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Firefox 4 RC now available

blog.mozilla.com

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Re: Firefox 4 RC now available

#22
post #19
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whatever that bar is, it's not Mozilla official. Some other software on your computer put it there.

Some other software on your computer put it there. Why does Firefox allow this?

There is work to give the user more control over this that unfortunately didn't make it into Firefox 4 [1], but ultimately it's a battle that can't be won; on the desktop, apps can modify other apps. I suspect that this will happen to Chrome too.

[1]: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=596343

Re: Firefox 4 RC now available

#23
I'm used to Firefox 3.6 on Win7. There are a few reasons why it's my go-to browser when I'm using Windows:

1) Plug-ins like Firebug, web dev toolbar, greasemonkey, and resizeable textarea

2) Tabs are well-placed and readable, and you can simply double-click next to tabs to open a new tab

3) A proper status bar that's always visible

4) A full menu bar

5) No Adobe Flash built-in

I've installed Firefox 4 RC. The colors are loud. Tabs are on top, tab text is illegible, and double-clicking next to tabs doesn't create a new tab (it simply resizes the browser window). The status bar and the menu bar are gone. I couldn't even find Firebug and Greasemonkey.

Luckily, a few of these unfortunate decisions can be reversed. Apparently, you can turn on an "add-on bar" to show the controls for Firebug and Greasemonkey. You can also opt for a top menu bar, which has the added benefit that it re-enables the "double-click to create new tab" behavior.

IMHO, the new UI sucks balls. If Mozilla wanted to copy Chrome/Safari's UI, they've succeeded.

EDIT: After viewing some of my websites in Firefox 4, I must say that CSS3 and text rendering is a lot better than in FF 3.6. From what I can tell, it's on par with Chrome. I just wish it didn't have its UI as well.

Re: Firefox 4 RC now available

#24

I'm used to Firefox 3.6 on Win7. There are a few reasons why it's my go-to browser when I'm using Windows: 1) Plug-ins like Firebug, web dev toolbar, greasemonkey, and resizeable textarea 2) Tabs are well-placed and readable, and you can simply double-click next to tabs to open a new tab 3) A proper status bar that's always visible 4) A full menu bar 5) No Adobe Flash built-in I've installed Firefox 4 RC. The colors…

Right click on a UI button and disable tabs on top + enable the menu bar. Firefox isn't Chrome -- it doesn't force you into its workflow or mode of thought.

Re: Firefox 4 RC now available

#25
I switched to chrome after trying to use Minefield for about a month. Minefield was ugly - I just couldn't get it to look perfect. Chrome has all the extensions I need now. Firefox doesn't have anything special in my opinion. Chrome is faster and light weight. I just wish it had a tab preview like Firefox's "Tab Scope" and a proper title in the titlebar.

Re: Firefox 4 RC now available

#26
post #19
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whatever that bar is, it's not Mozilla official. Some other software on your computer put it there.

Some other software on your computer put it there. Why does Firefox allow this?

Technically, your operating system's security model allows this. There's little Firefox could do to prevent it.

This is a historical accident; only toy and mobile OSes have any sort of application-level access control.

Re: Firefox 4 RC now available

#27
post #3

Serious question here... I now use Chrome, my parents use Chrome, and almost everyone I know has converted. Most HN users seem to use it too: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2105954 . Is there anything compelling in Firefox 4 to get excited about?

iMacros for Firefox is still way more powerful than iMacros for Chrome. Same is true for many other "low level" extensions such as Firebug.

Re: Firefox 4 RC now available

#28
post #24

I'm used to Firefox 3.6 on Win7. There are a few reasons why it's my go-to browser when I'm using Windows: 1) Plug-ins like Firebug, web dev toolbar, greasemonkey, and resizeable textarea 2) Tabs are well-placed and readable, and you can simply double-click next to tabs to open a new tab 3) A proper status bar that's always visible 4) A full menu bar 5) No Adobe Flash built-in I've installed Firefox 4 RC. The colors…

Right click on a UI button and disable tabs on top + enable the menu bar. Firefox isn't Chrome -- it doesn't force you into its workflow or mode of thought.

Thanks for the tip, it does help. I've since edited my comment.

Re: Firefox 4 RC now available

#29

I'm used to Firefox 3.6 on Win7. There are a few reasons why it's my go-to browser when I'm using Windows: 1) Plug-ins like Firebug, web dev toolbar, greasemonkey, and resizeable textarea 2) Tabs are well-placed and readable, and you can simply double-click next to tabs to open a new tab 3) A proper status bar that's always visible 4) A full menu bar 5) No Adobe Flash built-in I've installed Firefox 4 RC. The colors…

> If Mozilla wanted to copy Chrome/Safari's UI, they've succeeded

They haven't succeeded because they still see the need for both a search box and an address box and the tabs don't close right under where the last close button was (my biggest gripes).

Re: Firefox 4 RC now available

#30
post #6
post #3

Serious question here... I now use Chrome, my parents use Chrome, and almost everyone I know has converted. Most HN users seem to use it too: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2105954 . Is there anything compelling in Firefox 4 to get excited about?

Well, I guess you could look at it the other way, with firefox 4 being released is there much in chrome that provides a significant advantage to the end user? Sure Chrome has iterated faster and as a result the current Chrome is a lot better than FF3.6, is this the case with 4 now though?

Well no, you can't look at it that way. The fact that Chrome is no longer significantly better is hardly a reason to get excited about FF4 :)
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