Make Firefox Contextual Translation Popup Resizable, Movable, and Persistent per Tab

[fluke]

The current translation pop-up window (which appears after selecting text on a webpage and choosing the "Translate" option) is fixed in size and position, and it disappears immediately upon switching to another tab.

I propose three key improvements to the Firefox Translation UI: 

Resizable: The user should be able to drag the edges or corners of the translation window to manually adjust its width and height.

Movable: The translation window should be a floating element that can be clicked and dragged to any position on the screen, remaining visible over the webpage content. 

Tab-Specific Persistence: The window must not automatically close when the user switches away from the original tab and then returns. The translation window should only be visible when the user has the original tab (where the translation was initiated) active.

Why this is important:

Reduced Friction: Eliminates the frustration of the window disappearing every time the user temporarily switches tabs (e.g., to look up a related term or a fact on another page).

Enhanced Focus: By only appearing on the original tab, it prevents clutter on other tabs while maintaining the utility of a persistent tool for the specific task at hand.

[Jon]

Thanks for submitting an idea to the Mozilla Connect community! Your idea is now open to votes (aka kudos) and comments.

[Jon]

Similar idea here: "Translate Section": Movable Box 

[nordzilla]

Hey @fluke, thanks for the suggestion! I saw your post on reddit as well. 

I encourage you to check out our latest Firefox Nightly build. I've recently added a Translate quick action to the URL bar when you begin typing "tra...".

This takes you to our about:translations page where you can have a live session in a new tab. You can load this page in a Firefox window of its own to have a makeshift experience that is somewhat like you've described.

I've recently been updating the UI and functionality of this page to get it ready for broader use. 

We are also exploring the possibilities of loading this page into other contexts, such as the Firefox side bar. 

It's still under development, so if you notice any bugs, please feel free to file one on Bugzilla, associated with Bug 1853118. 

Note that you can access the about:translations page in the release version Firefox as well; you just won't have the URL-bar quick action yet, and improvements to the experience will not be available as quickly as in Firefox Nightly.

I appreciate you using the Translations feature, and taking the time to thoughtfully comment on it.