What distracts you in a chat app is not the messages, it is where they come from: a box appearing in a corner, a number blinking in another tab, a button you hunt for to accept a call. On TEBHOS we gathered all of that in one place: the island at the top centre of the window. We call it Dynamic Island. This post explains what the island shows in which situation and how you interact with it.
Idle: server name and logo
If nothing is happening, the island is quiet: it shows the name and logo of the server you are in, nothing more. A small, compact capsule. That way the island never looks like "a notification box"; it is a natural part of the interface.
Notification modes
When something happens, the island expands and changes shape according to its content:
- Message notification — when a DM or server message arrives, the sender, the channel and the first line of the message appear as a card. Messages that mention you stay on screen for 8 seconds; others for less.
- Incoming call — accept / decline buttons right in the island, together with the caller’s name and avatar. No need to switch to another window.
- Active call — during a call the island turns into a control panel: duration counter, speaking waveform, microphone, headphones, camera and hang-up buttons.
- Friend request — accept or ignore with a single tap.
- Server invite — the invite card arrives with the server name and icon; the join button is in the island.
- Live stage alert — when someone you follow opens a live stage room, a "Live" badge and a Watch button appear.
- Upload progress — while a large file uploads, the progress bar fills in the island; you don’t have to go back to the chat and wait.
- Small notifications (toasts) — a short card passes by when a friend comes online, when you receive a gift or when your server gets a boost.
The expanded panel and inline replies
When you click the island, a panel opens downwards. It holds the list of your recent notifications: missed messages, pending requests, invites. Our favourite part is the inline reply: you can answer a message notification directly from the panel. Without going to the channel, without switching tabs. The panel closes on its own when it loses focus and the island returns to its compact state.
How it relates to Pro
Dynamic Island is available to everyone; it is not tied to Pro. The custom app logo chosen by Pro members does show up in the island too — so the island adapts to the look you chose, but its function is the same for everyone.
Why we designed it this way
Two reasons. The first is attention: notifications arriving from a single place means your eyes know where to look. The second is speed: to accept a call, join an invite or reply to a message, you shouldn’t have to leave the conversation. The island brings the app’s three to five most-used actions to your fingertips.
The island works today in the Windows app and in the browser. You can see it alongside the other features on the Features page, and send us your feedback by writing to us.