I happen to like the way Chrome for Android looks and works, but the introduction of Arc Search earlier this month piqued my interest in ways that other mobile browsers don’t.
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What I call Chrome’s “eternal UI” goes back to the idea of making the interface to the web as minimal as possible. In fact, over the past decade or so, mobile browsers have adhered to that principle more closely than their desktop versions.
The main UI on Android is just the address bar and a few buttons at the top. The bar of tab groups at the bottom is another major feature added in recent years, although tab grids (instead of lists) have been used for some time.
This immutable interface provides great consistency even as every other aspect of Android changes. I kind of equate it to a reliable, reliable tool.
fun
In contrast, I think Arc Search for Android is fun, but I didn’t think of it as a browser until now. A simple design that goes beyond the novelty of something new.
The tab switcher is presented in a strange way with a preview that actually looks too small to be useful, but the complete UI is a carousel of web pages. The other side has an upward chevron for traditional controls like the address bar and other settings. I like the button that lets you copy the current page. There are standard navigation arrows here, but the system gesture is sufficient to go back.
The plus button in the middle is a way to open a new tab with a clear preference for entering a search term rather than a URL. This isn’t all that surprising given the browser’s name (‘Arc Search’), but automatic tab archiving increments between 12 hours and 30 days and cannot be disabled, but it’s really neat. We provide a unique experience. I will drive home to that point. There is also a way to automatically open the keyboard when the app starts. This again shows that it focuses on new queries over existing tabs and then completes them in the app.
It’s a fun browser and I’ve used it for quick searches and Wikipedia. Opinions are divided on this simplicity and search focus even before we get to the main aspects of Arc Search.
It’s tragic
Arc Search is its own browser. As a service that provides a simple browser experience, Arc Search lets you browse the web and block ads.
As a Chrome for Android user, I’ve never used an ad blocker on mobile, given the lack of extension support.
It’s easy to see why people feel the need to use ad blockers to browse the modern web. We’ve all seen pages where most of the content is covered in ads, or worse, an autoplaying video. Being actively deprived of information is not a good experience. I absolutely hate movement and distractions when trying to read text. When you browse the web using Arc Search, most of it is cut out.
Conversely, I am fully aware that advertising is responsible for making the modern web possible. Although much of the content is free to access due to the ad-supported model, I feel a little nervous about using Arc Search.
Given that it’s been around for years, the default expectation is that everything on the web is free. I think that modern internet users are only vaguely aware that advertising = free placement. When you’re bombarded with ads on your page, the idea of ”at least it’s free” can be a no-brainer.
Luckily, if you like the browser’s UX idea, you can disable Arc Search’s ad blocker.
None of these ideas about using ad blockers are particularly new, and they don’t represent a major change in how they are used widely and without hesitation. I wish the use of ad blockers had been accompanied by awareness and awareness of the other side of this dynamic.
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