Firefox/Projects/New Theme

Overview

Sprint lead: shorlander
Sprinters: faaborg, limi, (martell)
Timeframe: 2 weeks (beginning 2009/07/13)

Description: Exploring a revamp of the Windows theme in evolutionary phases. Focus on modernizing and streamlining.

Current Theme Issues

• Dated Look & Feel: Windows Vista was released in November 2006 bringing with it Aero Glass, a move towards eliminating the Menu Bar and a smother, slicker look and feel. Mostly gone are the clownish/garish colors of XP Luna.

Goals

General

• Streamline UI Elements
• Reduce Visual Footprint
• Modernize Look and Feel
• Retain Visual Integration While Still Being Attractive

Design

New theme implementation should be accomplished in two phases.

Short-Term (Firefox 3.7):

Lightweight changes. Mostly style and texture. Some element shift/removal.

• Removal of MenuBar
• Move "Home" button to bookmarks bar
• Changes to the TabBar to make it more streamlined
• Shift towards more unified look across Windows variations(while still retaining platform look & feel "spirit")
  • Less "bright and colorful" icons
  • More tangible button appearance
  • Perhaps more glyphs
• General icon cleanup/polish

Long-Term (Firefox 4.0):

Major changes. New UI elements, removal and/or relocation of traditional elements.

• Make use of Aero Glass
• Combine Reload/Stop/Go
• Move Reload/Stop/Go to the LocationBar
• Remove StatusBar
• Combine Location and Search
• Addition of thin progress bar (tied to LocationBar)
• Move default tabs to top of window (above main toolbar)
• Remove the bookmarks bar(if never user altered)
• Addition of tab sidebar
• Even less system native styling
• Download notification overlay UI