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besson3c · Feb 20, 2011, 04:55 PM

This is interesting:

Google May Kill Chrome URL Bar | ConceivablyTech

I suppose this makes sense to maximize space on smaller devices, but I can see something like this being abused by phishers and the like perhaps?

mduell · Feb 20, 2011, 06:30 PM

What's with the ridiculous headline?

"Chrome may offer option to hide URL bar" just doesn't do it for you?

besson3c · Feb 20, 2011, 10:22 PM

It sounds like the option will be the default while in Compact View.

lpkmckenna · Feb 21, 2011, 07:46 AM

You can already hide the Safari url field.

Good old Google, always at the forefront of innovation.

besson3c · Feb 21, 2011, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

You can already hide the Safari url field.

Good old Google, always at the forefront of innovation.

Did you read the article?

lpkmckenna · Feb 21, 2011, 10:36 AM

Yes.

besson3c · Feb 21, 2011, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

Yes.

So you'll have read that they are working on different views preconfigured with a certain set of defaults optimized for certain contexts.

The point is not that as a user you could configure your browser this way manually (although I'm not sure any browser allows you to configure it identically to the "Sidetab" view), but that the browser UI can behave differently depending on context. Maybe on a phone or a tablet, or some mini view within some sort of application some of these views make sense?

Google is far from the only company that has been playing around with the browser UI. Mozilla has played around with dropping the status bar, several browsers have played around with tabs above and below the address bar, Chrome features a URL bar that doubles as a search bar (which I actually prefer to Apple's scheme, I think), Apple has played around with where the progress bar should go, etc.

It's not necessarily innovation, but clearly many people are not completely satisfied that we've come up with the best UI for a browser that works best on all devices. Innovation doesn't come about when we are satisfied with the status quo.

imitchellg5 · Feb 21, 2011, 11:23 AM

I can see the value of hiding the URL bar in some applications, especially for smaller mobile phones/devices. I'm glad the Google are experimenting around with Chrome, Safari and Firefox really haven't done anything terribly new in the last couple of years (although Firefox 5 is going to be a huge top-down redesign).

PB2K · Feb 23, 2011, 04:40 AM

people still tell me their URL is "http://www..." no it's http://www..."
i am happy with any developments to leave the confusing and unnecessary bits out

imitchellg5 · Feb 23, 2011, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by PB2K

people still tell me their URL is "http://www..." no it's http://www..."
i am happy with any developments to leave the confusing and unnecessary bits out

Chrome already lost the "http://www." bit.

Doofy · Feb 25, 2011, 12:47 PM

Who cares? Knowing how Google treats privacy issues, you've got to be an idiot to even consider installing Chrome in the first place.

besson3c · Feb 25, 2011, 02:59 PM

Interesting point Doofy, although I don't that Chrome phones home, as this would probably impact performance enough to make people not want to use it.

Stogieman · Feb 25, 2011, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

This is interesting:

Google May Kill Chrome URL Bar | ConceivablyTech

The Buggles should write a song about this.

Doofy · Feb 25, 2011, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Interesting point Doofy, although I don't that Chrome phones home, as this would probably impact performance enough to make people not want to use it.

Safari phones "home" every time a new URL is popped in there if you don't uncheck the "warn when visiting a fraudulent website", so why wouldn't Chrome?

besson3c · Feb 25, 2011, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Safari phones "home" every time a new URL is popped in there if you don't uncheck the "warn when visiting a fraudulent website", so why wouldn't Chrome?

I highly doubt it works that way. There is probably a local cache that is refreshed periodically.

Doofy · Feb 25, 2011, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I highly doubt it works that way. There is probably a local cache that is refreshed periodically.

Yes Bess - there's a local cache on everybody's computer containing details of every fraudulent/clean web site address in the World. That's how the Interwebs works, for sure.

besson3c · Feb 25, 2011, 06:50 PM

One that is refreshed periodically, perhaps SQLite based is a little more believable than doing database queries for each user's web site queries.

TETENAL · Feb 25, 2011, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Yes Bess - there's a local cache on everybody's computer containing details of every fraudulent/clean web site address in the World. That's how the Interwebs works, for sure.

Yes, that's how it works. There is a local cache with hashes of every fraudulent website's URL. Safari only phones "home" (Google) when you visit a fraudulent website to verify it's fraudulent. It doesn't do so for non-fraudulent websites.