Firefox 29 offers new Australis interface and easier sync function

Mozilla has released Firefox 29. In the open source browser, the Australis user interface is visible for the first time in an official final. The sync function has also been simplified by working on the basis of an account instead of long codes.

Mozilla has long tinkered with the new Australis interface and aims to provide the user with a further simplified user interface. The main menu can now be found in the top right corner of Firefox 29, just like with Chrome. Icons with the main functions of the browser become visible in the menu. If desired, add-on icons can also be dragged from the toolbar to the menu. There are also two buttons on the toolbar for bookmark management and the tabs have been given a different appearance with rounded corners.

Firefox 29 also includes improved sync functionality. From now on, settings such as open tabs, bookmarks, and add-ons are stored based on a Firefox account. This account at Mozilla, which is also already used for the Firefox Marketplace, should simplify the management of the sync feature by allowing login at a central point. Security is also said to have been enhanced through mechanisms such as end-to-end encryption and client side key stretching.

The browser also has the gamepad API enabled by default; it had been there for a long time. With that api, games in Firefox can be controlled with a controller. For security and privacy reasons, websites can no longer request a list of all installed plug-ins via the so-called navigator.plugins function.

Firefox 29 will be available on Android. This version will also receive the updated sync functionality, as well as the ability to search via Bing and new ‘quick share’ buttons for sharing content on social networking sites.