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Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 Adds Private Browsing

Posted by kdawson on from the more-features-late-in-the-game dept.

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.

10 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. Kudos for the improvements, but... by acid06 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Come on... no Ctrl+Tab switching?
    How could anyone possibly use it without that feature?

    Seems like a deal-breaker for me...

    1. Re:Kudos for the improvements, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Don't know what the hell they were thinking with that. I hope there's still some method of switching between tabs without reaching for the mouse.

    2. Re:Kudos for the improvements, but... by Phisbut · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Ctrl + Page Up/Page Down navigates through tabs.

      Ctrl+PgUp/PgDn requires the use of my right hand (either both hands with left on left-Ctrl and right on PgUp, or just the right with thumb on right-Ctrl). I still need to move my right hand from my mouse to the keyboard and back.

      Ctrl+Tab, right next to Alt-Tab, lets me keep a hand on the mouse (which is very much in use during a browsing session, especially with mouse gestures), without the additional movement needed to click on tabs. Ctrl+Tab is a much better use of both hands than Ctrl+PgUp/PgDn will ever be.

      --
      After 3 days without programming, life becomes meaningless
      - The Tao of Programming
  2. selective history deletion by Firkragg14 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No more suspicious empty history porn fans.

  3. Javascript speed by Ed+Avis · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If the new Javascript engine is turned on, does this mean that the new Firefox beta gives a larger e-penis than Chrome or the latest Safari?

    Seriously, I am thinking it might be time to start learning Javascript (to a higher level than just being able to copy and paste snippets to autoscroll the page and other simple effects). It's not perfect but it has wide support and mindshare, which is more important than any technical criterion. What I want to do is display simple graphs in the browser of things like stock prices, based on information fetched over SOAP (yeah I know SOAP is a bit clunky, but it's the interface I have). Can more experienced programmers recommend Javascript tutorial sites (at a higher level than 'copy and paste this snippet of code to get cool smilies!') or a good set of libraries?

    --
    -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
  4. Can we disable this ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    with IE7 via group policy you can stop the user from clearing history etc, can Firefox do the same ?
    or is Firefox going to be deemed a security threat by Administrators ? which is not good for corporate usage and compliance

  5. Re:Nothing new by AvitarX · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yeah, but delete last hour is like distrust, but forgetting one.

    --
    Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
  6. Re:Privacy Browsing in IE 8 Beta by HisMother · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Safari has had it for years.

    --
    Cantankerous old coot since 1957.
  7. Re:Think Same. by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Perhaps he's a Bart fan in Australia.

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  8. Re:Why don't they add an option... by y5 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    But isn't that why there's a master password? I'd use that feature and protect it.