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Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 Adds Private Browsing
CWmike was one of several readers to point out the release of Firefox 3.1 Beta 2, the first version of its flagship browser to switch on the much faster TraceMonkey JavaScript engine and sport a working privacy mode dubbed "Private Browsing." An ancillary addition to Private Browsing is a new addition to the "Clear Recent History" dialog box allowing users selectively to erase the last hour, the last two hours, the last four hours, today's, or all browsing history — previously, the wipe was all or nothing. This beta includes support for "web worker threads," a developing specification that will let Web-based application developers run background processes to speed up their apps. One feature present in Beta 1 is gone in the new beta: Ctrl-Tab switching. According to the developer, the UI needs more work; the feature probably won't be in the final 3.1.
What is private browsing?
Sometimes pegged with the catchy moniker of "porn mode", while in privacy mode..... URLs are not recorded in the browser history, cookies are not saved and other evidence is purged from the computer at the end of the session.
This sounds like something I need.
All the time.
Every day.
24/7.
FOX NEWS.com should be BANNED from television and internet. Have the Congress take it over and give us Truespeak.
I need a "give me back the last 10 minutes" option!
Or for those who want privacy in the engaged mode ;)
I've been using a simpler solution for a few years
I love Slashdot.
Only on Slashdot would it be "simpler" to code a custom script that automatically runs when starting a particular application, generates a new temporary profile, sets an environment variable to use that profile, and deletes the profile on exit; rather than sometimes click a menu item marked "private".
I'm not disagreeing that your solution is simpler, by the way. It is actually a great way to force a particular behavior in a robust way, and is simple to use once implemented. But it's only "simpler" for Slashdotters!