Google to “Experiment” with Window Controls

Google continues to both refine and experiment with the interface… layout, controls, icons and etc… used in their flagship Chrome browser.  With a new version of this popular browser hitting the market every 6 weeks or so, it can get somewhat confusing when the interface seemingly changes without notice as these upgrades are put into place.  Some of these changes are more worthwhile than others, with some definitely falling into the category of simply “bit twiddling” for change sake… not something I generally support or appreciate.

Those of us that are a bit more adventurous can (and do) periodically install the “beta” or “development” versions of Chrome so that we can gain some experience… and, at times, intense frustration… with these feature changes as they work their way through the Chrome development process.   One of those changes that *could* come down the pike in the the next development or “unstable” version from the Chromies is a change in the window controls shown… normally visible as minimize, maximize and close… although those might vary with the window management settings for the OS you are using. The *proposed* change in this new Chrome version will be to change how these windows controls are displayed by the Chrome application… becoming a clickable menu instead of always-on and visible as they are “normally”, with some possibly disappearing completely.

I can honestly say that I neither like nor am I in favor of this particular change.  The change seems to be targeted, as so many are these days, toward the tablet/phone environment.  While it might be welcome for the mobile version of Chrome… and, I admit, I might like the proposed change there… it just makes for confusion and extra clicks on their traditional desktop version of Chrome.  The dev/unstable track of Chrome will be moving to v28 very soon and we’ll just have wait and see what they actually release as a part of that!

You can read more and see examples of the possible interface changes at… http://www.omgchrome.com/chrome-os-remove-x-window-control/