firefox

There was a huge hoopla a few years back regarding the switch to 64-bit processors on smartphones. While that was totally new on mobile, 64-bit has long been the name of the game on desktops and laptops. That said, most desktop software continued to straddle both 32 and 64 bit worlds, partly out of necessity to support those still running 32-bit versions of Windows. But for those already running on a 64-bit OS, Mozilla has this to say: use the 64-bit version of Firefox now and avail of the 39% discount on browser crashes.

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A lot of people already live in their browsers, but there are still some things that browsers, even with advanced technologies, aren’t able to do. That’s especially true with applications and use cases that require sophisticated and resource-heavy graphics. Trying to prove that such is not the case anymore, Mozilla has just pushed out the latest version of Firefox that pushes performance to the limit. And what better proof of that than by adopting WebVR to bring virtual reality to the masses. The masses that have VR headsets, that is.

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The web browser has long ceased being just a way to browse web pages. Google Chrome has proven we can live our entire computing lives inside the browser (or at least a browser engine), and some actually do that day to day. Mozilla, of course, isn’t going to take things sitting down. It has revealed three new to Test Pilot Experiments that also turn its Firefox web browser into a mini desktop, including the ability to turn Firefox into a file sharing service.

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Firefox Focus is a bit of an odd duck. It launched first on iOS, where Firefox itself launched last. It had very limited features and a singled-minded focus on privacy. And yet it seems to have struck a chord with many mobile users, even on Android where the app has been around for less than a month. It managed to rake in 1 million downloads already in that time, encouraging Mozilla to roll out even more futures for the simple browser.

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Although it probably had the biggest share in the web browser market, the bloat that was known as Internet Explorer soon dragged Microsoft's name down to the Internet Hall of Shame. Given than notoriety, it almost seemed that its new browser, Microsoft Edge, had an unfair disadvantage. Unsurprisingly, the company put its marketing and advertising machine into high gear, including tests that claim superior battery life for the Edge. However, most, if not all, of these proofs and counter-proofs were made by browser makers themselves. Fortunately, Linus Tech Tips decided it was time to have an independent test done, and the results might surprise you.

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Late last year, Mozilla launched Firefox Focus, basically the closest you could get to a "burner" browser that kept your online dealings private and erased your footprints after you close the app. Back then, it was made available only for iOS, which was a bit ironic considering it was the last platform Firefox was officially and natively available on. Half a year later, Mozilla has finally decided to grace the Android platform with its single-tabbed focus on privacy.

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Most computer users, be it on traditional desktops or mobile devices, mostly live in their web browsers. Almost all interactivity with the outside world happens through their favorite browser, from email to social networking to watching videos to plain old browsing. So it stands that the browser should also be one of the most reliable pieces of software on your device. With the latest Firefox 54 release, Mozilla inches closer towards doing just that with a new multiple process feature that takes advantage of modern computers' multiple CPU cores.

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Most of our interactions with our devices, be it a desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone, happens in the web browser. We practically live in our web browers, something Google's Chrome OS is trying to exploit. So when browser become slow or, worse, crash, it can be an infuriating experience. Google Chrome has tried to address that problem by running each tab on a different process. Firefox will be doing something similar yet also different. Starting version 53, it will be running its "Quantum Compositor" on a separate process, ensuring not just faster performance but also stability.

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Netflix does not officially support Linux, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used on the platform. Linux users have been able to play Netflix streaming content using Chrome on Linux for the last couple of years, and now there’s a new browser with the same ability: Firefox. Netflix itself announced the new support, saying that those using Linux should be able to play content using Firefox as of yesterday.

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Browser-based games are nothing new, from Farmville to Plants vs. Zombies to Candy Crush Saga. Back then, smartphones weren’t as ubiquitous or as accessible as they are now. Browser games have since then taken a backseat, held back by limitations of web technologies and languages. Not anymore, promises Mozilla. With Firefox 52.0 and its fancy new WebAssembly feature, gaming on web browsers need no longer be limited to simplistic, usually 2D games. They can, and will, run more complex 3D games, without requiring a plugin.

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Mozilla might be best known as the creators of the Firefox web browser but it has also dipped its fingers in a few other products as well. Most notable is the Thunderbird e-mail client/PIM suite and most recent is Firefox OS for mobile and then for IoT. But here’s the rub: none of those endeavors have survived the test of time or of the market. Undaunted, Mozilla has just made its “first strategic acquisition” by buying Pocket, one of the most popular “read-it-later” services on the Web.

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Mozilla just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to bringing Firefox outside of the confines of a traditional web browser. After killing its plans for a Firefox OS smartphone, it shifted its eyes towards the more nascent Internet of Things market. Now it is also giving up on that IoT thrust as well. The nonprofit organization has just told its workforce that it will be scrapping its IoT team, laying off as much as 50 people in the process.

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