Launch icon for private browsing

[vesta0]

Why/User Benefit/User Problem

As a user, I want to be able to open the browser in private mode with TP on, so I can do quick private searches where no history is retained.

Acceptance Criteria (how do I know when I’m done?)

Allow user to always open 3rd party links in PBM + TP on #514
I can launch a search in private mode with 1 click (without opening the regular browser first)

┆Issue is synchronized with this Jira Task

[brampitoyo]

I just tested Facebook version 1.9.0 (Download APK). It was originally built around the time of Android version 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Beans), but can still be installed in Android Pie. It has lots of warnings, but many functionalities were surprisingly intact.

This version of Facebook was special, because it adds three launcher icons for three separate activities: Facebook, Camera and Messenger.

Pre sign in

Tapping all icons would bring you to the same sign in screen:

Post sign in

• Tapping Facebook would bring you to your timeline on Facebook.app
• Tapping Messenger would bring you to the “Messages” tab on Facebook.app
• Tapping Camera would bring you to a camera view (?) that behaves as if it was a separate app

Facebook and Messenger

Both launcher icons share the same behaviour:

• They are shortcuts to two views within the same Facebook.app
• If you go to the app switcher, Android System sees one app

Facebook itself promotes these icons not as separate apps, but as “shortcuts for sharing”.

Camera

This launcher icon behaves differently:

• Distinct, unique UI from Facebook/Messenger
• There’s no entry point to access Facebook/Messenger from Camera, and vice versa
• If I go to the app switcher, Android System thinks that it’s totally different from Facebook/Messenger

In other words, Camera behaves as if it’s a separate app.

[brampitoyo]

Possible next steps

It seems as if we can design private browsing to behave in two ways:

1. Launcher icon will open private browsing mode within Fenix.app
2. Launcher icon will open private browsing that behaves as if it’s a totally separate app from Fenix

From our recent user research shareout, we know that there’s an opportunity for a specialised private browsing which is good at:

1. Basic browsing performance: simple, lightweight, gets you there quickly
2. Making privacy easy and convenient: no more worries about manually cleaning
3. Creating a clean, distraction-free space: to help you feel organised, productive and tidy

To do this, we may have to pick an approach that defaults to private without requiring forethought or extra steps to switch into a mode within an app.

Is there’s an argument to be made for making private browsing its own thing?

[pocmo]

Instead of creating a separate launcher icon (and potentially confusing users) could we consider supporting a private browsing shortcut? They offer similar functionality AND can be added to the home screen if the user chooses so.

For example with Chrome:

Shortcuts:

Added to home screen:

Compatibility

• Shortcuts are available since Android 7.1
• Since Android 8.0 shortcuts can be pinned (added to home screen)
• Shortscuts can be dynamic too (e.g. if we want to have shortcuts for sync/linked devices).

[jyeontaek]

The 3rd party links part is done, but I need more time on the shortcuts after Amy and I had our discussion about pinned shortcuts vs separate launcher.

[klint]

Isn't issue #5054 related to this one in a way?

[lobontiumira]

Verified that in Settings - Privacy section there is a new option "Add private browsing shortcut" which adds a private browsing shortcut to the device's home screen. Launcher icon opens private browsing mode within Fenix.app.
Tested on RC 2.0.0-rc.2 with Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 (Android 5.1), and One Plus 5T (Android 9).