1129288 - UX for reading-list account signin/signup

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Firefox Graveyard :: Reading List, defect, P1)

Description

[Mark Hammond [:markh] [:mhammond]]

The current thinking about reading list has us using a Firefox account and about:accounts for the flow.  There are currently parts of the about:accounts flow which make assumptions that it is used only for Sync which will no longer be true.  In particular:

* Will the sync preferences pane still be used to configure both sync and reading list?  If so, do we need some UI that determines if the user is opting in to just RL, just Sync, or both?

* the accounts.firefox.com pages used by about:accounts has the string "Sync" in various places - we probably need to make this agnostic.

* What to do for legacy sync users?  Maybe just forcing them to migrate to FxA would be enough, but this still needs specification.

* When FxA is in a "needs reauth" state, we need to ensure the notifications and UI aren't Sync specific.

Probably lots I haven't considered, and some of the above may not be relevant if we really do try and make it look like this is part of Sync rather than a new feature - but I think we need some clarity here.

Comment 1

[Chris Karlof [:ckarlof]]

All good thoughts, Mark, and as you point out, there are likely more.

Who is on point for the RL UX on the Desktop UX team? I propose the Desktop UX person leading this take a crack at these issues, and Ryan and I will be available to consult and provide feedback.

Comment 2

[Mark Hammond [:markh] [:mhammond]]

We had a bit of a chat around this and I think we agreed:

* The "Sync" preferences pane will be re-purposed to meet the requirements of *both* Sync and RL, but that probably won't mean much will change as conceptually we are presenting this as part of Sync.

* When nothing is configured, you will still be offered to create a Firefox Account as normal.  In the default flows (ie, user doesn't specify what to sync) both Sync and RL will be setup.

* When things are configured, RL will appear as another regular Sync engine.  Similarly, if the user does opt-in to choosing what to Sync, RL will appear in that dialog too.  "Unlink/Forget" will disable both services.

* about:accounts probably doesn't need to change much, if at all - anywhere that refers to "Sync" is probably fine as Firefox itself will be making it appear as if it is part of Sync.

* We may have a legal or social requirement to delete things from the server when they opt our or delete an account, but we aren't going to be considering that as part of this bug.  mfinkle (IIRC) was going to drive this.

[I'm making the following ones up!]

* If a legacy account is in use, we simply don't offer reading list at all, but can consider some UI to encourage them to upgrade to a FxA and use the existing "migrate" capabilities using the same semantics as above (ie, if they opt to choose engines, RL appears, but otherwise defaults to enabled).

* We didn't discuss what to do for existing FxA sync users, but I guess we just automatically opt them in and they can then opt-out as normal.

* An explicit "Sync now" will probably force both Sync and RL to sync.  This probably means the animated "Sync" button will need to be smart enough to keep spinning until both have completed.

Comment 3

[Bryan Clark (DevTools PM) [:clarkbw]]

Adding Markus and Michael to this to help weigh in.

Comment 4

[Markus Jaritz [:designakt] (UX)]

Making RL appear as part of Sync and activate it for all users that currently use Sync is a good solution to subtly integrate it into Firefox. As mentioned this will result in only one more entry in the about:accounts (http://invis.io/HB25XSTEK)

If someone does not use Sync, or has a legacy account, we can still use RL, but not Sync it. Instead we can advertise Sync in various places with an extension to doorhangers (http://invis.io/7A25XV2XY) and a placement in the RL sidebar (http://invis.io/JE25XVLX6)
If one already uses Sync and we opt them in automatically we can inform the in the same manner (http://invis.io/QP25XVYEG).

Comment 5

[Blair McBride [:Unfocused] (UNAVAILABLE)]

Sorting out strings... Mark/Markus, can you confirm the only string we'll need for this is "Reading List", for the one checkbox in the Sync pane of preferences?

Comment 6

[Markus Jaritz [:designakt] (UX)]

Hello Blair,
yes, this is the only string. It's exact wording however depends on Matej deciding on this bug: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1129537

Comment 7

[Mark Hammond [:markh] [:mhammond]]

That's my understanding too.

Comment 8

[Bryan Clark (DevTools PM) [:clarkbw]]

"Reading List" is good to use.

bug 1129537 is only currently undecided about "Reader View" or "Reading View" which won't effect this.

Comment 9

[Bryan Clark (DevTools PM) [:clarkbw]]

bug 1129537 is resolved.  "Reader View" and "Reading List" are our two terms.

Comment 10

[Blair McBride [:Unfocused] (UNAVAILABLE)]

Mass change of ReadingList bugs, moving to their own component. Filter bugspam on the following quote:

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
― Joseph Addison

Comment 11

[Markus Jaritz [:designakt] (UX)]

Reading List will appear as being part of sync and thus be only one additional option in sync-settings as shown here: http://invis.io/HB25XSTEK

If one already uses Sync and we opt them in to syncing Reading List automatically.

We are advertising sync in our Reading List tour: Bug 1129536 to tell people to get sync, or if the already have it, we will tell that that Reading List is synced.