Need UX mock for panning mode while airplane still on screen

[GoogleCodeExporter]

When the user has panned the map just a small amount (such that the airplane is 
drawn in its correct location), there is no indication that the user is in 
panning mode.

We need some kind of indication, because for example, the map rotation in 
track-up mode is locked while panning. The user needs to know why the map is 
behaving differently, which won't be obvious after a small pan.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by ph...@google.com on 1 Dec 2010 at 5:48

[GoogleCodeExporter]

With a micro-pan, let's go with a green dotted line that connects the current 
viewport center (represented by a plane-sized crosshair) to the original plane 
icon. I think we're using bright-bright #0F0 green for snap-back icon 
application; let's try that here, too.

Does the plane keep moving independently? I.e., does the dotted line stretch, 
and if you ignored & left it sitting on your seat, would the crosshair & dotted 
line eventually be replaced by the circular snap-back?

I have another idea around using a light gray outline of the original airplane 
icon instead of a crosshair, but I don't think that makes a huge amount of 
sense 

Original comment by sh...@google.com on 2 Dec 2010 at 10:07

[GoogleCodeExporter]

The green dotted line works for me. I'll implement that.

Panning sets a delta x,y to the viewport (in screen pixel space). That doesn't 
change until you either pan again or cancel out of panning mode. So if you did 
a micro-pan, and just left it on the seat for a while then looked back at the 
screen, you'd see the same amount of micro-pan. The underlying map would show 
you a new location, but the line would not have stretched.

I kind of like changing the original airplane icon as well as the dash grey 
line. For a very very small pan, you may not notice the dashed line. 

Proposal: micro-pan changes the airplane icon in some way (light gray outline 
or something) AND we do a dotted line to where the airplane would have been 
drawn had you not panned.

Original comment by ph...@google.com on 2 Dec 2010 at 11:11

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Here are mockups showing the dotted line approach once you've panned from the 
original display area.

If you pan a little or hundreds of miles, same treatment. In either case, tap 
the label to snap back out of pan mode. 

Original comment by sh...@google.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 10:53

• Changed state: Started

Attachments:

• Track_Up.png
• tap-to-snap.png

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I like the green dotted line.

I'm worried that the "Tap to snap back" message will quickly become annoying.

Is the indicated bearing FROM or TO the airplane?  When panning I'm mostly 
interested in knowing the bearing to the area I'm looking at, which corresponds 
to the bearing FROM the airplane.

Original comment by aristi...@google.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 11:21

[GoogleCodeExporter]

It should actually be FROM, I agree. I've got it as a "TO" in this case, which 
doesn't make sense.

Attached is an update; small green button to reset pan state. Also giving you 
an idea of what adding a bit more dimension to the airport circles might look 
like with a white radial gradient. 

Original comment by sh...@google.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 11:49

Attachments:

• tap-to-snap.png

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Also, to be clear, the reset button wholly takes the place of the [Back] button 
for escaping this mode, which should free it up. Alternatively, we could have a 
"Reset Map" menu item any time pan mode is in place, and save the screen real 
estate for display. Problem is discoverability. Thoughts? I'm on the fence. 

Original comment by sh...@google.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 11:51

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I like the "reset" button which lets you get out of panning mode with just one 
touch. I think Menu > Reset Map is not discoverable enough, and also an extra 
click.

Original comment by ph...@google.com on 10 Dec 2010 at 12:06

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Implemented in r460, minus the miniature airplane graphic.

Original comment by ph...@google.com on 20 Dec 2010 at 5:22

• Changed state: Fixed