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Leaked Screenshot Shows a Cleaner, Simpler IE9

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Re: Leaked Screenshot Shows a Cleaner, Simpler IE9

#4
post #2

At least from the screenshots it looks neither cleaner nor simpler. Removing things is not the only point of simplicity.

Removing (or rather probably just moving to be in a menu somewhere) things is definitely not the only key to simplicity, but I think it does help in this case.

I think it does look quite a bit simpler to comprehend at least with respect to not slamming too much different stuff in the same sort of grouping.

When I start up IE 8 I get the tab bar which has, in this order: A favorites button with an icon and a label, the set of tabs, some toolbar icons buttons, some of which are menus, some are just actions, some menu labels, and finally another icon menu for help. The new shot looks like they moved most of that into 3 icons on the top right.

Unfortunately they moved the tabs next to the location bar, which means they will now be competing for space, but definitely trimming down and moving where all the menu options are is a plus in my eyes.

They also added the idea of greater emphasis on the back button which is certainly more frequently used, which is nice.

Re: Leaked Screenshot Shows a Cleaner, Simpler IE9

#5
post #2

At least from the screenshots it looks neither cleaner nor simpler. Removing things is not the only point of simplicity.

Removing (or rather probably just moving to be in a menu somewhere) things is definitely not the only key to simplicity, but I think it does help in this case. I think it does look quite a bit simpler to comprehend at least with respect to not slamming too much different stuff in the same sort of grouping. When I start up IE 8 I get the tab bar which has, in this order: A favorites button with an icon and a label, th…

The main problem I see is that they have made it simple by removing stuff but leaving no room complexity and still making the look of it complex.

For instance the browser background is semi-transparent which means that yes the page will probably stand out more in some respect but at the same time they have no canvas to work with to make additions, allow for third party stuff. It will have to sit on top of that transparent canvas which will end up making it more complex.

The reason to normally use white, black or gray is to have a neutral background that almost everything fit's nicely into. Now any icon or button have to compete with whatever happens to be behind the semi-transparent canvas.

In many way's from the looks of this they are already maxed out on design debt.

Of course that might be reading too much into it from this screen shot as I don't know what their plans are. But my immediate reaction is it won't scale very well.

Re: Leaked Screenshot Shows a Cleaner, Simpler IE9

#6
Its not cleaner or simpler, its exactly the same. Stupid people just stare at the pretty picture thats all.

You need 2 search boxes, links bar and tabs and a title bar and a status line. Everything else better take up no room.

There is no possibility of the interface changing, period. Ever.

Re: Leaked Screenshot Shows a Cleaner, Simpler IE9

#8
post #6

Its not cleaner or simpler, its exactly the same. Stupid people just stare at the pretty picture thats all. You need 2 search boxes, links bar and tabs and a title bar and a status line. Everything else better take up no room. There is no possibility of the interface changing, period. Ever.

1) It isn't exactly the same. The tab bar has been floated next to the URL bar, some of the icons have been shifted around, and overall, it seems to take up less space for the browser chrome to allow more space for the content.

2) Why do you need 2 search boxes?

3) Really? No possibility of the interface ever changing? I honestly figured Mozilla had it all figured out with Firefox 3.0 (or whichever version had the search box right next to the URL box,) until Chrome came along and had a multi-purpose URL box (that let you perform searches.) To make the statement that it will never, ever, ever change just seems brazen.

Re: Leaked Screenshot Shows a Cleaner, Simpler IE9

#9
post #3

Where's the yahoo toolbar? (I really think that it looks similar to Chrome). But really, I'm just hoping for good css3/html5 support.

Not an IE user, but I've been impressed with the work the IE team is doing for IE9. The quality of support previewed so far outshines WebKit or Gecko. WebKit and Gecko, I think, have greater support, but the quality of IE9's support is superior.
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