Firefox 6 beta optimized for tablet browsing

Developers and tablet users appear to benefit the most from the latest beta version of Mozilla's Firefox browser. Mozilla claimed that Firefox 6 beta, which it launched July 8, introduces "innovative tools" to help developers build "rich and compelling Web experiences." In a blog post, Mozilla also said the mobile version of its Firefox beta for Android promises an "enhanced" experience on large-screen tablets. Among the new features in the latest release are:

• Add-ons Manager with Plugin Check
• Improved Panorama Groups to reduce browser startup time by only loading saved tab groups when you use Panorama
• An improved Address Bar that highlights the domain name of a website being visited.
• A Scratchpad to quickly build and test JavaScript snippets in the browser.
• Support for Web Sockets with a prefixed API
• Moveable Web Console
• New Web developer-specific menu

Mozilla also said that its Firefox for Android now starts faster and uses less memory. The mobile version additionally offers higher-quality image scaling with less pixelation, and "Touch Events" for better interaction with Web pages. A separate article on CNET noted the Domain Highlighting feature can be useful in verifying that one is at the correct URL, such as for online banking. It also noted a new animation that quickly shows the hidden tab bar on the left and options menu on the right when the browser is launched for the first time. — TJD, GMA News