Feature Request: Additional Browser Support in RR Config

**Kardain** · 04-08-2009, 12:32 AM

Debate is not my strong suit, I tend to be very to the point-ish with my posts.... but here goes.

With 5 main browsers out now, it would seem to be a good thing to have built in support in RR for those over the already included 2: Firefox and IE

Firefox is my preferred browser of choice, but can easily get bloated after extensions, themes and whatnot, hence my newfound affinity for Fennec, even with the address bar problem

Each browser version has pros and cons I'm sure and given the target audience being a varying group of individuals, each may have a preference over a particular browser over another.

Chrome: Decent for a touchscreen interface given the lack of clutter, however lack of adblock support though is a turn-off for limited screen real estate (without installing third-party software). Text boxes are highlighted by default when active. Quick to load, even on a D201GLY board. Tabs are "sandboxed". Cons: Google is not known for privacy (phone home feature in Chrome isn't too liked).

Opera: Small memory footprint, has a "speed dial" which works great with touch screens. Color-shift is built in to the browser to closer match the skin colors. This enables a customize feature without downloading additional features. Cons, no real add-on functionality.

Safari: 4.0b is near perfect for touchscreen. However, the tabs are integrated into the title bar, so embedding this may kill tab support. The "top site" feature is touch screen friendly. Con: large download size, Bonjour may stall most low-power computers.

**Konrad** · 04-08-2009, 02:36 AM

Originally Posted by Kardain

..., but can easily get bloated...

You can also bloat RideRunner.

Your suggestion is what's the plugin system is for.

**Enforcer** · 04-08-2009, 08:15 AM

There was a chrome plugin being developed by Sonic, not sure how far it got.

**Blue ZX3** · 04-08-2009, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Konrad

You can also bloat RideRunner.

Your suggestion is what's the plugin system is for.

Exaclty! And we (RR coding Team) are slowly trying to keep RR as more of a skinning engine and the plugins can then support any/all further wanted features.

**Sonicxtacy02** · 04-08-2009, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Enforcer

There was a chrome plugin being developed by Sonic, not sure how far it got.

it got dropped as soon as i realized that chrome was slower and less touchscreen friendly than fennec. A few people asked for the source to RRChrome via pm and it was provided so who knows at some point there could be something out for it.

**Kardain** · 04-08-2009, 05:29 PM

I'm not going to pretend to understand the inner workings of RR, but if the skin commands are already present for browsers, would it just be a matter of adding the switch? The "skinning engine" is still present.

<-- slightly confused

**Sonicxtacy02** · 04-09-2009, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by Kardain

I'm not going to pretend to understand the inner workings of RR, but if the skin commands are already present for browsers, would it just be a matter of adding the switch? The "skinning engine" is still present.

<-- slightly confused

I believe what blue mentioned earlier is something that everyone needs to understand at this point. Because of the available plugin interface, RR wont be adding new "features" to its core. In fact i wouldnt be surprised if things like the web browser support, mappoint support, and other focused "features" are removed at some point. Because the software is no longer open source it makes sense from a developer standpoint AND a user standpoint to just create a plugin rather than try to change RR's core.

All that being said, guino really couldnt have made it easier to create an RR Plugin! Get a copy of the example plugin, grab a FREE copy of .net programming suite. I can almost promise you that after lookin at how simple it is to make your own commands/labels/inds anyone with basic computer knowledge can create a plugin... ESPECIALLY one which just uses SENDKEYS to a browser window. Prior to joining "the RR club for men" the only programming experience i had was in Jr. college begging my Intro to Programming instructor to give me a D after i missed practically the entire semester