Fav4.org Is a Dead Simple but Very Attractive Start Page
fav4.org
fav4.org
4 links at the big 128 x 128 size. The sites you check every session.
8 links at 64 x 64. The ones you use pretty frequently.
16 links at 32 x 32.
And heck, maybe 32 at 16x16.
I would use that.
Not to imply that's degrading it, lots of people have trouble handling the bookmarks menu, and this is much more graphically memorable / understandable, so it's likely they could get it more easily. The buttons are also bigger, which (though I'm HUGELY against large browser chrome) can be useful.
First, simplicity. I think websites as a whole suffer from information overload and the simpler something is the easier it is to use, which makes it accessible to everyone.
Second, the design. Its great, why not have favourites as icons? Every website now has a logo which marks their brand, we've become accustomed to viewing them everywhere so its easy enough to look at it and know exactly what it is. Its brilliant, visual and the kind of steps others should be taking in terms of UX.
Third, its on the web. Safari, firefox and chrome start pages are in your local browser, but we dont all use the same machine everyday do we? I switch between 2 or 3 as I'm at work, then at home or at a friends.
My only thought would be, I want to see more than 4 icons without ruining the visual. If you can achieve that then I'm sold.
Other than looking cool, if you timed yourself, I bet it's much faster to just type it.
(on my mac):
Cmd + L
type "gm" (gmail.com is now highlighted in the dropdown because it's one of the 4 most frequent websites I visit and FF is smart enough to know I probably want it)
Enter
Total time: Less than it takes for fav4.org to load.
That said, a solution is nice.
UPDATE: Hm, now I think I could set my homepage to this, but leave start page as blank. This way I won't be distracted the moment I start the browser, yet be able to reach this launchpad with a press of "Home" button whenever I want to.
Ever since I started using Safari's "Top Sites" (procedurally generated Opera Speed Dial), I've noticed a developing feedback loop in which I visit the listed sites significantly more often than the non-listed ones. It's subtle, but it's enough for me to reconsider my use of the feature.
I have Gmail as the left-most item in my bar and access it by pressing Cmd+1.
Except that it uses cookies. So, no.
I closed the tab, but decided it wouldn't have been on HN if it was just 4 links. At that point I returned to the site and saw the "Settings" button in the bottom corner.
A landing page that hides the purpose of a webpage will cost you users in the long run
First result for "firefox speed dial".
I just wish it had tabs and easy/multiple delete (I hacked together a javascript bookmarklet to work around the multiple-clicks-to-delete-a-single-link issue)
It's as simple and attractive, but I can add more links and very basically organize them.
On a site such as "hacker news", where the majority of users would be fast-typing power users, I think we would prefer to stick to our blank homepage and type what we need in the address bar.
Personally, I use the bookmarks toolbar in forefox / ie for my top 4 links.
Hmm, actually a social version of this might be very interesting. Based on your fav sites, other popular fav sites will be recommended to you.
Because they're harvesting the data and want to ensure that even less popular pages get some ranking data?
Couldn't quickly think of any other reasons.