Idea: individually zoomable desktop apps

I took a look at a little app called Zooom for the Mac that lets you drag an application around from any surface using two modifier keys.

It’s pretty cool, but could be better for the $7.95 price tag.

Like, what would be really useful — and would better apply to the app’s name — would be the ability to “zooom” apps in and out — in partial states of exposéd-ness… Ideally I’d press shift+option and dial back or forward on the mousewheel… and the app or window I’m hovered over would zoom in or out depending on whether I’ve scrolled the wheel forward or back.

Basically, I’m talking about a per-app Exposé setting — that would “release” the app back to full size if you double click on it.

What do you think?

Author: Chris Messina

Head of West Coast Business Development at Republic. Ever-curious product designer and technologist. Hashtag inventor. Previously: Molly.com (YC W18), Uber, Google.

3 thoughts on “Idea: individually zoomable desktop apps”

  1. I’ve been wanting something like that for years… I’ve always thought that it should be available by Option-dragging any window’s grow control.

  2. i think that would be cool, but i noticed something else watching the demo video for zooom. what a wacky dock, that guy had pretty much everything running.

    dont people/mac users try to keep their docks clean? im meticulous about my dock, and practically no apps stay in it all the time…i launch everything from quicksilver.

    perminent apps include: firefox, safari, adium, itunes, and skype. Firefox, adium, itunes, and skype are pretty much always on. Otherwise, my dock is nice and clean.

  3. Hi,

    I am the author of Zooom, and yes the dock was full in the demo video simply because I wanted to have quick access to lots of apps without having to wait for them to load.

    I am working on a few features that would make it even better, will post a note to VersionTracker when I’m done!

    Take care,

    John C

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