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Related: Restrict site specific views to specific tags

Most SO users, I'd imagine, keep a number of tabs open, jumping between all of them. Tabs in the app are likely a bad idea. I've got a proposal I think addresses the problem without forcing inappropriate paradigms.

Currently, you scroll to the top of the page to reveal the search bar. I propose hiding the search bar behind a search button to make room for three other buttons:

  • Favorites store and recall favorite search/filter/sorts, organized by site. This is really the crux of the tabs-alternative
  • Filter gives filtering options, such as featured, choice of questions-only or answers-only, unanswered, my tags, etc. Checkbox or radio for each.
  • Sort after removing the options moved to Filter, is currently left with: Activity, Votes, Creation, Hot. The names should naturally match the desktop site: Active, Votes, Newest, and... wait what's Hot supposed to be?
  • Search shows the text field we know and love.

Two screenshots

First, a truly ugly mock-up of the bar formerly known as search.

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Second, a not so ugly mock-up of the new favorites page:

enter image description here

I would rather use the app than the website, but the lack of quick access to the questions I want to see means I still leave a couple tabs open in the browser too, and spend more time there. I humbly feel favorites is the ideal solution.

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  • I should add, I don't intend to propose introducing new search functionality in SE. Just to expose what's there more intuitively and with saved searches – mhlester Feb 12 '14 at 8:05
  • +1 The ability to save searches would also resolve another feature request. – How About a Nice Big Cup of Mar 7 '14 at 20:59
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    We have actually talked internally about both this and @cheapeffectivedietpills 's ideas a few months back. We have some mock-ups that we've thrown around about it, and I'll post a meta question soon for feedback on the our idea. The worry is that doing custom searches would be a really power-user feature rather than just a "mostly power-user feature". – Kasra Rahjerdi Apr 8 '14 at 15:41
  • Thanks for the feedback @Kasra. Can't wait to see your post! I agree this is the most "power-user" of all the feature requests I've made. I've made a few other suggestions (here, here, here) that are all trying to address the same usability problem. Maybe one of those strikes a chord :). I can discuss more in the iOS α chatroom if you like – mhlester Apr 8 '14 at 16:01
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Saved searches are now available in the beta channel for iOS8 users. (That save button is an iOS8 feature. I will probably add an accessory button for 7.)

saved searches

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