Modern Web Browsers Are Dropping This Iconic Feature, and I Wish They’d Stop
1 min read
Summary
The new tab page in web browsers is an underrated feature that is being dropped in favour of a plain search bar or search engine opening screen.
The change is designed to save time for the user, reminiscent of a zero-click experience, but it has its downside.
Browsers like Arc and Zen, which are designed to have as few distractions as possible, do not support a navigation interface sitting between the user and their content.
The new tab page serves as a homepage for a user’s browser and allows for shortcuts, easy access to bookmarks, and personalisation through extensions.
It can also serve as a reminder or to-do list and is a regular fixture of the user’s browsing experience.
Personalisation and ease of use are slowly being superseded by browser designers’ quest to provide a seamless, quicker experience when loading a webpage.
This may not be in line with all users’ preferences and habits that they have formed over time.
