New Firefox design mockups for August 2012

Martin Brinkmann
Aug 27, 2012
Firefox
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6

As a Firefox user I'm always excited and wary at the same time when it comes to changes that Mozilla plans to make to the browser. Design mockups are released regularly by Mozilla staff, and while a release does not necessarily mean that it will be implemented in exactly the way in the browser, it is more often than not the case that this is happening at one point in time. One has to keep in mind though that this is a design process that sometimes take months or even years to complete, and that change happens naturally in that time.

Firefox design mockups

Mozilla has integrated click to play functionality in Firefox 14 which users can activate to block plugin contents from being loaded automatically when the page is opened in the browser. Plugins need to be activated with a click on the page element or the Firefox address bar. If you are using the address bar to activate plugin contents, you will notice that you can only activate all plugins at once. Your only option to load specific plugin contents on a page is to click on the element directly.

The first design mockup highlights a selective click to play interface when you click on the button in the browser's main toolbar. Here you now have options to activate all, or only one of the required plugins on the page. You can read up on the implementation status here on this Bugzilla page.

firefox click to play

A new player design for HTML5 video contents has been suggested by Firefox designer Stephen Horlander. The first screenshot highlights the current player interface, the second the proposed change.

html5 player firefox

html5 player

A volume bar and settings icon has been added to the player, and the play time indicator is better readable.

Another mockup shows the new proposed feedback user interface which Firefox users can use to send feedback to Mozilla about recent changes in the browser.These feedback overlays act as tooltips that explain new concepts or feature to the Firefox user, and as options for user to give feedback. For now, feedback appears to the be limited to yay or nay votes.

firefox feedback

The last three images show mockups of how the Firefox Metro version for Windows 8 could look like when it is released as a final version.

firefox tabs

firefox address bar

firefox metro

There you have it. These designs may make their way into one of the next Firefox versions. Anything that you like or dislike in particular? (via Sören)

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Comments

  1. Kari said on August 28, 2012 at 3:04 am
    Reply

    This new way to design everything is weird, I don’t know what is supposed to be a button with functionality, and what is there to make “things look better”.

    I really love old style where everything is clear and visible and available when needed. “&/)%¤& them designers!!!!

    Kari

  2. Caspy7 said on August 28, 2012 at 12:01 am
    Reply

    Good article.
    Thanks for the info!

  3. Roman ShaRP said on August 27, 2012 at 9:21 pm
    Reply

    I like design of FF 3 and Noia FF theme, and I want them to work as they do.
    Never had any need in Chrome or Safari-like eye-candy, so I can just pray “please don’t break what worked”

  4. ilev said on August 27, 2012 at 6:52 pm
    Reply
    1. Martin Brinkmann said on August 27, 2012 at 8:59 pm
      Reply

      Yes I noticed and have posted an update: https://www.ghacks.net/2012/08/27/firefox-15-launches-tomorrow-downloads-already-available/

      This is a big release.

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