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Launchpad/Show Desktop Gestures...

N

Nuckinfuts

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 15, 2011
398
0
Syracuse, NY
...suck, I mean is it just me or does anyone else find it extremely unnatural to do 3-finger+thumb pinch for launchpad?

And then to add insult to injury, there are no options for alternate gestures for these two. Can these be changed easily by any kind of 3rd party program since apple has kinda dropped the ball in this respect.
 
Nuckinfuts said:
...suck, I mean is it just me or does anyone else find it extremely unnatural to do 3-finger+thumb pinch for launchpad?

And then to add insult to injury, there are no options for alternate gestures for these two. Can these be changed easily by any kind of 3rd party program since apple has kinda dropped the ball in this respect.
Click to expand...

well it relates to the iPad 4/5 finger pinch to exit an app to the springboard (launchpad equivalent). Honestly in iOS 5 I was expecting some UI changes to the iPad that would increase similarity to Lion. Like a mission control or something.
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
well it relates to the iPad 4/5 finger pinch to exit an app to the springboard (launchpad equivalent). Honestly in iOS 5 I was expecting some UI changes to the iPad that would increase similarity to Lion. Like a mission control or something.
Click to expand...

But see it's just a silly gesture on a surface the size of an ipod touch! lol
 
4 finger swipe up is just 100 times easier than four finger pinch. An I'll never use App Exposé so they might as well let me choose to set four finger up to Show Desktop!

Why don't they do 3-finger pinch? That would be easier.
 
Last edited:
I don't see the deal here. I use Lion on the "classic" style macbook pro which still had the giant button at the bottom of the trackpad and I can gesture for launchpad just fine. (the same gesture works the same when I use the magic trackpad too)

All I do is place 4 fingers slightly spread apart on the trackpad and then slide them closer together and that activates launchpad, to get back to the desktop I just place 4 fingers on the trackpad and then spread them apart. I don't eve have to use my thumb.

Maybe I'm just not understanding what you all are saying, but I don't see where it says you have to use your thumb as part of the gesture to activate Launchpad.
 
MRiOS said:
I don't see the deal here. I use Lion on the "classic" style macbook pro which still had the giant button at the bottom of the trackpad and I can gesture for launchpad just fine. (the same gesture works the same when I use the magic trackpad too)

All I do is place 4 fingers slightly spread apart on the trackpad and then slide them closer together and that activates launchpad, to get back to the desktop I just place 4 fingers on the trackpad and then spread them apart. I don't eve have to use my thumb.

Maybe I'm just not understanding what you all are saying, but I don't see where it says you have to use your thumb as part of the gesture to activate Launchpad.
Click to expand...

I didn't think to try with just 4 fingers, the gesture is called "3 finger and thumb pinch" so that's where I got the "thumb" from. But it's still not as fast a gesture as any of the swipes.
 
Yup. The stupid pinch gestures suck.

Four-fingers up = throw all these windows out of the way = show desktop
Four-fingers down = shrink all these windows and bring in all the others = Mission Control.

You know it makes sense.

Make the pinch gesture Launchpad but the swipes should be for desktop/mission control.
 
'Show Desktop' - Pinch sucks

I really hate the 4-finger pinch to show my desktop. I used the 4-finger swipe ALL the time. I often rest my thumb at the base of my computer and use only my four fingers to do all the work for me. It's a pain to have to do the pinch and it doesn't feel natural. Apple allows you to modify some of the multiple gestures, but not the 'show desktop' gesture. Fail.
 
Yes they do. I disabled them all in the trackpad preferences and added them in BetterTouchTool, along with modifier-key alternatives.

My 4 Finger Swipe setup:
Up = Show Desktop
Down = Mission Control
fn + Up = Dashboard (not as a space but as an 10.6 style overlay)
fn + Down = App Expose (might as well)
ctrl + Up = Application Switcher (probably won't use this)
ctrl + Down = Launchpad

Perfect.
 
Yeah I found it hard to make it work so now I do the same gesture with all fingers + thumb, works way better and never mistakenly goes into mission control.
 
I think the 4-finger pinch out to show desktop makes more sense than the 4 finger slide up gesture.

It's like you're saying (with your fingers), "GET OUT OF MY WAY, APPS."

I like it.
 
davedude said:
I think the 4-finger pinch out to show desktop makes more sense than the 4 finger slide up gesture.

It's like you're saying (with your fingers), "GET OUT OF MY WAY, APPS."

I like it.
Click to expand...

A 4 finger swipe up is like pushing them or brushing them away. You just flick your hand and they run and hide. The pinch out is more of how it really work. You take them from the middle and spread them apart. However I find it much harder when you want to quickly hide your windows.
 
davedude said:
I think the 4-finger pinch out to show desktop makes more sense than the 4 finger slide up gesture.

It's like you're saying (with your fingers), "GET OUT OF MY WAY, APPS."

I like it.
Click to expand...

It makes sense but the problem is that while you think you're doing it right, you're not and it'll enable Mission Control (three-finger swipe up) vs. four-finger swipe up where. The latter being much more easier in that the OS is not reading it wrong.
 
Definitely more tricky to do! Ive found it more easy to use 4 fingers and spread/pinch them sideways instead of doing a pinch

Similarly i can't really get a grip with the finger/thumb to turn images, have to have my thumb on its side, and then there isn't much contact with the trackpad. OR have my hand high and point my fingers down, but then my nails get in the way.

Loads easier to use two index fingers
 
Yeah. I think Apple dropped the ball here. It makes me want to slap someone. The old method was perfect. Four finger up to show desktop was the most used tool. It took me some time to get use to this thumb + 3 finger bull crap. What annoys me more is that I can't change it unless I install some second source software. It's not being innovate from going from the original to the new method.

What also annoys me is that now, because "full screen" if I'm in a full screen web browser, then I can't do the thumb+3 finger to get to desktop. I have to swipe to get to a different space that's not full screen and then do it.

Seriously, who beta tested this? Golden Master my butt...it ain't no 24K that's for sure!
 
MRiOS said:
All I do is place 4 fingers slightly spread apart on the trackpad and then slide them closer together and that activates launchpad, to get back to the desktop I just place 4 fingers on the trackpad and then spread them apart. I don't eve have to use my thumb.
Click to expand...

I found that much better after struggling with the pinch, thank you!
 
I have to agree with all these points.

4 fingers Up to show desktop and 4 fingers down for expose just worked so well in Snow Leopard.

The idea of pinching with a thumb and three fingers to show the desktop is just not easy, especially when you are using your MacBook on your laptop.
 
I've got arthritis and the Magic Trackpad has been a godsend for me, as I struggle using a mouse. The 4 finger swipe is just perfect but I'm really struggling with the 4 finger pinch. I think it is just a showing off a bit. I think if you've got long nails it will also be difficult.
 
I've yet to be able to get this 4 finger pinch thing working on my Magic Mouse.. if it's even intended to be. Needs a F-key shortcut (to replace the useless Dashboard).
 
MacSiggy said:
I've got arthritis and the Magic Trackpad has been a godsend for me, as I struggle using a mouse. The 4 finger swipe is just perfect but I'm really struggling with the 4 finger pinch. I think it is just a showing off a bit. I think if you've got long nails it will also be difficult.
Click to expand...

Yeah, totally sympathise.

With my busted right hand it's gets pretty painful pretty quickly doing the spread out thing. Pinch in's not too bad but all you can do is bring up Launchpad which I have no need for.

BetterTouchTool is getting a look-in right now. Going to see what it can do for me.
 
I find the thumb+3 finger pinch very natural. I just posted this elsewhere, but I think it would get more views in this thread...

Relax your fingers and hover your hand over the touch pad. Visualize all of your finger tips casually coming together to a single point, but stopping just before they collide. Now drop your hand so that your finger tips hit the pad, save the pinky finger. now, open your hand up, fingers spread wide like you are about to stick your palm in wet concrete.

Behold, your desktop appears. :)
 
You might find it a lot easier to do if you start with your fingers and thumb as wide as you can on the track pad then just make a small movement inwards, works a lot more consistently
 
Click-n-Drag Functionality Lost

The 3-finger+thumb pinch gesture is stupid when compared to SL's 4-finger "flick-away" gesture which matched the thought of "all apps: flick away!"

However, you can get used to it.

The real problem is the functionality you lose. For example, I would very often grab a photo or other item out of a web browser, four-finger-flick-up to reveal desktop, and drag it right on there.

Guess what? This task is now impossible to perform. Damn you OS X engineering team!
 
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