14/05/06
39Firefox becomes a contender
Up until a few months ago, Firefox was never on my list of browsers that I flirted with. It was never opened, not even for the hallowed web developer toolbar that so many swear by.
But then a few things changed. I discovered the Tails extension (for revealing Microformats) and the Firebug extension (sooo good). Combining this with Neil Lee’s G4 optimised build (with cocoa style widgets), Tab Sidebar and one of Aronnax’s pro themes I had something that looked and acted pretty much like my ideal browser. The sheer flexibility of Firefox was starting to outweigh the lack of Mac feel and behaviour.
Now, we all know that Firefox’s greatest asset is it’s extensions, but a benefit of this has only just got through to me. It allows for developers to add support for fledgling web 2.0 services (such as CoComment and the aforementioned Tails) without relying on the browser vendor to implement integration (if indeed it ever came). This flexibility is mind-blowing.
Now take a look at the new features being implemented in the Firefox 2.0 developer previews (Known as ‘Bon Echo’). SVG Text, Microsummaries, Inline Spell Checking (although I guess not using the OS X dictionary) and search suggestions. Most exciting of all, is the move to the Cairo graphics library, which on OS X, will allow Firefox (and Camino) to use the new shiny Quartz renderer, rather than the old Quickdraw, which should make a real difference to looks. I’m looking forward to this!
My hope is that the Firefox Mac theme sees an update too. Less stripes, more recent style preferences tabs and generally more Tiger styling. Aronnax has put together a proposal theme for the Bon Echo builds, but I strongly suggest setting up a new profile or user account for trying out Bon Echo. It’s not called a developer preview for nothing.
Sure, there are still plenty of annoyances, and its not seeing as much action as current faves Omniweb 5.5 and Camino, but it’s now a contender, which it’s never been before. So the browser indecision continues, only much worse, and I feel more than ever that I really should try and get out more.
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Jan Brašna said 881 days ago:
Exactly! :) FireBug, G4 cocoabutton build with Aronnax’s theme was what drew my attention to it. With some slight icon replacement to have the original one (who the hell drew that, BTW? :D …) and not the Deer Park one, and everything seems way sexier.
Amit Karmakar said 881 days ago:
I do like FireBug. Priceless!! As for any variant of Firefox on mac…. hmmm not sure yet except when testing out sites.
Chris Griffin said 881 days ago:
This is good news, I’m going to try it out in a bit.
One downfall since I moved to Mac completely about a year ago is I can not find a browser that is snappy, while also having the benefits of what Firefox brings (extensions).
If Firefox wasn’t so slow on a Mac it would definitely be my browser of choice. But alas, I’ve been using Safari for the last several months and I’m not too happy with it. I’ve also tried Camino, like Safari, not too impressive (yet).
Give me a snappy mac browser that has the web developer toolbar (among others). That will be the day I will switch.
Philippe said 881 days ago:
I don’t want to disappoint you, but the whole Cairo/Quartz/Cocoa Widgets move is only for what will become Firefox 3.0 (scheduled for summer 2007).
Firefox 2.0 is scheduled for this summer, but will have quite a few goodies that you mention.
neil said 881 days ago:
Right this second I’m building a version of the 2.0a2 alpha with aqua widgets – should be up in a few hours and I’ll post a link when it is…
Asela said 881 days ago:
Sexiness!
Mike D. said 881 days ago:
The browser polygamist strikes again! I don’t know how you do it. Wear protection at least (I guess that’s what the new user profile is for).
Vincent said 881 days ago:
Speaking of alternate browser, did you try out the Sunrise Browser ?
http://sunrisebrowser.com/en/index.html
The localization is not perfect, but there are some interesting developer-oriented features in there.
Jon Hicks said 881 days ago:
You’re kidding, right? :D
Richard Rutter said 880 days ago:
I switched to Firefox the first time Safari ground to a halt as it has (had?) a tendency to do, especially with JavaScript-heavy pages. That said I always found Firefox to be a bit slow, especially when opening (but once it’s open, it’s open, right) so I’ve been an avid Camino user since it hit the bigtime.
I still do use Firefox for developerment so it’s open a lot, and I may migrate back because, as you say, the extensions are so compelling.
Brutal said 880 days ago:
Have you tried the Fission plugin?
Nick Harris said 880 days ago:
I, like most, used to used Firefox just for developing, and camino for browsing, that is, until the tails plugin… I just wish tails export worked :(
I’ve yet to find a theme I like though
Meri said 880 days ago:
LOL, I love these little tales of browser adultery…
Alex Hutton said 880 days ago:
Can anyone explain the Livebookmark “feature” and why I can’t just click the nice button and have firefox add the feed to Vienna?
Dave said 880 days ago:
Love FF in both Windaes and OS X. Only real gripe has gotta be the memory leaking. I tend to keep it open for days at a time with lots of fast user switching. Not sure if it is all the wonderful extensions or the browser build that is the problem. Not so bad in Win, but then my PC has 2GB Ram as opposed to 0.75 GB in iBook G4. Try Colorzilla and foxpose extensions, they’ll get your mouth watering!! ;)
Robin said 880 days ago:
Alex: this is planned for Firefox 2.0 (or 3.0? – it’s certainly in trunk builds).
Josh Hughes said 880 days ago:
Alex: I haven’t tried it with Vienna, specifically, but you should be able to set up the Livelines Firefox Extension to do what you want.
Nev said 880 days ago:
I’m a great fan of FF on Windows, but can’t adjust to it on OS X where its appearance and text just never seem quite ‘right’.
However, the Web Developer toolbar has proved indispensable on either platform.
neil said 880 days ago:
Okay, folks – I’ve just spun a Firefox 2.0a2 build for G4. You can get all of the optimized 2.0a2 builds from this link:
http://www.beatnikpad.com/firefox2-alpha
Sugar said 880 days ago:
Well, when you’re under Windows, I guess there is not much of a choice.
We PC users have learned to live with FF and we’re oh-so-happy with the aforementioned “new features”.
Alex Hutton said 880 days ago:
Robin, You just made my day, thanks!
Justin August said 880 days ago:
My list of Firefox additions is huge.
Tab Sidebar – Right side
Tab Mix Plus for session saving plus the ability to undo the closing of tabs
Smoothwheel – better mouth scrolling
Fasterfox – prefetching
Stop/Reload button – combines the two into one like Safari
Download manager tweak – puts the download manager into the sidebar
Keyconfig – remap tab switching keys to CMD up and CMD down
It’s usuable finally. Pretty awesome for once.
Jon Hicks said 880 days ago:
Ouch!
Justin August said 879 days ago:
Mmmmm…
Mouth Scrolling…
MT said 879 days ago:
Before you make a decision get the facts:
www.FirefoxMyths.com
Joshua Blount said 878 days ago:
Good to hear a favorable review. I’ve always assumed that Safari would be the way to go when I (fingers crossed) move over to the Mac platform in a few weeks, but I guess I’ll have to do some independent research and find out what works for me.
Of course, as developers we get to see most browsers, most versions on most platforms, so I suppose it’s a bit of a mute point. Mmmm. One browser to rule them all? Proboubly not.
Jon Hicks said 878 days ago:
Hilarious! Not only have I not heard any of these myths, they are completely Windows-centric and concern me not!
Pat said 878 days ago:
what happened to your shiira theme :\
asdlf said 877 days ago:
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JaX said 875 days ago:
Hey Jon, your blog is worth over $400,000.
El Doc said 875 days ago:
Welcome to the 21st century! Great extension that Firebug… I wanted something like that for some time, yet I was too lazy to search it out. Fantastic, thanks!
Jon Hicks said 875 days ago:
Huh?
luxuryluke said 874 days ago:
Yum. tech rocks.
My favorite theme by Aronnax is “GrApple (UNO)”
Very nice! Feels like Safari, but Firefox!
With UNO, though, of course.
And I like the darker version of UNO everywhere.
.
In a working environment, i can’t afford to test Firefox betas for them, though.
Vermont said 873 days ago:
Well, when you’re under Windows, I guess there is not much of a choice.
We PC users have learned to live with FF and we’re oh-so-happy with the aforementioned “new featuresâ€.
George said 873 days ago:
I’m actually coming round to Camino more and more. FF is open for development but Camino has got a great deal going for it. So maybe I’m moving the other way!
Mackie said 869 days ago:
FireFox is for Windows, people!
Daniel Beattie said 868 days ago:
I switched to OS X about a year ago with a shiny new powerbook and haven’t looked back since. I’ve bought into the mac in a BIG way – yet I’ve never been able to take to Safari. I just don’t like it very much – and yes I’ve trawled pimpmysafari and really tried, but firefox just works so well for me.
You sound like me – firebug, web developer toolbar (fantastic!) and a grapple theme to make it sit nice with the rest of the GUI. Firefox is king in my world, and safari’s the poor ugly cousin who insists on using his own widgets at the table.
And now I have the tails extension I’m made up – thanks!
Mike said 867 days ago:
I’m using FireFox browser long time ago and I like it. It have all functions that I need.
Peter Gasston said 865 days ago:
I use Firefox on Mac OS X and I don’t find it slow at all. With the GrApple theme installed, it looks like any other Mac product. As for comments like:
That’s just silly.