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Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

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Re: Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

#11
post #2

Okay - once I open a new tab, how do I type a url in? :) I know i can do this from the main tab (the speed dial, or whatever this is called) - only ctrl+enter shortcut doesn't work (while it's correctly handled by every browser I know of, but it's alpha). But I don't like having to return to the main screen every time I want to navigate to a new address...

Enter it into the edit field :P (I know it seems surprising)

Duh, you don't say ;) Where's the edit field exactly? Is it the "New Tab - Yandex" area?

Clicking on it does nothing, typing does nothing.

And I can't really spot any other candidates for the "edit field" role... Screenshot: http://i60.tinypic.com/34hjfd1.jpg

Re: Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

#12
post #4
post #2

Okay - once I open a new tab, how do I type a url in? :) I know i can do this from the main tab (the speed dial, or whatever this is called) - only ctrl+enter shortcut doesn't work (while it's correctly handled by every browser I know of, but it's alpha). But I don't like having to return to the main screen every time I want to navigate to a new address...

⌘-L or click on the title of the page in the top bar. I've got to say I really like this browser, well done!

I'm on Windows. Ctrl+L doesn't work, nor does clicking on the title of the page (I tried even that!)

Re: Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

#13
post #10
post #3

"reflect modern web user experience by emphasizing interaction and personalization" Am I the only one who used to be but is no longer the target audience of the web? I've been posting on forums and so on for years and years. Is that not interaction? You need a proper browser to use forums and browse the web properly. Removing or semi-hiding everything doesn't do that. How does hiding a URL make more "interaction and…

I think the beautiful thing is, that you can use whatever browser you want. Yandex' is just another option, that might not be right for you, but might fit the needs of several others.

[deleted]

Re: Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

#14
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The web is the new app apparently. Frankly i see design wankery invading computing left and right these days. Makes me feel like that old grump yelling about lawns...

Me three, I'm taking it as a sign that I am now over the hill. Isn't there a COBOL program on a mainframe I can be coding on somewhere?

[deleted]

Re: Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

#16
post #3

"reflect modern web user experience by emphasizing interaction and personalization" Am I the only one who used to be but is no longer the target audience of the web? I've been posting on forums and so on for years and years. Is that not interaction? You need a proper browser to use forums and browse the web properly. Removing or semi-hiding everything doesn't do that. How does hiding a URL make more "interaction and…

This sort of doublespeak seems not uncommon amongst browser vendors lately, and Yandex is no exception. They run a search engine just like Google, so they also want to encourage its use instead of URLs. The difficulty of entering a direct URL with this browser and deemphasising its presence is no doubt a deliberate decision in this direction, and meanwhile they divert attention away from this by emphasising all the non-functional eyecandy.

These are displayed on an animated backdrop, with very little other interface furniture to clutter up the look and feel of the page

By convincing users that anything other than what these companies want them to see/use is "clutter" and "distraction", and therefore unnecessary, they can achieve better control over them. As the saying goes, "out of sight, out of mind." It's both sad and a little amusing that they're basically saying implicitly "we removed all these things we thought you won't ever use... but you can have a pretty picture to look at."

The "modern web user experience" is all about taking control and freedom away from the users - giving it to "content providers" - and conditioning the users to like it and accept it complacently. I think it's the exact opposite of the ideals of the web.

Re: Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

#17
post #10
post #3

"reflect modern web user experience by emphasizing interaction and personalization" Am I the only one who used to be but is no longer the target audience of the web? I've been posting on forums and so on for years and years. Is that not interaction? You need a proper browser to use forums and browse the web properly. Removing or semi-hiding everything doesn't do that. How does hiding a URL make more "interaction and…

I think the beautiful thing is, that you can use whatever browser you want. Yandex' is just another option, that might not be right for you, but might fit the needs of several others.

Unfortunately all the major browsers appear to be headed in this direction, so it's only an illusion of choice.

Re: Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

#18
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Enter it into the edit field :P (I know it seems surprising)

Duh, you don't say ;) Where's the edit field exactly? Is it the "New Tab - Yandex" area? Clicking on it does nothing, typing does nothing. And I can't really spot any other candidates for the "edit field" role... Screenshot: http://i60.tinypic.com/34hjfd1.jpg

Looks broken, have you clicked around randomly? ;) I see some nice cloud animation and tiles and stuff...: http://de.tinypic.com/r/jzk3ys/8

Re: Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

#19
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Duh, you don't say ;) Where's the edit field exactly? Is it the "New Tab - Yandex" area? Clicking on it does nothing, typing does nothing. And I can't really spot any other candidates for the "edit field" role... Screenshot: http://i60.tinypic.com/34hjfd1.jpg

Looks broken, have you clicked around randomly? ;) I see some nice cloud animation and tiles and stuff...: http://de.tinypic.com/r/jzk3ys/8

Yes, I can also see the "speed dial" screen with eye-pleasing animations, and I can navigate to any given website FROM THAT SCREEN.

I can't do a thing from the blank new tab, though. So what's the point of it?

Re: Yandex Gives Its Browser a Minimalist Makeover

#20
post #3

"reflect modern web user experience by emphasizing interaction and personalization" Am I the only one who used to be but is no longer the target audience of the web? I've been posting on forums and so on for years and years. Is that not interaction? You need a proper browser to use forums and browse the web properly. Removing or semi-hiding everything doesn't do that. How does hiding a URL make more "interaction and…

This sort of doublespeak seems not uncommon amongst browser vendors lately, and Yandex is no exception. They run a search engine just like Google, so they also want to encourage its use instead of URLs. The difficulty of entering a direct URL with this browser and deemphasising its presence is no doubt a deliberate decision in this direction, and meanwhile they divert attention away from this by emphasising all the n…

[deleted]
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