Firefox Update, Shrinking Memory, Webify Me and more…
about:mozilla is a weekly round-up of news and contribution opportunities. Here’s what’s happening this week:
Firefox Update Available
A new version of Firefox is available for both desktop and mobile devices. There are new and enhanced tools to make developing for the web faster and easier and there’s a new streamlined interface for Android that includes optimizations for tablets.
Shrinking Memory Use
The next version of Firefox will have significantly improved memory management, sometimes using as much as 50% less memory than the current version. This means that Firefox 7 is going to be faster and less likely to crash. Try out an Aurora or Beta build and see for yourself.
Webify Me
Webify Me builds a fun, visual manifestation of your personal web. Simply go to the site and answer a series of fun questions, and then receive a personalized visualization of your web.
BrowserID Privacy and Phonebook Brownbags
There are two different brownbags coming up this week on Air Mozilla—BrowserID Privacy Architecture on Wednesday, August 17, and Mozillians Community Phonebook, Thursday, August 18, both at 12 noon pacific. Tune in and join the discussion.
Moving Towards One Mozilla
John Slater writes about big changes that are happening as we unify various Mozilla websites under the mozilla.org domain. One of the biggest changes will be that www.mozilla.com moves to www.mozilla.org/firefox. John’s blog has more details and links to other posts about these plans.
Thunderbird Rapid Release Plans
Thunderbird is moving to the same sort of rapid release process as Firefox and the team is looking for feedback on a draft of their Development Specifics document. Take a look and send the Thunderbird developers any thoughts or suggestions you have about their plans.
Upcoming events
* August 16, London, England, Selenium users meetup
* August 17, New York, New York, Develop a useful Firefox extension: Intro Meeting
* August 18, online, Webinar: History API with Syd Lawrence
* August 19, Mountain View, California, Mozilla WebFWD » CoffeeFWD
* August 19, online, AMO Automation Testday
* November 4 – 6, London, England, Mozilla Festival — Media, Freedom and the Web
* See more on the Mozilla Community Calendar
Get Involved
These are just some of the available contribution opportunities. Learn more about other ways to get involved!
About about:mozilla
The newsletter is written by Mozilla’s contributor engagement team and is published every Tuesday.
If you have anything you would like to include in our next issue, please contact: about-mozilla[at]mozilla.com.
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16 Aug 2011
That collage thing is the worst personality test I’ve ever taken. Half the questions don’t have an alternative that fits me, and the description of me at the end is almost completely incorrect. The “visualisation” doesn’t even seem to have much to do with the Web (certainly not with “my Web”).
Webify Me certainly looks interesting, but every time I load the site (in Firefox 6) my screen freezes – whether I’m loading it in the current tab and viewing it while loading, or in its own tab and not viewing it.
It’s possible that other Firefox users (possibly only FF6 users) are running into the same problem. I just thought you should know, considering it can come up as one of the notifications under the search bar on the Firefox Home Page.
Thank you for your time,
~Aexis
Webify me causes an immediate system crash on my machine.
I’m using Firefox 4.0.1 and have Windows Vista. If I go to the site, the only recovery possible seems to be to shut down the computer with the off switch.
I suggest you stop promoting the site.
I thought I should add that I’ve encountered absolutely no problems with Webify Me. And, in fact, I find it a unique, fun, and surprisingly insightful way to pass a little time.
The last time the “update now” message popped up I did it. I lost 3 of my safe surfing add-ons and tool bars. I loaded them because I wanted them. Why does Firefox make changes that I don’t ask for, or at least ask me if I want to?? I had to uninstall it and download the older version. It’s like a basement novice geek trying to create something but not fixing it as he goes. If Firefox 7 turns out to be a bomb, I’m back to IE. Even the no-bells-and-whistles Google Chrome would be better than this.
I am not interested in the webify me. I do not like it at all.
Please cancel this website and get me out of here immediately.
Can someone tell me the “Webify Me” 20-question questionnaire FAILS every damn time I run it? After bothering to answer 20 questions – many of which fail to include my true answers – I get the final page. There, I fill in a name for the collage but then I leave EVERYTHING else blank. No, I do not tick the “use my email” box – I don’t give Mozilla you permission to reuse my address. So, filling in just the collage name, I hit submit. Instant error:
Forbidden (403)
CSRF verification failed. Request aborted.
More information is available with DEBUG=True.
What. The. F. Gives??
Any answers would be appreciated….
agarthan@gmail.com