[window controls] maximize and minimize icons are symmetric but do not perform a symmetric action
| Affects | Status | Importance | Assigned to | Milestone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| light-themes |
Fix Released
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
| metacity (Ubuntu) |
Invalid
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
Bug Description
Binary package hint: metacity
Maximize and minimize are completely different actions, not opposites. They should not be represented by symmetric icons.
Additional problems:
In themes »Dust«, »Ambiance« and »Radiance«, the minimize icon is a downward-pointing arrow. This leads to confusion when one has the window list placed in a top panel. The maximize icon does not even change state when the window is maximized.
In »New Wave«, the up arrow for maximizing could be confused with »shove window in top panel« (minimize).
A line for minimizing is probably better than a down arrow because it addresses the function more than the looks (direction).
I am unclear what is best for maximize though. The expand icon for YouTube clips is good but not very recognizable in smaller size.
| Jan (jancborchardt-deactivatedaccount) wrote | #1 |
| Jan (jancborchardt-deactivatedaccount) wrote | #2 |
| Jan (jancborchardt-deactivatedaccount) wrote | #3 |
| Changed in light-themes: | |
| status: | New → Fix Released |
| Changed in metacity (Ubuntu): | |
| status: | New → Invalid |
What about just using the good ol’ Apple + and - sign for maximize and minimize respectively?
For unmaximize, the square is already used:
[ - + x ] when unmaximized
[ - □ x ] when maximized