New in Thunderbird 60

Revision Information
  • Revision id: 162030
  • Created:
  • Creator: Matt
  • Comment: Still a work in progress
  • Reviewed: No
  • Ready for localization: No
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This article describes the major changes that are visible to users in Thunderbird version 52.0. Full details of all the changes can be found in the Thunderbird 60 release notes.

End of support for windows XP and Vista

In line with the withdrawl of support for windows XP and Vista in versions of Firefox after 52, Thunderbird will also cease to support these two legacy operating systems. Thunderbird 52 will be the last version of Thunderbird available for those two operating systems.

Add-ons not marked as compatible with Thunderbird 60 by their authors will be disabled

Due to significant changes in the way add-ons are managed and run in Thunderbird which have occured since V52 was released version 60 will not automatically permit add-ons writting for pervious versions to load. On update, unless the add-on author has updated the add-on and karked it competible with thunderbird 60, add-ons will be disabled. This decision was not lightly made, however as it is expected that most add-ons that have not been updated will not function correctly. It is felt that the usr exerience of broken add-ons outweighed the convenience of automatically accepting the old add-on versions.

New menu location of add-on options

As a follow on to the add-on changes. Options for add-ons can no longer be managed from the add-on manager tab. A new add-on options menu has been created to access add-on options On the main menu bar this will be on the Tools menu. (Mac, Linux and Windows users with it turned on)

MainMenuBarOptions

Alternatively if you use the application menu on the toolbar hovering over the add-on enty or clicking the > will display the add-ons which have options you can set.

AppmenuShowingADDOnOptions

Changes to date time settings

Thunderbird now has an option to specify if date and time formats used in the program should follow the operating system, or the locale of the installed version of Thunderbird. In other words, an US English Thunderbird can use, for example, German formats.

Regional settings

Compose window changes

During address entry, the matching part of the address is now shown in bold

To make it clearer why a particular address has been included in the auto fill list, the portion of the address that matches the typed text is now highlighted

When writing a message, a delete button now allows the removal of a recipient

When you hover the mouse over the REplyTo: To: CC: and BCC: addressing labels an X button is now displayed to allow the deletion of that entry.

Demonstration of the delete button


address book

It is now postible to set a default list which will be selected upon opening the address books. To set the default, right click a folder and select the set as default entry from the menu displayed. Set Default address book Windows

WebExtension themes are now enabled

Limited support for the Web extensions style add-ons used in Thunderbird will see the support of themes using that technology.


Calendar

Provide an option to display locations for events

Calendar events will now show a location as well as the event name. Calendar:Location Display

The option that controls this is located in the Calendar > Views tab Location of Display location option


Allow copying, cutting or deleting of a selected occurrence or the entire series for recurring events

Provide the ability for sending/not sending meeting notifications directly

Maildir Experimental feature

conversion of folders from mbox to maildir format and vice versa

In keeping with the long term goal of implementing a maildir like storage system in Thunderbird. Tools to convert existing folders to and from the maildir format are included in this release. More informarion on the maildir implementation in general can be found here. Everyone using maildir needs to be aware that it is still experimental and use may reveal further unknown bugs that result in dataloss.