Slide to launch

What it is. The second half of the core gesture. Once a ring — a wheel of your apps — has bloomed under your held finger, you slide onto a star — an app, folder, or shortcut you've placed — and lift to open it.

How to do it. Keep holding after the ring opens. Without lifting, slide your finger to the star you want, then let go. The star under your finger opens in a burst of light. You never lift between the hold and the launch — it is one continuous move.

What affects it.

• Which star your finger is over. While the ring is open, Zenith tracks the star nearest your fingertip and readies it. That is the one that opens when you lift.
• Lifting over empty space. Let go where there is no star and nothing launches — the ring folds shut. This is the safe way to back out.
• Lifting over a folder. A folder star does not open an app; sliding onto it drills into its own ring instead. See Descend into a folder.

Why it works this way. Hold, slide, lift is a single gesture so you can reach any app without a menu or a second tap. The full flow lives in The ring engine.

See also. Hold to bloom the ring · Descend into a folder · The ring engine