Firefox 2 Beta 2 review
Firefox 2 Beta 2 has just been released.
You can check out the revamped look and learn about the few enhancements in Firefox 2 Beta 2 image essay.
Comments
Bram
I also really like the new Firefox 2. I had to search a lot for some options, but that will be ok. It’s a lot more logical now. I really really don’t like the merged Go button, actually, and another thing I really miss is the Ctrl-M combination to make a new message. That was really useful. Why did it get removed?
I do like the new add-ons manager and the way it works.
Also, since Firefox 2, I started using tabs and starts appreciating them, but why can’t I close the last tab with Ctrl-W when I’ve set the option “Always show tab-bar”?
Furthermore, it’s very stable (ok, some crashes, but it restores all my windows and tabs, so that’s no problem) and I can’t recall any real problems.
Ian
To be honest, the new design is really nice, except the back/forward/refresh/stop/home buttons, which are butt-ugly (though the home button is growing on me – the others are not).
Ed
My only gripe so far is that the buttons for home, history, bookmarks, etc. are too greyed out when they’re not being hovered over, and are therefore harder to spot. If I recall correctly, they were more fully colored in 1.5, and then popped out when moused over. Here, they’ve been greyed out quite a bit as well.
I like the individual close buttons (red X’s) on each tab, as opposed to over on the right in v.1.x.
Dan Nicholson
I wished I’d noticed the visuals were going to change so I could have voiced an opinion earlier. Personally, I think the merging of the Go button and the Location Bar is a big mistake. I can’t see a benefit in having them together.
The Go button is pretty much useless. If you pick a location from the history, it loads the link automatically. If you were typing the location on the keyboard, you just have to press Enter. Leaving the keyboard for the mouse to perform an action that you can do with the keys (which you’d already be on) is wasteful. Removing the Go button from the UI is always the first thing I do when I have to generate a new profile.
Also, it takes up valuable real estate. Look at the screenshot in the gallery. The Go button is squeezing out a significant portion of the location bar, to the point where a very simple link can’t fit.
Looks fine otherwise, though.
craig
1) The nav (back, forward) buttons look amateur and ugly. This is a step backwards for Firefox. The 3D effect and beveled edges around them when hovering are too pronounced and look cluttered, thick and block-like. Too much detail. Simple and elegant should be the goal (as in the 1.5 theme).
2) The function (refresh, stop, home) buttons are ok, but too translucent and lack the eye catching colors as before.
3) The Cache settings do not allow you to configure where the cached files will be stored (such as an external drive, partition or custom directory). Users should be allowed to configure the location where cached files are stored.
4) Keep in mind that Firefox is STILL BEING WATCHED by business users and continuing to grow. The simple, elegant and straight forward look should be adhered to for efficiency and design. Too many useless bells and whistles could harm the acceptance of Firefox 2.0.
I agree that change is often very good, but not in this case regarding the above issues.
Firefox 2.0 should stick with…
1) simple and elegant UI
2) ease of configuration
3) security
craig
1) the 3d and beveled look on the back and forward buttons is too pronounced and unappealing. It looks very fat and block-like.
2) refresh, stop and home buttons are too greyed out. the eye catching colors of the Firefox 1.5 theme are simple and more appealing.
3) not being able to remove the go button is a bad decision. Firefox users like to be able to configure things the way they want them. now the go button just takes up uneccessary space if you don’t want it.
4) location of Cached files should be configurable. many users like to place their cache on external hard drives, usb drives, partitions or custom directories.
new theme and less configuration options = thumbs down for firefox 2.0 beta 2.
stick with…
1) secuity
2) configurability
3) simple and elegant UI
until a better “new look” can be found.
craig
ooops…
2 postings regarding same issues.
i had two tabs open while writing down my thoughts and accidentaly hit the submit btn on the 2nd one too.
my bad.
DaveNotik
The changes to the look and feel (the navigation buttons) are bad enough for me to proactively voice concern. First, the new icons are flat and dry looking, and when they’re grayed out, it just doesn’t feel right. The buttons in 1.x make alot more sense — the little box when I hover over it, and so on.
Clean, crisp, simple is what Firefox is all about. Changing something so critical (people hover over and see those icons all day), and changing it for the worse, can have a detrimental impact on Firefox usage.
Well, I’d be disappointed, at least.
Graphics and friendly icons haven’t been the strentgh of the OSS community, traditionally. Firefox has been different — keep it up, and don’t let these new icons make it to 2.0.
–D
n/a
I just tested ff2-b2 and it lasted less than 5minits till I removed it!
The most anoing: I can not stand these go-alike round buttons sticked to location and search bars/boxes. How to disable them? Looks ugly, waists valuable space, anoys…
Why o why tabs must differ in style, color from the toolbars, menus and all else surounding gui?
I prefier old (aka ff1.5) icons, as the new ones looks bad in small mode…
Search bar/box width shuld be ajustable without manualy tweeking configs (now its a litle to wide)…
…beter someone provides a way to configure ff2 look like ff1.5, and do it fast, or I fear lots of die hard ff users might be angered :D
V_Dub
In the old version of Firefox, there was an option to force a link to open in a new tab. Now every link opens in the second tab which I hate. I use FF at work to track my open calls – when I search for calls assigned to me, I click the link. I want it to open a NEW tab for each link off the main page. Yes, I know this opens a dozen or more links but it is an easy way for me to keep track of my open calls for the day. When I close the call, I close the tab. Easy peasy.
How do you force a new tab in 2.x?
Frank
I support Craig’s opinion. A step back for FF. Get rid of those pseudo-designers and keep to a clear and simple user interface.
Kostas Michalopoulos
I somehow dislike the new UI. Explained:
+ The close button in each tab rocks. I love it.
+ The tab list at the right is good (esp if you have LOTS of tabs open).
* While i like the fact that the selected tab is white (somehow blends with most page’s background – although i would get rid of the horizontal line between the page and the tabbar), i dislike the semitransparent tabs. Also i dislike the hand.
- I dislike the roundy buttons in the location and search bar. Also i prefer the old search bar button with the “search” button and list of engines in ONE button.
- The new icons are much worse.
Bottom line: get an artist :-P.
AND: Make the searchbar’s size adjustable.
Rowan Lewis
I’m loving it, however I’d love it if it was closer to the interface presented in the mockup, the tabs with the line across the bottom look ugly.
Also, if you’re going to change half the interface you’d better follow it up with the other half. I use Windows Classic, and the toolbars look like the IE style toolbars, with a glossy tab bar beneath. Ugly!
Ritrup
I just love some small little changes made in ff2 b2. Like integration of some popularly used extensions. Though I was hoping that visually it would be more refreshing, but sorry to say which ever designer did this, it is dull & pathetic. And why can’t we have combined Go & RELOAD button, it saves space.
Tam
I like FF2 no matter what people are saying. Changes are always difficult, especially the UI, since everyone has their preferences.
The tab list rocks. Now if you can show an overview associated with each tab heading, it would be lovely. It will be like IE7 quick tabs, but hey, who care as long as it is usable. As far as I know, Microsoft did take a page from FF2 when it redesigned the IE.
Rhonda Bond
Last week I got an alert that the newest version of Firefox (2.2) was available and that I should upgrade to that version. I was in the middle of doing something and opted to download that version later. The next day after downloading the latest version, I became unable to open any Yahoomail that featured an attachment. I tried every remedy I could find to no avail. I redownloaded firefox 2X,cleared my personal data, closed and opened firefox, shut down my computer,changed my Windows and Norton Antivirus firewall settings. I really liked firefox 2.2 except that I had to reclear my personal settings after each email message. 2.2 also would not add attachments and to add them I had to go back to Yahoomail classic. A real pain. Beta 3 is better in that everything works, but I miss my Google toolbar. Is this feature going to be restored? Please don’t make me go back to Internet Explorer. Also the location of Home is awkward. thanks
jefsme
I find the new spelling function very useful. However I do not find it explained how to use my dictionary already in use on my PC. Do I have to add another and maintain it? If that is the case, I will have different dictionaries in Oo, TB and Ff. Make a reference to where the dictionary is to be found, in any folder…
Reply