Battle Firefox Australis, love it, hate it or just don't care?

[Littlebits]

Howdy members, I would like to know what you think about the latest Firefox v.29.0 (Australis UI).

I simply was shocked by the changes since it looks more like a Chromium clone then the actual Firefox that I'm used to. The removal of several features like add-on bar and full theme support made it so bad that extensions were quickly created to restore the add-on bar and old UI. The upgrade also messed up user's profile moving things around where they should be and also broke many extensions.

I simply hate the way Mozilla is starting to move, make Firefox look like a Chromium clone just isn't right.
That is the main reason I chose Firefox over Google Chrome because of useability, now useability is getting removed and for what reason? To attract new users and abandon the ones that have supported Mozilla all of these years.

Here are some links- read the user commits:

http://www.extremetech.com/computin...but-does-that-mean-it-can-compete-with-chrome

http://www.ghacks.net/2013/11/08/will-happen-mozilla-launches-australis-firefox/

Spoiler: This is the way that I feel

That UI is absolutely shithouse. It smacks everyone who stuck with Firefox and didn't run with the herd to Chrome, with a big fat huge Chrome-themed pie in the face, kick up the arse and knee to groin.

Three years ago Firefox was a bloated piece of junk. If they started MemShrink in 2007 they might have avoided being whipped by Chrome. Some people stuck true anyway and even tolerated the piecemeal corruption of the browser interface they loved for it's customization. I was one of those people, still am. I even tolerate Aurora so that I can see what crap changes Mozilla has forced upon us a few months ahead of time. Back in 2009 ...

- If I wanted to remove my status bar, I'd have moved to Chrome
- If I wanted to remove my search box, I'd have moved to Chrome
- If I wanted my tabs on top, I'd have moved to Chrome
- If I wanted a condensed menu button, I'd have moved to Chrome
- If I wanted a combined stop/reload button, I'd have moved to Chrome
- If I wanted a UI with minimal space for add-on UI, I'd have moved to Chrome
- If I wanted inferior developer tools, I'd have moved to Chrome
- If I wanted less control over frames, I'd have moved to Chrome
- If I wanted a growing add-on developer community not hampered by a warts-and-all API, I'd have moved to Chrome
- If I wanted some idiots to remove per-tab close buttons, I'd have hoped for Australis
- If I wanted a UI that sacrificed a status bar in order to waste space on a useless titlebar, I'd have hoped for Australis

BUT I DO NOT!

So now I'm stuffed. Thanks very much Mozilla. Thanks for rewarding your loyal users with an enforced Chrome experience when they never chose to move to Chrome in the first place!

So please let me know your feeling about Firefox Australis.

Enjoy!!

 

[Ink]

I've played with an earlier version during 2013, and it didn't feel like I was using Firefox. Looks OK on Mac OS X though.

 

[illumination]

I actually like it. Firefox has been maintaining an old, clunky interface for some time, and was dropping behind the other browsers "UI" wise. Im not sure going the route of the semi Chrome clone was the right choice, but at least an effort was made to bring FF somewhat up to speed. Personally i do not mind that the addon bar is gone, i never used it anyway, just as i do not like toolbars either. I can still customize FF the way i like, and it now feels lighter and smoother.

 

[KaptainBug]

I'm a Firefox user since I started using internet and I absolutely love the new UI. I don't know what the issue you are talking about corrupt user profile and I never liked the add-on bar anyways. It takes up real estate on my browser and removing the addon bar, will naturally make all the addons appear in the toolbar now. I don't have to customize and drag them to the toolbar anymore. I reset my user profile on every Firefox update so I have never faced a user profile corrupt problem.

 

[SamChan]

I think Firefox 29.0 is the most elegant interface browser. It's very fast, very light, and very smooth. I always set Firefox as my default browser.

 

[MrExplorer]

I like Firefox New UI.

 

[MrXidus]

These two themes may interest those who dislike Australis.

Use the Nightly link in the descriptions for the latest versions.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/fxopera/

Spoiler

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/mx4/

Spoiler

 

[Littlebits]

I'm really surprise by members commits and votes, the Mozilla forums are full of complaints.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/997182
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/997333
http://forums.thedailywtf.com/forums/p/30903/355158.aspx
http://www.phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?95223-The-New-Firefox-UI-Lands-In-Aurora
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/firefox-suckfest.html
http://www.howtogeek.com/117127/dow...stralis-ui-test-build-of-firefox-for-windows/ (read commits)

I'm not the only one who hates it. Waterfox and Tor browser Bundle developers just announced that they will not include Australis in future releases either. I'm glad that people who still love Firefox old UI will still have choices and not be forced to use something that they don't like. Take your pick; Cyberfox, Pale Moon, Waterfox and Tor Browser Bundle all will not include Australis.

Classic Theme Restorer is one of the most Top-Rated Extensions downloaded since the release of Firefox 29.0.

l would like to thank everyone for their commits and votes.

Enjoy!!

 

[KaptainBug]

I don't understand the reason people complain about the UI of Firefox when they totally admire the same theme with Chrome

 

[Mateotis]

I don't understand the reason people complain about the UI of Firefox when they totally admire the same theme with Chrome

Just because Chrome has always been like this and a lot of people seemingly hate it, that's why they moved to Firefox, which now also has this apparent "ugly" UI, so that's why they are complaining!

 

[FreddyFreeloader]

Here's a song for all the Mozilla crybabies.

 

[Littlebits]

Just because Chrome has always been like this and a lot of people seemingly hate it, that's why they moved to Firefox, which now also has this apparent "ugly" UI, so that's why they are complaining!

Exactly not only that but Firefox previous UI supports full themes which gives users a wide variety to choose from, now with the limited theme support it is just like Google Chrome. They might as well just ditch their engine and move to Chromium like Opera did and let Cyberfox, Waterfox and Pale Moon continue developing the previous UI and engine.
Mozilla theme developers are angry because now none of their themes work on Australis and now there is limited options to make new themes. Australis doesn't look like Mozilla's own work, more like a copy of Google Chrome which most loyal Firefox users did not want.
Australis does nothing but limit Firefox and adds Chrome like features.

Thanks.

 

[Terry Ganzi]

Ladies & gentlemen this is the moment when the GOD OF WAR became the FETUS OF SQUABBLES.

 

[Oxygen]

If people doesn't like it.... Oh well they can stop using it or they can get a Complete Theme.

 

[illumination]

Just because Chrome has always been like this and a lot of people seemingly hate it, that's why they moved to Firefox, which now also has this apparent "ugly" UI, so that's why they are complaining!

I have found most people use FF over chrome not because of the UI, but because of the extensions, and lack of better ones in chrome. It is exactly why i prefer FF over chrome, the extensions i use, have somewhat clones for Chrome, but the ones in Chrome usually are buggy, or plain do not work properly, and or just do not contain all the properties of the FF versions due to the code in the core of chrome.

 

[Neno]

I loved old Opera too. Now Firefox seems to go that way too. Nowadays it seems all we get is more of the same. Nothing to differentiate from the crowd ... so sad and utterly wrong.

 

[Littlebits]

Google set the standards on how all browsers should be now we less options to choose from.
Eventually there will only be Google Chrome and nothing else to choose. This can not be a good thing since most of the Chromium clone developers can not keep up with Google's development. Then Google can turn around and add their spyware tracking back in then your only options will be to use an out dated Chrome base browser or Google Chrome.

Thanks.

 

[illumination]

Google set the standards on how all browsers should be now we less options to choose from.
Eventually there will only be Google Chrome and nothing else to choose. This can not be a good thing since most of the Chromium clone developers can not keep up with Google's development. Then Google can turn around and add their spyware tracking back in then your only options will be to use an out dated Chrome base browser or Google Chrome.

Thanks.

Im pretty sure that the slightly adjusted FF version 29 does not signify the end of all other browsers as we know them.

Windows 8 sent a flurry of people complaining as well when it first came out, but after the first update, most simmered down, now i actually see people commenting they love it. So i would sit back and see where Mozilla is taking this before assuming too much.

Now the day comes, they drop the Gecko in favor of Chromes engine, i would start to get concerned and even consider just using IE..

 

[Littlebits]

http://strawpoll.me/1601625/r
1. I dislike it -443 votes (47%)
2. I like it -318 votes (34%)
3. I don't mind it -156 votes (17%)
4. I have no opinion -27 votes (3%)
944 total votes

Enjoy!!

 

[illumination]

http://strawpoll.me/1601625/r
1. I dislike it -443 votes (47%)
2. I like it -318 votes (34%)
3. I don't mind it -156 votes (17%)
4. I have no opinion -27 votes (3%)
944 total votes

Enjoy!!

Just adding " i like it" and "I don't mind it" gives you a grand total of 474 votes

I know it is a massive change, and it will be hard for many to swallow.