It isn't time yet for Firefox's biggest update, but Mozilla is serving up some small features as an appetizer. While not yet Project Quantum fast, the latest version of Firefox is still faster because it removes the need for convoluted processes and workarounds just to perform some of the most common tasks you do on the web, like filling out forms, taking screenshots, or sending links to your future self.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Computer users out there who are still running Windows Vista or XP have been left behind by most major software makers, including Microsoft. Mozilla plans to continue to support Vista and XP users and has announced that in approximately March 2017 XP and Vista users will be moved to the Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR). Mozilla says that Firefox is one of the few browsers out there that will continue to support XP and Vista users.
Mozilla has announced the rollout of an update to its Firefox browser that fixes a newly reported vulnerability, one that has left Tor users exposed. Not only has this vulnerability made it possible for Tor users to be deanonymized, Mozilla says the exploit is being actively used for this purpose. The vulnerability affects Windows, macOS, and Linux, though the exploit itself only works against Windows users.
Almost all respectable modern web browsers these days, be they on desktop or mobile, offer a way out of obnoxious ads, activity tracking, and potential invasions of privacy. But more often than not, these features come at the cost of a bit of complexity, which can be intimidating for an already anxious user. Mozilla, who only last year was finally able to bring its Firefox browser in full to iOS, might have a solution. For iOS only as well. It is called Firefox Focus, and not only is it already private by default, it is also dead simple to use.
As of next month, Mozilla will have its Firebox browser block some Flash content, following the same trend we’ve seen with the other major Web browsers. Only non-essential Flash content will be blocked; this includes Flash elements that aren’t visible to the end user. As a result, says Mozilla, users will experience less issues with Flash crashing or causing the browser to hang. Battery life, page load speeds, Firefox’s responsiveness, and overall security will all be improved as a result.
