Google is currently experimenting with several radical changes to its Chrome user interface. It will have several new features including a compact user interface that hides the URL address input bar when pages are not being loaded. Google’s Jeff Chang in a post to the Chromium developer mailing list under the title major user interface efforts, describes four user interface variants for the Chromium OS project. The first is the “Classic Navigation” which is similar to the current Chrome user interface. However another UI layout being seriously considered is the compact navigation one which would be a big step forward from the current browser. Chromium, widely known as the open source version of the acclaimed Chrome browser and the Chromium OS, is the building block for the Chrome operating system. The UI variants are meant for the coming Chrome operating system. As of now the current Chrome browser has the URL address bar always visible with the navigation and menu tabs, but with the new compact and uncluttered design navigation buttons have been moved alongside the tabs and the address bar is configured so as to be only visible when the webpage is loading, an option to make it visible again is also available.
According to Google if they bring the address bar out of the tab it could be utilized as both a launcher and a switcher, the user would not have to worry about replacing their current active tab. The new user interface separates the search and address bars, they are currently joint in Chrome’s current Omnibox setting. With the new compact navigation the search box will still be used for direct navigation by visiting the page directly after entering the URL, and the UI will automatically hide the URL as soon as the page loads. Google’s current navigation option is more familiar with its basic navigation style and is akin to the Chromium browser window using UI in its maximized mode.
Google reiterated its commitment to remain focused on both the classic and compact UI. Google is also working on a new user interface exclusively for touchscreen phones and devices. Google says that for such devices screen size is a key limiting factor that has to be taken into consideration, so Google aims to provide larger tab and toolbar targets than those on the Chrome. This user interface takes up more screen space but is still ideal for portrait devices and has an auto hide button to enable full screen viewing.
Jeff Chang has maintained that Google stays true to its commitment and has already started work on making the necessary changes and getting the necessary widgets and add-ons available soon so as to enable profile selection to show on the browser window.
