Summary:
Improve the usability of the Tab Overview (accessed via Cmd + Shift + \) by highlighting and grouping tabs that are currently playing audio or video at the top of the view. This would align Orion with UX standards already adopted in Chrome and Edge, helping users quickly identify and control multimedia tabs.
Current Behavior
When invoking Tab Overview (Cmd + Shift + \), all open tabs are displayed in a unified list. However, audio/video playback tabs are not visually prioritized or grouped. Users have to manually scroll or search to locate which tab is producing sound — which can be time-consuming, especially with many open tabs.
As shown in the attached screenshot from Google Chrome, tabs with media playback are:
- Grouped under a dedicated section ("Audio & Video")
- Labeled with the website, title, and playback icon
- Easily accessible and distinguishable at the top of the tab overview interface
Proposed Behavior
Implement the following enhancements in Orion’s Tab Overview:
Automatic Grouping:
Create a section at the top of Tab Overview titled “Audio & Video” (or similar). Place all currently active media playback tabs in this section.
Playback Indicator:
Display a small icon (speaker or video symbol) next to the tab title, indicating active media playback.
Contextual Control (Optional Advanced Feature):
Allow users to mute, pause, or stop playback directly from this view — similar to media control center functionality.
Consistent Shortcut Behavior:
If a user invokes Cmd + Shift + A (or similar keybinding for media tab filtering), directly focus the Tab Overview to the “Audio & Video” section.
Why This Feature Is Important
- Improved Productivity: Quickly locate and manage distracting or unwanted sounds from any tab.
- Consistency: Aligns Orion with UX patterns found in leading browsers like Chrome and Edge, making the switch to Orion smoother for new users.
- Enhanced Accessibility: Helps users with sensory sensitivities or multitasking workflows manage tab content more efficiently.
Conclusion
This feature would be a significant quality-of-life improvement, especially for users who frequently work with many open tabs or stream media across multiple sites. Orion already offers a sleek and performance-friendly environment; enhancing tab management with intelligent media grouping would further cement its status as a forward-thinking browser.
Please consider adding this to the roadmap!
Best regards,
Yuriy
