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BumpTop 3D Desktop Released for Mac
- Thread starter uaecasher
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It looks really "cool" and high tech-y and all, but I really don't think this actually speeds up your workflow or makes stuff easier to organise and find. I think that since a computer has a 2D monitor, organising stuff in a 2D way makes a lot more sense, such as in folders. Plus I only use my desktop to display drives, and very temporary folders that need to be sorted quickly. Apps are in the Dock and documents are in their own folder structures. I think the Dock on OS X replaces the Desktop as we've seen it on Windows, making the desktop kind of useless anyway.
I like it.
Loving all these high horse productivity comments... like you're all so busy and productivity so high on the agenda you're posting comments on a rumor site.
I think this is a really novel idea and not so sure why so many people are shooting it down... its fun, looks pretty good, sure it has some problems (its a first release - to be expected), and while not for everyone, for some people will be really good. Think of all the people you see with crazy messy desktops... Like mine after a day or so working away on loads of images and clippings and docs throughout a day for any given project. The ability to group things into those piles temporarily is awesome. There are other ways it can be done, and everyone has clearly been coping without it so far, but added functionality to pile things up is pretty useful. I do file most things away when I'm done, and delete the rest... but in the mean time I have crap all over my screen and I think its pretty good at what it attempts to do.
If anything its a step in the right direction, and no doubt everybody's favourite computer maker has played around with its own 3D tech and one day plans to use it... will be interesting to see how they implement these concepts into future OS's, but in the mean time cheer up and smile that you already live in the future. And don't work too hard...
Loving all these high horse productivity comments... like you're all so busy and productivity so high on the agenda you're posting comments on a rumor site.
I think this is a really novel idea and not so sure why so many people are shooting it down... its fun, looks pretty good, sure it has some problems (its a first release - to be expected), and while not for everyone, for some people will be really good. Think of all the people you see with crazy messy desktops... Like mine after a day or so working away on loads of images and clippings and docs throughout a day for any given project. The ability to group things into those piles temporarily is awesome. There are other ways it can be done, and everyone has clearly been coping without it so far, but added functionality to pile things up is pretty useful. I do file most things away when I'm done, and delete the rest... but in the mean time I have crap all over my screen and I think its pretty good at what it attempts to do.
If anything its a step in the right direction, and no doubt everybody's favourite computer maker has played around with its own 3D tech and one day plans to use it... will be interesting to see how they implement these concepts into future OS's, but in the mean time cheer up and smile that you already live in the future. And don't work too hard...
I think it's strange that we first tried to get a computer working to get as less paperwork around the (real) desk as possible.
And now, we're just trying to get that 'desktop mess' feel back in 3D desktops.
Hanging stickies everywhere, creating piles, ...
I know, most have some organisation methods (stack by type, etc.) but still...
I'm not against new or alternative methods of file management, this is just a thought that came up.
And now, we're just trying to get that 'desktop mess' feel back in 3D desktops.
Hanging stickies everywhere, creating piles, ...
I know, most have some organisation methods (stack by type, etc.) but still...
I'm not against new or alternative methods of file management, this is just a thought that came up.
might wanna look at the time code of some of the posts, like mine:
Yesterday, 11:18 PM
saying that we aren't busy doesn't really argue the fact that the program is mostly useless, and generally makes finding files harder, and take longer. I guess sorry for looking at new productivity software on a friday night, and saying it's not productive.
To a degree, I agree with you. I've been thinking more and more about this since I played with it the other day, and I think that it's a good start. But, as I said before, what's missing is some way of handling the 2D nature of windows, such that this could become a true 3D Finder replacement. Allowing similar 3D manipulation of things inside of windows (perhaps they could be "drawers" now?), plus having an effective way of putting a "drawer" down on the desktop (i.e. minimizing, but with a 3D environment twist) would go a long way toward making this a fairly intuitive 3D interface, and would make me consider using it as my primary Finder level interface. However, without something like that, having the way that files are interacted with on the desktop being significantly different than how I interact with them anywhere else on my system is a formula for trouble in my book.
It looks like you're looking into a box. Like you're some crazy person who keeps all their possessions neatly arranged in a box and sits it on their lap fiddling with it all day long, turning to snarl at anyone who might peer into your precious cardboard box, and the secret treasures therein.
They certainly did, back in December '08. Here's a link to the related article thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/614994/
You'll see that BumpTop was also mentioned back then as being in beta testing for Windows.
Yes, but
Watching the Bumptop video one thing that occurs to me is that we desktop users need a MUCH more sophisticate touch-sensitive pointing device than the Apple Magic Mouse -- something substantial and stable about the size of a CD or a paperback book with a glass top that we could park next to our keyboard in the way that I now have my Kensington trackball. The MM is much too small to handle a large vocabulary of hand motions. I'd prefer a flat service and something with a lot less tinny feel to it. And I don't see why we need the mouse part of it any more, I should be able to control the cursor with the device itself.
Watching the Bumptop video one thing that occurs to me is that we desktop users need a MUCH more sophisticate touch-sensitive pointing device than the Apple Magic Mouse -- something substantial and stable about the size of a CD or a paperback book with a glass top that we could park next to our keyboard in the way that I now have my Kensington trackball. The MM is much too small to handle a large vocabulary of hand motions. I'd prefer a flat service and something with a lot less tinny feel to it. And I don't see why we need the mouse part of it any more, I should be able to control the cursor with the device itself.
I agree, more 3D-ish stuff would make it better. I also wish there was a "ceiling" part, too. If for nothing else but to throw virtual pencils at it.
I also wish icons were 3D. That way, if you're looking at the sides, the stuff on the bottom still looks they have substance to them. Also, wish there was a better clean up/organize command. I like the way the normal Finder organizes. You can have it organized by date created, name, size, etc. With Bumptop, you have to choose which files you want organized. Kinda wish we could have a way to do specific files (like in bumptop) but also have a default like in Finder.
Not really release software yet...
Although the concept of this software is very interesting, after using the Mac version for a day, it sincerely strikes me as a technology demo or an early beta with the amazing number of bugs and interface quirks. The worst of these was that within 24 hours, my custom "floor" image suddenly changed into constantly garbled pieces of graphics from other open window, sometimes flickering like a strobe light. I can only interpret this is a memory leak of some sort. Most of the other problems are in regards to movement of icons - between the BumpTop space and open finder/application windows as well as the second desktop in a dual-screen environment.
Taking further the idea that others have already pointed out regarding BumpTop being a desktop replacement rather than enhancement, I suppose the developers could could use this reason as an excuse for many of the interface quirks and behavior inconsistent with Apple's OS desktop. The problem here, however, lies with the fact that in the OS, the desktop is essentially an extension of the finder - a sort of permanently open window in icon view - but Apple made sure that the desktop's behavior is completely consistent with the finder. BumpTop destroys much of that consistent behavior, and makes too little effort to integrate and cooperate with the finder. This leads to all kinds of confusing behavior and results to what should be simple familiar actions - at least with those users who have been using Apple's finder for some time.
I've sent a list of bugs/interface quirks to their support e-mail, and hopefully these kinks can be eventually worked out. However, I feel that at this time, the Mac version of this software is being misrepresented as a "release" version and it is much fairer to users to call it an "open beta." Only an invitation to trial it as a beta with some sort of incentive would be enough to get me to continue using it.
Although the concept of this software is very interesting, after using the Mac version for a day, it sincerely strikes me as a technology demo or an early beta with the amazing number of bugs and interface quirks. The worst of these was that within 24 hours, my custom "floor" image suddenly changed into constantly garbled pieces of graphics from other open window, sometimes flickering like a strobe light. I can only interpret this is a memory leak of some sort. Most of the other problems are in regards to movement of icons - between the BumpTop space and open finder/application windows as well as the second desktop in a dual-screen environment.
Taking further the idea that others have already pointed out regarding BumpTop being a desktop replacement rather than enhancement, I suppose the developers could could use this reason as an excuse for many of the interface quirks and behavior inconsistent with Apple's OS desktop. The problem here, however, lies with the fact that in the OS, the desktop is essentially an extension of the finder - a sort of permanently open window in icon view - but Apple made sure that the desktop's behavior is completely consistent with the finder. BumpTop destroys much of that consistent behavior, and makes too little effort to integrate and cooperate with the finder. This leads to all kinds of confusing behavior and results to what should be simple familiar actions - at least with those users who have been using Apple's finder for some time.
I've sent a list of bugs/interface quirks to their support e-mail, and hopefully these kinks can be eventually worked out. However, I feel that at this time, the Mac version of this software is being misrepresented as a "release" version and it is much fairer to users to call it an "open beta." Only an invitation to trial it as a beta with some sort of incentive would be enough to get me to continue using it.
Agree with zzzippp
I agree entirely, I'm not even sure I would call it a beta version rather than a "proof of concept" mockup. Given which, I have trouble with the developers' asking for money for the Pro version. The concept in question is an interesting one. It's an alternative set of metaphors meant to replace the traditional Mac "destop" ones: files, folders, trash can, calculater, all the other stuff you'd find in an office. Which is cute and clever: it dramaticalliy reminds us that back in the 1980's Apple's designers could have used different metaphors than the ones they chose. What I don't see, however, is exactly how being different = being superior or offering advantages lacking in the present ones. The developers don't just need to clean up their act in terms of bugs, they need to make a convincing case that their alternative is a better one than what we now have. And, speaking just for myself, I'm afraid I need a lot of help here.
I agree entirely, I'm not even sure I would call it a beta version rather than a "proof of concept" mockup. Given which, I have trouble with the developers' asking for money for the Pro version. The concept in question is an interesting one. It's an alternative set of metaphors meant to replace the traditional Mac "destop" ones: files, folders, trash can, calculater, all the other stuff you'd find in an office. Which is cute and clever: it dramaticalliy reminds us that back in the 1980's Apple's designers could have used different metaphors than the ones they chose. What I don't see, however, is exactly how being different = being superior or offering advantages lacking in the present ones. The developers don't just need to clean up their act in terms of bugs, they need to make a convincing case that their alternative is a better one than what we now have. And, speaking just for myself, I'm afraid I need a lot of help here.
I just want to say that I've been using this software for a week and I love it.
What makes me love it is the fact that if you double click on the floor, it raises up to be a normal wallpaper.. but when you click it it lowers down to reveal your files. I can tuck files up on the walls, me being the only one who knows they're there. My desktop doesn't have anything on it, at all. I hid the drive on the upper wall.. the cleanliness, the secrecy.. I love it.
There is some buginess.. dragging files to the trash is a little clunky, but that's the only downside I see. It hasn't crashed on me once.
What makes me love it is the fact that if you double click on the floor, it raises up to be a normal wallpaper.. but when you click it it lowers down to reveal your files. I can tuck files up on the walls, me being the only one who knows they're there. My desktop doesn't have anything on it, at all. I hid the drive on the upper wall.. the cleanliness, the secrecy.. I love it.
There is some buginess.. dragging files to the trash is a little clunky, but that's the only downside I see. It hasn't crashed on me once.
