Topic: Firefox 4 - released 3/22/11

[scottws]

Just installed Firefox 4.  It's UI seems significantly less antiquated as Firefox hadn't really changed its UI much from the when I started using it at Firebird 0.7 to Firefox 3.6.16, but it will take some getting used to.  The tabs are at the top, Chrome-style.  They also got rid of the venerable stop, go, reload buttons and replaced them with a single context sensitive button that changes depending on the page state.  I like this, but hate how they put it on the right of the address bar as it is in IE.  You can move it over to the left, but it seems to have special integration when it is on the right of the address bar that doesn't happen when it is on the left.

It also leverages Aero now on Vista and 7, but the window hitches when moving it around on my system.  This does not occur for other applications on my system.  That said, I do have a tab open with Netflix Instant, so that could be the source of that issue.  Supposedly this version has improved performance, especially in Javascript (again).  It also improves standards compliance, getting a 97/100 on the Acid 3 test (pretty impressive IMO).

I have read that a lot of people have returned to 3.6.x after using 4 for a short time because of bugs, freezing, and slowness but I haven't seen this so far myself.  Besides, I figure 4.0.1 will be out in a week or two to correct the most widely reported or serious issues.  Most of my add-ons from 3.6.16 work with 4, but admittedly I don't use very many.  A couple of them had to be updated to new versions to work with 4. 

[idolminds]

You can switch the tabs to the bottom in the options if its bothersome. I used to have an addon that would merge the stop and reload button so its nice that that is built in.

I think the most interesting thing for me is its ability to smoothly scroll on my system while my videocard is still broken. Chrome, Opera, and even FF3 would chug when scrolling. Like re-rendering the page every "tick". It was annoying as hell, but FF4 scrolls like the others did when I was using my videocard. No idea what they are doing different, but I like it (even if it only affects me right now)

One addon to look into is "Movable Firefox Button". It takes that big orange thing and shrinks it down, but you can also move it anywhere like any other button.

But yeah, I'm a fan. I kind of like the tabs on top over the titlebar area. Saves a bunch of space...stupid titlebar. Its like using Chrome but with access to all the awesome FF addons I like (and cant live without. I am so glad someone updated ImgLikeOpera.)

[Quemaqua]

I'm liking it quite a bit myself, and I've not noticed anything in the way of bugs.  It actually seems more solid to me thus far than any of the prior versions, and it's been quick and doesn't feel bloaty like FF has seemed at times in the past.  I'm a fan too.

[iPPi]

I like it.  It feels faster.  I'm still getting used to the UI changes though.

[scottws]

There is one thing it does that I haven't gotten used to.  It is something with the text.  I don't know if it is trying to smooth it or what.  It looks strange.  But Windows already smooths it so I don't know why FF would do it on top of that.

[TheOtherBelmont]

There is one thing it does that I haven't gotten used to.  It is something with the text.  I don't know if it is trying to smooth it or what.  It looks strange.  But Windows already smooths it so I don't know why FF would do it on top of that.

Yeah, I've noticed this with some of the text on my bookmarks in the bookmarks toolbar.  It really sticks out too because I use a black theme with white text.

Overall, I am liking Firefox 4 a lot so far now that I've got everything customized how I like it.

[scottws]

So I started looking into Firefox Sync.  Just last week I installed Xmarks because I was tired of doing research on various computers, clicking the star in the address bar to bookmark useful pages, and then not having that bookmark available on other computers.  Then I was reading about Firefox 4 and it now bundles a feature similar to Xmarks called Firefox Sync, which was previously just an add-on.

I thought, "Well this is the official Mozilla way, so maybe I'll see about getting rid of Xmarks and seeing if it is possible to do Firefox Sync between 4 and 3.6."  Well I looked and the add-on for 3.6 has a 2/5 star rating!  Ouch!  Screw that.  No wonder there is no wizard that automatically comes up to help you set up Firefox Sync after you first install Firefox 4.  It seems to be a piece of crap.

[ren]

I used the beta for a couple weeks and loved it. This maximizing screen space trend is great, especially on a small screen.

[Xessive]

Oh Scott, abotu the Reload/Stop button, if you move it anywhere make sure you move both Reload and Stop buttons. The key to makeing a "smart" button is the order. As long as Reload on the left and Stop is on the right they'll merge into a single "smart" button.

- If the order is "Reload - Stop" you'll get a combined "Reload/Stop" button.
- Swap the order to "Stop - Reload" or separate them otherwise to get two distinct buttons.

I moved it over to the traditional left side of the address bar.

Regarding the tabs, you also have the option to move tabs below the address bar, as in old Firefox.

I still feel there's a who slot across the top of the browser that's just wasted because of the Firefox drop down menu, that could have easily been a single icon button on the right of the tabs. The tabs could have slipped right to the top of the browser window as in Chrome. That happens when you maximize the window but in its normal state (floating) it's just wasted space.

[scottws]

Well, what I really meant regarding the stop/reload button was that it binds itself to the address bar on the right, but not if it is on the left.  I suppose that's a pretty silly thing to complain about though.

As far as the fonts, it turns out that this is a very common complaint.  The fonts look a lot better if you turn off the hardware acceleration feature.  When the fonts get rendered through Direct2D, they come out looking like crap.  IE9 has this same problem, apparently.

[Xessive]

Well, what I really meant regarding the stop/reload button was that it binds itself to the address bar on the right, but not if it is on the left.  I suppose that's a pretty silly thing to complain about though.

As far as the fonts, it turns out that this is a very common complaint.  The fonts look a lot better if you turn off the hardware acceleration feature.  When the fonts get rendered through Direct2D, they come out looking like crap.  IE9 has this same problem, apparently.

Yep, just confirmed the font difference. I think what they were aiming for was the "Safari" effect but missed horribly.

[scottws]

So yeah, I guess this font issue is a Microsoft problem, not a Mozilla problem.  Sucks.  That pretty much means it will never get fixed.

[scottws]

Did they swap the positions of the "Open Link in New Tab" and "Open Link in New Window" options in the right-click menu?  I'm suddenly finding myself opening lots of new windows inadvertently.

[Quemaqua]

They did, yeah.  I'm doing the opposite... I don't care for tabs and yet I keep opening them all the time, heh.

[iPPi]

Yea I noticed that yesterday as well.  Lots of small things that you kind of have to get used to.

[Xessive]

Honestly, Firefox now feels like a composite from Chrome, Opera, and IE; which is not necessarily a bad thing.

[scottws]

So I just found App Tabs.  Cool!  They are sort of like items on the bookmark toolbar, but better.

I also tried Firefox 4 for Android.  It's good, but a little sluggish on my Incredible.

[scottws]

I have noticed that Firefox 4 is significantly faster than Firefox 3.6 to load pages.  In fact, I found this link, which claims that Fx4 is actually faster than Chrome 10.  I am curious what those of you who switched to Google Chrome for the speed think of Fx4.

[Xessive]

I juggle both FF4 and Chrome and I have noticed that FF4 is noticeably faster at loading pages as well as scrolling. Chrome seems to choke a little when I speed scoll through long pages i.e. threads. FF4 is smooth at all times.

Admittedly, Chrome is the "easy" browser in comparison. It's a quick install and I don't have to fish for Flash or Java versions, so I generally recommend it to my less-techy family & friends.