Mozilla has released Firefox 23.0 FINAL, the latest version of its open-source, cross-platform browser for Windows, Mac together with Linux. The novel build’s principal highlight is the implementation of mixed-content blocking for improved security, but it also comes alongside a host of tiddler changes, including i that has already provoked a negative reply from ability users.
The controversial alter is the consolidation of search default preferences together with thus both Address bar together with Search bar utilisation the same default search engine. Previously Address bar searches defaulted to Google regardless of the default provider laid inwards the Search bar.
The major upshot of this motility is that the keyword.url configuration alternative has been removed, which previously allowed users to laid their ain alternative of default search engine for the Address bar. Note that existing keyword searches are non affected.
Firefox 23 immediately blocks potentially unsafe insecure content on a secure website yesteryear default.
The novel Mixed Content Blocker characteristic is immediately switched on yesteryear default – this immediately blocks for sure insecure content – such every bit scripts – on secure websites yesteryear default to forestall eavesdropping together with “man-in-the-middle” attacks.
On visiting such a site, all active insecure content is disabled together with a modest shield icon inwards the address bar volition alarm the user to the presence of insecure content. To stance this content, click the shield icon followed yesteryear the Keep Blocking drop-down carte du jour together with pick out Disable Protection on This Page. All content volition later charge together with the commons yellowish warning sign indicating mixed content volition endure displayed inwards its place.
While passive content isn’t blocked, the site volition non display a lock icon because it’s non fully encrypted.
Other improvements inwards Firefox 23 include a revamped plan icon, addition the add-on of a “click-to-start” alternative for disabled plugins. Instead of disabling or enabling plugins nether about:addons, users tin laid plugins to “Always Activate” or “Never Activate”. By selecting the latter option, plugins won’t run unless a website specifically requests them, inwards which illustration the user tin click to confirm the utilisation of the plugin on that website only.
The novel SocialAPI gains a reveal of updates inwards this release: back upwards for a novel Share Panel, full-screen video chats, a SocialMark recommend push together with initial back upwards for Web Install, which is designed to facilitate the finding together with installation of novel social providers.
Developers hit a novel global browser console, addition a novel Network Monitor toolbox, which provides a timeline stance of network activeness on a website – the information has been available since Firefox 4.0, but is immediately presented inwards a to a greater extent than accessible form. Similarly, the about:memory configuration covert provides a to a greater extent than functional user interface.
Three options accept also been removed from the Preferences dialog: Load images automatically, Enable JavaScript together with Always exhibit the tab bar. The about:memory user interface is immediately to a greater extent than functional, together with at that spot are also a reveal of developer updates including partial back upwards for Web Audio, enabled for testing purposes. Mac users should also come across Firefox adopt the novel scrollbar agency implemented inwards Lion (OS X 10.7) together with later.
Firefox 23.0 FINAL is available immediately every bit a free, open-source download for Windows, Mac together with Linux.
