Firefox 3.2 Plans Include Natural Language, Themes 285
Shrike82 writes "Mozilla have described plans for the next version of their popular web browser, Firefox. Mozilla's "Ubiquity project" is set to become a standard feature, allowing "users to type natural language phrases into the browser to perform certain tasks, such as typing 'map 10 Downing Street' to instantly see a Google map of that address, or 'share-on-delicious' to bookmark the site you're currently visiting on the social news site."
Also of interest is so-called "lightweight theming" allowing users to customise the browsers design more easily. The launch date is still somewhat unclear, and Mozilla are apparently unsure if version 3.2 will be released at all, apparently considering going straight to Firefox 4."
Ask Jeeves all over again (Score:4, Interesting)
They want to make Ask Jeeves all over again in the url bar?
Don't search keywords do this better, and in a more controlled way? I set up a google maps search keyword of "map", then I know what happens when I type "map address". Similarly with other keyword constructs. Keywords let me build on the browser's functionality in predictable ways. Ask Jeeves? Remains to be seen.
(Although I am given to understand it is the FBI's premiere tool to search for terrorists.)
Rotated text (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:More bloat... (Score:3, Interesting)
The bloat needs to be absolutely removed but the functions, features, bells and whistles need to be modularized so that they are available if wanted. People will want them. For me, one of the most compelling features of Firefox is the addons. The enormous collection of addons available keep Firefox interesting and some of them are actually very useful.
Are you kidding me? (Score:3, Interesting)
Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 is the fastest browser yet - that is what makes it so annoying when Mozilla team just discontinues or changes some feature in the name of...
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=456405 [mozilla.org] ... usability?
Or the fact that Firefox would rather open Nautilus than opening something *I* want -or- just showing me the information of where a file was downloaded.
Any why?
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=431521 [mozilla.org]
Because Firefox is minimalistic, it would rather open Nautilus.
Nobody - NOBODY - uses Firefox for minimalism anymore. Even Opera is more minimalistic is than Firefox.
And IE7 is pile of crap how exactly? The reason it is so hated has got nothing to do with its usability, but with the fact that has shitty support for standards and that it is tied with the OS.
Re:Map 10 Downing Street (Score:3, Interesting)
Google is already pretty good at working out what you want. Why would I want Firefox to override this?
If you play with Ubiquity for a little bit, you'll see why it is not merely a duplication of Google's functionality. It is more than just a shortcut for web searches, it's meant to be a fast and efficient way to do things.
The example that Aza Raskin most often gives (Aza is the lead on the project and also happens to be the son of Jef Raskin, who started the Macintosh project at Apple) is something like: "You are writing an email and want to embed directions... rather than searching the web and then copy-and-pasting a map into your email, it would be preferable to simply type 'map Washington DC and paste here' and have the computer figure it out."
In addition to a bunch of search-like commands ('google', 'weather', 'map'...) and quick-reference commands ('define', ...) there are lots of text-replace commands ('translate', 'calculate', ...), and powerful action commands ('add-to-calendar', 'email', ...) and browser-interaction commands ('close-tab', 'bookmark', ...).
For anyone who is a keyboard-shortcut fanatic, this extension is awesome. You can control the browser largely without using the mouse, for instance. It's also so much faster to perform certain actions. And the framework is extensible: people are writing new commands all the time (and you can create your own commands if you know Java Script).
In short, Ubiquity is about a lot more than just providing a shortcut to searches. It's about providing a new (and very efficient/comfortable) way to access the functionality of your browser and the web. You may or may not actually like it... but I would recommend giving it a try.
Re:More bloat... (Score:3, Interesting)
Shenanigans, Shenanigans !!!
Just opened Firefox 3.06 and Internet Explorer 7.0, both clean with no add-ons, and loaded google homepage into each one.
Hmm ...
firefox.exe = 21,628k Private Memory
iexplore.exe = 6,060k Private Memory
Re:More bloat... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:NOOOOOOOOOO! (Score:3, Interesting)
I don't see how this is any different from the current keywords system. For example, if I type "w firefox" my browser will look up Firefox on wikipedia. It's all done with the existing mechanism of keywords for bookmarks via the address bar.
Re:NOOOOOOOOOO! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Why don't they... (Score:2, Interesting)
I don't understand why firefox just doesn't offer these features as optional "official" plug-ins. When firefox was first released, I figured that was the direction it was taking. You get a bare-bones vanilla browser, and you can bloat it with whatever plug ins you want to suit your tastes and needs. I'm not understanding why certain features such as these need to be part of the official application and not just an optional plug in.
I would much rather see the firefox team work on implementing a faster javascript engine (like chrome's), and plugging known security holes than add features such as these. I don't need pretty themes for my browser, I have compiz fusion/emerald for that.
Re:Three words: Enterprise deployment tools (Score:3, Interesting)
You mean the part where I've repackaged FF with a MSI installer myself?
Look.
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=231062 [mozilla.org]
Politics.
Meta-whining also accomplishes nothing. But thanks for trying to call me on being an ignorant whining tool and also helping the situation?