New Firefox features

Ten years ago, Mozilla launched the Firefox browser. Last week, they rolled out version 33.1 with some interesting new features.

 

A browser is a program on your computer (or tablet or smartphone) that allows us to visit websites. You’ve been using a browser all along, even if you didn’t know it. Every time you use your computer to look at Castanet, do your banking online or update your Facebook status, a browser takes you there.

Last week’s column discussed tweaks you could make to Internet Explorer, but there is more than one browser, and you have a choice of which ones you want to use. Microsoft Internet Explorer is built in to Windows and has been since Windows 95. Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Apple Safari are well-known alternatives. This previous column (http://rlis.com/columns/column463.htm) explains more about browsers.

How do you know what browser you’re using? The browser’s logo is one big clue. Internet Explorer’s is a lowercase blue “e” with gold swoosh through it. Firefox’s is an orange fox wrapped around a blue globe. Chrome’s is a circle or a globe with blue in the middle and yellow, red and green on the outer part. A very easy way to get the name AND the version of the browser is to visit http://www.whatsmybrowser.org/.

I’ve been a Firefox user since version 1.0 and a Firefox evangelist since version 1.3. I love Firefox, and even though we’ve had some lovers’ quarrels over the last ten years, I’m sticking with Firefox. The newest release, version 33.1, includes two new privacy-centric features.

Firefox now includes a Forget button. Clicking there will give you the option to forget your recent browsing history, clear recent cookies, and close all the open tabs and windows. Why? Maybe you’re using Firefox on a public computer. Maybe you’re doing some Christmas shopping and don’t want to leave a trail for your significant other to find. Use this button to forget the last five minutes, two hours, or full day.

Yes, the old way to do this is still available and still available with a long and fairly complicated click path:

Settings | Options | Privacy | clear your recent history | [select time range] | [select details] | Clear Now

But the Forget button is easier!

Another privacy-enhancing option is the inclusion of the DuckDuckGo search engine (https://duckduckgo.com/) in the Firefox search bar. DuckDuckGo search doesn’t track your search history, doesn’t serve up social media information, and can also be faster than Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Learn more about DuckDuckGo here: https://duckduckgo.com/about. I have been using DuckDuckGo in the Firefox search bar for a long time by installing it with the Add To Search Bar add-on for Firefox (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/add-to-search-bar/) so it’s great to see it built in along with the “normal” choices.

Download the current version of Firefox here: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/ and take a quick tour here: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/desktop/.
 

What do you think?

This page (http://clicky.com/marketshare/global/web-browsers/) charts browser market share. Where do you fall? What browser are you using? What do you like or hate about it? Email me at [email protected] and tell me what you think.

 

Do you need help with your computer? I'm here to help you and your home or business computer get along!

Cate Eales runs Computer Care Kelowna (http://computercarekelowna.com/) a mobile service helping home users and businesses get along with their computers. To arrange an appointment phone her at 250-764-7043. Cate also welcomes your comments and suggestions. Send email to [email protected].

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This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.