Current Theme Issues

3.0 Windows Default Theme Issues: This is a good starting point that identifies problems and shortcomings with the current Theme/UI on Windows. Focus on Windows Vista and 7.

Visually Appealing Windows Applications

Visually Appealing Windows Applications: Some examples of Windows applications that are visually appealing and/or have good UI design.

Design

• Make use of Aero Glass on Windows 7 and Vista
• Move to tabs-on-top by default (option to move back underneath navigation bar and possibly left or right as well)
• Combine Reload/Stop/Go (Separate Stop and Reload buttons in Customization dialog)
• Move Reload/Stop/Go to the LocationBar
• Addition of thin progress bar (tied to LocationBar in active tab and top of tab for background tabs)
• Sort and Trim Menu Items
• Hide the MenuBar and create replacement AppMenu. ("Firefox" Button)
• Remove the bookmarks bar(if never user altered)
• Addition of a Bookmarks Widget on the main toolbar that replicates the Bookmarks Menu
• Move "Home" button to Home Tab
• 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

Mockups

• Firefox/4.0 Windows Theme Mockups

Proposed Theme/UI Direction and Feedback

Direction and Feedback: In depth exploration of proposed ideas for Firefox 3.7 and 4.0.