Add back feature: tag menu

[Neamar]

Reverts #1377

Based on popular feedback, looks like this was actually heavily used by some users.

Before adding back the feature, I'd like to start a discussion here to see how you guys feel about the feature: do you think it's a duplicate of tags in favorite? Is there any way we can make the menu feature easier to use? Or merge both implementation of those things?

I understand you don't like the current setup, but I'd like to really understand the use case this was serving, and how to make things better for everyone without adding to KISS complexity.

cc @TBog @SanskritFritz @bazio101 @Seferi @michaelof @ildar

[TBog]

Would you prefer to have the button that opens the tags menu as one of the favorites?

[Neamar]

Would that replace completely the current favorite implementation then?

A favorite "display tags", which then displays the tag menu?
I'm not sure this would be much easier to use.

[TBog]

Maybe have a toggle between an icon list for favorites and a scrollable word list for tags inside the favorites bar

[bazio101]

I think that tag menu is more useful than placing tag buttons on favorites bar.
I use six tags on tag menu. If I place six tag buttons on favorites bar (plus the other six already there), then the bar is almost useless, the icons are tiny and unreachable.
One solution (if you don't change your decision to completely remove tag menu), could be to make favorites bar scrolling left and right, to access more buttons, though I don't know how easy this is, I'm not a developer.
Anyway you decide, I like KISS launcher and I'll keep using it.
Keep up the good work.

[SanskritFritz]

My 2 cents:
As I wrote already in #1377 :

"TBH I really miss the menu. My setup is that I have 5 favorite apps and those already fill the search box. I had a menu which acted as a full blown start menu for the cases I forgot the name of a program but knew what category it was in. Every app I installed I tagged so it appeared in the menu under a specific tag (game, map, utility, mulitmedia etc). I just can't squeeze all that into the favorites bar."

I never used tags icons in the favorites bar, it was used for my really favourite apps (phone, SMS, notes etc) for the quickest possible access. Apart from that I used Kiss in the way it was intended to: typing a few letters (whether part of the name or a tag) brought me to the desired app or contact.

[Neamar]

@TBog if we look at this the other way, what did you dislike with the tag menu implementation (compared to within favorites). I assume it's the additional click?

[TBog]

I mainly disliked the way it looked and because it was hard to use it with one hand

[Seferi]

I used folders alot in other launchers. I really like KISS launcher and Tag system was the only thing that satisfied (replaced) the folders...

Now I'm totaly lost without tags...

[Neamar]

@TBog Ah ok. And based on your comment on #1339 (comment) you're using the internal bar, so still not accessing your tags instantly anyway.

it was hard to use it with one hand

Because of where it is? Even with the ability to switch launcher button and menu button?

I used folders alot in other launchers. I really like KISS launcher and Tag system was the only thing that satisfied (replaced) the folders...

Got it.
Maybe I went the wrong way? And the more general option should be to keep the tag menu, and instead remove tags in favorites?

@TBog it looks like in this thread you're the only one using the "tag favorite" feature, is there something we can do that would make the tag menu more pleasant to use, and thus a good alternative?

[TBog]

I am working on a way to make it better for myself. Still testing and refining.
Right now I have kiss button ln the right and on long press the tags menu opens on the right side, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea yet.

Also the tags menu is still ugly imho, I like how the kiss bar looks but can't think of a way to merge them and keep the functionality

[SanskritFritz]

Right now I have kiss button ln the right and on long press the tags menu opens on the right side, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea yet.

I don't see the difference except for the long press. How is that different from the previous menu otherwise?

UPDATE: ah I see now, the kiss button is on the right... ok.

[Seferi]

@Neamar Thanks for the message mate. I guess most people have their apps in folders grouped under Tools, Media, Social etc... And It's very handy to be able to find and launch the app in 3 clicks.
Tags menu allowed me to do just that. I can suggest a few things but its a matter of taste really.
For example when I clicked a Tag from the menu, it would be nice to have a compact menu (like the favorites) instead of the list of apps shown vertically with big icons which would reduce the surface that needs to be reached thus faster app launch...

Another suggestion I would make is to have more gestured and to be able to choose apps that will be launched with the gesture...

[SanskritFritz]

Oh, wow. Thanks man!

[ildar]

thanks a lot!

[bazio101]

Thanks!

[Seferi]

Thanks alot mate. Looking forward to the update on F-Droid