Pluto

    • Jan 7, 2022
    • Joined Oct 24, 2021
    • 1 discussion
    • 12 posts
    • 0 best answers
    • 7 points
    • Oh I absolutely love this! The address bar and tab bar height ratio look better and not cramped at all. I would totally go for this.

      If you could push me an update with this, I can happily test it out.

    • Vlad

      Vlad We tried reducing the height of tab bar but decided that the few pixels were not worth the cramped look. Do you feel strongly about those few pixels?

      Ah! I strongly do - My reasoning was simple - logically, when I select compact option, address bar and tab bar both should reduce in height. Currently, only address bar reduces in height.
      However, I understand there is a difference between my theory and mockup and actual implementation. If you feel it is getting too cramped for most users, I will leave this to the developer/designer judgement. 🙂

      Thank you for being responsive and considering.

      • Just to clarify, what many Firefox castaways (myself) are looking for when we asked for a compact tabs option:

        Conventional UI yet looking for more vertical space - that is, separate tab bar and address bar (two row) - but reduced pixel height for address bar and tab bar. The user benefits apart from increased real estate in 13" screens, there is space for extensions in the address bar, and the tab bar can fit in more tabs without scrolling or reducing in width.
        Currently, with the present compact option in Orion, just shaving off a few vertical pixels in tab bar height will probably satisfy these set of users.

        ( Separate issue: with the Version 0.99.109-beta, it seems Orion always shows the tab bar even when only one tab is open. Not sure, if this is a bug or intended change. The expected behaviour is when only single tab is open, the tab bar should not be present.)

        There is another set of users who would prefer "Safari 15-style" compact mode - that is where the address bar and tab bar is clubbed together. They are not necessarily looking for vertical space saving(?), if I understand correctly.
        I am not a fan of this UI since it compromises too much on tab area +extension icons, but would leave it to the UX experts and community to take a call.

        Separate from this is the coloured tab option. Again, I am not a fan of this as I prefer my browser chrome and content to be separate. For immersive mode, I would look to go full screen or focus mode.

        • Fair enough. I am biased towards the Firefox way after 18 years of using it 🙂 This can be looked at a later stage after a full stable release.
          Thanks for considering.

          • Vlad replied to this.
          • A comparison between Orion compact and Firefox (v. 88) compact with address bar and tab bar.

            • IMO this could be an additional option in Preferences > Appearance

              • Vlad replied to this.
              • Currently I do workaround like you mentioned.
                IMO it is better to have both the favicon and bit of title when at minimum width.

                • Vlad
                  I did not get your question. Comparison to Firefox?

                  After discovering 'compact size' option, I am quite happy with the current state of the address bar height. Possible improvement could be reducing the tab bar height a bit when using compact size option.
                  Right now it looks to me that when a user in Orion chooses the compact option, the address bar gets reduced, while the tab bar stays the same height.

                  • Vlad replied to this.
                  • Currently, If we open multiple tabs, tabs will reduce in size to fit into the tab bar width (and only display the favicon). For those whose workflow involve working with more than 15-20 tabs at a time, it is next to impossible to quickly move to the desired tab.

                    My suggestion would be to set a minimum width to the tabs so that the favicon and a bit of the title is always visible. Implementing this will also mean that tabs overflow and there is a tab overflow button.

                    • Vlad replied to this.
                    • Vlad my bad. I did not realise that in Orion there is already a "use compact size". That already saves a lot of address bar vertical space and looks fine.
                      Maybe, reduce the tab bar height by few pixels in 'compact size'?

                      • Vlad replied to this.
                      • Vlad

                        The Firefox (ver. 88) compact mode is 60 pixels (iirc). We could shave pixels from above and below the address field. The address bar in Orion is 51 pixels in height, while the address field is 25 px. The tab bar could be correspondingly reduced ( maintaining aesthetic proportions? )
                        It seems to me that reducing the address bar height is the first step. An address bar height of 31 or 33 pixels saves 20 px by itself without making any other changes.

                        • Vlad replied to this.
                        • +1 to the compact mode option - by which I mean that a mode where pixels in height are shaved off the address bar and the tab bar. Currently, without the bookmarks bar, the height seems to be 76 pixels. Would request the developer to consider if it can be reduced to around 65 pixels or thereabouts. Many of us erstwhile Firefox users would be happy 🙂

                          Context: I am on a Mac Air 13 (1440x900) where vertical real estate is very important for me. To clarify, I am not looking for the radical safari 15 style compact mode (which is terrible IMO). All I would request the developer to consider is make the address bar and tab bar as short in height as possible while maintaining the current design.