New Tabs Style

[admin]

Working on the tabs now. I mentioned before that I like the firefox tabs, so I stole them for a mockup. However, there are 5 pixels higher than XY's (29 vs 24) -- too much for me. I could shrink them to 25 and it still looks great I think, and is worth the 1 pixel loss vertically.

Before: (with my own custom darkening of background tabs)


After:

[ugus]

Looks very nice

[jacky]

Working on the tabs now. I mentioned before that I like the firefox tabs, so I stole them for a mockup. However, there are 5 pixels higher than XY's (29 vs 24) -- too much for me. I could shrink them to 25 and it still looks great I think, and is worth the 1 pixel loss vertically.

I know I'm a PITA, but I'm a sucker for my pixels and I'm not sure I like the idea of loosing some again.

I liked having my List & Tree "perfectly aligned", both at 16 pixels a row. But now, even though that 16px a row is still true, they're not perfectly aligned as the List header grew by one pixel.

And now I'm about to loose on more pixel (ok, on both -- so that's less space on both of them!) ; or is that two for List when I'll have my Panel shown (as I suspect it will too use this new design, so need to grow one pixel more as well, right?)

Besides, your mockup use the tabs alone, but what does it mean when they're on the same row as AB/Toolbar ? Are those gonna grow as well?

Also, I'm not a fan of the first dark line you have on tabs rows, can't you just remove it:


Sure, it changes a but the 3D effect a bit (for inactive tabs mostly), but it doesn't look bad IMO. And for the active one, I like it better.

That said, those tabs look nice yeah We'll still be able to tweak the colors, right?

[admin]

Besides, your mockup use the tabs alone, but what does it mean when they're on the same row as AB/Toolbar ? Are those gonna grow as well?

Quick answer for now since I have to leave: if you are a sucker for consistency you should know this: AB/Toolbar are already 25 pixels high currently! So the new tabs would increase consistency !

[jacky]

if you are a sucker for consistency you should know this: AB/Toolbar are already 25 pixels high currently! So the new tabs would increase consistency !

Well, not necessarily a sucker for consistency, but sometimes yeah. Either way, I do not use AB myself so that's irrelevant to me

[j_c_hallgren]

Those new FF style tabs look pretty nice...BUT...I don't see the customary XY gold/orange stripe! I've come to depend on that to help spot my active tab...yes, I've got the tab color a different shade, and like the scheme I've got...so...now what?

Addendum: I tilted my screen backwards and now better see that slight difference in tab color that was mentioned...Doesn't work here for me and makes tab look like it has a jagged line in middle of it...I'd prefer solid color.

[Fedorov]

I'm finding the orange stripe blends in with the toolbar background too much and needs to be green or something more contrasting and obvious.

Btw, since purchasing I'm forcing myself to use it instead of Total Commander

[admin]

I'm finding the orange stripe blends in with the toolbar background too much and needs to be green or something more contrasting and obvious.

Aha, you have a problem with the current style. Does this mean you like the new tab style? (which was the question )

Btw, since purchasing I'm forcing myself to use it instead of Total Commander

Good!

[admin]

Working on the tabs now. I mentioned before that I like the firefox tabs, so I stole them for a mockup. However, there are 5 pixels higher than XY's (29 vs 24) -- too much for me. I could shrink them to 25 and it still looks great I think, and is worth the 1 pixel loss vertically.

I know I'm a PITA, but I'm a sucker for my pixels and I'm not sure I like the idea of loosing some again.

I liked having my List & Tree "perfectly aligned", both at 16 pixels a row. But now, even though that 16px a row is still true, they're not perfectly aligned as the List header grew by one pixel.

And now I'm about to loose on more pixel (ok, on both -- so that's less space on both of them!) ; or is that two for List when I'll have my Panel shown (as I suspect it will too use this new design, so need to grow one pixel more as well, right?)

Besides, your mockup use the tabs alone, but what does it mean when they're on the same row as AB/Toolbar ? Are those gonna grow as well?

Also, I'm not a fan of the first dark line you have on tabs rows, can't you just remove it:


Sure, it changes a but the 3D effect a bit (for inactive tabs mostly), but it doesn't look bad IMO. And for the active one, I like it better.

That said, those tabs look nice yeah We'll still be able to tweak the colors, right?

That looks spanky!

Colors? Depends... I'm still in the mockup phase. The next question will be: How in the world can I realize it? There are two ways to go: draw it (vector) or blit it (pixel) (or both combined). I'm still experimenting. If I'm in a very good mood and the rain keeps on raining I might even create some totally bloaty tab header designer studio just for fun, and to prove: there's sugar even in Zen.

[admin]

Those new FF style tabs look pretty nice...BUT...I don't see the customary XY gold/orange stripe! I've come to depend on that to help spot my active tab...yes, I've got the tab color a different shade, and like the scheme I've got...so...now what?

Addendum: I tilted my screen backwards and now better see that slight difference in tab color that was mentioned...Doesn't work here for me and makes tab look like it has a jagged line in middle of it...I'd prefer solid color.

Did you ever try Firefox? Half the world loves it and it uses those tabs: gradient colors, no orange stripe. It can't be that bad...

[mwb1100]

I think your new tab mockups are a very nice improvement.

[jacky]

Btw, since purchasing I'm forcing myself to use it instead of Total Commander

Give it a few days, and you won't be forcing yourself no more.. you'll be addicted to XY

Did you ever try Firefox? Half the world loves it and it uses those tabs: gradient colors, no orange stripe. It can't be that bad...

Bah, it can, cause I think half the world is wrong actually I mean for starter, 29 pixels is way too much!

Look, here's a better example & better browser (Maxthon, of course)

On top is the default style (M1.5default), with an orange up line as well, also it turns orange when tabs are hovered too.
It's nice and a little soft 3D style and all, and the orange bar helps to notice the active one quick.

I wouldn't use it tough, at least I'd need to change some colors. Still I changed some more up to the second style myself, sure it might be "simpler" and flat, but it is much easier and quick to notice which tab is active without having to process 3D effects and such. (No orange line but hovered tab get a lighter background to be easy noticed too)

All this to say, ok 3D effects might do nice screenshots, and those new tabs do look good, but I will ask for color tweaking, because I like to have my active tab to stand out, really.

AFAIC you can remove the orange bar, you can even get 3D effects (if they don't require for more pixels of course ) but color tweaking is still a must.

Sure, on the mockup you can tell which is active & which is not, of course, but to me it feels like I need to process more data (3D effects, as colors are only "slightly" different), and my brain & I are lazy thus it takes more time.

[j_c_hallgren]

Did you ever try Firefox? Half the world loves it and it uses those tabs: gradient colors, no orange stripe. It can't be that bad...

I use FF on rare occasions...but find it hard to spot the active tab in it...and don't see any gradient on my FF either...

So while I like the overall new effect look, I'd really appreciate having that orange stripe to make it really standout from others...

[R3d2Dawn]

I too like the new mockup on the tabs, however do they need to expand on top of the tree list?

Could they just align over the folder view similar to this?


This image is from UltraExplorer

[j_c_hallgren]

I too like the new mockup on the tabs, however do they need to expand on top of the tree list?
Could they just align over the folder view similar to this?

As a user selectable option, I'd vote for it...as standard only, I'd not...as with numerous tabs open, the horizontal space is needed sometimes, but in many other cases, I'd rather have the vertical space for the tree and/or catalog.