Wicked Cool Unusual Features in Software

[Renegade]

I was just downloading a video from YouTube with the YTD Downloader, and for some reason, thought of a feature in it that I've also put in software, but is really very, very rare.

In the Main UI, you can simply wave your cursor over a text box, and it copies URLs from the clipboard.



It saves a bit of time, but it's really just very cool. I can wave my mouse over the URL input as I move my mouse cursor to the "DOWNLOAD" button. Couldn't be easier.

However, these kinds of things are VERY rare, and really very difficult to implement properly. I don't mean technically difficult, but they're so easy to do, that you could do them everywhere, which is idiotic and makes for crappy software. You have to be very careful where you use these kinds of things.

Anyways...

Just kind of wondering what people generally feel about that sort of thing, and can you name any other "convenience"-type cool features? (I mean those small, tiny, little polish things.)

[40hz]

I'm a great admirer of little touches that constitute "the difference that makes a difference" in a product. To me, it shows the developer cares. It's like a little detail hidden in a large painting that could have easily been left out without anybody noticing or caring. But it's the mark of a true artist to make the effort to put it in anyway.

However, as you so correctly pointed out, to do it right you need to treat it like a seasoning rather than a major ingredient. A light touch in just the right place is the key factor that separates "wicked cool" from "bloody annoying." (Which is something many iOS app developers just can't seem to understand.)

[f0dder]

Agree with 40hz.

Not sure what to think about this particular feature. I guess it's OK as an extra little touch - I kinda feel that if the "paste URL" button wasn't there, the waving would change from "a nice extra touch" to "meh, gimmicky UI".

[daddydave]

I was just downloading a video from YouTube with the YTD Downloader, and for some reason, thought of a feature in it that I've also put in software, but is really very, very rare.

In the Main UI, you can simply wave your cursor over a text box, and it copies URLs from the clipboard.
 (see attachment in previous post)
It saves a bit of time, but it's really just very cool. I can wave my mouse over the URL input as I move my mouse cursor to the "DOWNLOAD" button. Couldn't be easier.

However, these kinds of things are VERY rare, and really very difficult to implement properly. I don't mean technically difficult, but they're so easy to do, that you could do them everywhere, which is idiotic and makes for crappy software. You have to be very careful where you use these kinds of things.

Anyways...

Just kind of wondering what people generally feel about that sort of thing, and can you name any other "convenience"-type cool features? (I mean those small, tiny, little polish things.)

-Renegade (September 25, 2012, 10:50 AM)

SunriseXP (program for Windows, used to collect content for Plucker, the classic offline reader app for Palm OS) did that, except, no mouse waving required. If the last thing copied to the clipboard was a URL, it was there waiting for you in the URL field. Very convenient.

[jgpaiva]

On the other hand, if you indadvertedly hover the box, with someone overlooking your screen while you have something embarrassing in the clipboard.... Oops

[Renegade]

On the other hand, if you indadvertedly hover the box, with someone overlooking your screen while you have something embarrassing in the clipboard.... Oops

-jgpaiva (September 25, 2012, 11:40 AM)

Easy. Get eyeballs installed in the back of your head. Problem solved!

[jgpaiva]

Easy. Get eyeballs installed in the back of your head. Problem solved!

-Renegade (September 25, 2012, 11:53 AM)

I can easily see a bunch of situations in which those would be handy!

[mwb1100]

If the last thing copied to the clipboard was a URL, it was there waiting for you in the URL field. Very convenient.

-daddydave (September 25, 2012, 11:21 AM)

That's a nice touch. 

I've come across some software that did this for license keys entry (ie., if the thing in the clipboard looks like the license key for registering the software, just put that thing in the edit box). Even though it only saves a click/keypress or two, it's always a touch that I appreciate.

[Tuxman]

Vim can tweet. 

[jgpaiva]

Vim can tweet. 

-Tuxman (September 25, 2012, 05:00 PM)

I'm OK with that, as long as it doesn't turn into Emacs

[Tuxman]

Oh, it can. There are several orgmode plug-ins and Emacs keybindings available. It only lacks a web browser.

[wraith808]

Clear is an app for iOS that has a cool way to add an item.  You put your fingers together over the two items you want to insert the item between, and separate your fingers to create the new item.  Really cool use if NUI.