Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser
ashraful.org
ashraful.org
Browsr is more than just a password manager and a homepage. Lots of modifications are needed under the hood. Particularly installing native apps and storing all data on the user's end.
Read here: http://ashraful.org/browser-features/
Browsr's aliases are entirely separate identities. You can use fake names, addresses etc and provide these data to web services if you choose.
For example, for websites integrate "Browsr Connect", users can visit them for the first time and can be automatically sign-in without ever needing to register. The web service can automatically request information (like name, address, gender etc.) and Browsr provides these based on the alias selected by the user.
So Chrome profiles are basically for multiple users using the same browser, but Browsr is for the same user using multiple identities on the internet.
about:flags --> enable Compact Navigation
*edit: this was introduced in chrome v10 so is available on all channels, on windows at least.
My concern would be security related issues (e.g. Phishing), HTTP vs HTTPS etc.
Actually, the new Opera is hiding the full URL in the address bar, and a lot of users complained (http://my.opera.com/Tamil/blog/show-full-url-in-the-opera-ad...)
Phishing is a more serious concern, and its something I'm thinking hard about. Black-lists might be part of the solution. Another solution might be be displaying the URL bar only when the website has form fields for usernames, passwords, or payment info, but it might be easy to trick the browser.
I might end up adding a separate URL bar if I can't find a feasible solution
Careful, careful. Most browsers have gotten rid of the lock icon for SSL-enabled sites because it simply isn't accurate.
I would like to browse the internet with only a touch screen; maybe integrate the zoom-in touchpad movement with link previews. Anyone?
I see only one advantage:
* less screenspace used
But some drawbacks:
* The primary way of navigation is not seeable on start of the thought to go somewhere else anymore (note: maybe not the most common way to go somewhere, given the bookmarks on the startpage and people using only google, but still the primary way when you want to go anywhere now and you understand urls)
* Relying on people understanding tabs
* Introduction of a hidden feature and usage of an already used interaction (double-click on tab)
It seems you want to enforce the opening of a tab when you go somewhere, especially since you have no dedicated and always seeable search-field. And your answer to the comment above implies you maybe want to think about a different navigation concept. Which all is fine in some part, opening tabs when going somewhere fits to my usage-pattern.
But i think that this development (as other browser-vendors try to hide the url too) is aimed at a specific class of users (google-only-users + bookmark-only-users + power-users reconfiguring their browser like they want), letting many other (e.g. all struggling users who just discovered the url) behind.
Don't be so critical about crazy ideas; people who invent are only successful if they think outside the box and don't carry much concern for the constraints that currently exist in present day systems (like phising, url structures.... forget about that)
Similarly: I'm hoping that you're also someone who's annoyed when Windows hides extensions. Yes, you can figure out how to restore extensions so you always have the extra piece of information--- but can your mother? Can your nephew? These computer users are learning less about files has "conveniences" them with simpler filenames.
http://ashraful.org/browser-features/
While I realize that my entire vision depends on third parties like Facebook and Google giving up their control of the data, I think its inevitable. As open services become better and better, users will move away from closed systems.
Additionally, I think it would be best to focus on these issues rather then any UX or UI changes. What you've presented isn't game changing enough and, as you can see below, most people are indifferent to it.
All of that said, I am certainly interested in being a part of this project. I'll contact you for more information.
In particular, you can install these native apps and no longer need to download the UI again and again, instead just get the updated data. And access the past data even when you're offline.
I have considered it but its too complex to implement for me. And it might be too big a leap for most users.
Maybe once Windows 8 is launched...
The single sign-in in Browsr does not require any email address. You simply need a username and a password. And while third-parties can implement Browsr for a seamless sign in experience, they don't HAVE to. Users can save username/passwords for each of their services and Browsr logs them in automatically, making it useful from the get go.
Would you expand more on what you're planning for local apps?
One trend I see now is the reproduction of GUI toolkits in javascript. I feel like the better way would be to properly sandbox python (or whatever) and leverage the toolkits already available. Do you plan on enabling anything like that?
Nowadays almost any website you use has a lot of information about you. Google knows your search history, Microsoft has your emails, Facebook has your social graph and photos, Last.FM has your music history, Foursquare has your check-ins. And even though you are the owner, you cannot take your data with you.
You should be able to take your search history from Google with you, so you can use Bing and still get relevant results. You should be able to take your photos with you from Facebook to Google Plus so you can share it with your friends. You should be able to take your emails from Hotmail to Gmail so you can search through it more easily. And most importantly you should have the right to deny access to your data to any web service.
Browsr tries to provide you with complete control over your data by storing all our information locally. Instead of storing your information on some server that you don’t have access to, all of it is stored on your PC. And you can do whatever you want with it: back it up, put it on Dropbox, or provide access to any web service you choose. Having control over your data means you can quickly get started with new web services you want to use, with all your past data right there with you.
On top of that, Browsr also lets you keep your social connections with you by using the identity manager. Your entire social graph stays with you regardless of what social network you are using.
Browsr doesn't do that, although native web apps provide a similar convenience.
Browsr main objective is to make the browsers that default place to keep user data. Instead of you social connections being on Facebook's server or Google's server, it should be on your PC. Users can let other services access this info (or even store it) but they don't get tied in to these services.
This. You describe browsr as being "like an operating system" in the post, but I think what you've said here is way closer to what you are demonstrating.
Also, I like this concept.
That said, it's not "wrong" at all because English has a long history of using the word "they" for a generic pronoun. It's basically a different word from the "they" in "they are my friends", just written and pronounced the same.