Mozilla Firefox recently released version eighty-nine with a new skin called Proton. It brings an essential change to the user interface in its colors and appearance, which gives the internet browser a more modern feel. Web browsers look impressively congenial these days, with little tabs at the top, a reachable menu on the right, and a bookmarks bar if you want it. However, Mozilla Firefox has been unique in these browser wars, working to improve its Gecko engine instead of upgrading to WebKit or Google's Chromium variation like Microsoft Edge has. With the new look now available on all platforms, we chatted with Mozilla Firefox about the new version and if he has any special hopes for WWDC next week.
A new look
Using the new user interface made us wonder why redesign it now. “In late 1, we had a vision of what we wanted Mozilla Firefox to be. Now, we live in a hectic season where people face some really tough challenges each and every day. The issues that crop up all over the web page are quite difficult to fix,” a Mozilla Firefox spokesperson told us by email. “We believe the browser has to be software you can trust to keep you safe, whether it's privacy, performance or security, and it looks great and works great. Transparent with the Web”. While the user interface is clearly an improvement over what came before, it also prompted the team to work on general browser optimization. “On June XNUMX, our version of Mozilla Firefox had groundbreaking design work, inspiring engineering work, and a truly excellent final product,” they tell us. “With this launch, our mission was to save everyone time. In Mozilla Firefox, this means speeding up the page load, using less memory, or simply optimizing the daily use of the browser. We think we have a new version of the Internet and the tools we use to operate the website. In each and every project we do, there is always an aspect to be proud of, no matter how minor. Mozilla Firefox agreed. “The team is very proud of the simplified and uncluttered menus. We prioritized content based on what people clicked on when visiting the menu,” they told us. “We made the labels less enigmatic and more consistent. In addition to this, we've removed certain elements and updated the icons to make it easier for people to see where they want to go at a glance. We've worked to deliver a high-quality, engaging experience so people can feel comfortable no matter where they're using Firefox—on a computer, phone, or tablet. It meant reducing and rationalizing instead of adding and expanding.
Accessibility in Proton
A new user interface should also cater to those with accessibility needs, so we wonder if the Proton's new look makes sure to accommodate that. "For this release, we looked at the use of dark colors and themes, and the overall minimization of visual noise," Mozilla Firefox explained. “This year, we will continue to work with the accessibility community to address their specific needs and also integrate them into future releases. " It seems the company is still in the process of progressing accessibility for Mozilla Firefox and Proton as a whole. One aspect of the user interface that hits many users the wrong way, though, is the tabs. They seem more suitable for touch screens, thus We asked Mozilla Firefox if this was on purpose. "For the tabs, our main goal was to redesign these tabs so they would float seamlessly, and we've added visual cues, like blocking videos from playing." play automatically until you're ready to visit that tab," explains Mozilla Firefox. "Over 4% of people have XNUMX or more tabs open. We've separated the browser tab to make it more engaging move, rearrange, and pull tabs into a new window to fit your flow, and arrange them so they're easier to find.
Gecko engine on iOS fifteen?
Of course, we are on the eve of Apple's WWDC, where iOS XNUMX, macOS XNUMX, and many more updates are expected to be announced. I asked Mozilla Firefox if they had any wishes of their own, or even if they were only allowed to use the Gecko engine instead of WebKit, which is a requirement for Apple's App Store browsers. “Yes, the most obvious thing is to be able to take advantage of GeckoView in our Mozilla Firefox iOS application. Apple is generally a partner and we were very happy to see the new privacy features added with iOS XNUMX and the default browser option. We await more good news for this next WWDC.