I suggest adding tabs to SSBs. When choosing "Install This Site as an App", there could be options to enable tabs within that SSB window, ideally using Orion's existing tab styles:
- No tabs (Current default)
- Standard Tabs
- Compact Tabs
- Vertical Tabs
Why?
Tabs are a core browser feature, and Orion does them exceptionally well. I frequently miss this capability within SSBs. It feels unnatural when interactions that typically involve tabs (like Cmd/Ctrl-clicking a link) break out of the focused SSB window and open in a main Orion window, especially for links within the same site.
Use Cases:
- SoundCloud: Opening other tracks or feeds in new tabs without leaving the main player view.
- Claude/Gemini/ChatGPT: Managing multiple conversations or prompts simultaneously in tabs within the dedicated AI app window.
- Many other web apps (webmail, project tools, etc.) benefit from multi-page workflows.
Impact:
When tabs are enabled for an SSB, links (especially same-domain ones or those explicitly targeting a new tab) would open in a new tab inside the SSB window, maintaining context and focus. External links could still open in a main Orion window.
User Interaction:
- Install a site (e.g.,
chat.openai.com) as an app using "Install This Site as an App". - During installation (or via app-specific settings later), choose to enable "Standard Tabs".
- Open the ChatGPT SSB.
- Start a new chat. Cmd-click the "New Chat" button (or a link within a chat).
- Instead of opening in a main Orion window, a new tab opens within the ChatGPT SSB window, allowing easy switching between conversations.
Comparison with Other Browsers:
- Chromium (Chrome, Edge, Brave): Have experimented with "Tabbed PWA Mode" via unstable flags (
#enable-desktop-pwas-tab-strip). It allows tabs within the PWA window but is unreliable and often breaks or disappears between updates. The intended control is via a web manifest file. - Safari (macOS Sonoma): Allows saving sites to the Dock ("Add to Dock"), creating standalone web apps. However, these explicitly do not support tabs; links must be manually opened in the main Safari browser if needed.
- Firefox/Opera: Lack native desktop PWA/SSB installation, so no tabbed mode.
Extending Usefulness:
This feature makes Orion's "Install This Site as an App" significantly more powerful for complex web applications, turning simple site launchers into focused, multi-tasking environments that leverage Orion's excellent tab management UI.
Critique:
I realize it must be difficult to create a user experience for SSB tabs where everything goes according to the user's expectations.
References:
- The concept is being explored via the Web App Manifest specification: https://github.com/WICG/manifest-incubations/blob/gh-pages/tabbed-mode-explainer.md
- Allow users to 'force' tabbed mode for DIY pwa installs https://issues.chromium.org/issues/378101121
