Avis Backdrop (modifications)

Why is it useful
It's very convenient and has nice "desktop" pictures. Try it and see...
 

Suggested Modifications to Avis

A number of general modifications to Avis are suggested here - they are grouped into different sections. There could be better ways to implement some of these ideas, and some may be a bit outside the original intentions of Avis. I put them here to stimulate thought and ideas.

Make the "recent apps" button instant (it seems to go and check something, and takes too long to be useful). Speed it up if possible.

Add the ability to add a user defined phrase to the display (like NuBackdrop)
        Text such as "If found, please call (04) 4323-3243" could be placed on the screen (see mockup figs below)

Incorporate the ideas laid out in Extra assistance. The functions would make Avis substantially bigger, and would be better kept as a separate application

Alterations to the picture selection/display

Add the ability to have multiple pictures in one book (this allows related groups of pictures to be moved/frozen/unfrozen at once).

Add the ability to differentiate between pictures best suited for landscape, portrait, or either (e.g. by adding a book (or internal picture)
       prefix like A!P, A!L, or A!E)

Add options to change the picture (after sleep (this is done - thanks Paul), startup only, or every 1-7 days or month)

Add the ability to change the pictures randomly (this is done - thanks Paul) or sequentially

Add the ability to display a chosen picture according to the date, day of the month, day of the week, or event (e.g. - by matching the file name of
       the picture to a date, day, month, or day of the week. This way the picture would change according to an event on the day (birthday etc.).

Ultimately it would be nice to download e.g. a month's worth of pictures, in one file (e.g. august.pkg) and have the picture change every day like a regular calendar.
Alternately a file of 52 pictures, and have them change weekly. A market for PDA desktop calendars would potentially be born! (there's a gift idea).

Differentiating between portrait and landscape pictures would allow these pictures to be skipped when requested for an unsuitable screen orientation.

Add an option of having the picture centred from below the Title information, or in the remaining space below the birthdays etc. text (see mockup figs below)

Events/Birthdays/etc. display

Left or right justify these, and use the full width of the screen.

Include upcoming events and meetings, possibly in two columns (or one column) (see mockups)

Optional shading underneath the anniversaries etc. (see figure)
 
 

Modifications of the Text entry area

Add a button that switches instantly between the picture area of Avis and the same area taken up with the notes display (avoid clumsy dragging) (see fig)

Add a button that posts the notes area direct to Notes

Add a button that interprets the note directly with Newton intelligence (without the need to select the text)
 
 

User designed backdrops

Create and application that lets you arrange the positions of Avis elements, adjust their fonts/sizes, and allow you to exclude/include elements.

This is a little similar to the backdrop construction package. However, the user would be able to physically arrange the elements on the screen. Also it would be a separate app that modified the relevant parameters of Avis.

Additional elements would include

    - A user defined text field.
    - Meetings field
    - A small picture/icon file containing two small logo's - one for portrait display, and one for landscape. The logos would be similar to the "Newton Underground" logo used by "NUbackdrop"
    - all elements would have the possibility of a function being attached to them  - most would allow you to attach an application or a predefined function to the element (this would be set in Avis preferences).
    - One element type would be an icon - this would let you place common icons (large or small) on the desktop

Avis would become a series of elements that the user could arrange/exclude/include and link to other functions when tapped.

The changed Avis parameters would be exportable, along with the logo. Avis could then be set to use particular parameter files in it's preferences. The actions associated with each element would be set within Avis.

The best of both worlds...

Merge the many Avis features into NuBackdrop as an alternative approach!

Status
These suggestions are not under development

Contact person
No one

Newton's Bulb