686254 - Convert about box from a modal dialog to a normal window on Windows

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[:Margaret Leibovic]

As more information and functionality has been added to the about box, it really doesn't feel like it should be a modal dialog anymore. I know that this goes against the traditional about dialog UX on Windows, but I think the other non-traditional design decisions we've made on this Window might merit this change.

This would help fix bug 661120 and bug 665285. Also, for reference, we made this change for Linux in bug 608934.

Comment 1

[Justin Dolske [:Dolske]]

Maybe make it in-content, as part of the general trend to kill dialogs? </mixed-feelings>

Comment 2

[:Margaret Leibovic]

(In reply to Justin Dolske [:Dolske] from comment #1)
> Maybe make it in-content, as part of the general trend to kill dialogs?
> </mixed-feelings>

My initial reaction was that this is crazy talk, but Opera does it, so maybe it is something to consider? It would definitely fix all these annoying window focus issues.

However, I think Faaborg would be opposed, since he likes to have an about dialog that looks good in screenshots in tech articles :)

Comment 3

[Marco Bonardo [:mak]]

I seem to recall Mobile has it in-content already, so Dolske's idea has the advantage of being consistent across platforms.

Comment 4

[Alex Faaborg [:faaborg] (Firefox UX)]

we aren't killing dialogs for the sake of killing them, but trying to expose more of a UI surface to have a cleaner interface (add-ons manager), and also to leverage navigation controls for interfaces where users need to drill down (library window, preferences).  The about dialog doesn't share any of these properties, so there isn't really a win other than internal consistency to make a tab.

Comment 5

[Jennifer Morrow [:Boriss] (UX)]

I'm seconding Comment 4 and removing uiwanted.  The about box is one of the unusual places where the benefits of putting pages in content (more space, movable, more interactive, resizable) don't really apply like they do for the add-ons manager, library, preferences, etc

Comment 6

[u428464]

I don't find the explanation convincing. In fact the about box could provide more information as Opera does it right now. It's also interesting to note that Chrome is gonna do the same. In fact to have "about" open in one tab and to navigate on the other tabs could be nice.