# What features do browsers lack? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 11, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710 "2009-09-11T18:22:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KellyCriterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@KellyCriterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyCriterion)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/21 "2009-09-15T10:34:04Z")
It would be good if the Firefox **Bookmarks** menu scrolled only the Bookmarks, not all the other menu options as well. It would be like scrolling down a webpage, and having the URL bar disappear off the top of the screen, then all the tabs disappearing… etc. ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/22 "2009-09-15T11:38:50Z")
I’d like to see mouse gestures built into browsers other than Opera. It’s a great little feature, but I don’t like having to install extra add-ons to Firefox. In fact, I’d like to see mouse gestures built into many applications, not just browsers. Including Windows Explorer, as I frequently find myself trying to use them to navigate through folders, only to be annoyed that I can’t. I hate having to click directly on little buttons. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/23 "2009-09-15T13:20:11Z")
> [@Brainiac](#): > > One feature Firefox\* had\*, and then just took away with version 3.5, was the ability to clear the last tab without exiting the browser. via lifehacker: > [@](#): > > Changing the behavior back to the way it used to work is very simple: just type about:config into the address bar and find the browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab entry in the list—using the filter makes it easy. Once you’ve found that key, double-click on it to change the value from true to false, and Firefox should no longer close when you close the last tab. > [@Spectralist](#): > > Remapable hotkeys there’s an extension for firefox called “keyconfig” that does this > [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > My change is so stupid simple, I can’t believe no one has yet implemented it: The “Back” button should become the “Stop” button whenever a page is loading. > > Whenever I accidently click a link, I automatically head for the “Back” button as–usually–the next page has already started loading. But sometimes this isn’t the case and my “Back” press takes me to the previous page, forcing me to reload it by clicking “Forward.” > > Yeah, it’s a minor issue, but this really would make my life easier–plus it could cutdown on the need for having an exclusive “stop” button. I’m sorry, but you’re requesting a change to the software to handle the way you are incorrectly using it. instead, try clicking stop when you mean stop (or pressing escape), instead of back. having said that, I’m sure you could find a developer willing to create an extension to do this for you specifically. > [@the\_first\_supraliminal](#): > > I’d like a way to highlight text (in yellow background, not reverse white on black) and have it stay highlighted until you close the window. > And remain highlighted if you save the page to reference later. > > I’d like it if every page could be saved. Some are able to block this, which is BS. I have the page in front of me, I can save it one screen capture at a time, just let me save it already. there’s a firefox extension for this called “wired-marker” > [@gladtobeblazed](#): > > I’d like to see mouse gestures built into browsers other than Opera. It’s a great little feature, but I don’t like having to install extra add-ons to Firefox. > > In fact, I’d like to see mouse gestures built into many applications, not just browsers. Including Windows Explorer, as I frequently find myself trying to use them to navigate through folders, only to be annoyed that I can’t. I hate having to click directly on little buttons. historically, some extensions do become part of the core product, but imagine if every extension became part of the product - forcing those of us who do not use gestures to suffer unnecessary software bloat. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/24 "2009-09-15T16:24:18Z")
@ **Red Barchetta** something was nagging me about this thread after I replied, so I came back to re-read it. for some reason I focused on what you were doing rather than your suggestion; merging Back and Stop into a single button is a good way to save space on the toolbar - if I get around to looking into it, I’ll share my results. ---
**Author:** ![Never\_Say\_Dice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee59a6/32.png) [@Never\_Say\_Dice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Say_Dice)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/25 "2009-09-15T16:36:10Z")
I tried that browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab change and it works. About:config overall seems pretty overwhelming however, with its trillions of entries. Is there a dedicated forum to ask about it? ---
**Author:** ![Sri\_Theo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sri\_Theo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sri_Theo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/26 "2009-09-16T02:36:20Z")
Well in Safari and with certain Firefox themes the stop and reload buttons are combined, which also makes sense. And for the guys who mentioned the IE without opening IE, there’s an extension called \*\*IE Tab \*\*for that. has an icon in the bottom left where you choose view in IE or view in Firefox. Very handy. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/27 "2009-09-16T03:28:38Z")
> [@Never\_Say\_Dice](#): > > I tried that browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab change and it works. > > About:config overall seems pretty overwhelming however, with its trillions of entries. > Is there a dedicated forum to ask about it? possibly on the mozilla site somewhere. if you google “about:config” you’ll find lots of blogs/articles about useful tweaks using it ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/28 "2009-09-16T07:37:47Z")
Easier access to all tabs when one has many tabs open. Whether this comes as a simple solution as the ability to open a 2nd row of tabs, or maybe some accelerated scrolling idea. For instance, right after I post this I will move this treads tab to the very left of all my tabs so I can reload when I’m done to see if I have any responses. This takes quite a while waiting for Firefox to scroll all the way over. I used to use a different browser that added a second row of tabs which made things very convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/29 "2009-09-16T07:44:47Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > @ **Red Barchetta** > > something was nagging me about this thread after I replied, so I came back to re-read it. for some reason I focused on what you were doing rather than your suggestion; merging Back and Stop into a single button is a good way to save space on the toolbar - if I get around to looking into it, I’ll share my results. Cool. And I assure you what I’m doing makes more sense than the poor way in which I conveyed it. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/30 "2009-09-16T12:44:53Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Easier access to all tabs when one has many tabs open. Whether this comes as a simple solution as the ability to open a 2nd row of tabs, or maybe some accelerated scrolling idea. For instance, right after I post this I will move this treads tab to the very left of all my tabs so I can reload when I’m done to see if I have any responses. This takes quite a while waiting for Firefox to scroll all the way over. I used to use a different browser that added a second row of tabs which made things very convenient. This is one of the many features of [Tab Mix Plus](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1122). It’s in the Display section of Tab Mix Plus Options, under the heading **When tabs don’t fit width**. Personally I use three rows. Alternatively there’s [Tree Style Tab](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5890), which can be set to run them down the side of the window instead of along the top. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/31 "2009-09-16T15:26:01Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Easier access to all tabs when one has many tabs open. Whether this comes as a simple solution as the ability to open a 2nd row of tabs, or maybe some accelerated scrolling idea. For instance, right after I post this I will move this treads tab to the very left of all my tabs so I can reload when I’m done to see if I have any responses. This takes quite a while waiting for Firefox to scroll all the way over. I used to use a different browser that added a second row of tabs which made things very convenient. Would it work for you to open a small set of tabs in one window, then open another window for another set of tabs (repeat for as many windows/sets of tabs) as you want? That way, all your tabs are organized in small groups and easy to find. Maybe I’m missing your point, but it seems to me that this is the equivalent of a second row of tabs, but even more flexible and useful. (I do this all the time: say, open a window for Craigslist and then each interesting listing in a separate tab. Then open another window to search for details on the specific product in one listing, possibly with separate tabs in that window for different reviews. Another window for my e-mail when I reply to a listing. Etc) ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@Brainiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/32 "2009-09-16T21:35:34Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Easier access to all tabs when one has many tabs open. Whether this comes as a simple solution as the ability to open a 2nd row of tabs, or maybe some accelerated scrolling idea. For instance, right after I post this I will move this treads tab to the very left of all my tabs so I can reload when I’m done to see if I have any responses. This takes quite a while waiting for Firefox to scroll all the way over. I used to use a different browser that added a second row of tabs which made things very convenient. The [iRider browser](http://irider.com/irider/index.htm#PageList) does this quite nicely by putting the tabs on the left edge. I love it. Just wish it were more popular. Nobody ever seems to list it among the current set of browsers, but it seems to be the best one. “Fabulous browser” – John C. Dvorak, PC Magazine. “Unmatched for fast browsing” – Stan Miastkowski, PC World magazine ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/33 "2009-09-17T16:37:48Z")
How about a “Mute” button that only affects browser windows? That way, if I am playing iTunes and I open a link to some webpage where the jerktard has audio (always the most annoying audio you can think of played at max volume) I don’t jump out of my skin with fright then have to search through a bunch of tabs to close the offending webpage that I will never return to as long as I live? THAT would be a nice feature. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/34 "2009-09-17T17:37:11Z")
Using Firefox, some pages have trouble. How about an option on the right click menu, “Open in Explorer” and vice versa? I have more, just have to remember them. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710/35 "2009-09-17T19:19:18Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > Using Firefox, some pages have trouble. How about an option on the right click menu, “Open in Explorer” and vice versa? > > I have more, just have to remember them. I can’t see browsers promoting other browsers in this way, but [IE Tab](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419) is an FF extension and does exactly what you want. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-features-do-browsers-lack/509710.md?page=1)