Why Tabs are on Top in Firefox 4

Contributors who are active in the Mozilla community will know that this debate literally goes back for years. So in some respects this video will serve as quick summary of all of the different arguments both for an against the change. But the more interesting part isn't about looking back, it's about looking forward. Recently modern browsers have been transitioning to placing tops on top, and that decision isn't arbitrary, it isn't about fashion. The change to placing tabs on top isn't about one browser versus another browser, it's about the evolution of the Web as a platform.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• firefox
• mozilla
• user interface design

[STVYT]

~~~~~> This is an EXCELLENT, very informative video. Nice job explaining all the specifics on the reasons behind the change. Thumbs up for making a point that it is still customizable either way!

[Tsunamisama]

Its a great copy of Opera, congratulations!

[qitamic128]

does anyone know double clicking the title bar can maximize the window??

[deostroll]

Dear web designers. This is how UI design is supposed to be done. You don't simply bloat the UI with images...

[crocoteer]

@MrPotato16

Wow man I logged here just to say that! They could put captions(?) or subtitles isn't it? I think they should..

It's not just he has a way of talking that isn't very perceptible or clear in my opinion.

[crocoteer]

@Tsunamisama

Saying it's a copy of opera isn't totally correct. You were referring to tabs. "Tabs" were firstly created by Opera (many) years ago.

Even worse was google's chrome team (or whoever) that copied them tabs from Opera and said it was them who brought that feature with their browser. Shame on them!

[Destroyer12101]

Tabs on top is an alright idea, but the implementation that both Firefox and chrome use in full screen are counter-intuitive to windows 7. The drag and drop features added in windows 7 allow users to quickly maximize, shrink, and compare windows through the use of the edges of the screen and the usually ever present title bar. Filling the title bar with tabs makes these features of windows unusable, and also makes it impossible to use the Superbar if it is auto-hidden at the top of the screen.

[Kerberoz01]

Pure 100% wankery.

It seems to me that web designers live in their own little bubble, only interacting amongst themselves, completely blind to the rest of the world. They speak and think almost entirely in buzzwords and office jargon.

"Because it's teh future" is not a valid reason to change things.

It's this kind of crap that inspired "Web 2.0" and the idiotic popular downgrade from 16:10 to 16:9.

[MrPotato16]

Nice vid but he was talking VERY fast

[Guvenen]

@johnnyboy08151986 How do I go back to 3.6 and get rid of this rubbish. Thanks.

[Guvenen]

Good grief what is this bloke on about????? Not everyone is a computer wiz, I don't like the new layout at all. I now have a huge space at the top. Lost my tool bar, am 63 and fed up.  How do I get old firefox back - someone, anyone????

[johnnyboy08151986]

Im sticking with 3.6. If I wanted a Chrome impersonation, I would have just got the real deal. Shame on you for copying Chrome