Falkon UI for touch and handheld devices

[Genghis Khan]

On Mon, 5 Dec 2022 16:38:36 +0200
Genghis Khan <genghiskhan at gmx.ca> wrote:

> Juraj, hello
>
> It's good to read from you. Please see message below.
>
> On Wed, 30 Nov 2022 22:33:06 +0100
> Juraj Oravec <jurajoravec at mailo.com> wrote:
>
> > > postmarketOS is a Linux operating system that is intended for
> > > handheld devices such as PDA, Pocket PC, Smartphone, Tablet; it is
> > > also available for Laptop, PC, and TV.
> >
> > I use PostmarketOS on the PinePhone and it is a fun ride, which
> > means I have a device for testing if needed.
> >
> >
> > Personal note: At minimum, I am willing to program it if there is a
> > design and functionality properly described (I already struggle with
> > one feature and I lack the interest in these touch devices).
> > Otherwise if noone else steps up, do not expect miracles.
> >
>
> I'm looking into Falkon, again.
> I'm testing on postmarketOS (Phosh).
>
> Please note that it was difficult for me to see the following because
> I've 30 active tabs and in past I've even reached to 3K and I'm
> obssesed with databases, that is to say I'm not used to windowed
> browsing.
>
> It appears that there's not much to change, because the main UI of
> Falkon already has most of what is needed for smaller displays.
>
> Below is my observation and design review:
>
> TOOLBAR
> -------
> Falkon should have all toolbars hidden by default except Navigation
> Toolbar.
>
> Search Bar (a part of the Address Bar) should be disabled.
> This can be done now by collapsing the Address Bar to the Search Bar,
> but it really should be completely disabled as the display might be
> too narrow.
>
> TABS
> ----
> Tabs should be disabled by default in favor of (New) Windows.
>
> SUGGESTIONS
> -----------
> For the time being, suggestions should be disabled so it won't
> interrupt user typing on virtual keyboard, unless theses's a way to
> program the suggestions in a different way that would not interrupt
> typing.
>
> TOOLS BUTTON
> ------------
> Button "Tools Button" should be hidden by default and dialog
> "Configure Toolbar" should be available inside Preferences ->
> Appearance.
>
> ICON
> ----
> Falkon should change its icon to favicon, if available, for each
> active tab.  This is the begaviour of the default web browser of
> LineageOS and it seems useful.
>
> SETTINGS
> --------
> Preferences and other dialogs should be stretched, that is occupy
> Falkon main window.
> Preferences and other dialogs should also be adapted to smaller
> displays.
>
> STATUS BAR
> ----------
> This issue is also relevant to Sway Window Manager for Wayland.
> Menus of status bar are opened to the buttom which makes them unusable
> when Falkon is maximized (streched).
>
> MENU
> ----
> Context menu might need some changes, but I think it's best to leave
> it after users provide feedbacks for Handheld Mode, perhaps under
> "Appearance" or "Configure Toolbar".
>
> FINAL NOTE
> ----------
> I think we need to add a Handheld Mode to Preferences -> Appearance,
> and when this mode is made available, Falkon is perfect for handheld
> devices.
>
> Juraj, please do let me know how can I help.
>
>  Kind regards,
>  --GK~


Further notes:

> TABS
> ----
> Tabs should be disabled by default in favor of (New) Windows.

No.

I stand corrected.

TABS
----
I think that a convergenced Vertical Tabs sidebar can be enabled by
default, which I think is a very good solution and will allow users to
handle sessions of multiple tabs.  It seems that such solution isn't
offered by any web browser yet.

MENU
----
Menus should not contain sub-menus, so essential menu items should be
placed on the main menu (e.g. sessions, history and bookmarks sub-menus
to be removed and page sourc, full screen, zoom in/out to be moved to
the main menu).

ENCODING
--------
Character Encoding sub-menu should be available in a form of a dialog
when each change will be "Previewd" upon click.

FULL SCREEN
-----------
Navigation Toolbar shoud be always visible, because F11 key isn't
available on all th keyboards and when it is, it requires several
clicks to reach to.

Kind regards,
 --GK~