Mozilla has unveiled Firefox 123.0, the most recent steady iteration of its well-known open-source web browser, on February 20, 2024. The release also marks the debut of Firefox 115.8 ESR.
An intriguing feature in Firefox 123 is a tool that allows users to report dysfunctional websites directly to Mozilla.
Updates have been unified across all Firefox development editions; Firefox Beta and Development are now at version 124, whereas Firefox Nightly has progressed to version 125. Furthermore, Firefox for Android now matches the desktop edition at 123.0.
I personally gave Firefox 123.0 a thorough exploration to understand its latest functionalities.
Key Highlights
- Users now have the ability to report dysfunctional websites to Mozilla using a new tool in Firefox.
- Firefox introduces a translation feature for tooltips and form control text.
- Searching within Firefox View is now viable.
- Attention: Older AMD processor devices might display all-black thumbnails in file dialogs. Mozilla recommends updating the graphics driver to resolve this issue.
Downloading and Updating Firefox 123.0
Most installations of Firefox will receive updates automatically through the built-in updating mechanism.
Note: This review was conducted before the official release. Updates will be accessible by the publication date.
To promptly initiate the update process, users can manually check for updates by navigating to Firefox Menu > Help > About Firefox, triggering the browser to install the update.
Official download links are provided below:
Main Alterations in Firefox 123.0
Report Dysfunctional Websites Feature
A notable addition in Firefox 123.0 is the reporting tool for dysfunctional websites, allowing users to inform Mozilla about compatibility challenges encountered while browsing.
This tool involves the Firefox community; users can access it by selecting Firefox Menu > Report dysfunctional site, choosing a reason, and submitting a report with additional details to aid in resolving compatibility issues.
Mozilla advocates for this tool as a way to enhance bug detection and address prevalent issues, ultimately leading to a smoother browsing experience on Firefox.
Other Improvements and Corrections
- The translation feature in Firefox now extends to website tooltips and form control text, initially introduced in Firefox 117.
- Firefox View now supports a search function, making it easier to find tabs across devices.
- Browser settings for the address bar can now be found in the Search section within Firefox’s Settings.
Enhancements for Developers
- The <template> element now supports a shadowrootmode attribute for declarative creation of a shadow DOM subtree.
- SVG elements <linearGradient> and <radialGradient> now offer color space adjustments.
- Firefox now supports the 103 Early Hints HTTP status code for resource preloading.
- The Web Authentication API enhances cross-origin credential creation.
- A new function, contextualIdentities.move, permits moving items within the list of contextual identities.
- The Network Monitor introduces the Save Response As feature, enabling local saving of response bodies, replacing the previous “Save Image” option.
Enterprise Adjustments
Firefox 123 introduces three significant alterations for enterprise users:
- A bug with the background updater on systems with multiple user accounts has been rectified by Mozilla.
- The Preferences policy now allows setting preference types using Type, resolving a previous issue with Integer preferences set at values 0 or 1.
- The UserMessaging policy has been updated to manage the promotion of the translation feature through user popups.
Security Update/Fixes
Mozilla has tackled 12 security vulnerabilities in Firefox 123, focusing on bolstering browser security measures.
For a detailed list of security fixes, click here.
Upcoming Releases
Firefox 124 and Firefox ESR 115.9 are set for release on March 19, 2024.
Concluding Thoughts
The new website compatibility reporting feature in Firefox 123 shows potential for enhancing browser compatibility and user experience. Nevertheless, users are recommended to be cautious and avoid submitting generic reports to Mozilla.
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