Singularity: QuickLaunch

The original Singularity theme had a few button-tabs at the left edge of the screen to access custom menus like the quicklaunch, games, options, etc. Previously, the bpopup2 module was used to permit the creation of this quicklaunch with a secondary popup. Andymon's xPopup, however, one-ups this by permitting multiple popup styles via one module. It also included a feature for creating text-less quicklaunch popups in either horizontal or vertical formats.

As a big fan of AstonShell, I'm very fond of "Toolbars" a.k.a.: wharfs a.k.a.: docks at the left and right screen edges. They're a great way to access common shortcuts. Rather than using the vertical-menu methodology common to other shells, the Aston toolbars use staggered layouts: that is, the first level of shorcuts are vertical, but the second-tier comes out of the first horizontally. I wanted to employ something similar in this theme, with the tabs representing the first-tier, and the fold-out shortcuts coming out horizontally. Tossing some stuff around in Photoshop, I came up with this prototype picture to the right. Wanted it to look like the smaller bud pictured first opening up. Didn't end up as successful as I had hoped, but it's still fun to look at in its own right. Seems to work, too.

Perhaps I'll make a vertical version as well, just to suit user taste.