What are your ideas for improving the left panel? Could a better panel replace the need for a launcher app? Here are some of my ideas

* Be able to change the items in the Internet and Contacts icons, and the icons.

* Be able to remove the Internet/Contact icons or add different apps. (e.g., a different launcher, a media controller, note/list viewer, or a clock or something.)

* Be able to adjust the height of the menu items so that more than 6 selections will fit on the screen.

* Be able to fit more than three icons in the 'running programs' area.

Also, hitting the home button should bring the entire panel into view so that we don't have to reduce everything to launch a new app (or to view other apps on the bar if we figure out how to change it).

Doesn't that sound like the Ubuntu panel? Hmmm.