Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
Firefox Impresses Users with Interface and Security Updates
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Matt Hymel
While Internet Explorer sits on top of the browser share and
Google Chrome embraces its momentum, Mozilla's Firefox browser
could potentially lose ground in the competitive landscape. However, they are doing
their best to prove why their user base (and prospective users)
continues to rely on Firefox for web viewing entertainment and
operations.
Aside from the announcement and introduction of Firefox 4 Beta,
Mozilla has been flexing its usability muscles once again. This
time, they have effectively created a tab management feature, an
area that is in desperate need of innovation. The new function
provides a full visual display of tabs, similar to viewing files or
folders on a desktop monitor.
You can watch the full video of the Introduction to Firefox's
Tab Candy here.
For those that have gotten to use the alpha download, there has
been nothing but praise and excitement. Here's what some notable
websites have said:
- Lifehacker: "Another favorite feature is that
Tab Candy effectively collapses different windows inside of one, so
when you're looking at one group, your others are waiting inside
the switching interface. Sure you can open a new window if you need
multiple Firefox windows open at once, but most of the time you
don't need the extra clutter. We've just started playing with Tab
Candy, but so far we're loving it."
- TechCrunch: "Firefox just perfected the tab
browsing -- for those who don't use a Mac, basically these features
allow you to zoom out and get a bird's-eye-view of all your windows
(or tabs, in this case) that are open - and you can also arrange
open windows (or again, tabs, in this case) in certain spaces so
they're clumped together. This allows you to more easily find what
you're looking for with so many tabs open."
- Gizmodo: "I never would have thought that an
improvement in tab technology would have me fist-pumping in front
of my computer, but this video preview for Firefox's forthcoming
Tab Candy feature, which spatially organizes and groups tabs,
really has me jazzed."
The new tab interface looks to improve work efficiency within
one window, as tab 'overhauls' have become more and more common.
This simple yet elegant implementation will change the way users
experience the plethora of information accessed on a daily
basis.
While Firefox takes pride in its user interface, security and
add-ons are important in attracting businesses away from the likes
of Internet Explorer. According to an article from AppScout.com, thanks to the Electronic
Frontier Foundation (EFF), a new extension for Firefox will "enable
HTTPS on sites that support it, and uses it by default when you
visit." This extension, called HTTPS Everywhere, "doesn't encrypt
all of your web browsing, but it is one way to make sure that data
sent and received from some of the Web's most popular sites is
encrypted." While HTTPS may look more familiar when accessing
online bank accounts, sites like Google, Facebook, Wikipedia, and
others have adapted the protocol as a simple (but not end-all)
execution to further protect their users.
What browser does your business prefer? Is this chosen by your
company or your users? As Firefox continues to improve its
platform, how will Chrome and IE respond?
Until next time -
Matthew Hymel
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support &
Consulting
Rochester
IT Support & Consulting
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