Firefox 4.0 looks like Chrome?
Summary
Topics
Last week, Mozilla showed some mockups for the nearer-term Firefox 3.7 that eliminated the browser's title bar, replacing it with two drop-down menu buttons on the right, just like Chrome has had since its September 2008 debut. The Firefox 4.0 mockups show two options, one similar to the 3.7 ideas, and the other taking another step in the Chrome direction.
Specifically, the second Firefox 4.0 mockup shows the browser tabs on top where once there was a window title bar. That's the same approach that Google picked with Chrome, a view of which you can see below.
Mozilla is looking for comment on the designs, which, the browser developer takes pains to note, are "for brainstorming/exploration" and aren't final.
Of the "more contentious Tabs-on-Top concept," Mozilla says advantages include that it saves vertical space and removes visual complexity. On the flip side, it's different, and moving user interface elements confuses people. Also on the negative side, the missing title bar means people see only a truncated Web page title in the tab.
For Firefox, putting tabs on top meshes conceptually with Electrolysis, aka Content Processes, an under-the-covers change that will make each tab a separate computing process. That carries potential performance, stability, and security advantages, but requires more memory.
The Firefox 4.0 mockups also show a combination button to the right of the address bar that changes behavior depending on what the browser is up to. The button can be used to start loading a page whose address has been typed, to stop loading if it's in the process of doing so, and to reload it if it's finished loading.
This article was originally posted on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 38 Talkback(s)
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umm...I kinda like the title bar
Not quite sure why they would want to not use the title bar? It is nice to have the full length page description up there. The tabs above the address bar is... well..ok I guess..but why no title bar? Bad idea.
condelirios28th Jul 2009 -
Compromise
Sometimes I like it, too. How about a
configuration that would allow the title bar to
appear if set to true? Could have it off by
default, otherwise.
I actually prefer Chrome on my netbook for just
this reason -- more vertical real estate on the
limited 600px height resolution. I would prefer
to use Firefox. This would be a nice option.
Spats3028th Jul 2009 -
T1Oracle28th Jul 2009 -
Where are the addons?
I like the title bar too. I'm just wondering... what happens to all the buttons for the addons we use, like Foxtab, or Brief, or Flashblock? Where will those end up?
I like having the whole File/Edit/View... as well, because it makes it extremely easy for me to get to what i want very quickly. I don't have to right-click and look through a pull-down menu and then have to open up another one from whichever section I want like in M$N ... Windows Live Messenger...
jidsdabomb@...30th Jul 2009 -
RE: Firefox 4.0 looks like Chrome?
Agreed, I much prefer Firefox's default chrome to Chrome's default interface.
That being said, make these things options to accommodate people's tastes, and no complaints by me!
jdakula28th Jul 2009 -
RE: Firefox 4.0 looks like Chrome?
I'd say skip the tabs on top. Tabs below the location bar is much better. I also prefer tabs below the location bar because it saves time so you don't have to move the mouse all the way to the top. >_>
Chrome was good, but I hated the tabs on the top.
And it's nice to see that they are utilizing the aero look more than now. Totally love their take on it and would like to see more apps using aero in that way. But until then I'm stuck with Glasser.
Aemony28th Jul 2009 -
hmm
One of the reasons I preferred Chrome was because
the tabs were above the address bar, to me it just
made more sense. Firefox 4 should have to option
to drag-and-drop the tabs either above or below.
That might make everyone happy =)
SystemVoid28th Jul 2009 -
With all the themes out there for years
Firefox has so many variations on its default look that it leaves Chrome in the metal dust, and probably will do so in a newer version. Just as long as Firefox 4.0 is fast and secure, it could look like HotJava (actually no thank you)and hold marketshare.
Boot_Agnostic28th Jul 2009 -
Only it really doesn't
It looks more and more like IE 8 with each update, they keep copying microsoft's features, like
* a close X in each tab
* a new tab icon
* leaving the tab bar present
* removing the menu bar in favor of tool buttons like 'Page' on the left and 'Tools' on the right (more confusing than IE 8)
* a quick tabs-like 'thumbnail preview' button
* separating tabs into their own process, a security and stability feature that MS pioneered in browsers
To answer all the ABMers:
No Chrome was not the first to release a browser with tab isolation, Microsoft was. They released IE 8 beta 1 publicly in March 2008, many moons before Chrome even saw the light of day!
Geez, doesn't anyone innovate anymore, or do they all just copy Microsoft?!
sagec28th Jul 2009 -
How Long Have You Used FIrefox?
Ok, I'm not one to get into a browser vs. browser war. But you have to be kidding me. MS/IE didn't come up with most of those features. About the only 2 that could be claimed is the processes per tab and the thumbnail previews. Firefox either had those features, and not on by default, or there have been extensions that have added those features for you. With every new major version of Firefox I have to believe they are deciding to incorporate some of the features most people add plugins to achieve.
timnolte28th Jul 2009 -
Exactly...
...most of the features in Firefox come from popular plugins. They just make it a part of the browser. Its amazing how Mozilla could be copying everything from the company that said users don't want tabs. I have to ask just how did IE end up with tabs to separate into different processes....oh...they copied it.
storm14k28th Jul 2009 -
Not logical
It's not logical to argue for FireFox with extensions without passing the same consideration to IE.
People28th Jul 2009 -
Copy Microsoft?..
Firefox had Tabbed browsing long before IE did,
what tech planet are you living on?..SystemVoid28th Jul 2009 -
Not what they said...
Firefox had Tabbed browsing long before IE did, what tech planet are you living on?..
Although this is true... the statement was that IE had tabs running in seperate processes before FF. In fact, IE8 was the first browser to run tabs in seperate processes, although not the first to release with the technology, they did indeed introduce it first.
I'm of the opinion here lately, that for the most part, all browsers need some work here and there. None of them are perfect, far from it actually, and the whole pissing contest on which is better is pretty ridiculous.
ShadowGIATL29th Jul 2009 -
I like
Having the address bar also be the search text field.
That's very handy.Spats3028th Jul 2009
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