GlassTab

A macOS-inspired new-tab workspace with search, bookmarks, history, downloads, and customizable widgets.

# GlassTab GlassTab is a Chrome new-tab extension that turns the standard blank tab into a personal dashboard. It combines search, bookmarks, weather, widgets, and a customizable glass-style interface into a single focused workspace. ## Features - Search your pinned sites, bookmarks, and Chrome default search provider from the same panel. - Keep quick links, recent history, and browser data close at hand. - Add and arrange widgets for time, productivity, browsing, notes, and system information. - Choose from several dashboard layouts, including tiled, split, stacked, and free-position styles. - Resize widgets, snap them into a grid, and keep their positions between tabs. - Customize the wallpaper with gradients, photos, dynamic videos, custom colors, uploaded files, or a public URL. - Adjust the glass effect, accent color, theme, and typography to match your preference. - Use the interface comfortably on desktop and mobile-like widths. - Switch the interface language between English and Simplified Chinese. ## Current widget list The app includes the following widgets in its current catalog. ### Built-in widgets - Quick Sites - Weather - Spotify - Clock - Calendar ### Extra widgets - Calculator - World Clock - Countdown - Focus - Quote - Ambient - Apps - Habit - Intention - Password Generator - Sticky Notes - Battery - Vault - Tab Manager - System Monitor These widgets are available through the widget picker and can be added to the home dashboard in different layout modes. ## Wallpaper and background options GlassTab supports several background types. ### Gradient wallpapers The built-in gradient presets are: - aurora - ember - forest - midnight - candy - sand - ice - mono - dawn - paper These are applied as CSS linear gradients and can be used as the default wallpaper style. ### Photo wallpapers Built-in photo presets include: - galaxy - milkyway - lake - meadow - smoke These are stored as image assets and can be selected from the wallpaper picker. ### Dynamic wallpapers The dynamic preset video backgrounds are: - blossom - dusklake - rain - ridge These use a poster image plus a looping video background. When enabled, the app plays them in the page background and keeps the wallpaper active as a motion layer. ### Other wallpaper types - Custom solid color background - Uploaded local image or video file - Custom background URL Uploaded local assets are kept in IndexedDB on the device, while URL backgrounds are stored in Chrome extension preferences. ## Glass effect and visual styling The interface uses a layered glass aesthetic with adjustable material settings. ### Glass presets The app includes these material presets: - liquid - frosted - clear - solid ### Adjustable glass settings The appearance controls include: - blur: 0–48 px - saturation: 100–240% - tint: 0–80% - rim: 0–100% - refract: 0–90 - radius: 6–34 px - shadow: 0–150% - grain: 0–20% - vignette: 0–100% - dim: 0–70% The extension also supports dark and light color schemes, plus accent colors: - sky - violet - mint - coral - amber Additional effects include sheen, drift, and reduced-motion handling when the browser prefers reduced motion; the app toggles motion and glass lighting accordingly. ## Typography and font controls The UI supports several font families: - System default - Inter - DM Sans - Outfit - Mono (SF Mono, Cascadia Code, Consolas, and similar monospace stacks) The font size is adjustable from 12 px to 20 px, with a default of 15 px. The app applies the size as a global UI zoom factor so all interface elements scale proportionally. ## How to use it - Open a new tab and GlassTab appears automatically. - Use the search area to look up bookmarks or search the web. - Add widgets from the widget picker and arrange them on the dashboard. - Open the settings panel to change the wallpaper, theme, glass effect, font, and font size. - Rearrange or resize widgets to fit your daily workflow. ## Permissions and privacy GlassTab requests the following Chrome permissions to power its dashboard features: - `bookmarks` to show saved sites and bookmark data. - `history` to access recent browsing and history-related panels. - `tabs` to display open tabs and tab management information. - `downloads` and `downloads.open` to show downloads and allow opening files. - `sessions` to restore recently closed sessions. - `management` to view installed extensions and related browser data. - `search` to use Chrome search integration. - `storage` to save preferences, layout settings, widget config, and wallpaper choices. - `topSites` to show frequently visited sites. - `favicon` to load site icons for bookmark and quick-link display. - `identity` to support Chrome identity-related flows when needed by the extension. - `geolocation` to allow weather/location-based features when the user permits it. - `system.memory` and `system.cpu` for system monitor widget data. If you apply a custom URL background, Chrome may also request host access for that URL. Local uploads stay on the device, and preferences are stored in Chrome storage. ## Notes This extension is designed specifically for Chrome and works best as an installed browser extension rather than as a standalone website. It relies on Chrome APIs for search, bookmarks, tab data, history, and browser context.