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Yes. Especially when using a webapp like GMail, the URL doesn't matter once you're in the app. I'm not saying I think URLs should not be accessible if someone

Yes. Especially when using a webapp like GMail, the URL doesn't matter once you're in the app. I'm not saying I think URLs should not be accessible if someone wants one, but they're mostly just a user distraction. Perhaps a "who you are trusting" notification would be useful? Basically, just the hostname and the level of trust conferred by SSL certs, lack of inclusion in whatever blacklists Google keeps, etc.

beaumartinez 15y ago
I agree; I think the only real downside of hiding the URL field by default is the loss of the "secure padlock". A (naïve, immediate) solution I can think of is showing the URL field as you switch tabs―padlock included.
- giberson 15y ago
  Hey good call on the padlock issue I hadn't even thought of that. However, I don't it should be visible only when switching tabs. I think instead it should be added to the tab itself that way it's always visible. However, that means presenting some kind of divider or something on the tab itself so that some one can't fake it with a favicon. Perhaps by coloring the tab and adding the padlock at the right most of the tab. This way it will be less likely to confuse it with the favicon.
- joeyespo 15y ago
  Yeah, good call. They could do something similar to when you hit F11--have a floating transparent box with the information at the top of the screen. It could even (mostly) hide itself after a while and become visible again to warn you when leaving the secure area.
benvanderbeek 15y ago
I use the Gmail Chrome web app: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pjkljhegncpnkpknbcohdijeoejaedia?hl=en-US https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pjkljhegncpnkpknbc... Removes URL, makes the favicon the windows taskbar icon.
- niels_olson 15y ago
  Which version are you using? I'm on chromium dev channel on WinXP 3 and don't see those effects.
  - benvanderbeek 15y ago
    Chrome version? 11.0.696.68

beaumartinez 15y ago

I agree; I think the only real downside of hiding the URL field by default is the loss of the "secure padlock". A (naïve, immediate) solution I can think of is showing the URL field as you switch tabs―padlock included.

giberson 15y ago
Hey good call on the padlock issue I hadn't even thought of that. However, I don't it should be visible only when switching tabs. I think instead it should be added to the tab itself that way it's always visible. However, that means presenting some kind of divider or something on the tab itself so that some one can't fake it with a favicon. Perhaps by coloring the tab and adding the padlock at the right most of the tab. This way it will be less likely to confuse it with the favicon.
joeyespo 15y ago
Yeah, good call. They could do something similar to when you hit F11--have a floating transparent box with the information at the top of the screen. It could even (mostly) hide itself after a while and become visible again to warn you when leaving the secure area.

benvanderbeek 15y ago

I use the Gmail Chrome web app: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pjkljhegncpnkpknbcohdijeoejaedia?hl=en-US https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pjkljhegncpnkpknbc... Removes URL, makes the favicon the windows taskbar icon.

niels_olson 15y ago
Which version are you using? I'm on chromium dev channel on WinXP 3 and don't see those effects.
- benvanderbeek 15y ago
  Chrome version? 11.0.696.68