Mozilla has released the first beta version of Firefox 7 which promises better memory management and reduced load times.Firefox 7 beta is now available for download for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android platforms.
This beta includes performance enhancements that improve the browsing experience for users and enable developers to create faster Web apps and websites.
One of the biggest performance enhancement in Firefox 7 is the introduction of MemShrink, according to Mozilla MemShrink can reduce Firefox 7’s memory usage by anywhere from 20 to 50 percent, and improve performance in responsiveness, startup and page load times.
“Firefox 7 uses less memory than Firefox 6 (and 5 and 4): often 20% to 30% less, and sometimes as much as 50% less,” said Nicholas Nethercote, Memshrink program developer from Mozilla, “In particular, Firefox 7′s memory usage will stay steady if you leave it running overnight, and it will free up more memory when you close many tabs.”
So this new feature will try to cut Firefox reputation for being a memory hog , another major feature is better JavaScript garbage collection to boost performance of the browser by freeing up more memory often when multiple tabs are open.
Additional under-the-hood features include Azure Direct2D for Canvas and improvements in how the browser handles CSS 3 text overflows.The final version of Firefox 7 should be available by September 27.
What’s New in Firefox 7 Beta for Windows, Mac and Linux ?
- Optimized Memory Use: Reduces memory use and improves performance areas including responsiveness, startup and page load time, even in complex websites and Web apps
- Improved memory management: The JavaScript garbage collector works more often to free up memory and improve performance when you have many tabs open or keep Firefox running for a long time
- Enhanced Firefox Sync: Your data syncs faster when a bookmark or password is added or changed
- Azure Direct2D for Canvas: Helps Firefox speed up HTML5 Canvas-based animation rendering
- Web timing spec: Enables developers to measure page load time and site navigation so they can find how to make website performance improvements
- CSS 3 Text-Overflow: ellipsis: Additional way for developers to display CSS 3 text that overflows the layout area
- Telemetry: Install this add-on and opt-in to report browser performance data and help improve future versions of Firefox
What’s New in Firefox Beta for Android ?
- Optimized Memory Use: Reduces memory use and improves performance areas including responsiveness, startup and page load time, even in complex websites and Web apps
- Enhanced Firefox Sync: Your data syncs faster when a bookmark or password is added or changed
- Copy and paste: Copy and paste selected text from mobile websites
- Restored session history and tabs: Firefox restores browsing history and tabs so users can easily return to their earlier browsing session
- Language choice: Firefox can detect the language setting on your Android device or allow you to select from more than 10 languages during initial set up
Download : Firefox 7 Beta for Mac, Windows, Linux
Download : Firefox 7 Beta for Android