A separate search bar like Firefox

bluesneekers

With a separate search bar it's possible to easily switch between search engines like DDG, Amazon, Youtube, etc using the drop-down menu. Want to find a YT video or a product on amazon? Just enter the term and click the relevant icon from the list without having to go through your primary search engine first (as I often do when using F.Fox or similar).

It could be implemented so that a new tab opens after hitting Return. Much simpler and faster than how it currently is with the drop-down menu showing search options from Bookmarks, History and your preferred search engine only. Or having to remember to hold down cmd to open new tab when searching from the address bar (unless you open a new tab first).

A search box could be added to the Customize Toolbar pane so that it would be optional.
Thanks

laiz

Hey! I have a feeling a separate search bar is a rather niche request nowadays.
Instead, I'd like to encourage you to read about Quick searches which will hopefully make your browsing even better 🙂

bluesneekers

laiz Thanks for the suggestion and link.
I'll go with that but I still prefer the separate box. I'd previously tried the abbreviated shortcut method in another browser and in Orion as well but found the drop-down list easier. At the click of the mouse on the magnifying glass (no need to open a new tab) the icons are laid out in a small grid so it's easy to see which engines I'd bookmarked previously and to select the most appropriate one without really thinking about it.

Of course I can do that from Favorites if I need a quick visual recall, but it's still necessary to open a new tab and to enter yt, or whatever abbreviation, before entering the search terms. Not a problem but it's faster and 'cleaner' just to enter the search terms in a separate box and then hit the preferred search icon. A separate search bar would also save space in the Favorites tab since there would be no need to enter a bunch of search engine urls there.

bluesneekers

laiz Another suggestion (should i create a new issue?).
As a compromise would you be able to add a Search section to the Start Page which could then be added or removed using the contextual menu (like the edited image)? I thought I might be able to use Reading list or Suggestions as a substitute for Search engines so I added them to the Start Page. But then found that it wasn't possible to drag and drop icons to those sections, or rename them. At the moment only the Favorites section is editable.

Yannick

Thanks for your offer, but no, we’re not going to add a second bar @bluesneekers 🙂
And about the start page, we have plans for the future 😉