One of the main novelties of WWDC21 was the new Safari interface, both in macOS Monterey and in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. Apple showed us how to simplify the interface by merging tabs into the title bar and grouping them together to avoid the chaos of open tabs that many of us have. we usually meet up.
Apple had what I think is a good idea: to simplify the experience of using the system’s most used application (the browser) and organize it more. The idea of group tabs can be a great help for better concentration, if you get used to it; and the Safari window on Mac is cleaner and nicer. But beware: browsers have tried to change for many years, and very little has been achieved about it
Changes are welcome, but users need to adapt
The browser itself, on desktop systems, has always been recognized as a window with its address bar, tab bar, and optional bookmarks bar. This is the basic structure, the rest of the individual functionality of each browser is used at the user’s convenience.
The risk comes when one of these browsers has tried to change this scheme. Vertical tabs, which many browsers have tried to implement in different ways over the years, are a good example of this. Now, this is an option in several of them, but it is by no means the default view.
If we look at the past, we can also remember how Safari you already tried moving these tabs to the top of the window some time ago. Developer Steve Troughton-Smith refreshes our memories with this tweet:
I would be amazed if the new Safari tab UI was built into the final version of iPadOS or macOS. It’s no better at anything than the previous design, and it’s so much worse to use. It has all the same issues as the “tabs on top” design that they abandoned years ago and then some pic.twitter.com/ftyw6dJvuT
– Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) June 17, 2021
The Safari screenshot you see in the post is from the beta of the old version 4, which tried a new way of distributing the tabs in the top area. MacStories’ Federico Viticci adds an interesting fact following this tweet:
I remember the beta version of Safari 4. It was fun to watch back then.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: if there’s a flag to turn off the new design in Terminal, it’s very likely that thing won’t persist. https://t.co/kyFZ8MCjDq
– Federico Viticci (@viticci) June 17, 2021
“If there is a setting to disable the terminal interface, it is very likely that this interface will not follow us any longer
“.
It is not something that must necessarily be accomplished, but it can serve as a warning. Apple might have had a good idea to revamp Safari’s design like this, but depends on the reception and feedback provided by users whether this new conception is final or changes again.
We can talk about something very similar with the Safari interface on iOS: move the management of tabs from the upper zone to the lower zone of the iPhone screen is a very abrupt change. If users don’t get used to it, it’s possible to see how Apple is re-establishing this interface again.
Personally, I am very open to trying out these new interfaces. Safari is the main browser on my Mac, and I think this new lash layout can help me focus more. However, we must be aware that everyone is ready to accept this change. The browser is something we use a lot, and any changes will be risky.