EssayBoard » Browsers

Mozilla Releases Firefox 8 Today

Vinh Nguyen — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:19:01 +0000

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I don’t want to repeat what others have already wrote about the release of Firefox 8 today! I just want to emphasize that Firefox 8 is safer for users, but will be a pain for some application developers. I’m not sure if that even sounds about right, because some web developers might not care. Nonetheless, it’s good to know that users don’t have to worry how certain third party software they install onto their computers might automatically install toolbars and extra Firefox extensions without the knowledge of the users, because Firefox 8 will notify the users if they want to allow third party software’s extensions or toolbars to be added to their Firefox browser or not.

Mac OS X Lion’s users might be disappointed with Firefox 8 in one aspect. It is that Firefox 8 isn’t yet added an easy button to allow full screen mode. Unlike Firefox 8, Google’s Chrome 15 has visibly displayed two slant arrow heads button (i.e., one arrow head slants up and the other slants down) at the uppermost right corner so when users hit on it, Google’s Chrome will go into full screen mode instantly. Of course, users can go into full screen mode with Firefox 8 on Mac OS X Lion by go to View > Enter Full Screen or using shortcut keys, but somehow it seems these methods are somewhat cumbersome. In case non-mac users have no idea, full screen mode isn’t a big deal to Windows at the moment, but this feature is a big deal for Mac OS X Lion.

Firefox 8 available to download, official launch tomorrow (digitaltrends.com)
Firefox 8 Officially Released (macstories.net)
Firefox 8 final released (onsoftware.en.softonic.com)
Faster Firefox 8 Hits the Web (webmonkey.com)
Download Firefox 8 For Windows, Mac & Linux (madrasgeek.com)
Mozilla launches Firefox 8 with Twitter search, Thunderbird 8 with Lightning 1.0 calendar (9to5google.com)
Firefox Version 8 Available Ahead of Official Release [OStatic] (ostatic.com)
Firefox 8 cracks down on add-ons (news.cnet.com)
Firefox 8 Officially Released (omgubuntu.co.uk)
Firefox 8 Now Officially Available, Includes Built-In Twitter Search (techcrunch.com)
Firefox 8 offers upgrades, but Firefox 10 is the one to wait for (100gf.wordpress.com)
Firefox 8 Officially Arrives November 8 But It’s Available for Download Now (mashable.com)
Firefox 8 Now Officially Available, Includes Built-In Twitter Search (ianogema.wordpress.com)
Firefox 8 Launches with Built-in Twitter Search, Smarter Add-On Management & Better WebGL Support (siliconfilter.com)
Firefox 8 arrives with Twitter search functionality (techradar.com)
Firefox 8 Unleashed|Download Now (techtimely.wordpress.com)

Firefox Version 9 Aurora To Boost Javascript Performance And Improve Experiences For Users And Web Developers

Vinh Nguyen — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:50:35 +0000

Aurora is version 9 of Firefox. Firefox’s stable version is 7.0.1, and it already has a beta in progress which is Firefox version 8. What after Aurora? Well, there is a nightly built which has been bumped to version 10 of Firefox. Confuse yet? Don’t be, because if you’re a regular user of Firefox who only wants to play with the stablest version there is of Firefox, then Firefox version 7.0.1 will be perfect.

So, what about Aurora? According to sources, Aurora utilizes a new feature known as type inference to boost Javascript’s performance. Regular users don’t really have to know what type inference is though, because it’s more of how one algorithm is able to smartly assign data types to particular variables. According to sources, Javascript’s performance can be improved by assigning correct data types to variables. Technically, I don’t know the true meaning of using type inference, but I surmise it has to do with the efficiency of memory. If my guess is correct, the efficient memory allocations will help boost Javascript’s performance, but do take this deduction with a grain of salt.

Aurora carries a new feature known as Data Management Window, and this feature allows users to specifically assign which websites can access users’ information such as browsing data, cookies, passwords, and so on. To access this feature, one has to type about:permissions into the URL address bar.

For web developers, Firefox Aurora comes with better support for HTML5, DOM level 3, server-sent events, networking technologies, and tools such as Scratchpad, Web Console, Web Developer Menu and others.

Aurora supports Mac, Windows, and Android. I’m not sure if Aurora is available for Linux or not, because I’d not heard anything of Aurora and Linux. Nonetheless, I might update this post on Aurora and Linux compatibility when I’ve the chance to test Aurora out on Linux. I don’t have an Android device, therefore I can only repeat what the source says about Aurora on Android. The source says that Android users will have a new look and feel of Firefox through Aurora. I guess the only way to find that out for Android users is to download Aurora and test it out.

In conclusion, Aurora has a solid feel to it when I’m using it. It feels really fast! With faster Javascript, Aurora can load websites with heavy Javascript elements faster. With better tools and support for HTML5, Firefox Aurora is definitely making it easier for web developers who want to create applications and add-ons for Firefox. Other experimental features are in the work, and a noticeable experimental feature is Data Management Window. I recommend users to test out Aurora! Users can download Aurora through Cnet and Mozilla’s official website at here.

Sources: http://www.ghacks.net/2011/10/01/firefox-9-features-changes/, http://www.ghacks.net/2011/09/04/firefox-9-gets-big-javascript-performance-boost/, http://blog.mozilla.com/futurereleases/2011/05/27/firefoxaurora/

$5000 Question, What About Amazon Mobile Silk Browser’s Privacy?

Vinh Nguyen — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:45:39 +0000

Amazon introduces mobile web browser Silk to Kindle Fire and claims that this browser will be the first to use the power of the cloud servers to speed up the loading of mobile contents and improve the performances overall. It sounds great and all, but if Amazon’s intention is to make its cloud servers as proxy/caching sorts of service, then would one has to sacrifice some major privacy in term of web browsing? For an instance, if one wants to browse anywhere on the web using Silk browser, it’s obviously that Amazon will definitely know one’s favorite web locations, first ever visited web locations, and so on? Amazon can use these data then to attract users to all sorts of advertisements and products.

Although one has to worry about privacy, but then one might like to trade privacy for security. In my opinion, Amazon definitely can improve the security of web browsing for Silk browser, because Amazon’s cloud servers are the powerful middleman that caches and processes and optimizes contents for users before the optimizations of everything get push through Amazon’s network and back onto users’ Kindle Fire. To make this clearer, Amazon can intercept everything and then make sure that everything is safe before passing on to the customers — example would be scanning a piece of contents for viruses and malware before a customer download it. $5000 question is that will customer sacrifice privacy for security and performances?

Anyhow, check out the video right after the break to know more of the mechanics of Amazon’s Silk browser.

Firefox 6 Will Be Released On Tuesday

Vinh Nguyen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:22:05 +0000

Just a slight improvement to Firefox 5, Firefox 6 wil officially be released on Tuesday. The official release isn’t going to stop Mozilla to release the final code today through its FTP server. You can try to look up for Mozilla FTP server somehow and download Firefox 6 before the official release of Firefox 6 comes out tomorrow.

Source: http://www.techspot.com/news/45079-firefox-6-quietly-released-ahead-of-official-launch.html

Speed Up IE9 On Desktop By Turning On Accelerated With Graphics Feature

Vinh Nguyen — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:02:39 +0000

Want to speed up Internet Explorer 9? IE9 allows you to leverage the power of your graphic card to speed up the loading of webpages and various other web elements. Since the feature is available, and if you don’t mind allowing IE9 to use the power of your graphic card, you can turn this feature on. How?

Fire up your IE9
Go to Tools or use the combination of keys (Alt + X)
Click on Internet Options
Go to Advanced Tab
Check the box that is labeling with Accelerated with graphics at the very top!
Click Apply at the very bottom
Click OK to exit everything.

That’s it! I hope you find this feature will improve your web experience with IE9. Alternatively, you can always try one of those elite browsers out there (e.g., Chrome, Firefox).

Google Chrome 12 Stable Version Will Scan For Malicious Downloads

Vinh Nguyen — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:49:40 +0000

I’m happy to know that Google Chrome newest stable version yet which is Chrome 12 can now automatically scan for malicious downloads. According to USAToday, Chrome 12 boasts that it will not need to know the malicious web destinations ahead of time, and yet it will be able to detect malicious downloads. So, it sounds Chrome 12 is super safe! Still, some hackers out there may eventually know how to circumvent Google Chrome’s newest yet battle strategy. For now though, don’t we love nothing more than a browser such as Chrome to exhibit such amazing security feature? I think so, because with Chrome 12 we may feel surfing the web and downloading data somewhat safer than what not.

If one day the browsers can replace all security software, that will be the day that I’m truly happy! No longer anybody needs to download a bunch of security software to hog evermore computer’s resources. No longer anybody needs to buy even more security software just to know later they still can be hacked as usual. It will be a death knell for many security software if light weight browsers can be configured to prevent computer viruses and malware. Firewall? Sure, a browser can become a user interface for IPTables for Linux users. Imagine that eh? How about such a browser can also configure Windows’ firewall with preset safest firewall settings? Don’t worry, such browsers will allow users to modify security rules of Windows’ firewall down to the tiniest detail so whatever specifications and needs will be met.

You see, Chrome is heading in the direction that I have to say, “I’m loving it!” You see, it doesn’t matter if a computer has installed the best security software. When a user downloads something destructive, the security software has only one chance of identifying such malicious download; we know more than often, many security software tend to miss the mark completely, especially with those zero-day exploits. The truth is that no antivirus software can boast for sure that they will catch 100% of all virus types out there in the wild. As Internet connection gets faster, the needs for downloads will increase many more folds. It’s obvious that we will get infect by virus easily if we are not evermore vigilant about our downloading behaviors. So, in the end I don’t see that many differences between a browser with capability of detecting computer viruses versus an antivirus software. The big difference is that a browser may likely be free of charge, but most antivirus software come with decent price tags.

Chrome 12 has other new features too, but I let you read them at USAToday’s “Google Chrome 12 is now stable release.” You don’t have to wait for Google to push the update to your browser automatically, because now you can venture directly to Google Chrome’s website and download the newest stable version. Don’t forget to install it after you download it, eh? I think by installing the latest version, the older version will be overwritten automatically. Just make sure you actually quit Chrome before the installation of the newest yet stable version of Chrome begins.

Source: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2011/06/google-chrome-12-is-now-stable-release/1?csp=34tech&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-TechTopStories+%28Tech+-+Top+Stories%29

Chrome On Windows 7 Got Pwned By VUPEN Security With Zero Day Exploit

Vinh Nguyen — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:48:30 +0000

Google was offering hackers money to throw every trick of their trade against Chrome web browser to prove a point that Chrome isn’t hackable. Unfortunately, just recently VUPEN Security company who provides defensive and offensive computer securities to governments and Fortune 500 companies had successfully hacked Chrome browser on Windows 7. The company was able to come up with a zero day exploit that is not yet in the wild, I hope, to exploit Chrome browser and launch a calculator on Windows 7. I’m not sure this same trick can be done on Mac OS X or not. Anyhow, check out the video right after the break on this.

Sources: http://www.vupen.com/demos/VUPEN_Pwning_Chrome.php,
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20061269-245.html

Firefox 4.0.1 (Build 1) Update

Vinh Nguyen — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 05:00:12 +0000

Don’t be surprised when Firefox 4 asks you to do an update to Firefox 4.0.1, because it’s the latest build to update several security issues. Some of you will notice Firefox 4 will automatically ask you to do this update, but many of you will not have this option yet. Firefox 4.0.1 is going to be released on April 26th, but it’s rolling out first for users who are on beta update channel. Wanting to use beta update channel to get the latest Firefox? Use this link here to do so. Also, there are still several known issues with Firefox 4.0.1, and this is why it’s only at version of Firefox 4.0.1 (Build 1). Expecting build 2 to be released sometimes soon, I guess.

Firefox 4 RC Is Out, A Final Stretch of Testing Before An Official Version

Vinh Nguyen — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:33:10 +0000

Mozilla has released Firefox 4 RC (Release Candidate). This means Mozilla is getting closer to release an official version of Firefox 4. This is good news. I assume everything I’ve mentioned about Firefox 4 on my blog is pretty much staying intact. If anything, Firefox 4 RC has less bugs and more features than Firefox 4 beta’s versions. So, make sure update your Firefox 4 beta to the RC one. Of course, if you’re still using Firefox 3.6.x (i.e., the stable version), you can wait for the release of the official version of Firefox 4. Still, Firefox 4 RC is as close as you get to an official version of Firefox 4, and so if you don’t want to wait, I recommend you download it today and give it a test drive! Have fun browsing with Firefox 4!