Mozilla Firefox 4 Beta Review

Mozilla Firefox 4 has a big change than the previous version. Okay, although that is true, but yea, this is not an innovation at all. Okay, let’s see the Firefox now.

Okay, this is the Firefox 4 Beta. Hey, is this really different than the previous one?  yes, really really different. Actually, the Linux version is coming soon, and when this post posted, only Windows and Mac got the preview. I think maybe GTK is unable to have any custom-designed window, so they maybe make a custom window UI by their self, I don’t know. Anyway, most Windows applications are also unable to create a custom UI for Luna (Windows XP VisualStyle). They’re rather having their own UI window (for example: Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Office 2010, Digsby, etc.), although the one application that can accomplish it is Safari 4 Beta (later this UI is also discontinued).

UI CHANGES

Single Central Menu, called Firefox Button!

Just, like Microsoft Office 2007 that only have one central button called Office Button, Firefox got this too, and ironically similar than Opera 10.5x.

Figure 1: Firefox and Opera, just similar on it.

Tabs on Top

Figure 2: Tabs

Then, after Chrome start it first, Opera comes with tabs on top, then this browser is also follows that.

Downloads Window

 Figure 3: Downloads Window UI

Sick, I think this has a big change. I only got this Aero-nized. But, since this is still beta, maybe the UI will be revamped too. I already reported a feedback on it.

 

Loading Progress Icon

 Figure 4: Progress Icon

Yes, as the page loads, a progress icon will appear.

 

NEW FEATURES

Add-ons Manager

Figure 5: The Add-Ons Manager

Nah, this is the most part I like. The Add-Ons Manager. Soon, this place is a single place to seek for Add-Ons. The search add-ons feature is better than the previous one, and this Add-Ons manager UI is similar with the Mozilla Fennec (Firefox for Mobile) and even the Mozilla Add-Ons.

 

App Tab

 

Figure 6: Pinned Tab, or Mozilla said it’s App Tab.

Just like Google Chrome to make a specific site open.

 

Features in Windows 7

Windows Aero Live Thumbnails integration.

Okay, each tab is now have their respective thumbnails. Like Windows Internet Explorer 8 on Windows 7.

Figure 7: Windows Aero Live Thumbnails

 

Jumplists

Figure 8: Jumplists

Jumplists is a frequent task placed for quick actions. And finally firefox get this.

 

Okay, that’s all. I don’t have any mind to explain about the technical things like HTML5, Javascript or Private Browsing.

Posted in: Mozilla