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Author Topic: Firefox Quantum (57) released  (Read 14423 times)

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BC_Programmer

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Firefox Quantum (57) released
« on: November 15, 2017, 08:10:48 PM »
It was actually released  yesterday but is notable as it is quite a significant departure from previous releases.

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/

Quote

    A powerful, new engine that’s built for rapidfire performance.

    Better, faster page loading that uses less computer memory.

    Gorgeous design and smart features for intelligent browsing.


The primary thing affecting most users (myself included) is that the old-style Add-on API has been deprecated, and for some add-ons there is no way to "replace" them or rewrite them for the new API due to the new API being more limited in terms of things like the user interface. presumably the changes made were done to improve performance.

I've been using one of the larger add-ons which has no replacement, Classic Theme Restorer, since Firefox 4 made it's own revisions to the interface that I did not like, so I found the new 57 to be somewhat infuriating in it's User Interface- from the icons, to the appearance of the tabs, to- well, pretty much everything.

Thankfully, not all is lost- The Classic Theme Restorer add-on page lists it's incompatibility and links to This github page which provides an alternative series of steps. As it happens the new Firefox UI can be customized, just not through an add-in, instead requiring editing/adding custom CSS. Following those steps I was able to change things "back" to the appearance I was mostly used to in previous Firefox versions, removing almost all of my complaints about the new version of Firefox.

I was trying to dereference Null Pointers before it was cool.

patio

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Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2017, 08:38:41 PM »
Just curios...did any of your tweaks to the appearance affect performance ? ?

The UI isn't appealing by any means but i'll live with it for the snappy performance gains.

Thanx.
" Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "

BC_Programmer

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Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2017, 11:16:55 PM »
I haven't noticed any difference in performance from adding the custom CSS. I think Firefox loads it to "replace" some kind of built in stylesheet of the same sort.

This is how I've got it looking now, which is quite different from the default appearance in Firefox 57. There's a few options in the CSS file when fiddling with it to use different icons and certain visual differences based on user preference by uncommenting sections of the CSS file provided. It's rather annoying that some of these customizations require familiarity with stylesheets though. A lot of them really could just be toggles in the options.
I was trying to dereference Null Pointers before it was cool.

Mark.



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Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2017, 12:32:08 AM »
just got it this morning, nothing untoward yet, seems OK.
with an SSD, 16GB RAM but a crap internet service, can't say I can notice any performance difference.

Salmon Trout

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Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2017, 11:35:27 AM »
My main loss was Noscript, but I am getting to grips with uMatrix as a replacement. I really wish I could move the address box. I found a custom CSS on Github

https://github.com/Aris-t2/CustomCSSforFx/releases/


Allan

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Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2017, 12:34:53 PM »
I decided to stick with ver 56. Won't be upgrading any time soon.

DaveLembke



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Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2017, 06:14:11 PM »
Firefox 57 broke some games my daughter plays online. Went to find version 56 to download to reinstall Firefox and unless Mozilla has it hidden somewhere all older versions are nowhere to be found. Through digging I found this page which you would think would allow you to select an older version and download it, but all links force 57 on you.  ::) https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/

I saw on google places like filehippo claim to have version 56 but I'd rather get a clean copy from Mozilla if a clean copy of 56 is still available. This is insane.  :-X

Now performing the second system restore since the first system restore the minute there was a connection to internet Firefox was off to the races downloading 57. I went in as it was 1.9mb downloaded and selected NOT TO automatically update, but nope. It decided to update anyways because I guess once it starts to download it its off to the races to update you no matter what you select during the download. So performing second system recovery and then network cable disconnected in hopes that I can stop it from automatic update to 57 and keep it at 56.0.2 until they can get the bugs worked out of it.

UPDATE: After lots of google searching I Found the FTP site for Firefox older Offline Installer versions and got 56.0.2 at https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/56.0.2/win64/en-US/

Mozilla doesnt make it easy to get there from their site. I found this FTP method from an outside link that someone shared in a forum when someone else like myself was frustrated that all point to latest 57. Downloading 56.0.2 ( 36MB ) now.

Here is the root of their FTP for all versions in case anyone wants any other versions other than 57:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/

BC_Programmer

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Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2017, 07:37:14 PM »
That FTP is listed on their support article about getting previous versions of Firefox here.

Quote
and keep it at 56.0.2 until they can get the bugs worked out of it.
It's far more likely that the "some games your daughter plays online" are the source of the problems, and not Firefox.
I was trying to dereference Null Pointers before it was cool.

DaveLembke



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Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
« Reply #8 on: November 16, 2017, 08:25:39 PM »
The games work fine with 56.0.2 and latest Adobe Flash. But with Firefox 57 one of her games I think it was called Village Life was hanging at 52% loading progress bar. Got the system rolled back and she was happy because the game then loaded with no problems.

One of my systems updated to 57 and I haven't seen any problems yet for myself. Just tested Forge of Empires and its running it better with 57 than 56.0.2. Usually by now the game would start to build lag and it hasn't so maybe 57 fixed my online game issue and caused problems for her.

Allan

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arenasand



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    Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
    « Reply #10 on: November 17, 2017, 07:34:06 AM »
    Firefox is recognising my computer but not my wife's laptop. Is this because of the changes?
    What can I do?

    soybean



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    Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
    « Reply #11 on: November 17, 2017, 01:10:50 PM »
    The new UI did not thrill me but I'm working with it.  I would rather not have the black background for the tabs across the top of the Firefox window.

    I just looked at a new feature which lets the user capture screenshots within the browser window.  For info, see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-screenshots

    patio

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    Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
    « Reply #12 on: November 17, 2017, 01:51:13 PM »
    squared off tabs bugs me...

    Kinda waitin on addons to get updated as well...other than that fine.
    " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "

    Mark.



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    Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
    « Reply #13 on: November 17, 2017, 02:24:01 PM »
    Firefox is recognising my computer but not my wife's laptop. Is this because of the changes?
    What can I do?

    Firefox version?
    Windows version?
    have you tried the previous version to see if the issue goes away?

    Allan

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    Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
    « Reply #14 on: November 17, 2017, 03:18:19 PM »
    I just looked at a new feature which lets the user capture screenshots within the browser window.  For info, see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-screenshots
    Screenshot feature in version 56

    soybean



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    Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
    « Reply #15 on: November 17, 2017, 04:44:01 PM »
    Screenshot feature in version 56
    Hmm, they claim it's new in Firefox Quantum, i.e. version 57, at https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/

    BC_Programmer

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    Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
    « Reply #16 on: November 17, 2017, 07:11:46 PM »
    It's in Firefox 56, but it appears on the main toolbar rather than in a separate drop-down. I think they didn't fully "launch" the feature until 57, maybe?
    I was trying to dereference Null Pointers before it was cool.

    arenasand



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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #17 on: November 19, 2017, 01:58:27 AM »
      Firefox version?
      Windows version?
      have you tried the previous version to see if the issue goes away?


      Seems to have resolved itself.Took 48 hours to do so. Thanks

      Mark.



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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #18 on: November 19, 2017, 04:19:01 AM »
      ok, cool, be nice to know why but sometimes you just have to take the wins as they come.

      Salmon Trout

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #19 on: November 21, 2017, 11:49:18 AM »
      My main loss was Noscript
      NoScript 10 now released. FF 57 compatible.

      patio

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #20 on: November 21, 2017, 01:23:35 PM »
      Thanx for the heads up Salmon....was missin it as well.

      PS with the custom css's which one did you wind up with ?
      " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "

      Salmon Trout

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #21 on: November 21, 2017, 01:51:11 PM »
      PS with the custom css's which one did you wind up with ?

      I downloaded version 1.2.8 "'Classic' css tweaks for Firefox 57+" from this page https://github.com/Aris-t2/CustomCSSforFx/releases/ but that is a week old now. I see they are up to 1.3.4 so I am going to update now.

      The NoScript UI is changed; no more right-click menu, you have to click the NoScript icon on the toolbat but it's all there.

      Allan

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #22 on: December 21, 2017, 07:04:11 AM »
      Okay, bit the bullet and upgraded to 57. First I downloaded Firefox Portable and ran it along side Firefox 56 to get used to it. Used the css tweaks mentioned above to get it as close to how I like as possible. Still miss the status bar, tab mix plus, classic theme restorer, a reload extension for the menu, the ability to customize menus, etc. Still, not as bad as I feared and it most definitely is faster.  I've attached a screenshot of my modified version if anyone is interested.

      [attachment deleted by admin to conserve space]

      Salmon Trout

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #23 on: May 20, 2018, 07:02:12 AM »
      Today updated to 60.0.1

      Geek-9pm


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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #24 on: May 20, 2018, 11:34:20 AM »
      Today updated to 60.0.1
      Me too! running Windows 7 64 bit with Firefox 60.0.1 also.  :)

      patio

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #25 on: May 20, 2018, 04:30:21 PM »
      I'm at 60.01 and 3/4.... ::)
      " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "

      BC_Programmer

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #26 on: May 21, 2018, 12:57:33 AM »
      With the recent update- I presume 60.0.1- I found the "Classic Theme" changes via the chrome folder no longer worked; with it in place the display is rather indescribably glitched out (elements seem to be at seemingly arbitrary positions, move around when moused over weirdly- etc.

      I tried installing it from the github instructions all over with a fresh setup of Firefox 60.0.1 but was unable to get it to cooperate.

      Frankly I would have just shrugged and just gone with the "default" theme/visuals, but I greatly prefer my main browser to have tabs on the bottom of the toolbar area (eg right above the content). Since after a bunch of screwing around I couldn't get that seemingly simple customization to work, I decided to try a fork of Firefox, and settled on Waterfox. Another reason to switch was because some of the recent changes they have been making to the browser seem to have a bit of a "dark design" to them; adding advertisements to the new tab page, for example, and then removing the ability to change it to point at a specific URL, is one good example of this- You have to install an add-on to change the page loaded by the new tab.

      I ended up "switching" my primary browser to Waterfox, which is based on Firefox 56 currently- as a result, the ClassicThemeRestorer add-on itself still functions so I don't have to fiddle with the chrome folder at all. Of course, I still have Firefox 60 itself installed- I haven't run off into the sunset swearing or anything.
      I was trying to dereference Null Pointers before it was cool.

      Salmon Trout

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #27 on: May 21, 2018, 02:57:49 AM »
      Although I had been a Firefox loyalist for years, over the past few months I have found myself using Google Chrome for at first just the odd page, but now I use it for everything.

      Allan

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #28 on: May 21, 2018, 05:35:33 AM »
      With the recent update- I presume 60.0.1- I found the "Classic Theme" changes via the chrome folder no longer worked; with it in place the display is rather indescribably glitched out (elements seem to be at seemingly arbitrary positions, move around when moused over weirdly- etc.

      Hmm - nothing broke on my end - the css tweaks are still in place on all of my systems.

      BC_Programmer

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #29 on: May 21, 2018, 10:20:40 AM »
      Hmm - nothing broke on my end - the css tweaks are still in place on all of my systems.

      Yes, it's still intact on one of my systems with the latest release as well. Not really sure what happened but tried all sorts of things to try to fix the ones that were broken, disabling all plugins/extensions, copying the css tweaks/chrome folder from the working system's firefox profile to one that was goofy, etc.
      I was trying to dereference Null Pointers before it was cool.

      patio

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      Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
      « Reply #30 on: May 22, 2018, 05:47:29 AM »
      Went to install and try WaterFox last nite...recieved a message stating it needs Win XP or higher and it would not continue installation.... ???

      This is on my Win7 rig...
      " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "

      nil

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        Re: Firefox Quantum (57) released
        « Reply #31 on: July 20, 2018, 07:36:14 AM »
        The new versions of Firefox are really top notch. The browser performs fantastic, even while using fewer system resources. Extremely stable, highly secure. Highly recommend.
        Do not communicate by sharing memory; instead, share memory by communicating.

        --Effective Go