Powertoys: Feature request: utility dock with (customizable) actions

[niels9001]

Summary of the new feature/enhancement

An easy-to-access (with keyboard, mouse and touch) that contains specific utilities/actions (to be configured). Similiar to the Windows 10 Game Bar (Windows+G) or the Snip-and-Sketch bar.

Proposed technical implementation details

The family of features in PowerToys will grow overtime. Some of these features might be useful to access not only by shortcut, but also by mouse. Having a dock of favorite power features can be super useful. The dock could be customizable, so the user is able to select features he cares most about. Some 'action-driven' PowerToys (like a colorpicker, measurement tool or video recorder) would live here by default. After a timeout (when the dock is not used) it will slide away again.

The dock can be displayed by moving the cursor to the top of the screen (this might be an issue with users that have a top position for their task bar)

Here are some UX concepts:

PowerToys features can live in the dock

Some features could be there as little 'mini-apps'. Like a Colorpicker.

The dock can be part of the Shortcuts Guide as well.

More info and thoughts in this blog post: https://medium.com/@Niels9001/redesigning-powertoys-758b6b6cf42b

[zeealeid]

Here are some of my ideas for PowerBar! :)

As @jerrynixon (on Twitter) pointed out, the taskbar on the the top might conflict with the bar. Maybe putting the bar on the opposite side to the taskbar will fix this issue? :)

also what if the bar adapted to the opened app. For example: when a file explorer window is open, the bar will show links to PowerRename and FancyZones along with the other options :)

so these were some of my thoughts/ideas, what do you think? :)

[niels9001]

Closing this in favor of #6751