615130 - back button history drop down menu only opens if pointer is held still

Status: NEW

(Core :: XUL, defect)

Description

[Micah Gersten]

This is from Firefox 4 Beta 7 from Ubuntu Natty (development release) content copied from Launchpad bug:

Current implementation (Firefox 4.0beta7)

  1. Move pointer to back button on navigation toolbar
  2. Click and hold without moving
  3. Move (still holding left-button)
  4. Release over chosen item

Previous, historical behaviour (in line with other menu implemtations):

  1. Move pointer to back button on navigation toolbar
  2. Click and hold (regardless of movement)
  3. Release over chosen item

The newer implementation slows the user down by preventing them anticipating the shortly-to-appear menu. The newer implementation is harder to accurately complete (especially on pen, or finger-based devices) where the pointer must not be allowed to move until the menu has appeared.

Ideally if the point click begins in the back button and then moves outside the bounds, the dropbox should appear immediately (the delay-timer should be short-circuited) since the only actions remaining are to select a menu item (release over dropdown) or cancel (release outside dropdown).