Mozilla Firefox is our favorite browser in this ever-changing scene. Since its launch in late 2004, Firefox has been steadily increasing its popularity in terms of global usage when compared to the leading web browser, Internet Explorer (IE).
In comparison to Google Chrome and Internet Explorer, Firefox remains my preferred browser because of its overall versatility, and it’s continuously improving. Since early 2011, Firefox has been releasing, what they call, Rapid Releases, so we can expect to see several new Firefox versions in a year.
One of my favorite features is the synchronization capability. Similar to many other major internet browsers, Firefox has adopted this useful feature. You can sync your browsing so you can access your history, passwords, bookmarks and more on your desktop or mobile browsers. The browser also has tabbed browsing, allowing you to quickly navigate between webpages in a single window. You can reorder tabs, organize them into customizable groups using the Panorama feature and perform a redo function when you accidentally close tabs.
The browser also has a handful of convenience features that make browsing easier and quicker. The find-on-page function is sleek and non-intrusive, allowing you to easily find a word or phrase on a particular webpage. Firefox puts the feature right on the bottom of the browser so you don’t have to deal with a pop-up window. The internet browser also has a voice interaction add-on. The feature allows you to browse the internet through simple voice commands.
Firefox is an ideal browser for college students and other individuals who conduct research online. Mozilla has developed virtual sticky notes, a feature unique to Firefox. You can add your own notes to specific webpages and access them through the toolbar. You can also access your saved bookmarks, archived browsing history and pinned apps. The “pin as app tab” feature allows you to save frequently visited websites – think Facebook or your web-based email – as icons on the toolbar. That way, you can easily access them without opening a new tab.
The browser’s innovative Smart Location Bar will adapt to your use and preferences. This handy tool makes it easy to return to websites you've previously visited, even if you don't remember the exact URL. It also helps you locate sites based on titles and content. Firefox also includes form complete, a pop-up blocker, a password manager and parental controls. Another nice feature is the drag-and-drop functionality, which allows you to drag text or a link from anywhere on a web page and put it directly into your search bar.
A few of the features Firefox doesn’t have include thumbnail previews and mouse gestures, or mouse movements that represent specific shortcuts. These would be convenient built-in features to have but aren’t essential. You can also install extensions compatible with Firefox that enable mouse gestures and voice interaction.
Summary:
Firefox is an early adopter if not an innovator of advanced web browsing, evidenced by the browser’s latest release. It is a simple, user-friendly browser, with numerous add-ons for advanced users looking for a fully customized browsing experience as well as a basic, hassle-free interface for more casual browsers. The internet browser trails a few competitors on some benchmarks, but the differences are nominal and Mozilla Firefox proves to be one of the top internet browsers around.
