Control of representation interaction within an application launcher

A computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed cause a computing device to:

• control interaction with a plurality of representations of applications or content in an application launcher by a computing device, the plurality of representations selectable to navigate to a user interface corresponding with a respective said application or content, the controlling including:
• detect which of a plurality of types of interaction are used by a user in relation to the application launcher;
• optimize customization of the representations based upon the detected type of interaction by:
• responsive to the detecting that a gesture type of interaction comprising a first gesture input is used, enter a manage mode in which customization or commands of the representations is initiated using gestures that are not usable to initiate the customization or commands outside the manage mode, where the manage mode is characterized by a shrinking of a display size of each representation and increasing the size of gaps disposed between the representations;
• wherein a first context menu is output in response to a second gesture input within the manage mode, the first context menu includes a menu having a first set of commands and a submenu having a second set of commands;
• and
• responsive to the detecting that a cursor or keyboard type of interaction comprising a first cursor or keyboard input is used, enable the customization or commands of the representations using a cursor control device or keyboard, respectively, without entering the manage mode by increasing a size of the application launcher and increasing the size of gaps disposed between the representations;
• wherein a second context menu is output in response to a second cursor or keyboard input without entering the manage mode, the second context menu includes a menu having the second set of commands and a submenu having the first set of commands;
• wherein the manage mode is associated with one or more visuals output as part of the customization and the same one or more visuals output in the manage mode are also output as part of the customization that is enabled by the cursor or keyboard type of interaction to support consistency between the manage mode and customization enabled by the cursor or keyboard type of interaction.

A computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed cause a computing device to:

• maintain an operating system configured to perform operations involving control of interaction with a plurality of representations of applications or content in an application launcher, the operations comprising:
• control interaction with a plurality of representations of applications or content in an application launcher by a computing device, the plurality of representations selectable to navigate to a user interface corresponding with a respective said application or content, the controlling including:
• detect which of a plurality of types of interaction are used by a user in relation to the application launcher;
• optimize customization of the representations based upon the detected type of interaction by:
• responsive to the detecting that a gesture type of interaction comprising a first gesture input is used, enter a manage mode in which customization or commands of the representations is initiated using gestures that are not usable to initiate the customization or commands outside the manage mode, where the manage mode is characterized by a shrinking of a display size of each representation and increasing the size of gaps disposed between the representations;
• wherein a first context menu is output in response to a second gesture input within the manage mode, the first context menu includes a menu having a first set of commands and a submenu having a second set of commands;
• and
• responsive to the detecting that a cursor or keyboard type of interaction comprising a first cursor or keyboard input is used, enable the customization or commands of the representations using a cursor control device or keyboard, respectively, without entering the manage mode by increasing a size of the application launcher and increasing the size of gaps disposed between the representations;
• wherein a second context menu is output in response to a second cursor or keyboard input without entering the manage mode, the second context menu includes a menu having the second set of commands and a submenu having the first set of commands;
• wherein the manage mode is associated with one or more visuals output as part of the customization and the same one or more visuals output in the manage mode are also output as part of the customization that is enabled by the cursor or keyboard type of interaction to support consistency between the manage mode and customization enabled by the cursor or keyboard type of interaction.