[tor-bugs] #8641 [TorBrowserButton]: Create Browser UI indication for current circuit status and exit IP

Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki blackhole at torproject.org
Mon Jul 21 18:31:08 UTC 2014


#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>
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