The Firefox add-ons manager is currently hidden deep in the web browser. It can only be accessed by clicking on Tools > Add-ons. The add-ons manager then opens in a new window that gives the user options to manage extensions, themes and plugins. Search engines on the other hand are not maintained in the add-ons manager which is not the most elegant solution.
Redesign plans existed for some time but progress has only been made recently. A new – fairly incomplete – preview of the new add-ons manager has now been added to the latest Firefox nightlies.
Several blogs have already reported about the changes including Mozilla Links or Boriss’ Blog.
Overview of the changes in the new Firefox add-ons manager:
- Redesigned user interface
- Languages, search engines, extensions, themes and plugins can all be managed from the add-ons manager.
- Add-ons manager is now displayed in a tab in the web browser, can be accessed with about:addons
- New extensions manager backend including api changes
- Ram and CPU usage information
The last feature has not been mentioned in the other blog posts. It is only visible in the preview screenshot shown below:
There is currently no button to launch the add-ons manager but users can enter about:addons in the address bar and bookmark the url for faster access.
What’s your opinion on the new add-ons manager?
Update: The Firefox developers have added another option to open the browser’s add-ons manager. Firefox users can enter the shortcut about:addons in the address bar of the browser to load the add-on manage in the active tab.
The add-on manager has been redesigned in the meantime. Take a look at the screenshot of the current version of the add-on manager.
The new add-on manager lists extensions, plugins, themes, user scripts and even an option to find and install add-ons right away.
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Nice! The new one looks sweet :)
Like the current one better. What’s supposed to be wrong with that design?
I like the concept of about:addons. I am eagerly expecting for it. The current design has no problem, except opening in new window.
I’m not sure I understand how hiding it in about:addons is better than making it readily available in the menus. Seems like a step backwards.