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Mozilla rethinks the behavior of new browser tabs
Today Mozilla's Aza Raskin shared some of the team's conclusions, based on user feedback. Basically, most of the time when you open a new tab it's because you're going to load a web page or conduct a search. The image above shows a screen that tries to help you accomplish these things without getting in your way or requiring much user interaction.
Along the right side of the window you'll find a list of frequently visited web sites. The list is generated automatically, much like the shortcuts that pop up when you launch a new tab in Google Chrome. So there's nothing too new there. But the cooler stuff takes place on the left side of the screen.
When you open a new tab to start a search, there's a decent chance that you've highlighted and copied some text from another tab. So if you've already copied some text to your clipboard, you should be able to conduct a search in the new tab with a single click. Ultimately this action would be tied to your default search engine. Likewise, if you've selected URL, you'll be able to open it in a new tab with a single click.
You can take this new tab feature for a spin by installing the latest development build of Firefox 3.1 and then installing the New Tab proptype plugin.
Comments
17
Subscribe to commentsMalteserrMar 5th 2009 3:57PM
Dude that's awesome
MikeeMar 5th 2009 4:03PM
Or you could just open new tabs by pushing the Scroll Wheel button on a link.
ButtersMar 5th 2009 4:34PM
Except that the scroll wheel button is a user defined button. The default setting on the scroll wheel button of my mouse does not open a link or double click the link. Sure, I can set it so that it does but the whole point of the Mozilla feature talked about above is that your user experience can be easily set within the browser itself and not by the use of outside settings.
MikeeMar 5th 2009 4:51PM
I've never changed the setting for the scroll wheel button, and it does exactly what I described on three different computers.
matyMar 5th 2009 5:01PM
@Butters,
Mikee is right, same for me, middle mouse has always opened new tabs.
I still use IE, how bad am I?
O=]
iGateMar 5th 2009 4:26PM
yea, the scroll button was exactly what i was thinking.
JohnMar 5th 2009 4:35PM
I would personally like to see a customizable grid when I open a new tab; sort of like what FoxTab does now (especially the cool look): http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/classyjokes/untitled.png
but with the sites I choose
RocketboyMar 6th 2009 7:42AM
Opera will do that for you.. it won't have the fancy look to the grid, but the number of preview windows is user setable.
sniping_dreamerMar 5th 2009 6:31PM
John, you can do this with Speed Dial:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4810
Go to the Extension Options, then hit "Load in New Tab" and "Load in New Window"
I even set it as my homepage. Just drag the Speed-Dial tab into the Home button.
feffreyMar 5th 2009 5:11PM
I hope they make it so u can turn all that off in the new version. I like how tabs are opened, thank you very much.
DjbloisMar 6th 2009 7:41AM
feffrey,
That makes no sense. Right now it opens blank - if that information is not useful to you then just ignore it. It does not get in your way at all but it may be useful. So your argument to leave it alone makes no sense.
ButtersMar 6th 2009 7:41AM
Does anybody even read the comments before they respond?
@Mikee: Not everybody's scroll mouse does that though. Just because yours does doesn't mean everybody's does. If you read my post you would have seen that my mouse scroll button DOES NOT, by default, open links the way your mouse button does. So therefore your argument makes no sense.
Once again I will say "...the whole point of the Mozilla feature talked about above is that your user experience can be easily set within the browser itself and not by the use of outside settings". Simple as that.
@maty: Same goes for you. Just because you mouse does that doens't mean that every mouse acts the same way.
Dave JohnsonMar 6th 2009 7:41AM
"When you open a new tab to start a search, there's a decent chance that you've highlighted and copied some text from another tab. So if you've already copied some text to your clipboard, you should be able to conduct a search in the new tab with a single click."
Google's solution is much more elegant (as usual). Highlight your text and right click ... the pop-up offers the option of "search Google for "highlighted text."
RocketboyMar 6th 2009 7:42AM
I just hate in Chrome how there's no 'no tab' state. You close your last tab, you close your browser.
Ntw1103Mar 6th 2009 2:16PM
I use the NewTabURL add-on. it works great and does everything I need it to.
it opens my homepage with a new tab. I made my own homepage that has links to sites I use, and search features.
audunMar 6th 2009 9:08PM
Dave Johnson: try highlighting text and right-click in Firefox. See what happens... :)
Butters: Middle-Click for a new tab is standard behaviour in Firefox. Always been. Link: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Tabbed+Browsing
GenericMar 12th 2009 7:17AM
Also being able to view the browsing history:
1. in a timeline that scrolls either vertically or horizontally with site names showing like calendar entries
2. while showing bookmarked sites
3. filter sites based on time, date, site name string (example: *.com, downloadsqu??.com)
Browse bookmarks in same manner with filtering too.
View RSS feeds in a tab NOT in the old menu style and not in my occupied sidebar.