Window switcher / sidebar should have the option of showing tabs (also bookmarks /reading list?)

nic

There is a button in the top left that is present when the sidebar is closed (using vertical tabs), that allows you to switch windows. You can also swich tabs but you have to go through 2 levels of indirection (
see the first image below). It would be really great if there was an option to display and switch tabs directly in the pop up without having to go through the submenus. Something along the lines of the second image.

I understand that I can expand and collapse the sidebar with the button and with a hotkey but there are two aspects of this that make it a pain. The first issue is that I need to close it again. The second is that it changes the viewport which in certain cases can be very disruptive.

All in all, a way to view and switch tabs in 2 clicks when the sidebar is collapsed, would be very appreciated 🙂

Vlad

nic The window switcher is actually designed to easilly switch windows. Your proposal makes that harder to do by adding an additional click, and also opening a popup on top of a popup.

It seems to me that even with the new design you still need equal number of clicks to swithc to a tab. (3 in both cases, assuming you switch to a window and then click on the tab you need).

The easiest way to swtich tabs is to do cmd l and search for it in address bar.

ajgraves

I upvoted, I actually like this concept.

nic

Perhaps I didn't quite capture my intention with the mockup. What I'm imaginging is simply adding the list of tabs to the existing window switcher popup. I'm not suggesting the removal of any existing functionality in the current popup, nor am I suggesting an additional popup. I would just like to be able to click on the 15 tabs button, and then select one of my tabs.

Vlad

nic I am still not getting it, can you do another mockup?

nic

Now that I think of it, perhaps a dropdown for switching between the sidebar views could be similarly used for the button when the sidebar is collapsed. Its unclear what you to as a label though, as currently there isn't a clear way to differeniate because of the unsaved window names.

nic

Alright so that last kneejerk idea I had should be more understandable with the figma prototype below. Essentially replacing the window switcher button with a popup version of the sidebar. While fleshing it out I realized its probably not a great solution but thought I would include it anyways.
https://www.figma.com/proto/y35YWc4SNA3qh6IjxcVKqf/orion-mockup?node-id=1%3A2&scaling=min-zoom&page-id=0%3A1&starting-point-node-id=1%3A2

The original idea is much more minor. Adding the tabs to the window switcher popup, without removing any existing functionality:

Vlad

nic My Window switcher looks like this. if we added tabs I have open in this window (which can be 50+ that would be a huge popup). Not sure it is a good idea?

nic

Hmm, yeah I agree, probably not a good idea.

snorkos

Brief Summary

The sidebar can only show Windows, Tabs, Bookmarks or Reading list exclusivly. I think it would be great to have the option to show two of those categories at the same time.

deeznuts

Completely agree! Would honestly make so much sense. Part of the reason to have a vertical sidebar is to maximise the vertical real estate. If you have a bookmarks bar for instance, that would save even more space.

(Would also be interesting to see if absolutely everything (including URL bar, extensions and more) is moved to the sidebar to maximize vertical real estate usage. Browser such as Arc have done this, and there is a lot of hype surrounding it. But I know it's not recommended to have multiple issues in the same suggestion so I'll possibly make another one)

Xyth

At the moment the Sidebar can show vertical tabs OR bookmarks OR your reading list. When you've not got many tabs open this results in a lot of empty space. Please make it possible for us to stack these features vertically in the sidebar instead of being forced to toggle between them.

The existing selection menu could be changed to allow us to tick multiple items, instead of just one.

This would make the sidebar much more useful and worth having open for those of us who don't tend to have many tabs open, but like the vertical tabs implementation. It would reduce the number of clicks needed, one of which is on a particularly tiny UI element.

Vlad

@snorkos @deeznuts @Xyth merging here, please continue with suggestions after reading previous discussion

Fortrikka

Just like this, but without the toolbar inbetween. This is just a demonstration, but perhaps the bookmarks and vertical tabs can be combined into one super sidebar as another additional option in perhaps the preferences menu. This browser should target both advanced and simple users, even for children 😃

TheOtherKai

Done (via sidebar revamp)

Fortrikka

TheOtherKai where do I see this option can't find it