Mozilla Firefox Version 29.0 Released

Corrine · April 29, 2014, 04:43:41 PM

Mozilla sent Firefox Version 29.0, referred to as Australis, to the release channel. No security updates are included in the update. Rather, the update to Australis incorporates major GUI (Graphic User Interface) changes. Some of those changes include are listed in my blog post, Mozilla Firefox 29.

What are your thoughts of the update? Personally, I didn't find anything in the update to be value added -- move value removed. Glad I switched to the Pale Moon browser.

zep516 · April 29, 2014, 09:38:05 PM

Well I just stumbled on your post Corrine, so sure enough I restarted Firefox and low & behold it's ugly to look at for me, oops what's that, oh it's an Up-Date message from Pale Moon because I'm posting with that browser, I had it installed and set it up and everything moved over nicely from Firefox, but I never used it till now.

Joe

Corrine · April 30, 2014, 01:32:17 AM

I've used Mozilla browsers from the days of K-Meleon, switched to Phoenix, which was renamed Firebird and finally renamed Firefox. Having used it for so many years, I have it highly customized. The incorporation of the "Bookmarks Toolbar" into the Nav bar is particularly important to me for getting to references and sites easily and the biggest problem with the new design of FF. Certainly, I could probably find an add-on that would solve the problem but I don't need to since Pale Moon works as expected. Besides, merely working with Firefox 29 for short periods of time today, it would hang and then resume.

For a discussion at Sysnative, I did a comparison between Pale Moon and Firefox 29 and annotated the differences that stood out the most for my usage.

Full size: http://www.sysnative.com/forums/attachments/web-browsers/7870d1398818896-mozilla-firefox-version-29-0-released-palemoon_ff29-comparison.jpg

siljaline · April 30, 2014, 05:11:09 AM

Fiddling with Theme Restorer for now.
Don't quite understand what all the fuss is but I guess that's just me.

siljaline · April 30, 2014, 05:33:07 AM

Release notes a full 24 hours after the release.
And all the known fixes - remaining vulnerabilities.

Basil · April 30, 2014, 08:08:56 AM

After using FF for many years, I must admit I was slightly reluctant to switch over to Pale Moon.
I am now very happy I did. Great browser, and the developer does not make changes for changes sake!!.... :mitch:

satrow · April 30, 2014, 08:56:17 AM

I looked FF29 over yesterday and the thing that stood out for me was the amount of vertical space the UI uses. Given that wide screens are all the rage currently, this tactic loses a chunk of the most valuable screen estate, height.

Study Corrine's screenshots above, Pale Moon uses way less screen height yet allows easier access to more items/options, etc.

Mozilla, I bought a 1920x1200 over an HD 1920x1080 screen to see more web content, not for you to waste that advantage with slivers of blank UI.

What are Mozilla thinking about?!

Corrine · May 03, 2014, 09:52:30 PM

The Pale Moon developer shared this comparison chart: Firefox/Pale Moon feature table

siljaline · May 05, 2014, 02:05:17 AM

Until someone can provide a compelling why I should move over to Pale Moon in lieu of Firefox - I'll stay with Firefox as it serves my purposes.

It isn't my default Browser anyway - proudly posting via Internet Explorer

satrow · May 05, 2014, 03:02:36 AM

I'd suggest no one could provide a compelling reason, it's really down to the way you work with your browser and what you expect from it.

For me over the last 4-5 years Pale Moon has been almost invisible, even when testing the Beta versions that don't get to being released publicly,

For speed, sometimes PM x64 beats all in testing, sometimes PM x86 is better.

Other browsers can be faster on certain releases/builds but that really isn't the issue.

The main things for me are stability and ease of use/minimal actions needed. Pale Moon just works. It's almost a see-through browser, it just doesn't get in the way of my day-to-day usage. I use and test almost all of the common and alternative browsers available, there's only one I keep going back to.

siljaline · May 05, 2014, 03:17:36 AM

Quote from: satrow on May 05, 2014, 03:02:36 AM
I'd suggest no one could provide a compelling reason, it's really down to the way you work with your browser and what you expect from it.

Oh no; Browser Wars.

Corrine · May 05, 2014, 08:38:04 PM

Nah, no wars. :D IE 11 is an excellent browser. It just doesn't accommodate the extensions I use regularly. Plus, I really do like the customizations that I've made.

siljaline · May 07, 2014, 04:51:04 AM

Internet Explorer 11 certainly is modern.

siljaline · May 09, 2014, 08:29:38 PM

Version 29.0.1 release notes only

Corrine surely will post the advisories as they become available. You may fetch the new build internally (via the software) or using a stand-alone installer.

https://download.mozilla.org/?product=firefox-stub&os=win&lang=en-US

I've disabled setup telemetry as I don't want to send Mozilla whatever is included in the setup telemetry nor do I want this as part of my software setup regimen.

Corrine · May 09, 2014, 09:34:27 PM

Still refreshing the Security Advisories for Firefox page with no changes from the release of version 29.0, even though security updates are linked from the Release Notes that siljaline posted.