It's that time again. We need to figure out what's changing in Firefox 23 for desktop and Android. If you'd like to help, check out the research documentation and post your findings in this thread. Also, let me know if you'd like to be added to the Researchers Group.
It's that time again. We need to figure out what's changing in Firefox 23 for desktop and Android. If you'd like to help, check out the [[Research upcoming changes to Firefox|research documentation]] and post your findings in this thread. Also, let me know if you'd like to be added to the [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/groups/kb-researchers Researchers Group].
Consolidated search default preference now lets users switch to another search provider in the search box and change the setting for addressbar and context search
John99 posted this in [/forums/support-forum-contributors/709268#post-52658 another discussion]: ''John99 said''
<blockquote>
I note some changes may be expected in fx 23, that could help with search hijacks [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=738818 Bug 738818 - consolidate Firefox search preferences] (I think ''cor-el'' pointed that out but don't have a link to the post.)
</blockquote>
Looking through the bug, one article that will need revision for fx23 is [[Search the web from the Address Bar]].
P.S. Consolidation of search preferences (among other Firefox 23 changes) is mentioned here:
*http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/23.0a2/auroranotes/
<blockquote>
Consolidated search default preference now lets users switch to another search provider in the search box and change the setting for addressbar and context search</blockquote>
Looking through the Aurora release notes I also noticed that a number of [[Firefox options, preferences and settings|Firefox options/preferences]] are being removed:
<blockquote>"Load images automatically", "Enable JavaScript", and Always show the tab bar" checkboxes removed from preferences</blockquote>
I searched for the related bugs and found:
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=851701 Bug 851701 - Remove "Load images automatically" checkbox from Prefs]
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=851702 Bug 851702 - Remove "Enable JavaScript" checkbox from Prefs]
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=855370 Bug 855370 - Remove the ability to not "Always show the tab bar"]
The first two bugs also link to http://limi.net/checkboxes-that-kill and to [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=851698 Bug 851698 - (checkboxes-that-kill) Get rid of options that kill our product]
<br> ...which links to this bug, marked fixed in mozilla23:
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=733632 Bug 733632 - Remove TLS version UI (Options > Advanced > Encryption > Protocols)]
at the last minute it appears that Firefox Health Report has landed in Firefox 23 Aurora which means it will be in Firefox 23 Beta which means it will be in Firefox 23 release
Sorry for the late notice, researchers, but it was a wee bit of surprise to me that they landed it earlier this week.
anyhow i have started an Android article (why did i start so early since we don't normally do beta or aurora articles? Answer: because it has privacy and data gathering implications; for privacy and data gathering features we do document them earlier than release):
at the last minute it appears that Firefox Health Report has landed in Firefox 23 Aurora which means it will be in Firefox 23 Beta which means it will be in Firefox 23 release
Sorry for the late notice, researchers, but it was a wee bit of surprise to me that they landed it earlier this week.
anyhow i have started an Android article (why did i start so early since we don't normally do beta or aurora articles? Answer: because it has privacy and data gathering implications; for privacy and data gathering features we do document them earlier than release):
* https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-health-report-understand-your-android-brow
Relevant bugs and wiki pages:
* https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Projects/Firefox_Health_Report
* FHR meta bug: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=871825
* sounds like we also need a mobile version of https://support.mozilla.org/kb/add-ons-cause-issues-are-on-blocklist , this is tracked in "Mobile friendly page for Add-on block list pings" https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=885364
One thing that I noticed for the Android version is that you will now be able to [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=784387 long press the Reader Mode icon and have the article on the screen added to the Reading List].
The [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-enable-reader-mode-firefox-android "How to enable Reader Mode in Firefox for Android?"] article could be modified to include a short explanation detailing this feature.
Starting in Firefox 23, the button to "Disable" or "Enable" plugins in the Add-ons manager Plugins list has been replaced with a drop-down menu with the options, "Always Activate", "Ask to Activate" and "Never Activate".
Ref: Bug 549697 - Add click-to-start form of disabled plugins (Add-on manager) .
Starting in Firefox 23, the button to "Disable" or "Enable" plugins in the Add-ons manager Plugins list has been replaced with a drop-down menu with the options, "Always Activate", "Ask to Activate" and "Never Activate".
Ref: [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=549697 Bug 549697] - Add click-to-start form of disabled plugins (Add-on manager) .
It would be great if we could get the updates done next week. In order to do that we have to figure out what documents need to be changed. Anyone up for figuring that out? That would be super helpful.
It would be great if we could get the updates done next week. In order to do that we have to figure out what documents need to be changed. Anyone up for figuring that out? That would be super helpful.
Another pending revision by scoobidiver related to a Firefox 23 change not mentioned in this thread, but listed in the Firefox 23 beta notes (Improved about:memory's functional UI)
scoobidiver has already made pending revisions to a number of articles related to the changes and bugs I mentioned above:
* [[Firefox's default home page has quick links to common features]] unique search engine in Fx 23 (bug 738818)
* [[What to do when searches take you to the wrong search website]] unique search engine in Fx 23 (bug 738818)
* [[Awesome Bar - Find your bookmarks, history and tabs when you type in the address bar]] unique search engine in Fx 23 (bug 738818)
* [[Search the web from the Address Bar]] unique search engine in Fx 23 (bug 738818)
* [[Advanced settings for accessibility, browsing, system defaults, network, updates, and encryption]] Removed SSL/TLS in Fx 23 (bug 733632)
* [[Settings for fonts, languages, pop-ups, images and JavaScript]] JavaScript and Images removed in Fx23
* [[Tab preferences and settings]] Removed "Always show the tab bar" in Fx 23
* [[Fix problems that cause images to not show]] Images pref removed in Fx23 (bug 851701)
* [[Fix problems with Facebook games, chat and more]] JavaScript removed in Fx23 (bug 851702)
* [[JavaScript settings and preferences for interactive web pages]] JavaScript removed in Fx23 (bug 851702)
* [[Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697)
* [[Firefox uses too much memory (RAM) - How to fix]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697),
* [[Firefox uses too many CPU resources - How to fix]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697)
* [[Fix common audio and video issues]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697), removed JavaScript setting (bug 851702),
* [[How to turn off Java applets]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697)
* [[Use the Java plugin to view interactive content on websites]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697)
* [[Play Windows Media files in Firefox with the Windows Media plugin]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697)
* [[Use the QuickTime plugin to play audio and video]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697)
* [[Troubleshoot issues with plugins like Flash or Java to fix common Firefox problems]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697)
* [[Use plugins to play audio, video, games and more]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697)
* [[Disable or remove Add-ons]] New way of disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697)
More revisions related to "Enable JavaScript" option/preference removal:
* [[Websites look wrong or appear differently than they should]] disabling JS removed in Fx 23
* [[Pop-up blocker settings, exceptions and troubleshooting]] updated Win screenshot for Fx 23
Another pending revision by scoobidiver related to a Firefox 23 change not mentioned in this thread, but listed in the [http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/23.0beta/releasenotes/ Firefox 23 beta notes] (''Improved about:memory's functional UI'')
*[[Use the Troubleshooting Information page to help fix Firefox issues]] showfor winxp, win7 & win8, '''new about:memory in Fx 23''',
Here's another change for Android:
"Be able to modify your search default via the add-ons manager:"
* https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Projects/Changeable_search_engine_default
* Tools | Addons | long tap to get "Set as Default" in addition to pre firefox 23 "Disable", google is default search engine out of the box
* https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=730445
Mixed content blocking enabled to protects users from man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdroppers on HTTPS pages (learn more).
The blog post from the "learn more" link includes the following image:
I opened Fx23 Beta and went to URL from the image, https://people.mozilla.com/~tvyas/mixedcontent.html and got a blank page. I clicked on the "shield" icon to see where that "Learn more" link goes to, and it takes you to this SUMO KB article (approved May 1, 2013):
...including the controlling preference, security.mixed_content.block_active_content which is set to "true" by default in Fx23 (setting it to "false" will turn off the feature).
I'm wondering if people who see a blank page or missing content will even think to click on the shield icon. If the support forum starts getting questions and it turns out to be this newly-enabled feature, a small "Hot topic" article might be needed (e.g., "Sites that used to work are now broken or have missing content after updating Firefox") that explains this new security feature and links to Mixed content blocking in Firefox.
Bug 834836 - Turn on pref to block mixed active content
Bug 844556 - [tracking] compatibility issues with mixed content blocker on non-Mozilla websites
Bug 843977 - (mozorg-mixedcontent) [tracking] Mixed Active Content on Mozilla Affiliated sites
The [http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/23.0beta/releasenotes/ Firefox 23 Beta Notes] include the following:
-----
Mixed content blocking enabled to protects users from man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdroppers on HTTPS pages ([https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2013/05/16/mixed-content-blocking-in-firefox-aurora/ learn more]).
-----
The [https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2013/05/16/mixed-content-blocking-in-firefox-aurora/ blog post] from the "learn more" link includes the following image:
<img src="https://people.mozilla.com/~tvyas/FigureB.jpg">
I opened Fx23 Beta and went to URL from the image, https://people.mozilla.com/~tvyas/mixedcontent.html and got a blank page. I clicked on the "shield" icon to see where that "Learn more" link goes to, and it takes you to this SUMO KB article (approved May 1, 2013):
*[[How does content that isn't secure affect my safety?]]
...which links to this blog post with more info:
*https://blog.mozilla.org/tanvi/2013/04/10/mixed-content-blocking-enabled-in-firefox-23/
...including the controlling preference, '''security.mixed_content.block_active_content''' which is set to "true" by default in Fx23 (setting it to "false" will turn off the feature).
I'm wondering if people who see a blank page or missing content will even think to click on the shield icon. If the support forum starts getting questions and it turns out to be this newly-enabled feature, a small "Hot topic" article might be needed (e.g., "Sites that used to work are now broken or have missing content after updating Firefox") that explains this new security feature and links to [[How does content that isn't secure affect my safety?]].
We could also update [[Websites look wrong or appear differently than they should]] with fx23 info on mixed content blocking.
P.S. Related bugs:
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=834836 Bug 834836] - Turn on pref to block mixed active content
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=844556 Bug 844556] - [tracking] compatibility issues with mixed content blocker on non-Mozilla websites
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=843977 Bug 843977] - (mozorg-mixedcontent) [tracking] Mixed Active Content on Mozilla Affiliated sites
I'm wondering if people who see a blank page or missing content will even think to click on the shield icon.
I found a bug that includes this screenshot of a webpage with a missing YouTube video.
Bug 891378 - Mixed content blocker is not warning loudly enough
From the bug report:
The little "shield looking" icon to the left of the URL in the address bar is not "loud" enough. Considering that it's my only way to get to the content I think its color should be bolder and maybe pulsate the icon or some other animation.
<snip>
Tanvi Vyas [:tanvi] 2013-07-11 14:10:25 PDT
Thanks Peter for reporting this!
<snip>
3) We have heard complaints about the Shield Doorhanger being more discoverable. We have a bug open for it https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=834828. I have added your comments to that bug.
''AliceWyman [[#post-53267|said]]''
<blockquote>
I'm wondering if people who see a blank page or missing content will even think to click on the shield icon.
</blockquote>
I found a bug that includes [https://bug891378.bugzilla.mozilla.org/attachment.cgi?id=772671 this screenshot] of a webpage with a missing YouTube video.
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=891378 Bug 891378] - Mixed content blocker is not warning loudly enough
From the bug report:
The little "shield looking" icon to the left of the URL in the address bar is not "loud" enough. Considering that it's my only way to get to the content I think its color should be bolder and maybe pulsate the icon or some other animation.
<snip>
-----
Tanvi Vyas [:tanvi] 2013-07-11 14:10:25 PDT
Thanks Peter for reporting this!
<snip>
3) We have heard complaints about the Shield Doorhanger being more discoverable. We have a bug open for it https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=834828. I have added your comments to that bug.
-----
Good idea. There are a few other similar articles (linked from that) that could use a note about this. I'm thinking I should make template with a screenshot of that shield that I can drop into all of them. I'll also ping the User Advocacy team on this. It seems pretty easy to get caught by this (embeded vine videos on my blog are blocked).
''AliceWyman [[#post-53267|said]]''
<blockquote>
We could also update [[Websites look wrong or appear differently than they should]] with fx23 info on mixed content blocking.
</blockquote>
Good idea. There are a few other similar articles (linked from that) that could use a note about this. I'm thinking I should make template with a screenshot of that shield that I can drop into all of them. I'll also ping the User Advocacy team on this. It seems pretty easy to get caught by this (embeded vine videos on my blog are blocked).
Hi Michael, I saw you actually made that template: could you allow us to localize it?
Thanks :)
Sorry - my mistake. Just fixed it. I'll be finishing all of these up and will post it all in the L10n forum soon.
''underpass [[#post-53285|said]]''
<blockquote>
Hi Michael, I saw you actually made that template: could you allow us to localize it?
Thanks :)
</blockquote>
Sorry - my mistake. Just fixed it. I'll be finishing all of these up and will post it all in the L10n forum soon.
Scoobidiver updated this article yesterday (see History)
disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697), JS removed in Fx23 (bug 851702)
I approved it as "ready to localize".
''AliceWyman [[#post-53641|said]]''
<blockquote>
Another article that needs updating for Firefox 23:
[[Accessibility features in Firefox - Make Firefox and web content work for all users]]
</blockquote>
Scoobidiver updated this article yesterday (see History) <br>
disabling plugins in Fx 23 (bug 549697), JS removed in Fx23 (bug 851702)
I approved it as "ready to localize".
