Glad to see it is still moving toward a "front-end". This will have more appeal, IMHO, than anything else.

To that end, K I S S is the best bet.

One button one app launched...
If you want the time, it launches the desktop clock widget, centered on the screen with the surrounding screen blacked out. The same goes for RSS reader, FM radio, Internet radio, simple launcher, etc.

You could allow each app to be reduced and run in the background but if this is implemented (music playing while in clock display for instance) you may have to limit the amount of apps open.

Also, allowing multiple buttons to launch the browser to specific URL's may add to the programs appeal as well.