Refresh image ‐ thumbnail generator
Thumbnail generation is one of the most complex features in the Group Speed Dial.
Why?
Websites are so diverse, it's impossible to design a single algorithm, that would work for each one.
That's why there is several options available:
Executes "default" reload method, which is Refresh image in background.
This default can be globally changed in the Options page / Thumbnails / Refresh method:
Is the default method, because it produces the best results for most pages.
It loads the page into virtual container (iframe) with a specific virtual resolution (1280px wide).
✅ Good:
- produces great thumbnails for most pages
- is fully invisible and fast
❌ Bad:
- since the iframe loads inside the speed dial page, some content blockers (adblocks) won't hide cookie popups - ruining the thumbnail
- some pages will refuse to load inside iframe
This is a default "fallback" method, if the previous one fails for some reason (for example, if the result thumbnail is fully white/black).
It loads the page inside a normal tab (the tab is fully hidden only in Firefox).
✅ Good:
- produces great thumbnails for almost any page
- works great with adblocks
❌ Bad:
- it's invisible only in Firefox, so Chromium users will see extra tab being opened and then focused as the page is captured (Chromium browsers cannot capture not focused tabs)
- sometimes, the captured page is not fully loaded, as browsers throttle unfocused tabs
Opens page in a focused tab and captures it's content.
✅ Good:
- it's the most stable method, works for all pages
- works great with adblocks
❌ Bad:
- it's not invisible
It's the same as the default "Refresh image in background", but it runs on the remote server.
✅ Good:
- fully invisible, best suitable for "Auto-reload" feature
❌ Bad:
- it's unreliable, remote server sometimes fails to load the page completely
- requires PRO version