data and the devices that access that data. Nowhere does he talk about improving user workflow.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Steve still doesn't understand that people don't experience themselves working in apps, they experience themselves working in windows (of apps). People look for the windows they want to work in when they need to switch, especially when working with multiple apps and multiple windows of multiple apps.

This app-centric obssession in OS X is its fatal flaw. If the engineering and programming team could see things from an end-user point of view, and design a more consistent GUI that was more windows based and allowed users more control over their desktop and workflow, Mac OS would be much better off.

Most power users work that way but the vast majority of the computer using public doesn't even know what Exposé is. App centric is exactly how they think as evidenced by the huge iPad growth.

I will add that fullscreen (for general apps) is probably more useful on lower resolution displays, where there is limited space for multiple open windows anyway (and why we won't see that on an iOS device). On a high res display, though, apps like Safari just don't really work well with a large desktop (in fullscreen).

Lion was definitely designed for notebooks. Apple knows that mobile computers/devices are the future and they're usually at the forefront of pushing technology forward. It's no different here.

 

[KingCrimson]

Most power users work that way but the vast majority of the computer using public doesn't even know what Exposé is. App centric is exactly how they think as evidenced by the huge iPad growth.

That's because consumers have little imagination. Already people are raging against Windows Phone 7 because they can't understand the hub-centric approach and deep integration.

 

[Jagardn]

I wonder what give you the impression it's "fatal."

Yeah, maybe Apples record profits are proving fatal?
Just because it doesn't work the way you want it to doesn't make it fatal, Fail, or Vista for that matter. There are certain minor things, but I actually like the way its laid out.

-I've never used spaces, never really fit into my workflow needs.
-I never minimize windows(no need to with Expose or MC)

 

[*LTD*]

That's because consumers have little imagination.

If you like extra cruft and complexity then Apple just isn't for you.

 

[QuarterSwede]

If you like extra cruft and complexity then Apple just isn't for you.

I never thought I'd agree with you so much LTD.

 

[*LTD*]

I never thought I'd agree with you so much LTD.

You'll be hanged for it. But they'll write about you afterward.

 

[ipedro]

I personally love Mission Control. It simplifies what used to be too many complex concepts: Expose, Spaces and Dashboard and now Full screen apps.

[*]The fact that these previews aren't "Exposé-d"

The solution is 3 finger down swipe. "App Expose". Works brilliantly for me. 3 Fingers up brings up Mission Control an overview of all that is running on my system. Three fingers down shows me all the windows within that app I'm working on.

Also, if you're in Mission Control and you want to spread apart all the windows in an Application stack, do what is instinctive: spread your fingers apart.

All the functionality you need is there, it's just a different way of doing things.

 

[jonnysods]

What happens if you are using multiple monitors? What does Mission Control do then?

 

[OllyW]

Also, if you're in Mission Control and you want to spread apart all the windows in an Application stack, do what is instinctive: spread your fingers apart.

All the functionality you need is there, it's just a different way of doing things.

How does that work with a mouse?

 

[ipedro]

Steve still doesn't understand that people don't experience themselves working in apps, they experience themselves working in windows (of apps). People look for the windows they want to work in when they need to switch, especially when working with multiple apps and multiple windows of multiple apps.

This app-centric obssession in OS X is its fatal flaw. If the engineering and programming team could see things from an end-user point of view, and design a more consistent GUI that was more windows based and allowed users more control over their desktop and workflow, Mac OS would be much better off.

Really. The man who invented the first widespread OS to use windows doesn't understand it?

The desktop and Windows metaphor is to swipeable full screen apps, what the command prompt was to desktop/windows back then. People engrained in the old way of doing things didnt want to let go of their command prompts either...

How does that work with a mouse?

If you'd rather stick to old technology, then stick to old technology consistently (don't upgrade the OS). Touch is the new tech, whether you touch a screen directly or on a touch pad. Apple's Magic Mouse still does this if you really must stick to a mouse, but I highly recommend the Magic Pad.

Lion is so instinctive and comfortable to use with gestures that within a day of doing things that way, you'll stop thinking of the gestures and get to where you need to be on the screen quickly and instinctively. Lion and the Magic Pad were made for each other.

 

[KingCrimson]

If you like extra cruft and complexity then Apple just isn't for you.

Lion makes thing more complex then Snow Leopard. Mission Control is an utter disaster now.

If you'd rather stick to old technology, then stick to old technology consistently (don't upgrade the OS). Touch is the new tech, whether you touch a screen directly or on a touch pad. Apple's Magic Mouse still does this if you really must stick to a mouse, but I highly recommend the Magic Pad.

Lion is so instinctive and comfortable to use with gestures that within a day of doing things that way, you'll stop thinking of the gestures and get to where you need to be on the screen quickly and instinctively. Lion and the Magic Pad were made for each other.

The mouse cursor will always be with us because of the need for precision work. I can't imagine anyone doing AutoCAD using finger gestures...

 

[ipedro]

The mouse cursor will always be with us because of the need for precision work. I can't imagine anyone doing AutoCAD using finger gestures...

I didn't say that the cursor needed to go anywhere, I said the mouse.

I do precision work myself (I'm a photographer and graphic designer) and I use the Magic Trackpad. I haven't used a mouse in years and when I do, it feels awkward and restricted.

The bottom line is that Apple has designed an OS with touch in mind. Just like the command prompt was left out of favour to let the mouse and cursor take precedence, gestures are the new way of getting things done quicker and more intuitively. You don't have to stop using the mouse/command prompt. It's still there to be used, but you're missing out on major features if you do.

A lot of the OS won't make sense to you if you're not using the tool that the OS was designed in mind with -- i.e. Full Screen Apps, natural scrolling, Mission Control, LaunchPad to name just a few admittedly wouldn't make much sense to me if I couldn't call them up using gestures.

If you haven't tried Lion with a trackpad, you're missing out on the whole reason for Lion. Go pick one up and try it for a few days. If you open your mind to it, I have a feeling you won't turn back.

Getting me to use a mouse in Lion would be like asking Tom Cruise in Minority Report to control that OS with a mouse. It would feel incredibly restrictive and archaic.

 

[Jagardn]

Mission Control is an utter disaster now.

Strictly opinion. I happen to like it.

 

[Icy1007]

I'm still getting apps (Pages, Numbers, CS5) open in the same 'Space' as the Finder instead of the 'Space' that they're fixed to. It happened in Snow Leopard occasionally as well but I hoped Lion would fix it, but it's worse

If you delete the desktop that you assign an app to always appear on, the setting will be reset.

eg:

If you assign Safari to always appear on Desktop 3 and you delete Desktop 3.
Safari will now show on Desktop 1 when you start it again.

 

[Icy1007]

How does that work with a mouse?

You hover the cursor over the stack of windows you want to spread and then scroll up with your mouse wheel. Scroll down to put them back.