I open and close browser tabs all day long; frequently I find myself in a state where I'm using some client software (Visual Studio or Photoshop) and out of habit, I press Ctrl + T to get myself a new tab to do something else. This context-dependence annoys me - having to think about switching or launching applications in order to start new web navigation/search tasks is like cognitive acne.
So, in my spare time on a recent weekend, I created TabsLock - a utility to let you use your Capslock key to launch or create a new Google Chrome tab from anywhere, so you don't have to think about whether Chrome is running or what application has focus. Consider it a global Ctrl + T replacement.
Hope you like it.
9 comments:
this looks like the best place to get in touch with you regarding TabsLock, so here goes. *shift-caps* THANK YOU *shift-caps*
just earlier today i was talking about how excited i was about chrome and specifically the new tab page in combination with the omnibar, and how i really wanted a global hotkey to bring it up. what i wanted is pretty much exactly stated in TabsLock's About section. i even prefer the shortcut be capslock.
i've noticed some issues though (in windows XP) -
holding down capslock produces tons of new tabs. maybe have it check to see if there is already a new tab up and direct you there instead of making more?
if i have all my chrome windows minimized pressing capslock only produces a system beep and flashes the capslock LED. if i have at least one chrome window not minimized, whether it's in the background or not, TabsLock works perfectly.
so far that's it, i believe.
on a slightly unrelated note, do you think the possibility exists for a plugin/extension to Chrome for launching applications from the omnibar? i currently use launchy as my keystroke launcher in windows. if i could use the omnibar/new tab page as well as launch applications all with one hotkey, that would be beautiful.
sorry about the double comment, but i thought it might be worth noting something else i noticed with problem #2 - if i minimize all my Chrome windows, focus on something else like a windows explorer window, i press Alt-Tab and i can see Chrome at the end of the line. i leave it that way by just canceling the Alt-Tab, press capslock to hear the system beep, press Alt-Tab again and i can see that Chrome is at the front of the line, even though it's not in focus. hope this helps with the next build of TabsLock. =)
Thanks HEAPS from another user. This is a GREAT idea! Love you!
Not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question but here it is.
On Google Chrome and FF, whenever a "currently selected tab" gets closed, the "adjacent tab" gets selected and shown. I was expecting to see the "previously selected" tab to be "brought into the view" and shown so that the user knows where he came from.
Have you guys conducted any usability tests related to this tab behavior?
had to stop using Tabslock v0002. =C
it may have fixed some things but it seemed to have a new problem where even if i had Chrome in focus pressing capslock would put it out of focus and not create a new tab, and no amount of pressing capslock would bring it back. this didn't happen all the time, as more frequently pressing capslock would put Chrome out of focus but bring it back on the second press.
i wish i didn't overwrite the v0001 setup file when i downloaded v0002 =/
this is a great utility. i love it!
however i've noticed, like the earlier comment, that it doesn't work if chrome is minimized.
First of all, thanks for working on such brilliant software (Chrome and TabsLock both).
It seems TabsLock doesn't play nice with Chrome beta 2, though. Instead of a new tab, I get a window. Does TabsLock need updating or is Chrome at fault for this issue? Or perhaps I'm doing something wrong?
I have the same issue as Thor with Chrome 2. This is my favourite add-on for Chrome, is there any way around this?
=/
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