When it comes to user interface, Firefox and Safari have both struggled to balance the desire for new features with the simplicity that contributed to their early success. As the version numbers increase, this kind of pressure is inevitable. What's the best defense against this sort of thing?
Google Chrome makes the argument that Safari and Firefox did not go far enough in their subtractive design approach....
Google's approach with Chrome is different. Rather than removing features from existing web browsers, Google has taken its brightly colored forearm and swept the table absolutely clean. Forget about menu separators; why even have a bookmarks menu? Hell, why have a menu bar at all? Start with nothing. Assume nothing. Add features only as needed, and only in service of a well-defined design concept.
John Siracusa, "Straight out of Compton," Arstechnica, 2 Sep 2008, arstechnica.com/staff/fatbits.ars/2008/09/02/straight-out-of-compton via Rich Goade.
