Bug 55560 - wish that konquerors tabs indicated if a page was still loading, or was done
Summary: wish that konquerors tabs indicated if a page was still loading, or was done
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Alias: None
Product: konqueror
Classification: Applications
Component: general (show other bugs)
Version: unspecified
Platform: Debian testing Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Konqueror Developers
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2003-03-05 14:42 UTC by jon
Modified: 2003-08-11 16:35 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

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Description jon 2003-03-05 14:42:33 UTC
Version:            (using KDE KDE 3.1)
Installed from:    Debian stable Packages
OS:          Linux

It would be nice if konqueror provided some indication of what your background tabs were doing.  IE: have a busy/loading icon where the site icon is.  This behaviour is present in mozilla, and it's very useful.  I'd really like to see it in konqueror, since it's a pain to switch back and forth between tabs to see if a page is done loading.
Comment 1 Stephan Binner 2003-05-29 22:48:02 UTC
Implemented in HEAD for KDE 3.2. 
Comment 2 mark 2003-06-02 20:36:06 UTC
I've tried this out from CVS. I see red text in the tab name for loading pages, and blue for pages 
with errors (I think that's correct). 

While I agree that providing this information in the tab is a Feature, I find the implementation that 
Safari uses to be more intuitive and attractive. They use a spinning wheel icon in the tab to 
indicate loading. Since I'm used to same icon to mean "busy...please wait" in other parts of the Mac 
interface, it was obvious to figure out here.

My first impression of the Red text was something like "That's strange, the text is red, maybe it's a 
bug". Later I realized it was a "feature".  I can't think of any other precedents where colored text is 
used to mean "busy".

I also found that the red text would distract my attention when I was trying to focus on the page, 
while, Safari's gray wheel blends with the toolbar, so it's noticeable if I'm looking for it, but less 
distracting. Perhaps a simplified version of the "animated logo" gear would work well here? 
Comment 3 Stephan Binner 2003-06-02 20:58:21 UTC
Update again, the colors changed and now take entries from your color scheme 
(inactive title and unvisited link). And blue for error!? No, unread state. :-) 
 
In my opinion something animated attracting your attention to say that there is 
NOTHING to see yet is a strange concept. Shouldn't it spin if there something 
to see? 
Comment 4 mark 2003-06-13 18:02:44 UTC
Ah, that's what the blue color is for. My sense is that if as an "advanced user", I can't 
guess what blue means, others may be confused as well. I had it had something to 
"error" or "success", or had a direct relationship with the color Red. I was thinking "If 
Red means "loading"... then Blue probably means... ???". 
 
Regarding using a spinning icon indicate a tab loading. Consider these data points:  
  - Konqueror's own animated icon spins when pages are loading and stops when it's 
     done. This is a standard browser metaphor. 
  - Mozilla firebird uses a spinning icon to indicate a tab is loading 
  - Safari uses a spinning icon to indicate a tab is loading. 
 
This metaphor is also more generally in X windows, the Mac and elsewhere-- the 
mouse is replaced or augmented by a spinning wheel to mean "busy...please wait". 
 
So, I think this is the most intuitive way for Konqueror to handle tab loading indication 
as well. Perhaps the usability list has input?  
 
Thanks, 
   Mark 
Comment 5 Krishna Sethuraman 2003-08-01 07:46:39 UTC
Are traffic lights the same color everywhere?  Then perhaps yellow for 'wait,
still loading', and red for 'error' (that's more 'Star Trek', though) would be
appropriate.

In any case, I agree that 'red' and 'blue' are perhaps not the best choices
(especially for the color-blind, unless they're themeable).  I personally prefer
an indicator with motion (I use Safari), but only if it won't slow things down.
I'd choose this over the close button on the tab feature (bug 46726) if I could
pick just one.  But I'll defer to people who understand usability on this.
Comment 6 Jens 2003-08-11 16:35:30 UTC
Hello, 
 
I'd like to make an additional request: I keep missing the opening of new tabs when I click on a "a 
target=foo href=..." link. This has resulted in me ordering 8 pizzas instead of one :-) because I 
didn't notice the new tab (which was supposed to be a new windows) on the ordering site, 
confirming my order. (Luckily, I phoned the service because I didn't see a confirmation window and 
was able to cancel <g>) 
 
I would like tabs, that get opened _without_ explicit user request (ie. "open in new tab") to flash 
once. Maybe invert the tab background color for a second. So that there can be no mistake the user 
notices that a new tab has been created. 
 
I know that I can switch off "open new windows instead of new tabs" but I like this feature 90% of 
the time and I'd like to keep it, and still have the additional feedback of unsoliticed tabs being 
opened. 
 
 
Thank you!