The history of browser can be traced back to first internet web page. It used to interpret web page which has formatted in hypertext markup language (HTML) to user. Some big players in browser are Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari. Primarily, browser are developed for Personal Computer based on different web browser engine such IE uses Trident , Firefox based Gecko, Chrome and Safari are based on Webkit.
The browser has dramatically changed since last decade. The new technology and demand requested pushed browser to provide more functionality. The browser competition is so intensive, to the extend that IT industry called its "Browser War". Some has survived and others (Netscape) kept themselves in the History of Browser. Perhaps, "evolution from interpreting how to decoration/presentation of word to support playing streaming music, video, game online or focused on social information sharing" is a short and good description to depict browser development. Today, we have browser on tiny palm sized mobile phone. Unfortunately, some browser repeated their mistake of PC browser in browser for Mobile.
The ADDRESS BAR and SEARCH BAR
" The Omnibox is the URL box at the top of each tab, which combines the functionality of both the Address bar and search box. If a user enters the URL of a site previously searched from, Chrome allows pressing Tab to search the site again directly from the Omnibox. When a user starts typing in the Omnibox, Chrome provides suggestions for previously visited sites (based on the URL or in-page text), popular websites (not necessarily visited before - powered by Google Suggest), and popular searches. " - Wiki Google Chrome
Google, has merged both address bar and search bar in its first release of Chrome. It is inappropriate to say user may be confused. Thus, browser has to separate address bar for visiting the website and search bar for search. For any regular internet user, we know and understand that website address USUALLY domain without any spacing and ended with top level domain such as www.news.com.au
One can argue that space is allowed in file name such as www.example.com/%20page.html but it is rarely occur. Within browser for PC, that is absolutely fine if browser company decided to keep them separated. But it is not the case in mobile browser. The screen size is a problem.
iOS Safari Browser for mobile device
Surprisingly, Apple who has most mobile device users made same mistake in its iOS Safari Browser, even iOS is version 4 now. I have no idea whether that is copyright issue or other reasons. Current iOS Safari design is exactly PC browser design except keyboard. But, it is not very good design to separate both address bar and search bar for mobile user. For example, if you have tapped (Tap, equivalent to PC's CLICK) into address bar and you wish to search something. SORRY, you need to tap "Cancel" then tap search bar in iOS Safari Browser. User need to perform 2 steps and system feedback twice as well. Entire process is time consuming from user perspective. Both user and system take turn to obtain and feedback (refresh the screen) information to user. If they are merged and provided some INTELLIGENCE for the so called Smartphone, it would be lovely. Personally, I have not seen any technical or implementation issue here. Apple design both hardware and software of their mobile products. Nevertheless, I have released it may be iOS keyboard issue involved when I do screens comparison.
Screenshots from iPhone Safari (iOS 4.2.1)
iOS Safari Default Layout
Safari Address Bar, Search Bar, Proposed Layout for iOS
(from left to right)
Trying to search "ios airplay" in address bar (left) and search bar (middle). As you may notice, the main difference here is the last row of the keyboard button. "Dot Splash DotCom Go" VERSE "Space Search". The touch keyboard has specifically designed for task in both screens. You get "Dot Splash DotCom Go" if you have tapped address bar, otherwise you got "Space Search" keyboard. What-if I tapped into Address Bar and suddenly want to search something ? Well... I suppose merged them or single input bar is better layout especially operating in small screen and machine.
Proposed Safari Keyboard Layout
On the right of the second screenshot is proposed layout. I have modified safari and its keyboard layout to optimized user task flow where user can type search term and website address in single address bar. Meanwhile, the keyboard has added SPACE button on bottom of default keyboard for address bar screen. The space button used the same idea of iOS tap technique to scroll to the top. The only area where I have removed is page title. Generally, I think it is not necessary at all since the address bar is always displayed which website is visiting. The size of stage area for information presentation is remaining same because the "Space" button size is exactly the removed area of title page. Probably the smart suggestion from both screens is Apple iOS Safari pitch. But, it can be distinguished through search terms have spacing and website address USUALLY do not have space theory. Hope Steve Jobs and his team decide to change them soon. Again, user has to be taught that search can be done by directly typing search term into address bar and click "Go".
