1588724 - Provide an about:config preference to disable the expansion of the MegaBar on focus

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 1585912

(Firefox :: Address Bar, enhancement)

Description

[Michael Hoffmann]

Please make it possible to disable the expansion of the MegaBar. I understand that the product needs to change, and sometimes bigger changes are necessary which can break some people's workflow. So I normally don't mind even though I might need to adapt. But this single change, which also cannot see the rationale behind, has made it very annoying to use Firefox. It is distracting and steals my attention every time the address bar expands just because it is becoming focused.

It also obscures the tabs. When the MegaBar is focused, I cannot see what containers my tabs run in as their colored strips are completely hidden.

I don't doubt that you have done the necessary research with user feedback that this indeed is a valuable addition to most users. But as a power user, I think it would be reasonable to be able to disable a visual feature when it is as obtrusive as this one.

Thanks for making Firefox, you are awesome!

Comment 1

[Marco Bonardo [:mak]]

All the discussion happened and is happening in bug 1561531, your points have been already reported by other users and bugs have been filed for the various concerns, we are in the process of addressing feedback.
This bug report is not actionable as-is, because it doesn't report any new information or technical insight, I'll just dupe to bug 1561531 where this feedback has already been reported.

Comment 2

[Kestrel]

There is no bug filed for making the expansion optional which is by far the most controversial aspect of the new design. There is merit in being able to disable this expansion independently as it would allow users to enjoy the new design without this perceived shortcoming. Currently those that don't like the expansion covering the UI (which is unlikely to be completely avoided) will disable the Megabar and be stuck with the old legacy design before it is eventually deprecated. A pref to disable this one controversial aspect will provide a safe middle-ground fallback.

Comment 4

[Kestrel]

Bug 1585912 is about disabling the Megabar completely which is not what this bug is asking. This bug is about adding an about:config pref that disables the expansion of the new Megabar when it is focused to avoid obstructing the UI and thus providing a safe middle-ground for those that want the new design but without the controversial UI-obstructing parts.

Comment 5

[Dão Gottwald [:dao]]

Bug 1585912 complained about the wide padding around the address bar and hence wanted a way to disable this. It was effectively asking for the same thing.

Comment 6

[Michael Hoffmann]

Marco's comment gave me hope that my particular issue would be addressed as feedback. I don't want my personal preference of the appearance to sabotage for anyone else so I don't mind if the expanding bar is the default. I just wanted to continue to use Firefox without it getting annoying, that's why I suggested a setting for disabling it.

Now when Dão has set it to duplicate to a closed issue instead, with the comment "We're not going to do this", that hope went away. Would you mind telling me why this won't be considered at all? I thought it would be less intrusive to make it optional rather than suggesting to redesign the new design.

Comment 7

[Dão Gottwald [:dao]]

It's not the kind of thing we'd add a preference for. Instead please file bugs specifically on the aspects of the design that make Firefox annoying to use, so UX can evaluate those for the benefit of all Firefox users and not just those few who go out of their way to change a preference.

Comment 8

[Kestrel]

The preference can be used for testing purposes to see how the pre-release population responds to a megabar which does not expand on focus.

Comment 9

[Pascal Chevrel (relman team) -> :pascalc]

(In reply to Marco Bonardo [::mak] from comment #1)

All the discussion happened and is happening in bug 1561531, your points have been already reported by other users and bugs have been filed for the various concerns, we are in the process of addressing feedback.

Marco, I can't find a bug filed for the issue that the vertical expansion of the url breaks the contextual identies UX that this user mentions, will that be fixed in bug 1585958?

Comment 10

[Marco Bonardo [:mak]]

(In reply to Pascal Chevrel:pascalc from comment #9)

(In reply to Marco Bonardo [::mak] from comment #1)
Marco, I can't find a bug filed for the issue that the vertical expansion of the url breaks the contextual identies UX that this user mentions, will that be fixed in bug 1585958?

The meta bug 1585958 is also about covering tabs, I'll file a specific bug for that problem, so it can be handled and tracked better. Thanks for the heads up.

Comment 11

[Marco Bonardo [:mak]]

I filed Bug 1588780.