Forum Discussion
Discussion - Updating our interface with Fluent touches
Thank you so much for all your feedback on the overall design of the new version of Edge, as it is invaluable to our getting the experience right. A common thread through this feedback has been a lot of discussion about the definition of “Fluent” design, and how it should apply to Microsoft products, so we wanted to share an update to provide some clarity. As opposed to a specific or static set of design rules, Fluent is intended to be an ever-evolving design system across Microsoft products. As the world around us continues to evolve, including devices, interaction models, user habits and expectations, the Microsoft design system must also evolve to meet the changing needs of our users. This means Fluent will not necessarily always represent everything that it did several years ago when the look and feel of the legacy version of Edge was first developed. You can learn more about the current direction of Fluent by visiting the Fluent Design System Page, which provides a summary of the design system as a whole, as well as how it applies to different platforms, applications and controls across Microsoft.
If you browse through the Fluent guidance at the link above, you’ll note that the new version of Edge is aligned with the current direction Fluent is going, and we will continue to evolve along with the design system and Microsoft as a whole. While Edge may be one of the first to put some of these new Fluent elements into practice, you will continue to see other products across the company update to reflect this direction as well. For example, you’ll notice that the latest Fluent designs are characterized by rounded corners across objects and controls, and the new version of Edge is consistent with that guidance. Another example is that there isn't a pivotal focus on transparency in the latest Fluent designs, and surfaces of the new version of Edge reflects this.
This is not to say we will never consider incorporating such aspects into our designs going forward, or perhaps offering options to customize the look and feel, but there are no plans to incorporate these elements into the default experience for all users at this time. However, there are other design investments on our roadmap to continue aligning with the broader Fluent direction, such as updating icons and illustrations across the product. Please continue to send your feedback on the overall Edge look and feel, including preferences and pain points, as we are always open to learning more and updating our direction based on the needs of our users.
- The Microsoft Edge Team
I agree. I would love to be able to set up Edge so that when Windows switches to tablet mode, Edge goes to fullscreen mode and I can bring down the tabs, address bar, etc. by swiping down from the top edge of the screen, and I would like the tabs to always be shown with previews in this mode. This would provide a very similar experience to Internet Explorer on Windows 8 which I think was great on tablets.
MarinM as I said earlier, it should fully support touch-based devices, there are people who don't like use Chrome in touch devices because of its small tabs is hard to navigate with fingers and I don't want same behavior for Microsoft Edge.
However, there should be flexibility to customize it , so people could chose to show large, small, medium tabs and select as they want.
Reza_Ameri-Archived, customization always sounds good -- lets everyone get what they want, right? But it never works out that way. If it's not well controlled, it leads to a messy, ugly, and confusing UI. Plus, it's a nightmare for developers to support (every option or customization must be tested at all different possible values).
An option for touch and one for mouse would be nice. But please don't provide excessive customization options that divert MS effort away from important features and that most users won't use or will be frustrated and confused by too many choices.
GraniteStateColin Let me clarify a bit more on my suggestion:
1) We really need two options : one is for touch and one for mouse and keyboard because we have both devices and ability to switch laptop to tablet and vice versa. Like tablet mode in Windows 10 which I mentioned earlier. Big icons are good for touch but not nice for desktop and small icons are hard to use in touch devices.
2) There is another argument that some people might want different size , it backs to UX and UI design. So Microsoft Edge team will read through feedback and do requirement engineering. If needed, they might add some additional customize options like (Small, Medium, Large) while if they won't see it very practical and it won't have much impact, then we could say only two options of Tablet and Desktop would be sufficient.
More options and customizations are always controlled and using engineering techniques and we never have customization without any logic.
Reza_Ameri-Archived I don't agree, I don't think this is about Desktop or Tablet.
This is about a normal mode and a compact mode, I really like the size of the icons and the current spaces that Edge has, It provides clarity, it is modern, even the settings menu should be the same as the windows settings.
Reza_Ameri-Archived yes and no 🙂
I agree there has to be an option for touchbased devices but when done properly it shouldn't offer options to customize. It will only lead to more things developers have to take into account.
I have edge on my iphone and ipad and it works perfectly. I don't feel the need to change something.
Iengelen wrote:Reza_Ameri-Archived yes and no 🙂
I agree there has to be an option for touchbased devices but when done properly it shouldn't offer options to customize. It will only lead to more things developers have to take into account.
I have edge on my iphone and ipad and it works perfectly. I don't feel the need to change something.
So true, more controls means more bugs and more things to take care of.
more UI code = more bug.
that's the same reason why Windows Server core (GUI-less) is much preferred and secure than Windows Server with GUI.
- I am talking about basic controls, if option is not touch friendly and people won't able to use Microsoft Edge to interact with touch , they just go for alternatives. While too big icons in not nice so we need more flexibility.
There should be balance between UI and UX and if developer could implement high quality code and maintain it, there is no limitation on adding options. Users need to feel comfortable with product they are using.
Your example of Windows Server is not always true. There is famous quote in cybersecurity which is "complexity is the enemy of security" and GUI actually helps IT Professionals to have better control over their cybersecurity. That is why using Microsoft ATP is more productive than using log files.
- Well, actually Microsoft Edge on mobile devices is different with Microsoft Edge desktop and in that case it must support touch because touch is the only way to interact with tablet and mobile like iPhone or iPad or even Android devices.
However, for Desktop version of Microsoft Edge , for example for Windows , the story is different, some people might not want big icons if their device doesn't support touch, consider Tablet mode in Windows 10 as example.
In addition, customization is advantage, so in general for desktop it should support touch and normal size because there are devices which work as Tablet and Desktop , but we might have another option to make it smaller (but this part is subjective and personally I don't like small icons but we need to check who like this feature).- Spoiler
Reza_Ameri-Archived wrote:
Well, actually Microsoft Edge on mobile devices is different with Microsoft Edge desktop and in that case it must support touch because touch is the only way to interact with tablet and mobile like iPhone or iPad or even Android devices.
However, for Desktop version of Microsoft Edge , for example for Windows , the story is different, some people might not want big icons if their device doesn't support touch, consider Tablet mode in Windows 10 as example.
In addition, customization is advantage, so in general for desktop it should support touch and normal size because there are devices which work as Tablet and Desktop , but we might have another option to make it smaller (but this part is subjective and personally I don't like small icons but we need to check who like this feature).Not really, I can connect a USB hub using OTA cable to my Android phone and connect my gaming mouse and keyboard to my phone, done that before, works perfect. USB C.
plus, with Samsung phones, new ones, offering Dex feature which creates a desktop experience on bigger screen with Windows 10, it makes more sense to use keyboard and mouse.
customization is definitely not an advantage. what is the best and an advantage is to make something, 1 thing, that is in the middle and is best for everyone.
scalability is however a different thing, I think Microsoft should include the address bar, top bar, ellipsis menu and related contents to the zoom level in here: edge://settings/appearance
so we will be able to scale down/up the whole UI, it won't break anything, just UI elements should be responsive.
websites UI are response now, so why shouldn't browser UIs be.
- The current UI is big and nice, bigger UI is also pleasant to work with on desktop. I hate Chrome's UI for it's too small. Chrome has a flag though that makes the UI big but not every part of it scales.
