Vladimir Krstic

Status Bar

Thursday, December 2, 2010 8:24:19 PM

Second change, second removing (and it's last) of default UI element. It's turn on status bar.

Actualy status bar will stay on default UI but in different shape and on different place. However buttons from status bar are disappearing and we got clear bottom of browser.

This is how now Opera looks. We got bigger space for representing web pages, and simpler and more pleasant look of browser.

Most of the end users prefer simpler browsers

Now it's time to place status bar on new location. By removing search bar we got much longer address bar. So lets use it in a good way. I lend idea from last Firefox 4 Beta and place status bar in address bar. Now we have simple looking browser with nicely integrated status bar who don't catch the eye.

Clean look

And what about buttons that were placed on status bar? Panel, link, unite, turbo and zoom? I'm removing them from foreground UI. However panel button will back on UI in my next post so don't worry. So now I must convince you why we don't need link, unite, turbo and zoom buttons.

All this buttons are rarely used by average user. Don't get me wrong, all of them are realy cool futures. And I use link and unite all the time. But lot of possible new Opera users will greet simplified look, and probably lot of old Opera users don't use them and will also prefer simpler look. Also we have link and unite inside panel so they are easy available still. Turbo and zoom can get it's place into panels by default too. However they are rarely used futures. So every user that wish to have this buttons like before or on some other place is able to get them easy from appearance. And by default we have browser who is approximated to wider population.

What you think? Are you for, or against? Please comment.

Vladimir Krstic

Search Bar

Comments

Dietr1cH # Friday, December 3, 2010 5:09:25 AM

10px won't give you a huge advantage against what the statusbar can do/hold.

I'd vote for scrollbar autohiding first.

Gloorian # Friday, December 3, 2010 6:43:27 AM

For status bar, there's an extension which already do that, but it is placed at the bottom, and your idea seems better, so +1

But how, did you do that, or is that just a picture?

Vladimir KrsticVladimirKrstic # Friday, December 3, 2010 5:43:57 PM

Originally posted by Dietr1cH:

10px won't give you a huge advantage against what the statusbar can do/hold.

I'd vote for scrollbar autohiding first.

True, 10px isn't so much huge space, however it's nice to have it. My point was more related to simplify UI. Most of users don't use futures that are in status bar placed right now. However users who wish to have them there are able to get them easy throught appearance menu.

Autohide scrollbar is a good idea. But it have to be solved carefully. Pop-up scrollbar from border of monitor will be visually unpleasant. Fade-in will be probably good choice.

Vladimir KrsticVladimirKrstic # Friday, December 3, 2010 5:45:07 PM

Originally posted by Gloorian:

For status bar, there's an extension which already do that, but it is placed at the bottom, and your idea seems better, so +1

But how, did you do that, or is that just a picture?