|
More About Modules
Ground Control is conceived to be
extensible. The initial first release will only be the
beginning. While the basic iApps listed on the sidebar
would be the initial primary module-set, the sky should
be the limit for what other modules could be developed
to allow data and resource access within Ground Control.
While some would function as extensions of existing
installed applications, many would operate as stand-alone
utilities.
Ideally, it would be need to have an IDE that would
enable rapid development of modules for programmers.
Here are some ideas for modules that are from a couple
of the other applications in the My Dream App competition,
Portal
by Farzad Sadjadi and Cookbook
by Michael Yuan.
Sample of what a Portal Module
could look like.
Sample of what a Cookbook Module
could look like.
Below is a list of just some of the possible additional
modules that could be developed:
- Dictionary/Thesaurus
- FTP
- Skype
- Tetris/Solitaire/Minesweeper/Chess distractor
- Clipboard Contents
- File Preview
- Weather Report Viewer
- A Greeked text generator
- Measurement Converter
- Sticky Notes (could tear off and stay wherever placed)
- Print Monitor
- Network Utility (Ping, Lookup, Traceroute, Whois,
etc.)
- System Profile Snapshots (with copy and send email)
- Password Manager
- File Type Changer
- Code Lookup Resource
- Terminal Access
- Scanner Acquire
- Art Director's Toolkit
- Character Finder
- Area and Zip Code Lookup
- Google, Yahoo or Mapquest Map Lookup
- Mini-Text Editor
- Quicken or Quickbooks entry
- BitTorrent
- Timer Alarm (with countdown)
- FileMaker Pro (create mini-data entry interfaces
and tie to FMP Database)
As you can see, the possibilities are endless, and
much more accessible than any widget. Some might argue,
"But I can do most of that with Quicksilver already."
I would argue in return, while I use Quicksilver, I
am not convinced it has wide-market appeal. The benefits
are rather esoteric and need to be "discovered"
as you "get used" to using it. Once you do,
it's a habit (or addiction to some). But the benefits
of Ground Control would be immediately
obvious to even a newbie. I feel that it will be something
people will ask, "Why didn't Apple do this in the
first place?" once they start using it. It's what
I have always wanted Apple to do with the Dock and Dashboard.
If you have any ideas or comments, feel free to post
any feedback to this thread.
|
