In its third Beta release of Firefox 4, Mozilla has added experimental multitouch support together with bug fixes and has now enabled super speed Javascript performance.
The multitouch support now allows the Firefox 4 rendering engine to track your finger movements across a touch screen, which is a first for Mozilla. This feature is particularly significant as it aligns Firefox with the growing trend of touch-based interfaces, making it more competitive in the modern browser market. Watch the video after the break to see it in action.
Enhanced Javascript Performance
The new Javascript engine that Mozilla have added to Firefox 4, named JaegerMonkey, is hoped will help Firefox 4 bridge the performance gaps between it and Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari browsers. JaegerMonkey is designed to optimize the execution of Javascript code, which is crucial for the performance of web applications and interactive websites. This improvement is expected to make browsing faster and more efficient, providing a smoother user experience.
Early reports are suggesting that Firefox 4 is now 10% faster than the stable Firefox 3.6.8 release. This speed boost is a significant leap forward, making Firefox 4 one of the fastest browsers available. The enhanced performance is not just limited to Javascript execution but also extends to overall page load times and responsiveness.
Additional Features and Improvements
Other features already included in Firefox 4 are designed to enhance usability and functionality. These include the new Firefox button, which consolidates menu options into a single button for easier access, and tabs on top, which provide a more streamlined and modern look. The new-look menu bar in Windows 7 integrates seamlessly with the operating system, offering a more cohesive user experience.
Upgraded add-ons and extension management make it easier for users to customize their browsing experience. The new system allows for more efficient handling of extensions, reducing the likelihood of conflicts and improving overall stability. Additionally, the ability to search across open tabs is a highly requested feature that enhances productivity by allowing users to quickly locate specific information within multiple tabs.
Firefox 4 also includes native support for WebM open video, which is a significant step towards promoting open standards on the web. This support ensures that users can view high-quality video content without relying on proprietary formats. Robust HTML5 and CSS3 support further solidifies Firefox 4’s position as a modern browser capable of handling the latest web technologies.
Full crash protection for multimedia plugins ensures that if a plugin crashes, it won’t take down the entire browser. This feature enhances stability and reliability, providing a better user experience. The user interface overhaul includes a cleaner, more intuitive design that makes navigation easier and more enjoyable.
In summary, Firefox 4 Beta 3 brings a host of new features and improvements that make it a strong contender in the browser market. The addition of multitouch support and the JaegerMonkey Javascript engine are particularly noteworthy, as they address key areas of performance and usability. With these enhancements, Firefox 4 is well-positioned to compete with other leading browsers and provide users with a fast, efficient, and enjoyable browsing experience.
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