As of November the 8th, Firefox v8.0 is live and available as the most recent version of the popular Mozilla internet browser; claiming to have “super speed” and “Even MORE awesomeness!”. The update supplies users with some useful new utilities. Foremost among them being a software blocker that prevents third party clients from installing unwanted ‘nagware’ and the kind of abominably helpful toolbars that plagued many browsers for the last decade. However, this protection comes at the cost of having to manually approve every digital data transaction or software add-on that occurs while browsing the net, A process which quickly becomes tedious and is reminiscent of the first few aneurism-inducing days of Windows 7. Also, newly incorporated is the “Twitter Search Function”…
which allows you to directly search ‘tweets’ and ‘# hashtags’ from a dropdown menu of preferred search engines. Far from being a marvel of technical savvy and social interfacing, the new search feature saves the user from one whole agonizing webpage navigation or, horror of horrors, operating with multiple tabs open. Interestingly, this update makes using any 3rd party software sources vastly irritating at best; while at the same time ushering in a string of corporate partnerships and user-direction feeds via the integration of functions like Bing and Twitter. Mozilla claims to be a pioneer in web development and net neutrality, but continues to line their pockets at the expense of independent technology designers by adding insidious advertising media and dressing it up as a feature.
As it’s crowning capstone, Firefox 8.0 has a flashy new look; what Mozilla refers to as a “graphical interface boost”. In practical terms, this means a re-skin with more swirls on the logo and absolutely no performance enhancement or customization interfaces. On the plus side using Firefox from your Android is safer than ever now that you can activate the new Master Password feature, which keeps your personal web access data safe if you happen to misplace your phone. Of course, this means having to re-type your username and password on that tiny little keyboard every time you want to get your Facebook on; but hey, what’s life without some carpal tunnel? All of these additions are in keeping with Mozilla’s pattern of steadily increasing their support and interface options through small, quickly released version updates, which will hopefully continue to streamline and troubleshoot the new features introduced in the 8.0 update. Due to it’s “rapid-release style” structure, Firefox continues to suffer from Romero-Syndrome; the constant version changes beget interface continuity issues coupled with an apparent lack of overall change at a fundamental level. In short, the whole thing still runs like a zombie: Slooooooow!!
Final report: If you’re the kind of person who constantly loses their phone, wants constant unfettered access to Twitter and is excited by the idea of vastly increased security measures, Firefox 8.0 is for you. However, if you no longer require adult supervision when operating a pair of safety scissors and/or are not someone’s agoraphobic shut-in grandmother, this browser might not be the most dignified or discerning choice.
This article is intricately laced with profoundly intense sociopolitical commentary and is worthy of a Pulitzer Nomination, at the very least.