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Mozilla unveils Windows theme/UI update for Firefox 3.7/4.0

By | December 22, 2009, 12:18pm PST

Mozilla have unveiled some mockups of the Windows theme/UI updates that is scheduled to hit Firefox users over two stages - 3.7 and 4.0.

Stephen Horlander, a designer and contributor to the Mozilla project unveiled some details of the refresh.

Cornerstone to the revamp is the App Button that appears in the top-left of the mockup. Here’s what Horlander has to say about the origin of this new addition:

The new proposed approach to this problem is an App Button which is similar to the single menu approach taken by Windows 7 native applications (Paint, WordPad) and by MS Office.

According to Horlander, the App Button solves a number of issues:

  • It is less complex
  • Takes up less space
  • Instead of two potentially conflicting locations for menu items, there is now only one unified location
  • Can be placed in the upper left analogous to the Menubar paradigm it is replacing
  • Similar to the far more ubiquitous Office 2008/2010 + Windows 7 application menu
  • Reduces clutter on the Navigation Toolbar
  • It also creates a more flexible and rich canvas for perhaps doing some decidedly non-menu-esque things

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Firefox 4.0 and the current 3.5:

Mozilla seems to have managed to reclaim a fair bit of screen real estate with this move, which is a good thing. I like it as it really cleans up the user interface.

Expect to see a public release of Firefox 4.0 mid 2010 and the final release during the final quarter.

So, what do you think?

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Topics

Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Corp., Web Browsers, Microsoft Windows, Internet, Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

Talkback Most Recent of 31 Talkback(s)

  • I like it!
    It is much neater but still provides ready access to useful stuff unlike Chrome which is almost too spartan for my use.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    nothingness
    22nd Dec 2009
  • Agreed...
    I don't like using any Google products just because I don't trust their "Index Everything" attitude. Plus, Chrome is generally too lacking for my tastes. Besides, I can install Google Gears and achieve very similar performance results if I'm so inclined.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    GoodThings2Life
    22nd Dec 2009
  • I like it too... just leave a Windows XP version....
    Personally I think that the new format only works well with Windows 7 and, in lesser way, with--yuck--Windows Vista.

    I hope Mozilla does the right thing and keep the old UI for Windows XP downloads and implements the new one using Windows Vista/7 native frameworks including DirectX.

    For the rest of us... leave it as is... since we have no time for learning curve and problems (aka the IE 7/8 conondurm).
    ZDNet Gravatar
    cosuna
    23rd Dec 2009
  • And make sure they leave the ...
    drop down menus as an option. I've been using Alt+F, +E, +V, etc... for years.

    Personally I think that the new format only works well with Windows 7 and, in lesser way, with--yuck--Windows Vista.

    Agree, but if some Win7 users still want to use the old UI, they should be able to get it. And vice-versa if they are so inclined.

    It shouldn't be OS specific.

    I hope Mozilla does the right thing and keep the old UI for Windows XP downloads and implements the new one using Windows Vista/7 native frameworks including DirectX.

    If they don't, then one of the independent theme developers will create a plug-in for it.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Wintel BSOD
    23rd Dec 2009
  • RE: Mozilla unveils Windows theme/UI update for Firefox 3.7/4.0
    It's Mozilla's version of the Google Chrome UI. I like it
    a lot, but waiting until mid 2010? No thanks. I'm already
    happy right now with Google Chrome's speed and
    simplicity. I'll stick with it and see whenever Mozilla
    wants to finally upgrade it's design sometime next year.
    In the mean time Google Chrome FTW!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Revo1
    22nd Dec 2009
  • RE: Mozilla unveils Windows theme/UI update for Firefox 3.7/4.0
    Looks great and less filling!! wink Wonder if F11 will still be around?
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Arm A. Geddon
    22nd Dec 2009
  • RE: Mozilla unveils Windows theme/UI update for Firefox 3.7/4.0
    This is what my Firefox has pretty much looked like since version 1.x (with help by several extensions), though I am glad they're doing it now because it looks a look better than my current Firefox and I will no longer have the need for a few extensions to do this. Way before Chrome came along, I already did not like the menubar.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    mastavic@...
    22nd Dec 2009
  • Love it!
    I was actually disappointed they are wasting so much time on 3.6 when they should have been moving to 4.0 quicker. Currently, I already use a few plugins to accomplish a similar UI, and dumping them in favor of fewer plugins is definitely what I want.

    Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to 3.6 being a bit faster, but I don't have much bogging 3.5 down, so it's not a must-have.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    GoodThings2Life
    22nd Dec 2009
  • Firefox is the BEST!
    nt
    ZDNet Gravatar
    nobama_2012
    22nd Dec 2009
  • Firefox on Linux
    ...is even better.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Wintel BSOD
    23rd Dec 2009
  • RE: Mozilla unveils Windows theme/UI update for Firefox 3.7/4.0
    I'd prefer them fixing those 40+ security holes in it instead of more (or I guess technically LESS) glitz...

    I do like the 'idea' of the button but I don't like where they've put it.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    MyBlueRex
    22nd Dec 2009
  • Re: Tabs Belong...
    Tabs BELONG! on the window and not dislodged and dislocated above the address bar as in Opera. Yes, in Opera you can create a new bar to place the tabs where they should be BUT!! , this is a major HEADACHE!!!!!!!!!! If Mozilla pursues this without a simple solution, FIREFOX IS HISTORY!!!!!!!!!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    The Rifleman
    22nd Dec 2009
  • RE: Mozilla unveils Windows theme/UI update for Firefox 3.7/4.0
    Ahh it looks fine to me, just speed it up. Firefox is
    officially becoming the sloth of the neighborhood.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    jimk_z
    22nd Dec 2009
  • any word 64 bit?
    Any word? I know 64 is useless cause Adobe isn't in a rush to make flash 64 for windows.

    Unless web browsers start emulate Flash in 64bit mode I guess we will be out of luck for a long time still.

    Adobe is holding up the web embrace of 64bit browsing.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Randalllind
    22nd Dec 2009
  • I've got it
    I'm running Firefox 3.6b5 compiled for 64 bit, with a native 64 bit flash plugin (beta), though I'm running Linux.

    Interestingly enough- I'm using the compact menu extension, which gives me basically the same functionality as the "app" button.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    chris@...
    23rd Dec 2009
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