Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Internet Tools
Tabs in the title bar: a UI design trend that needs to go
Safari 4 Beta's new tab arrangement has me bothered. It seems to be largely lifted from Chrome's user interface that puts the tabs at the very top of the window. Not only is this a departure from Apple's typical UI choices, it presents problems for users with special needs.
On your average Apple user interface, every object -- a title bar, menu, button, or handle -- has a single function. It can resize the window, move it, close it, or scroll it. Safari 4's tabs, however, have a dual purpose: They not only can be selected to move the entire Safari 4 window, but can be clicked individually to display their contents. In Safari 3, this was handled by two different objects -- the title bar to move the window, and tabs in the tab bar.
Google chose to put tabs at the top of the window because it was an important part of the user metaphor for their web browser, Chrome. In Chrome, tabs are independent processes brought together in a kind of stack. This is all very well and good, but it poses the same problem of having the area at the top of the window do two things at once: move the window as a whole, and control each item in the stack.
In the video at the top of the article, you can see the problem I have. I use a graphics tablet. Those who have graphics tablets know that when you're moving fast, clicking can sometimes result in dragging objects a short distance. With Safari 4, this results in a frustrating little dance until I can very precisely tap on the tab without dragging it across the screen. Furthermore, mistakenly clicking the close button or the resize handle for each tab creates additional complexity -- each with their own set of unexpected consequences. Dan Frakes and John Gruber have played with the title bar, too, and found their own litany of irks.
Tablet users can compensate for this by changing the configuration of their stylus. But people with motor control issues -- like those with slow reflexes, palsy, ALS and other motor neuron diseases -- will find this frustrating to use. Great care must be used to click on a tab without dragging, lest the window moves.
Mouse keys (found in the Universal Access preference pane, under the Mouse tab) may be one option to overcome this, and many individuals already have developed techniques that work for them. It is, however, another hoop to jump through just to use a web browser.
With Firefox and Safari 3, the tab bar was gracious enough to let you drag the tab a short ways and still appropriately switch to it when you let go of the mouse button. Safari could sidestep this problem by switching to the tab you click, even if you do drag the window by accident. But this creates a converse problem: if all I wanted to do was move the window, why did it suddenly switch tabs on me? Thus the need for a fundamental theory of UI: Every object needs only a single purpose.
My recommendation? Make the title bar tabs optional, and allow users the option of a more Safari 3-like tab experience. Mat linked yesterday to some undocumented preferences, but I think users would be well-served to have these available without using the Terminal.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
SV said 1:10PM on 2-26-2009
I totally agree. I love everything about the new Safari except for the tab bar that is now in the title bar. I just find it less acessible. I also don't like that when you have let's say 2 tabs, the whole title bar is split in 2. In S3, there was 2 littles tabs and a whole "blank" space. I prefered that.
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Phil U. said 8:33AM on 2-27-2009
I like the tabs at top. Been using chrome since it came out. But chrome uses small tabs like most browsers. Also, when chrome is not maximized, a separate title bar appears above them to enable dragging the whole window since, like safari 3, the while tab is draggable for rearranging or spawning a separate window. But mac OS doesn't have a maximized window state. So what to do except what they did? But I agree it's less then good. But not terrible.
t_bracelin said 7:23PM on 3-01-2009
Exactly, I also hate that when you go to move a tab it moves the whole window. And where did loading in the address bar go?
robshoy said 1:16PM on 2-26-2009
I respectfully disagree. The tabs on top feature is the feature I love MOST about the Safari 4 Beta. I think it looks more organized, and tabs on top has always made more metaphorical sense to me, since Opera even. Plus, it saves a fair deal of space, which is important to me since content is what I'm looking at most of the time, not the pretty browser up top.
But, I do believe it should be a checkbox option in the preferences. I suppose tabs-on-top is not for everyone.
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darkpaw said 1:31PM on 2-26-2009
I agree. I love the new tabs. It took me mere minutes to get used to them.
There is a workaround, as mentioned, with the Terminal tips, and those who are very very annoyed with the tabs will actively search these features out. A quick Google search will get them the help they need (as will this article).
An option in the Preferences would be helpful, but isn't necessarily required. Apple commonly create new UI concepts and people have to adapt to them.
I don't totally understand why people are so annoyed at this, though? There are many apps with many undocumented features, or features that are missing a prefs option. The Dock has some hidden features. Cocktail, Onyx and MacPilot take of these, and I'm sure they'll be updated to cope with the new version of Safari.
Besides, this is a beta. Don't like it, send Apple some feedback.
marc said 3:14PM on 2-26-2009
Word! Its adds more room for the actual web page to view. Im down with it!
...Now the refresh button is something i'm having trouble getting used to.
LD said 1:42PM on 2-26-2009
"On your average Apple user interface, every object -- a title bar, menu, button, or handle -- has a single function."
This is actually completely not true. Apple has had a fixed, multi-functional menu bar at the top since at least 1984.
I agree with you that this is an improvement. It takes some getting used to, but it's more efficient and is in line with a shared menu bar as Apple has always had.
Darren said 1:54PM on 2-26-2009
I agree. I'm hoping they bring this type window management to all Cocoa apps. It has the potential to be a killer OS X feature.
Stuart Carnie said 2:07PM on 2-26-2009
I also agree. I think a good compromise is making it an option to change. However, I too love this feature the most. It gives us back some additional screen space.
iDarbert said 2:11PM on 2-26-2009
Love 'em +1.
I also like how they implemented them, somehow Chrome's tabs didn't feel right.
Leo M. said 4:17PM on 2-26-2009
I love it as well...sorry
Cory Schulz said 4:20PM on 2-26-2009
Yup, I love them too. It sounds like his issue is more with the fact that he uses a pen in place of a mouse and that this causes him to make less accurate gestures and then he gets angry at the software. Try using it with a mouse and you'll find that it's awesome. After using it the last two days, I can't imagine going back. It's great. I don't think I've had a single problem with the Safari 4 Beta.
Patriks7 said 8:08PM on 2-28-2009
I agree. I really LOVE this feature. That is probably the most noticeable feature so far. The Top Sites is also a nice touch, but I'd learn to live without it. Now one thing I'd love, is a gesture (I have the new multitouch MBP) to switch between tabs. Now that would be something I would really love as I switch between tabs a lot and doing it with my trackpad would save me loads of time.
Thinking about it, I have seen some apps that add extra mulitouch features to some apps, so anyone know if there is one available that can add the tab switching?
David Hildreth said 1:12PM on 2-26-2009
Doesn't seem to me like it's a concept that is going away. Start getting use to it.
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required said 5:14PM on 2-26-2009
You're either a pessimist or a fan of simon says.
Belted87 said 1:14PM on 2-26-2009
All these issues go away if you keep tabs on top, but UNDER the title bar.
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Darren said 2:22PM on 2-26-2009
And you lose the main advantage of moving the tabs - saving vertical space for content. it may not seem like much, but on a 13" MB, S4 does feel much bigger.
robogobo said 5:16PM on 2-26-2009
try using the little oval button on the right of the titlebar in Firefox (just like in the Finder). See if you don't like that more for freeing up space.
zzz Matt said 7:09PM on 2-26-2009
I agree, keep them above the address bar but below the title bar.
The main advantage of tabs above the address bar is that it makes sense. The content of the address bar is unique to the tab, it makes no sense at all for the address bar to be above the tabs.
Raul Riera said 1:15PM on 2-26-2009
Don't agree
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