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True. Merging the search box and urlbar is a logical step. I was worried at first at blurring the distinction between "search in my local bookmarks/history" and

by gcp 15y ago

True. Merging the search box and urlbar is a logical step. I was worried at first at blurring the distinction between "search in my local bookmarks/history" and "send to Google", but if it works like in the mobile browsers than I might be able to live with it (show local results and offer "search on google" as an option). But I wonder how usable that would be with many search engines. Don't like: - The Firefox menu at the top of the window is moved to a Chrome-style settings menu on the right. Yet, no vertical screen estate was won. (I realize why this is: the top must remain free to make the window draggable, but it also shows how pointless moving it was, as you've now lost horizontal estate for no gain) Makes sense: - Home button replaced by home pinned tab. - New downloads UI. Prior to 4.0 I used an extension that showed something similar to what you see in those screens.

CrazedGeek 15y ago
Regarding the menu, no vertical space may have been won, but definitely a bit of horizontal -- it looks like there's enough room for an additional tab there now, which is nice. (maximized on 1366*768, it's rare that I never have tab overflow)
- rplnt 15y ago
  If you often run out of tab space, reduce the minimal width of tabs. I don't quite remember the exact variable in about:config but I was always able to find it (search for width probably). One of the first things I had to set when I was using Firefox as my secondary browser. It was 3.x but I don't think they would remove the little configuration they offered.
  - CrazedGeek 15y ago
    It looks like they did: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=574654 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=574654 Someone did package up the CSS and put it into an addon though: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/custom-tab-width/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/custom-tab-wi...
    - eCa 15y ago
      Tab Mix Plus is great for all sorts of tab settings. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tab-mix-plus/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tab-mix-plus/
- gcp 15y ago
  At least in Windows, the Firefox menu is on top of the tabs. So it cannot take horizontal space away from them.
  - CrazedGeek 15y ago
    Not when the window is maximized: http://i.imgur.com/pMOLX.png http://i.imgur.com/pMOLX.png
kijin 15y ago
> Merging the search box and urlbar is a logical step. Hmm, I hope there's an about:config setting or an add-on to undo this change. I have the urlbar and the search box assigned to different search providers. The first is accessed by Ctrl+L, keywords, Enter. The second is accessed by Ctrl+K, keywords, Enter. If there was only one search bar, I'd have to click around a bit more. On the other hand, I completely agree with you about moving the Firefox menu. That orange button has been a distinguishing feature of Firefox for the last few releases. Moving that button to where Chrome puts its settings menu really makes Firefox look like it's losing its brand identity.
- maxerickson 15y ago
  If it goes away completely, smart keywords provide similar functionality: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Smart%20keywords http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Smart%20keywords
- keeperofdakeys 15y ago
  I actually think Chrome actually has a superior search interface. You start typing the keywords for the site, then hit tab and you'll be using the search for that site. It also picks them up automatically when you visit the site. I've also found it bad that firefox needs an extension to search an alternate site without changing the default.
  - batiudrami 15y ago
    Firefox offers the same keyword search from the address bar - you just have to define them in 'Manage Search Engines' (accessible from the drop down in the search bar). Defining Wikipedia as 'wp', YouTube as 'yt' etc, make searching much easier than using the search box.
    - keeperofdakeys 15y ago
      The thing with chrome is it is all automatic, it just 'works'. Not that this isn't the kind of thing an addon couldn't do.

by gcp 15y ago

CrazedGeek 15y ago

Regarding the menu, no vertical space may have been won, but definitely a bit of horizontal -- it looks like there's enough room for an additional tab there now, which is nice. (maximized on 1366*768, it's rare that I never have tab overflow)

rplnt 15y ago
If you often run out of tab space, reduce the minimal width of tabs. I don't quite remember the exact variable in about:config but I was always able to find it (search for width probably). One of the first things I had to set when I was using Firefox as my secondary browser. It was 3.x but I don't think they would remove the little configuration they offered.
- CrazedGeek 15y ago
  It looks like they did: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=574654 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=574654 Someone did package up the CSS and put it into an addon though: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/custom-tab-width/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/custom-tab-wi...
  - eCa 15y ago
    Tab Mix Plus is great for all sorts of tab settings. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tab-mix-plus/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tab-mix-plus/
gcp 15y ago
At least in Windows, the Firefox menu is on top of the tabs. So it cannot take horizontal space away from them.
- CrazedGeek 15y ago
  Not when the window is maximized: http://i.imgur.com/pMOLX.png http://i.imgur.com/pMOLX.png

kijin 15y ago

> Merging the search box and urlbar is a logical step. Hmm, I hope there's an about:config setting or an add-on to undo this change. I have the urlbar and the search box assigned to different search providers. The first is accessed by Ctrl+L, keywords, Enter. The second is accessed by Ctrl+K, keywords, Enter. If there was only one search bar, I'd have to click around a bit more. On the other hand, I completely agree with you about moving the Firefox menu. That orange button has been a distinguishing feature of Firefox for the last few releases. Moving that button to where Chrome puts its settings menu really makes Firefox look like it's losing its brand identity.

maxerickson 15y ago
If it goes away completely, smart keywords provide similar functionality: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Smart%20keywords http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Smart%20keywords
keeperofdakeys 15y ago
I actually think Chrome actually has a superior search interface. You start typing the keywords for the site, then hit tab and you'll be using the search for that site. It also picks them up automatically when you visit the site. I've also found it bad that firefox needs an extension to search an alternate site without changing the default.
- batiudrami 15y ago
  Firefox offers the same keyword search from the address bar - you just have to define them in 'Manage Search Engines' (accessible from the drop down in the search bar). Defining Wikipedia as 'wp', YouTube as 'yt' etc, make searching much easier than using the search box.
  - keeperofdakeys 15y ago
    The thing with chrome is it is all automatic, it just 'works'. Not that this isn't the kind of thing an addon couldn't do.