Mozilla added the WebExtensions API to Firefox a couple of years in the past, permitting browser extensions made for Chrome to work on Firefox with minimal (if any) work. Firefox 109 is now rolling out, with a couple of modifications to extension assist.
Google began rolling out a brand new platform for extensions in Chrome on the finish of 2020, generally known as Manifest V3. It’s a big change to how browser extensions operate, with the objective of creating them safer and fewer resource-intensive. Some APIs have been eliminated and changed with less-powerful alternate options, which affected content material blockers like uBlock Origin — sparking some public outage from customers and extension builders alike. Final month, Google delayed the timeline for eradicating older Manifest V2 extensions from the Chrome Net Retailer.
Firefox 109 is now accessible, and the primary new characteristic on desktop platforms is preliminary assist for Manifest V3 extensions. Which means extensions created for newer variations of Chrome and Microsoft Edge ought to nonetheless work in Firefox, however Mozilla isn’t eradicating some options, and can proceed supporting older extensions for the foreseeable future.
Mozilla stated in a weblog publish, “we agreed to introduce Manifest V3 assist for add-ons, sustaining a excessive stage of compatibility to assist cross-browser improvement. Nonetheless, there are some essential areas — like safety and privateness — the place our ideas name for a special plan of action. In a couple of focused areas we determined to depart from Chrome’s implementation and incorporate our personal distinctively Mozilla parts. Thus Firefox’s model of Manifest V3 will present cross-browser extension interoperability, together with uniquely improved privateness and safety safeguards, and enhanced compatibility for cell extensions.”
Apart from Manifest V3, Firefox 109 on desktop provides keyboard navigation assist for HTML date and time enter fields, the removing of Colorways, and several other safety fixes. On Mac, urgent Management/Comand and scrolling a touchpad or mouse wheel now scrolls the web page as a substitute of zooming, to match the conduct of different net browsers on macOS.
Firefox 109 for Android isn’t fairly as thrilling, however there are a couple of useful modifications. Swiping will now not activate the tackle bar in full-screen video mode, there’s now an undo button for eradicating a pinned web site, and serps now replace correctly after a language change. There are additionally a couple of bug fixes, like a problem that was affecting video calls utilizing the H.264 video codec.
Firefox 109 is slowly rolling out to Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Android — when you don’t have it but, it’s best to get it quickly. You’ll be able to obtain Firefox from Mozilla’s official web site, the Google Play Retailer, Apple App Retailer, and Microsoft Retailer.
Supply: Desktop changelog, Android changelog, Mozilla weblog
