Computers-Hacking
See other Computers-Hacking Articles
Title: Firefox Quantum is here...
Source:
Tech Radar
URL Source: http://www.techradar.com/news/firef ... e-and-it-wants-to-win-you-back
Published: Nov 14, 2017
Author: Cat Ellis
Post Date: 2017-11-14 10:03:04 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 2605
Comments: 6
Mozilla has released Firefox Quantum – the biggest update the browser has received since its first release in 2004 – and if you've strayed away to Edge or Chrome, the non-profit is hoping to win you back. We caught up with Mark Mayo, senior vice president of Firefox, to find out more. “[Quantum] is twice as fast as Firefox 52,” he told us. “We’re at a point where we’re as fast as, or faster than Chrome. Compared to a year ago, it’s a huge leap in performance.” That isn’t just on high-end PCs with buckets of RAM, either. Mozilla uses a US$300 Acer laptop as reference hardware, having established that it’s the most common hardware for its user base. “We focused on making sure it stayed fast on ordinary PCs, and not at the cost of eating up lots of memory,” said Mayo. The first thing you'll notice about Quantum is its redesigned interface. “Just winning in benchmarks isn’t very useful," Mayo explained. "A browser has to feel fast and smooth. It isn’t just about making a new UI – it’s about how people perceive performance. The designers had a great time putting in things they’d wanted for decades.” One of those new features is Screenshots, which Mozilla trialled in its Test Pilot program last year under the name Page Shot. Unlike tapping the Print Screen key on a PC or tapping Command+Shift+3 on a Mac, Firefox Screenshots lets you capture a whole web page – including parts that aren’t currently on the screen. “I have a hack where I screenshot a bunch of pages I want to read and then open them on the plane,” said Mayo. “Offline reading accomplished by a scrolling screenshot.” Quantum also has new security features under the hood, including improved sandboxing, and the user interface has been simplified so all the security information appears in one place. “Firefox was kind of inconsistent," Mayo explained, "so we’ve done a lot of work to make [the security options] more connected so you have confidence that the site is safe.” One of Firefox’s most impressive features has always been its huge array of extensions, and these have had a major overhaul for Quantum. Rather than having free rein to do whatever they like, authors now have a more tightly controlled set of knobs to turn via the newly implemented WebExtensions API. This means all legacy extensions will stop working with Quantum, but developer APIs have been available for most of 2017, giving them plenty of time to make the switch. “By and large, the transition to WebExtensions is done,” said Mayo. “There were some big-ticket ones we were waiting for, but those are done now.” With Quantum, Mozilla is targeting both new users, and those who used to use Firefox but have switched to Edge or Chrome. "We want people to make the choice to use us," said Mayo. "Many people don't know we're a non-profit - not just a giant business that's made a browser to push its main business. We fell behind for five years, so it feels good to come out swinging. We're just going to go straight at them!" Firefox Quantum is available now for Windows, Mac and Linux. New versions version of Firefox Focus – Mozilla’s privacy-focused browser that clears your browsing history at the end of every session – and the Firefox mobile apps are also on the way. Poster Comment:Security and extensions
Coming out swinging
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Willie Green (#0)
(Edited)
I like Firefox and use it, but it's a bandwidth hog - is the new version any better? I'll probably try it, but the last time I updated Firefox it erased all of my bookmarks and log ins.
I've never lost my bookmarks; however, I have had all my add-ons and scripts deleted.
I assume it's better bandwidth, but maybe TooCon can tell us... As far as the bookmarks go... I used my Firefox account and "sync" to save all my bookmarks to the Firefox that I have installed on other devices (android tablet, phone & TV box) when I installed a new linux OS on my desktop... then when I reinstalled Firefox on my new desktop system, all I had to do was log into my Firefox account and use sync again to get all my bookmarks back... So if you have Firefox installed on more than one device, that should work for you too... You can also choose if you want to sync history or addons or other stuff... but I usually only sync my bookmarks since I have different needs on the different devices..
When I upgraded to this new Firefox, my old Greasemonkey scripts stopped working. They need updated. Greasemonkey is not really fully updated yet. This is because Firefox extensions are now going to be mostly compatible with Chrome extensions. I lost my Stylish scripts but those are easily restored.
Fag browser.
It's a great browser. I use it for many reasons + it is integrated in my OS. It is called: Linux + TOR.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#2. To: Deckard (#1)
#3. To: Deckard. Tooconservative (#1)
#4. To: no gnu taxes (#2)
I've never lost my bookmarks; however, I have had all my add-ons and scripts deleted.
#5. To: Willie Green (#0)
#6. To: A K A Stone (#5)
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]