Comment 3 for bug 701294

I wonder if a solution here might:

  1. 90% blur/fade the menu so that it is faintly visible (per Quicklists/status)
  2. Slide the title off the top and fade up/de-blue the menu as the pointer approaches (rather than the current instant switch)

For (2) this transition could be in proportion to the pointer proximity and movement, perhaps building on the UI-interaction proposed for the hiding of the left-hand Launcher, being scaled proximity rather than time-based it would be clearer to the user what is happening and and that it is fully reversible by moving the pointer in the opposite direction. My thoughts would be that by the time the pointer has entered the menu area it remains 100% menu (just as at the moment) but that the transition is made on approach (in the half a panel-height below).

If the user is getting close they would see the title spring away and the menubar deblur and if they moved away again it would be back to the title of the currently focused window.