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Idea to customize browser

i.shaun

i.shaun

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 1, 2008
784
0
Canada
I'm sure it's been thought of before, so I take no credit for the idea. I just want to share for anyone who may be interested.


I use Safari, but this can be done in any browser really.



It came to me when I was organizing files, and making shortcuts, doing things to make my mac more efficient. When it came time to check my browser's book marks, I realized how pointless it was to have a home page.


When the browser starts, it can take time if the page is having trouble loading. I realized that Safari has a Google search bar next to the Address Bar. This made my "Google Home Page" seem pointless and even redundant. If I need a google search, I can type in that bar for the same results.

I then made my home page "about:blank". Just a blank page, nothing on it. The browser starts quickly and easily, and from there I can navigate where I want. There was no one page I wanted to load on each start up.


After a while, I thought the blank page was, well, blank. It needed something there, even if just a background. I created an HTML file locally on the HDD, with an OS X background. Now my browser opens up and looks a lot better, but still doesn't open up to anything on the internet itself, just a local file.


To make it look even better, I guess I could do some kind of CSS or advanced HTML, but I don't know how. I'm forced to copy and paste from other places.
 
Neat idea. Nothing on the page? You could always throw in search forms for a bunch of different sites that you often use, Google Images, what have you. Keywurl sort of makes that redundant, but ah well.
 
That idea will probably be very helpful to many, especially with slow internet connections. I still prefer using iGoogle as my home page, since it has news headlines and other info that I've personalized. With Safari, the page loads pretty much instantly, so performance isn't an issue.
 
I suppose I could put a Twitter feed on there... hmm, this might bear some messing about when I get the chance. I'll post back if I come up with anything interesting.
 
Set new browser window to open with bookmarks.

You can select a bunch, and command click to open them in new tabs (if you set up open in new tabs).
 
So far all I have on it is:

-OS X Background: Click here to see

-Link to Google Image search (in case I want to go there rather than Safari's Google Search. )


I placed the probably outdated "Alink=" and "Vlink=" HTML tags on to make the link appear White, even upon clicking it. It stands out better against the dark background.


There are a lot of links you can add, if you wish. Clear the book marks out and have just a home page of links to the most frequently used sites, such as Macrumors.com! or MRoogle search.




I was even thinking of having the page split into 3 vertical sections. I don't know if this can be done while spreading the background across the 3 sections, or if each section needs it's own background.

With 3 sections (or more if you want), you can list specific links based on some criteria. Search Engines in one section, Forums, and other sites you visit in another, etc...
 
I have Google as my homepage, but i've logged into my Google account and added loads of wigets and stuff to my homepage, so i've got my local news there, plus economic news, sports news, another box showing my weather at home and my weather at work, and finally a box for searching.


i.shaun said:
So far all I have on it is:

-OS X Background: Click here to see
Click to expand...
Please don't tell me thats your computer background! :eek:
 
GGJstudios said:
That idea will probably be very helpful to many, especially with slow internet connections. I still prefer using iGoogle as my home page, since it has news headlines and other info that I've personalized. With Safari, the page loads pretty much instantly, so performance isn't an issue.
Click to expand...

I used to use iGoogle, but it's become obsolete to me now.


I played the Helicopter game, which I actually took off the site, and have on my HDD to play any time, even offline (full screen too).


I had RSS feeds which are handled by NetNewsWire now.

and Finally, I had Google Search, which I use in Safari's main Window now.
 
i.shaun said:
I used to use iGoogle, but it's become obsolete to me now.
I played the Helicopter game, which I actually took off the site, and have on my HDD to play any time, even offline (full screen too).
I had RSS feeds which are handled by NetNewsWire now.
and Finally, I had Google Search, which I use in Safari's main Window now.
Click to expand...
I have RSS feeds in Apple Mail, but I prefer the iGoogle method of checking news headlines, etc. I never play games on computers.
 
i.shaun said:
-Link to Google Image search (in case I want to go there rather than Safari's Google Search. )
Click to expand...

Try this instead:

HTML: 
<form method="get" action="http://images.google.com/images">
<input type="text" name="q" /><input type="Submit" value="Search" />
</form>

(Side note: 2000th post!)
 
Thanks, BlueRevolution.


Now I have a image search form right there. I forgot to label it though, it just shows up as a form with a search button. Oh well, I'll get to it.

I just have to decide if I want the google logo, or a plain text label. . . .



If anyone else has some good additions, feel free to add them. Maybe together we can design the ultimate home page!
 
i.shaun said:
Thanks, BlueRevolution.


Now I have a image search form right there. I forgot to label it though, it just shows up as a form with a search button. Oh well, I'll get to it.

I just have to decide if I want the google logo, or a plain text label. . . .



If anyone else has some good additions, feel free to add them. Maybe together we can design the ultimate home page!
Click to expand...

how about http://www.apple.com/safari/welcome

;) (Yes I'm kidding, don't kill me)

But my "homepage" is currently Top Sites. It's cool.
 
ravenvii said:
how about http://www.apple.com/safari/welcome

;) (Yes I'm kidding, don't kill me)

But my "homepage" is currently Top Sites. It's cool.
Click to expand...

Haha thats awsome and totally sucks at the same time! This is one more reason for Windows Geeks to call us brainwashed MacBoys

yesterday some guy in the office wanted to know how to get that stupid welcome screen that starts when you first install OS X or turn on a Mac for the first time to come up every time, that gave me a laugh.
 
BlueRevolution, the Mroogle code you provided me with does not work. It displays the forms but will not go anywhere upon hitting the search button.


Don't worry about it, though. It's probably more trouble than it's worth to try and get a custom search engine on an offline HTML file. I have a bookmark link to Mroogle anyway.
 
Is there a way to create a submit form that:

-Has a simple text box, and a submit button
-Opens default mail, similar to the sendto: command
-Adds whatever is typed into the box as the prefix to the e-mail address


Basically so I can create a little text message thing. For example:

Rogers Wireless: number@pcs.rogers.com



I would need to type in the number, hit the button and have the number@pcs.rogers.com ready to go in the Mail app.
 
i.shaun said:
BlueRevolution, the Mroogle code you provided me with does not work. It displays the forms but will not go anywhere upon hitting the search button.
Click to expand...

Oh, sorry about that. I tested the code I posted earlier, but not the snippet that I sent to you.

i.shaun said:
Don't worry about it, though. It's probably more trouble than it's worth to try and get a custom search engine on an offline HTML file. I have a bookmark link to Mroogle anyway.
Click to expand...

It shouldn't be. Mroogle doesn't have a search engine, the form just submits to Google – hence the name. If you just directly download the .html file from Mroogle, it should work as well on your local computer.

i.shaun said:
Is there a way to create a submit form that:

-Has a simple text box, and a submit button
-Opens default mail, similar to the sendto: command
-Adds whatever is typed into the box as the prefix to the e-mail address


Basically so I can create a little text message thing. For example:

Rogers Wireless: number@pcs.rogers.com
Click to expand...

You ought to be able to do this with JavaScript. I'll give it a swing later on if nobody beats me to it. (Hint, hint.)
 
Thought I'd bump this. So far this is what my homepage looks like:

SafariBG.png
 
I use localhost as a sort of crossroads for the various apps and projects I have running locally. I should add some search fields as well, I suppose.

I have OS X's Apache server set up with virtual hosting and use the hosts file to simulate local.whatever.com, which allows me to preserve absolute links in the source.
 

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i.shaun said:
So far all I have on it is:

-OS X Background: Click here to see

-Link to Google Image search (in case I want to go there rather than Safari's Google Search. )


I placed the probably outdated "Alink=" and "Vlink=" HTML tags on to make the link appear White, even upon clicking it. It stands out better against the dark background.


There are a lot of links you can add, if you wish. Clear the book marks out and have just a home page of links to the most frequently used sites, such as Macrumors.com! or MRoogle search.




I was even thinking of having the page split into 3 vertical sections. I don't know if this can be done while spreading the background across the 3 sections, or if each section needs it's own background.

With 3 sections (or more if you want), you can list specific links based on some criteria. Search Engines in one section, Forums, and other sites you visit in another, etc...
Click to expand...

BlueRevolution said:
Try this instead:

HTML: 
<form method="get" action="http://images.google.com/images">
<input type="text" name="q" /><input type="Submit" value="Search" />
</form>

(Side note: 2000th post!)
Click to expand...

i.shaun said:
Thanks, BlueRevolution.


Now I have a image search form right there. I forgot to label it though, it just shows up as a form with a search button. Oh well, I'll get to it.

I just have to decide if I want the google logo, or a plain text label. . . .



If anyone else has some good additions, feel free to add them. Maybe together we can design the ultimate home page!
Click to expand...

You should try iFrames. :)
 
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