firefox

Installing add-ons and non-default themes can transform Ubuntu's Firefox into a slow web-browser, slowness that can be dealt with by tweaking various time-consuming configuration options, etc.

A new feature landed in Firefox BETA (the 13 BETA has already landed in Ubuntu 12.10), Reset Firefox, option that reverts Firefox to an initial fresh stage with a just-installed feel.

Months ago, Mozilla introduced several visual changes in Firefox, among which a new back button, displayed with a bigger icon as compared to the forward icon, buttons that have been assimilated by users as powerful Firefox branding elements, meaning, one can easily identify a web-browser as Firefox if observes the mentioned icons or/and can name "Firefox-like buttons" on themes with similar design.

Unityfox is a handy extension that adds progressbar and countbadge to Firefox's Unity launcher icon.

Regarding Ubuntu, the above add-on/extension has been a default part of Firefox in various Ubuntu releases, nevertheless, in Ubuntu 12.04, the newly landed Firefox 12 lacks it (probably due to 12.04's LTS nature and the fact that the add-on is still labeled as experimental), consequently, when a file is downloaded, Firefox doesn't "properly" display the process on the launcher.

Sometimes, there is a need for minor yet highly perceivable and relevant changes, in order to symbolize correct behaviors, especially when dealing with security-related approaches.

Firefox 14 nightly removed web-sites' favicons from the address bar, change performed with increasing security while browsing in mind, as such:

Mozilla has just launched Firefox 12 final with a heavily developer-oriented approach.

The new 12 release brings more than 85 improvements to the developer tools, such as the ability to see messages in the Web Console without the need of reloading the page.

Firefox 12 is to probably land in Ubuntu via the regular updates in the next hours/days.

Weeks ago, we presented the interesting addition of the attached download dialog into Firefox 14 custom build, with progressbar and ETA support.

The above download approach has landed in Firefox nightly 14, ditching the "experimental" status, thus being a part of the "regular" Firefox (although in a nightly, probably unstable stage).

Numerous popular web-sites are using Flash, approach that tends to slowdown computers, as well as to carry various vulnerabilities.

There are little things that tend to break proper visual consistencies in Ubuntu, such as various opened-in-phases menus, like for instance, the Network indicator menu, that was producing a flicker (due to its internal refresh) when opened.

This minor issues tend to create an unpleasant visual contrast with the regular, fast menus.

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS addressed, weeks ago, the Network indicator's flicker issue, nevertheless, Firefox and Thunderbird were "featuring" a similar behavior when opening menus.

Mozilla Firefox has, is and probably will be delivering a high-quality web-browsing experience, nevertheless there are consistent vocal complaints across the internets regarding Firefox's look.

It seems that Firefox developers have already started a solid work towards not merely slightly improving the UI, but firmly are to probably change the default theme (with Australis), as well producing new how-and-where components behave, look and feel.

Firefox web-broser is to probably be transformed into an eyecandy-filled web-browser with serious innovations implemented in the "real life" browser, thus ditching the "mockup area"-zone and, in the next versions, including the at-the-moment "experiments" in the day-to-day web-browser (like the new start page, the new home page, etc included in Firefox 14 nightly).