Firefox 3.1 alpha debuts
Thrax
🐌Austin, TX Icrontian
Today marks the release of the Firefox 3.1 alpha. The new version, codenamed Shiretoko, includes several enhancements intended to enrich the experience for both developers and end-users.
The most apparent feature for users will be the addition of the revamped CTRL+Tab keystroke which brings a thumbnailed preview of tabbed pages. Hoping to allow users quicker access to commonly-used tabs, the switcher now iterates them in the order of last access. Permitting users to skip directly to the desired page limits the time Firefox spends redrawing the screen and should provide a small boost in browser performance.
For those who prefer the older linear tabbing, it has been rebound to CTRL+PGUP and CTRL+PGDN. You may note, however, that these keystrokes are rather removed from convenient access. Your typical user will wish to operate most shortcuts with their left hand, but this is improbable without significant and disruptive reshuffling of the hands.
[h2]The Visual Tab Switcher[/h2]
[figure]
[caption]Firefox 3.1 Alpha's visual tab switcher in action.[/figure]
The tab viewer -- with reflections and gradients -- has received a compliment of aesthetic touches that give the box a polished look. Disappointingly, the inset bookmark icons have been scaled up in size which gives them an unattractive pixelated appearance. We hope that they will be shrunk or removed for final refinements of fit and finish.
[figure]
[caption]A closer look at the visual tab switcher's aesthetics.[/caption][/figure]
[h2]The Awesome(r) Bar[/h2]
Firefox 3.0's awesome bar, the keyword-searchable and popularity-indexed bar that replaced the address bar, has also received some attention. Firefox 3.1's recent enhancements permit a user to quickly search for pages with the introduction of filters and wildcards. Typing a keyword followed by an asterisk limits the results to bookmarked sites, so on with the pound symbol for page titles, and URLs with the @ symbol.
[figure]
[caption]Our page history for Icrontic, ranked by popularity, limited to page titles.[/caption][/figure]
[h2]Developer Love[/h2]
Firefox 3.1 has also offered additions for developers which include text shadows, border shadows and border images which are sure to be a fan favorite. Lastly, the forward-thinking implementation of the HTML5 Canvas element rounds out the offerings.
These additions have primarily been made to comply with the fledgling CSS3 specifications. In particular, the element shadows are a move to pass the comprehensive ACID3 test.
Early additions of unfinished specifications could prompt other browser developers, significantly Microsoft, to implement the features or be left behind on an important marketing opportunity. The end result is a more standardized and friendly experience for coders and users.
[h2]Standing Impressions[/h2]
Shiretoko has thus far been remarkably stable for an alpha. While more time will certainly yield the glitches one would expect, it is pleasing to see this release so clean this early in the game.
Icrontic will keep you updated on significant releases in the future life of Firefox 3.1. For now, parties interested in test-driving the new code should head on over to Mozilla's release notes for a complete list of features and installation instructions.
The most apparent feature for users will be the addition of the revamped CTRL+Tab keystroke which brings a thumbnailed preview of tabbed pages. Hoping to allow users quicker access to commonly-used tabs, the switcher now iterates them in the order of last access. Permitting users to skip directly to the desired page limits the time Firefox spends redrawing the screen and should provide a small boost in browser performance.
For those who prefer the older linear tabbing, it has been rebound to CTRL+PGUP and CTRL+PGDN. You may note, however, that these keystrokes are rather removed from convenient access. Your typical user will wish to operate most shortcuts with their left hand, but this is improbable without significant and disruptive reshuffling of the hands.
[h2]The Visual Tab Switcher[/h2]
[figure]
[caption]Firefox 3.1 Alpha's visual tab switcher in action.[/figure]The tab viewer -- with reflections and gradients -- has received a compliment of aesthetic touches that give the box a polished look. Disappointingly, the inset bookmark icons have been scaled up in size which gives them an unattractive pixelated appearance. We hope that they will be shrunk or removed for final refinements of fit and finish.
[figure]
[caption]A closer look at the visual tab switcher's aesthetics.[/caption][/figure][h2]The Awesome(r) Bar[/h2]
Firefox 3.0's awesome bar, the keyword-searchable and popularity-indexed bar that replaced the address bar, has also received some attention. Firefox 3.1's recent enhancements permit a user to quickly search for pages with the introduction of filters and wildcards. Typing a keyword followed by an asterisk limits the results to bookmarked sites, so on with the pound symbol for page titles, and URLs with the @ symbol.
[figure]
[caption]Our page history for Icrontic, ranked by popularity, limited to page titles.[/caption][/figure][h2]Developer Love[/h2]
Firefox 3.1 has also offered additions for developers which include text shadows, border shadows and border images which are sure to be a fan favorite. Lastly, the forward-thinking implementation of the HTML5 Canvas element rounds out the offerings.
These additions have primarily been made to comply with the fledgling CSS3 specifications. In particular, the element shadows are a move to pass the comprehensive ACID3 test.
Early additions of unfinished specifications could prompt other browser developers, significantly Microsoft, to implement the features or be left behind on an important marketing opportunity. The end result is a more standardized and friendly experience for coders and users.
[h2]Standing Impressions[/h2]
Shiretoko has thus far been remarkably stable for an alpha. While more time will certainly yield the glitches one would expect, it is pleasing to see this release so clean this early in the game.
Icrontic will keep you updated on significant releases in the future life of Firefox 3.1. For now, parties interested in test-driving the new code should head on over to Mozilla's release notes for a complete list of features and installation instructions.
0
Comments
Address bar, check.
Done.
Insightful.