Shame on Mozilla

[BC_Programmer]

If I was you, I would learn assembly language and mix the new version to the old one: The new version's internals and the old one's cockpit.
Like a car with a new motor, but the same cockpit

Firefox 12/13 can easily be made to look like Firefox 3.5. You don't even need a theme, unless you want the exact same icons, just a few preferences.

[CBMatt]

Hmm, I'm on Firefox 3.6.26 (and I have auto-update disabled), so I guess Mozilla is willing to leave me alone for now.  It's great that they want their browser to stay "fresh" and safe, but it's only fair to give users a bit more freedom over appearance and functionality with little effort.  You shouldn't have to spend 3+ hours just to make something work the way you prefer.  One of my biggest pet peeves (aside from them apparently trying to imitate Chrome's GUI) is that they re-ordered the context menus for no discernible reason.  If they're not going to add/increase functionality in any way, why make a change at all?  That is only one of the reasons why I won't update any time soon.

Microsoft is notoriously bad about this.  The way they change Windows and Xbox frustrates me to no end, moreso in the case of Xbox because we are not given a choice (aside from the option of never going online again).  I can adjust to visual changes, but as far as actual usability goes, they keep becoming less and less practical.  At least Windows isn't forced, although you can only stick with an older version for so long.  Surprisingly, their phone OS is a different story and they've made it reasonably customizable and user-friendly.  Go figure.  I don't like the way they're shoehorning the UI into Windows 8, but still, I see myself being a proud supporter of their phones for at least a few years.  But I digress...

There are very few programs that I care to allow to update themselves -- not even Windows makes that list. Prompt me about it and let me know there is a new version, I'll take care of it when I feel like it.

I'm the exact same way.  If I hadn't disabled Automatic Updates on my XP machine, it would've replaced my beloved IE6 with IE8, which my computer was not powerful enough to run.  I do not like the idea of anything before I know exactly what to expect.

There have been some issues with Flash crashing recently but other than that I've always been happy.

That caused me major grief until I eventually figured out what the problem was.  Just a couple of weeks ago, Firefox would crash on almost every site that used anything beyond simple pictures and text.  Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but it crashed at least every 10 minutes.  Switching to FF4 or newer completely cured everything, which seemed a bit suspicious.  Apparently, the newest version of Java isn't compatible with my version of FF3, so I had to use JavaRa to roll back to Java 6.  This drastically improved my situation, but I was still having frequent problems, which were apparently being caused by Flash 11 (so I rolled that back to 10).  So, unless these issues are fixed, I may get stuck in the Browsing Stone Age again...but I stuck with IE6 until late last year, so I think I can manage it.

[evilfantasy]

Flash also shows up twice in Task Manager when running the new version of FF and Flash Player. That's probably the issue. Come to a page that requires Flash and there is a conflict.....Flash CRASH!!!

[evilfantasy]

14.0.1 just came through...

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/14.0.1/releasenotes/

Why... WHY did they change the address bar and radio button appearance? Really. Why!?!

They are smaller. Less graphics > better performance? That's all I can think of.

This is a nice default addition though.

Google searches now utilize HTTPS

Probably not everyone knows Google can be used with http or https

https://www.google.com
http://www.google.com

And

https://encrypted.google.com

[Allan]

.


Why... WHY did they change the address bar and radio button appearance? Really. Why!?!

I use the Firefox 3 theme and don't  worry about appearance changes - it all looks just as it did before I upgraded from 3.6

[BC_Programmer]

IMO the big issue with Firefox right now is the switch to a rapid release schedule without actually working to make the updating process as smooth as possible.

Obviously, they wanted to try to keep people from moving to chrome, and saw that Chrome updates automatically on a very close schedule. They attempted to mirror that but the problem is that it's still pretty much the same way you had to update FF before the release schedule; that is, every update breaks pretty much every add-on and extension, and all that usually needs to be changed to make them "compatible" is a single number in the XPI file. Add to this that Chrome updates completely silently and doesn't make sweeping UI changes on what appears to be a whim like Firefox, and the ironic result is that more and more people are being driven away as a result of these changes rather than being convinced to keep using FF as their primary browser. It didn't help when they just up and removed the version number from the FF about menu (And added it back, if I recall). You can't convince people that a version number is irrelevant when every single piece of functionality still makes it otherwise- you need to know whether add-ins will work and extensions, and all that guff. Until you fix that and make them pretty much version agnostic, don't try to pull the "Version numbers are irrelevant" thing and just remove the version number as if that is some sort of proof. The specific version numbers for Chrome are mostly redundant simply because they actually have removed any version specific issues. Firefox has not and pretending otherwise is just going to drive more people away.

[Computer_Commando]

14.0.1 just came through...

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/14.0.1/releasenotes/

Why... WHY did they change the address bar and radio button appearance? Really. Why!?!

They are smaller. Less graphics > better performance? That's all I can think of.

This is a nice default addition though.

Probably not everyone knows Google can be used with http or https

https://www.google.com
http://www.google.com

And

https://encrypted.google.com

I thought it was something I did, but now I see it on 2 computers.  Actually, I can't see it as well.
Also wonder what happened to 14.0?  They went directly to 14.01 from 13.01.

[evilfantasy]

Also wonder what happened to 14.0?  They went directly to 14.01 from 13.01.

There must have been a pretty significant patch done on 14.00. Big enough to warrant a new version number.

Or maybe a modification that wasn't planned in 14.00.

I was also wondering where the Favicons went and found out why.

Starting with Firefox 14 beta we are refreshing the site identity UI for desktop.

.....Increase security by removing the ability for websites to spoof the favicon

I kind of liked the Favicons. 

Full description

[Computer_Commando]

Here's an Add-On Theme which restores the larger icons.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/qute-classic/?src=cb-dl-users

No icon place to add new tab, double-clik on empty tab space creates new tab.

[evilfantasy]

I normally use compact themes so the smaller icons are something I'm liking.

[Computer_Commando]

This one looks good, thanks!
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/classic-compact/?src=cb-dl-users

[evilfantasy]

Way too bright for me lol.

I'm currently on this one.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/lavafox-v1-blue/?src=cb-dl-users

[CBMatt]

I kind of liked the Favicons. 

Same here, especially when it comes to bookmarked sites.  I greatly prefer seeing all of the different icons in the list.

[evilfantasy]

They are still visible in bookmarks and tabs. Just not in the address bar.

[patio]

I'm personally getting sick of this...mine at least crashes far more often...incompatible extensions ( yes i realise this is NOT Mozilla's fault) ...and flying changes without user input/intervention...

Going back to 3.6 today...