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Re: [tor-bugs] #8641 [TorBrowserButton]: Create Browser UI indication for current circuit status and exit IP
#8641: Create Browser UI indication for current circuit status and exit IP
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Reporter: mikeperry | Owner: mikeperry
Type: enhancement | Status: needs_information
Priority: major | Milestone:
Component: TorBrowserButton | Version:
Resolution: | Keywords: tbb-usability
Actual Points: | Parent ID: #5752
Points: |
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Comment (by mcs):
Replying to [comment:4 arthuredelstein]:
> I'm thinking about how to implement this UI. I'm imagining a design that
consists of two components:
>
> (1) a small indicator that fits inside the URL bar with the exit
IP/country code and a small progress wheel indicating circuit status, and
That sounds OK, although it would be great to see a simple mockup. One
concern that Kathy Brade and I have is that the space within the URL bar
is very limited, at least vertically. But hopefully it is large enough to
show what we need to show. Also, will the circuit status indicator be
able to provide enough information to reduce users' complaints about
unpredictable browsing delays? Firefox has basically moved to a "loading"
/ "done loading" indicator without any indication of progress, so if the
real delay is in loading of web page content I am not sure how much
circuit status info will help people. Will the circuit progress
information include information about the progress of streams, e.g., a
connection to encrypted.google.com:443?
> (2) a pop-up overlay that shows more detailed information (a list of
circuit nodes, an indication of circuit status, exit country name), a "New
Identity" button, and any other relevant information.
>
> Interesting to hear what Mike and the TBB team think! Thanks.
A popup seems like a natural approach, but it has the disadvantage that it
must be dismissed before you can do anything else. If information needs
to be visible at all times, a sidebar (as suggested by lunar) or an
increase in the height of the toolbar area might be a better solution
(kind of like a custom toolbar). We should keep in mind that Mozilla
seems to be moving away from both sidebars and custom toolbars. For
example, the downloads arrow on the Firefox toolbar opens a popup, which
includes a button, which opens a persistent window that provides more
functionality.
A hybrid approach might be to have a popup with an option within it to
"pin" the info to keep it visible (either in a separate window, a sidebar,
or by expanding the toolbar area somehow).
Another consideration is how to best use the available screen space.
Today, most LCD displays are wide rather than tall so using a sidebar (and
not reducing the vertical space available for content) makes sense. On
the other hand, if we eventually want to show a map like Vidalia does, a
sidebar seems like a bad choice because it will probably be too narrow.
But I am not sure if people really need a map or just a list of
country/node info.
--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/8641#comment:11>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
The Tor Project: anonymity online
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