Fenix: Tab Queue

[bbinto]

Why/User Benefit/User Problem

• As a user, I want to queue up a list of websites I want to visit later

What / Requirements

• Similar to Firefox for Android, we like to provide users an option, when clicking on web links from within another app, to queue up tabs of these websites

[pocmo]

Since launching "Tab Queue" in Fennec there have been some Android platform changes:

• It's harder to actually draw over other apps (requires permission)
• There is a conflict between custom tabs ("open immediately and look like third-party app") and tab queue ("open in the background").

Overall I feel like with some UX and user research we may be able to come up with something better nowadays. :)

[pwd-github]

For Android 10, it might be a good idea to explore using the Bubble API for the Tab Queue: https://developer.android.com/preview/features/bubbles

[julian-alarcon]

Android 10 won't have Bubbles enabled by default https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/05/10/notification-bubbles-will-be-hidden-in-android-qs-developer-options/

[julian-alarcon]

Additional info about new Android Background restrictions in Android 10
https://developer.android.com/preview/privacy/background-activity-starts

[pwd-github]

Additional info about new Android Background restrictions in Android 10
https://developer.android.com/preview/privacy/background-activity-starts

It says Affects your app if you launch activities without user interaction. But doesn't the tab queue require user interaction?

In the worst case scenario, couldn't Fenix create a lowest priority notification if the tab queue is enabled?

[xerz-one]

As a feature suggestion, I would like to have an option to choose whenever I open a tab in regular or private mode, for instance with a switch, like this!

[openjck]

I'm going to go against the grain and say that I actually prefer Fenix without a tab queue. Jumping straight into the browser actually makes it feel faster. And 90% of the time, that's what I want to do anyway.

[jacktose]

@openjck Tab queue has always been an optional feature. I assume it will be optional in Fenix, though perhaps that should be specified here.

[julian-alarcon]

Still waiting, I can tolerate the Addons/Web Extensions missing support #574 , but this is also needed!

[skippybosco]

@vesta0 does your change from August mean that tab queuing will not make it into the first stable release of Fenix?

[jpdus]

I strongly support this. Tab queue is my favorite feature of Firefox for Android and I can't imagine to adopt my mobile read/workflow to a browser without this feature (which works fine on Android 10 for me by the way).

[madb1lly]

Now I'm using Fenix Nightly as a daily driver I'm finding the absence of the tab queue feature quite frustrating. Links clicked in other apps open immediately in a new tab in Fenix, which interrupts workflow considerably, e.g. reading an email, or a news article, in an app which doesn't use custom tabs causing the focus to switch to Fenix, interrupting my flow in the original app.

I have also had cases where I've opened multiple links like this from another app then found that Fenix has lost some of them. However, it's difficult to reproduce which is why I've not opened a bug yet.

[jpdus]

Wow, with the new announcement this gets a new quality.

This degrades the user experience significantly for me, will I have to switch the browser? Honestly, for me this feature is way more important than actual performance, but apparently the metrics say otherwise for a majority of users :/

[sharpau]

I won't be able to switch to Fenix until it has a Tab Queue; I use this feature extensively on current Firefox for Android to scrub through other apps (RSS, social media, etc) and save up all the links to read in Firefox. Please put this in the new version!

[pidus]

Just installed Firefox Nightly to see the progress. Apparently tab queue is not implemented. Firefox is not Firefox without this option. Many people might not use it; but for those who do, there's no alternative. Please develop this feature.

[rubcap]

The tab queue in Fennec is _very_ handy. Those who activated this optional feature will expect Fenix to have a similar function right from the start, because it has become part of their routine.