Smart app suggestions #552
Description
Problem
I think customizing the pinned apps is usually done once when setting up the OS. But after that I myself rarely pin or unpin apps.
However it happens that one has to use a certain app for a while and then you always have to search for it to launch it or go through a bunch of clicks to pin it.
Or maybe you took a break and then want to jump right back into what you were doing but the app you were using isn't pinned for whatever reason.
Proposal
Add "smart" app suggestions. This could be an additional area maybe all the way on the left that shows 5 (or more or less or configurable) suggested apps.
Of course the main thing to make this useful is how to the choose the apps.
One of the most obvious factors if of course last used. But I think there are a bunch of additional factors that could be weighted in, some more some less. These could be
- average duration of use in the last 24h/week/month
- usual time of use (e.g. steam in the evening after work and something like a code editor, video conferencing or another app used for work in the morning/across the day)
- notifications? just got a notifcation -> suggest the app
- don't show apps that are pinned or already running?
- ...
Prior Art (Optional)
-
Androids (or at least pixels) have an option to show a bottom row of suggestions in the homescreen. This I use daily and I think it's my most common way of launching an app on my phone even though there is only space for 4 suggestions.
In the settings it says that the smart suggestions are based on "your recently used apps, most-used apps, and routines" -
I think ipads show some suggestions in the dock as well