macOS a 3D finder replacement

[liptonlover]

I'm posting this here because I'm not looking for one already out there, I've already googled loads looking for a good 3D finder replacement. There isn't one. I want a 3D finder because if the right developer does it, they can take advantage of the 3rd dimension as a useful thing, not just for eyecandy. It needs to be full screen, not take up too much resources, and be useful not just pretty. Is anyone working on anything or knows who is? Is anyone interested in working on it?

 

[robbieduncan]

Every single 3D file browser/Finder type application I have seen for any platform has been useless. No one has used the 3D aspect to do anything useful.

 

[lee1210]

Every single 3D file browser/Finder type application I have seen for any platform has been useless. No one has used the 3D aspect to do anything useful.

What are you talking about?

Lex was able to quickly and easily navigate the park's filesystem with fsn.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_manager#3D_file_managers

I don't know if any of these run on OS X. Honestly, I hope not. This is not a more productive way to browse files. If Apple were to design a 3D browser that was actually usable I'd be interested, but otherwise there's not a good interface to navigate in 3D. WASD + Mouselook in an FPS is not as applicable when navigating, say, a 3D grid of files. What would they even be sorted by on all 3 axes?

-Lee

 

[liptonlover]

that's what I'm saying. I want some genius to figure out how to make that third axis useful. I can see that it's possible, I just don't know how.

 

[johny blaze]

I took 3 years and designed the next interface incorporating 3d. It is not just eyecandy. It is more efficient than the desktop and is easy to use. But now what am I suppose to do? Invite myself to Apple?

 

[Saladinos]

I want some genius to figure out a better way to store Hydrogen, so we can all be shooting along at rocket speeds.

The 3rd axis isn't useful, because you can't display it. The screen is still 2D, so you can't see anything behind objects. All you can do is use pseudo-3D to make things look pretty.

 

[step21]

Before you start thinking about 3D stuff, I'd just be happy if there were a nice 2D finder replacement out there that doesn't scuk big time in at least one way
Maybe if I can transfer my (limited) programming knowledge to Obj-C I'll try to write one.

 

[liptonlover]

I'd be happy with that too.... but it would be great if someone could take advantage of Z. I know it's possible, pseudo 3D or not.

Lets help whoever wants to do this. What does your dream finder have?

Must be full screen so it looks like it belongs. No windows.
Displays the regular menu bar on top.
Apps only run on top of it, not behind.
Doesn't hide the doc.

So you have the basic framework already... you just need to decide how to manage files. You'll still have spotlight, menus for apps, it'll look like it belongs, the doc which of course is very useful. It's that last part, where to put files and how to display them, all that. That's the problem.

 

[step21]

How is fullscreen a good idea? You say apps run on top of it, but seriously I don't see how that should work (and be usable)

 

[TEG]

I used to use 3DOSX on OS X and it worked OK, but wasn't a substantial improvement over Finder, so I stopped using it. However, they may have developed more so it will be more useful.

TEG

 

[liptonlover]

3D OS X is old. I tried finding it because it kept getting mentioned, but I couldn't get to it. Then I finally did, and it sucked. It was last meant for tiger, so it's deprecated. It kept freezing, it didn't look good, and it seemed pointless.

Finder is full screen. Apps are always on top of it. I hate the file managers that are just a regular window. I'm looking for a finder REPLACEMENT. I don't want to see finder again (though a revert to finder option is always nice.)

 

[elppa]

Before you start thinking about 3D stuff, I'd just be happy if there were a nice 2D finder replacement out there that doesn't scuk big time in at least one way

Out of interest Which ones have you tried?

As far as I know, there is:
Path Finder
Fork Lift
File Browse
Disk Order
Leap

I think Leap is the most promising of the lot as it changes some traditional paradigms in some cases for the better. The obvious flaw is that it is very resource intensive.

I don't think the Finder is bad, but I do think there is a lot more room for innovation and improvement.

 

[step21]

I tried all of those except FileBrowse, plus at least 5 others. Might take another look at Leap (and FileBrowse, looks nice) though. Although from when I last demoed Leap I think the goal it has probably goes in the right direction, but the execution ... I don't know. As for a complete replacement for finder ( @liptonlover ) I don't think that's a viable option as the finder is not just used for the folder windows you open, but it's the basic system shell, providing the desktop and whatnot. I think on windows there were weird programs to replace the standard shell/explorer, but it never really worked like it should, so if you actually wanted to work with you system you couldn't use them.
Apart from the ones You mentioned I looked at:
FlyPath
muCommander
RAGE Macintosh Explorer
UEXv09beta
XFolders

EDIT: After reviewing FileBrowse, I think it's really nice for what the name suggests: Browsing, and nothing else. Ofc if you think I'm wrong feel free to correct me, but I think there is no way to copy or otherwise manipulate (delete?) files in the current version of FileBrowse. So the browsing is nice, but in no way worth 25 bucks.