My Opera
Featherweight - first phase
By Henrik HelmersHelmers. Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:00:00 AM
Good morning, this is Helmers from Opera User experience and Graphics (UxG). Today we are excited to share results of the first phase of project Featherweight. Our goal has been to make Opera as light, bright and user-friendly as possible—without sacrificing power or flexibility. We want the user interface to match the speed of our rendering engine.Featherweight has been under wraps until now, so that we may present a comprehensive solution, not bits and pieces. Some changes are highly visible, such as those to the address and status bars, but you will find that we have reworked much of the skin throughout—including a brand new icon set. This is the first step in project Featherweight, and a major collaborative effort between the UxG and Desktop teams. Enjoy!
Highlights
- Brand new toolbar icon set
- Brighter, softer colors for backgrounds and borders
- Padding and alignment improvements
- Updated status bar design and content
- No more button borders in the address bar
- The Home and Fast Forward buttons now optional
- New "tab fold" attention state - no more blue blob
- New window gradient for OS X
- The text in the status bar may be invisible in dark themes
Windows screenshot (click for full size):
OS X screenshot (click for full size):
Unix screenshot (click for full size):
Remember to keep feedback constructive and to the point—we know many of you are passionate about UI changes!
WARNING: This is a development snapshot: It contains the latest changes, but may also have severe known issues, including crashes, and data loss situations. In fact, it may not work at all.
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marbross # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:23:10 AM
Thanks team for yours hard work
Vectronic # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:24:07 AM
mrd # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:26:05 AM
Hawk1902 # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:26:28 AM
Swapnil RustagiSwapnil99pro # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:26:53 AM
operic # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:29:52 AM
mubaidr # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:32:02 AM
However some regressions or suggestions (Windows 7 32bit);
1-toolbar buttons are too small! make it little bigger
2-buttons in start-bar does not change on hovering mouse (topten,bookmarks etc).
3-Menu button text cannot be removed. (menu is written to the right with the button that can be removed by selecting images only in toolbar preferences however "Opera next " text on button cannot be removed)
4-Why 2 bars to adjust zoom? in status bar.
5-Zoom bar in satus bar has 0% 1 % 2 %. but it should be 0% 100% 200% etc
6-Pleas also change menu appearence and colors of icons in menu.
7-Changing chrome integration ares in about:config has no effect
8-Menu button should be to extreme up (as it is now) and to extreme left (there should be no gap to the left of button).
9-Please add tab scroll bar and set minimum size of tab, having lots of tabs opened make tabs very small, unreadable actuly unuseable.
10-Redraw issue in tab stacking. Stack a tab onto other and see just above the arrow u will find it.
11-Address bar too wide (actually high), reduce address bar hight.
12-Reload animation in speed entry slightly cover the text of entry.
and i see reason for leaving gap on top of tabs, tap-stacks looks good.
Akbalder # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:38:24 AM
I'll see if I can get used to it.
arnaud lautierGrouick # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:38:53 AM
It looks a bit strange but still good.
earth01 # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:40:38 AM
- [+] button also difficult to select (previous one was perfect)
- Menu button should be in the very top left (in order to select it without having to look at it, just by pointing the mouse in the top left of the screen)
- Address bar paddings are too big
- margin between the top of the screen and the tabs is too big
I think I'll have to create my own skin...
pursanovd # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:41:55 AM
1. When choosing tab with ctrl+tab selected tab cant be seen!
2. ZOOM calling button is strange..
3. Also liked previous TOP icon more(think the HEART reflects tops better and the icon looked lovely and stylish
4. Text cant be removed from MENU button?!..
5. Unite icon was in Link icon's style. Now with new link icon-unite icon looks bit strange there.
Overall impressions: liked the clear style, but hope to see more improvements.
Pitiphong Phongpattranont pitiphongp # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:42:10 AM
FitzTN # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:43:57 AM
I don't know why Opera opens the search bar every time I open the sidebar, this annoys me and it happens since the first opera 10.50 snapshots. Is this a known issue?
mrd # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:44:25 AM
I see the "Opera Next" in the menu button is part of the "O" image so I can't have the menu just as the "O" by doing "Image Only"?
If you turn on the menu, the menu items are black on the translucent skin which is in my setup (dark blue desktop) almost impossible to see
I think that the zoom scroller now that it is just a scroll would benefit from a tooltip that moves when you zoom showing what % you are at, as you move it.
You changed the Opera Link icon? Isn't the icon you have part of your branding? Also... a cloud? Isn't that a bit "me too?"
I like the reduction in the addressbar clutter.
I dislike the Pinned Tab tab being of a different height to the normal tab. And still think that when you open the tab bar to show tab thumbnails, the pinned tab size should stay the same height as the normal tab size.
I'm assuming I'm extremely slow here but since when were you able to delete items from the bookmarks menu without going into bookmarks manager??
Anyway, first thoughts. More if I get any.
grotos # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:45:17 AM
Originally posted by Akbalder:
I think it's ok.
Originally posted by mubaidr:
Menu definitely needs some improvement.
1. The Opera button feels strange - it doesn't fit to the tabs placement.
2. Tabs could be a little bit higher to make more room for text within it.
3. Zoom scroller is great!
4. Icons are much cleaner.
kikos90 # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:45:43 AM
MilstonmiLston # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:45:53 AM
Where is "Alt + Down" button?
http://files.myopera.com/miLston/Images/adbutton.png
If the "TaskBar Windows 7" to put on top, and Opera window maximized. After these manipulations, appears at the bottom of a transparent strip, the height of 1 pixel!
http://files.myopera.com/miLston/Images/pixel.png
And return back to the contour of the buttons! (simulate the interface Chrome? I do not approve.)
OS Windows 7.
Thanks.
see below
Originally posted by fresco:
+.. I also want to change the look of the shortcut menu.
PS: so looks like the usual "O - button":
on window:
http://files.myopera.com/miLston/Images/O-button-m-1.png
http://files.myopera.com/miLston/Images/O-button-m-2.png
http://files.myopera.com/miLston/Images/O-button-m-3.png
window maximized:
http://files.myopera.com/miLston/Images/O-button-f-m-1.png
http://files.myopera.com/miLston/Images/O-button-f-m-2.png
http://files.myopera.com/miLston/Images/O-button-f-m-3.png
MaximSailorMax # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:47:44 AM
- Icon size = 80% and trash icon problem is still here... (hover / not)
- Menu Bar has wrong background?
- Start bar has wrong background? and its buttons don't have border on mouse hover...
- "Opera Next"-button is almost invisible if Tab Bar Position = bottom under WinXP
OS: WinXP
Refreshrefresz # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:48:18 AM
Northgrove # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:51:53 AM
Joonas Lehtolahtigodjonez # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:53:15 AM
Vladimyr IvanovVladimyr # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:54:23 AM
Morphdreamer # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:57:57 AM
When search field on address bar is removed, extension icons are too close to address field (there is no space between them when you hover extension icon).
Old-Nick # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:00:08 AM
* Disappeared arrrow to access previously typed URLs
* Failed to remove *OperaNext* from Menu button
* The height of address bar is too big
* Dislike removal of button borders
* Dislike new delete button for RSS & email
* New Link icon looks more like weather status
* New *show images/cached images* almost identical
/*/ Thanks for removal of fast forvard & home buttons
David Tsunamydavidtsunamy # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:03:19 AM
But you must remove the dead space into SpeedDial and remove Options button (or make it optional).
In Linux (Fedora with Gnome3): Tab bar background isn't black
Martin RauscherHades32 # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:04:00 AM
Andrew FrazierAndrewDFrazier # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:06:09 AM
Haven't installed the Windows version yet to check there.
quarkdrunkensurgeon # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:06:32 AM
1. There's too much padding on top/bottom of Address bar it looks really fat now
2. The | spacer has too much padding on sides. It looks even worse when you hover a button right near it (imho)
3. There's unneeded space on the right edge of status bar (there's none on the left which is good)
4. Pinned tabs look wrong
5. No spacer needed on search popup when there's nothing to show above it
6. Not enough space at the bottom of the spacer on search popup. If the menu item right beneath it is clickable and hovered the hover state overlaps the spacer.
7. Can't remove "Opera Next" text from Opera menu button
+ Tab switcher (shown on Ctrl+Tab) looks broken
Ivan IvanovSasko88 # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:08:27 AM
The removal of the button borders, the removal of the invert effect on clicked buttons and most of all the single-color icons make the browser more beautiful than ever.
Also congrats for the new addressbar planet and lock icons, they look incredible.
The tab bar - the closed tabs button is very nice, I love the unobtrusive unread tab fold, the best solution so far (there were several in the default skin so far, and many other ideas for the skins). The highlight effect for thumbnail tabs is brilliant. The page icon for pages with no favicons is the best I've seen in all browsers.
The highlights and arrangement of the statusbar are also much more efficient and beautiful, I can't wait to see what you've done with the panels
The new shadow for popups and extensions is subtler, which is nice. The X buttons for tabs and speed dial tiles look the way the should and are consistent with their environment.
Good job on the identity of opera link as well.
Native things gone right:
The text in text entry boxes no longer jumps to the right - thanks.
The addressbar dropdown native hover effect looks nice in windows, it makes the whole dropdown much lighter.
Now a bit on the minus side:
- The color of the tabs does not match the addressbar color completely.
- The tabs are a bit short.
- Please allow negative or proper zero values for "Chrome Integration Drag Area Maximized", editing the skin to get tabs accessible at the top is not a good solution and is a usability problem. Look at firefox's solution - edges of tabs target the window chrome.
- The old, non-native, not-so-beautiful radio and checkbox buttons are still present in the skin in the opera menu, reload every dropdown of the right-click menu and the tab bar options.
- Why not put the dragonfly icon next to "Inspect Element" in the right-click menu?
Spadar ShutSpShut # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:10:18 AM
Bugfixer # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:10:28 AM
Saskatchewan # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:10:30 AM
(BTW: still, there's no "secure page" icon: DSK-339436)
inDigazzZAnuarSh # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:11:46 AM
eliotcougar # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:12:14 AM
Opera Link icon looks, eh well, misleading...
It's not possible to remove text from the O-button...
Menu items lack color - I know it's "Brand New Vision", but that may be not so good in terms of usability... Colors are fine... Our monitors can display colors, don't you know?..
Padding everywhere = waste of space...
There's yet a lot of work to be done...
Surferz Worldsurferzworld # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:12:44 AM
However, I like the tab fold effect & the whole UI changes. Simple & Smart. I have to get used to it.
------
Ubuntu 11.04, 64 bit, unity environment.
vilpapa # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:13:38 AM
nimu_channimuchan # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:16:34 AM
Roy Matthewscheffo47 # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:17:42 AM
Дмитрий Масловdmitrymaslov # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:18:55 AM
artemeas # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:19:45 AM
ryouza # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:23:35 AM
IllusionMH109th # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:25:15 AM
It is very strange to move cursor to top left corner (as automatic motion), ant them seek for the Menu button.
2) Do pinned tabs the same height as tabs, and push all tabs bit higher, this will add few more pixels to content area.
3) Adding any button to status bar makes it smaller
Saskatchewan # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:25:18 AM
ChristianAngel-of-Retribution # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:25:30 AM
operapryanik # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:26:20 AM
Originally posted by miLston:
+ 1!
Return "Alt + Down" button!
Vectronic # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:26:27 AM
Originally posted by Saskatchewan:
Confirmed.Tenno Seremeltenno-seremel # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:26:46 AM
fresco # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:27:04 AM
But please please give us native menus in the Windows version, they still look like Win98!
The Opera-menu should also be rearranged ihmo (FireFox did a wonderful job there).
Ryandi Sandicoyomoyo # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:27:10 AM
Originally posted by davidtsunamy:
The same (archlinux) even after clean install, but overall it's looking good.
Michael A. Puls IIburnout426 # Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:30:16 AM
I see that the mail account selector drop-down button can now shrink to very small widths so that it doesn't wrap to the next line and waste height. This is awesome.
The mail toolbar reply button has way way way too much space between the text and the down arrow. It's like that with the delete button a little too. Also, there's too much space between the spam and delete buttons. I guess this is because the default is now to have the text on the right of the button instead of the bottom.
Speaking of the mail toolbar, I'm not feeling the dynamic spacer that shoves the view button and search field all the way to the right. I guess the bonus to that though is that it makes the view button stand out more. Missing that the thread button isn't there by default, but no biggie.
I'm definitely not liking that the buttons are all the same color like 9.5ish I think. I'll never like that.
The folder corners for the tabs are cool. Only time will tell if I like that better than the blue circles.
I like that the wrench icon is used for the view buttons.
I don't care for the mail compose button. It doesn't look enough like a pen on an envelope.
Even though the buttons now look nice and clean without borders, when they're borderless, I always feel like something's not right and their hover attention state is never right.
The icons are a little smaller now. Not sure I like that.
But, all in all, things are not that much different, so nothing so far that looks really bad.