Firefox 3.1 gets beta and features update [ Private browsing and Tab Preview ]

Hello Humanoids . Firefox developers are unimaginably busy , they keep getting updates every week , but hey do this for us ! We all demanded private browsing feature which has recently been implemented in Internet Explorer 8 beta and is embedded ( default) in Google Chrome and now we have private browsing in Firefox .

Lets take a look at some of the features of Firefox 3.1 beta 2 ( Firefox Minefield ) with some screenshots :

Google Reader Icon and  link  :   The Google Reader link has now been added to Firefox , the icon is located at the bottom right of the web browser . The Google Reader icon will lead you to your feeds at once. This feature will be very useful for people who use Google Reader frequently.  Here is the screen shot   :

 

 Tabs Preview and New Tab Icon : A feature which has been taken form the Opera Speed dial and the new Google Chrome , bu what's different is that the tab preview doesn't open in a new tab , a small window pops up and displays the tabs which are opened . What's great that it includes a Search button and what's bad is that you can't arrange the tabs plus there is no way to close the tabs preview window and  you have to click the tabs preview icon to close it and you can't even move the preview window which makes it difficult to read even though the tabs preview window is aero themed .

Another new and a useless feature is The New Tab Icon , its basically just an icon where you click to create a new tab , nothing new .

 

  

Private browsing : This feature was totally expected , since its there in every browser present : why would Firefox ignore it  ?  

To go to Private Browsing :  Tools - > Private Browsing  . 

This will lead you to this window  : 

Click on Start Private browsing , this will result in restarting of Firefox and and your old tabs will get saved , you can get them back by doing the same old ticking off the Private browsing mode ( in Tools ) .

I don't think there is need to tell you what Private Browsing mode does , so yeah thats all about the new Firefox 3.1 beta 2 ( nightly version )

Firefox Minefield or FF 3.1b2 is fast and i mena lightning fast , maybe because of no extensions , addons and themes . Will be great to see a a public beta release from Mozilla as early as possible .

You can download the Firefox 3.1 b2 from here :  Remember to click the second last link !

Take Care ,

Exit Reality : The first ever 3D web browser !

Hello Humanoids . Sorry for such a delay , its pretty hard to blog even a single post in week these days , sigh . Lets get back to the topic ,

What does this browser do basically ? 


ExitReality founder Danny Stefanic said users of the software, which ran in tandem with popular browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox, would be "blown away" by the rendering of traditional two-dimensional web pages as full interactive 3D environments.

"It is the entire web in 3D -- making 40 billion virtual worlds -- and it will instantly transform 2D content into 3D," Mr Stefanic said.

The software then allows people to search for sites using the built-in search engine, which then instantly renders pages in 3D.  Individual web users are then shown as avatars (virtual people) in the same way as people are featured in virtual games.

What does this do to a normal 2D website ? 

Websites such as YouTube are transformed into movie theatres while social networking pages like MySpace are turned into virtual lounge rooms.
The software also enables people to see other web page visitors as avatars and interact with them, moving the Second Life model from the walled garden of the game to the entire web.

So how do you install this  ?

Just click on the download button below :



Complete the installation and see your Firefox browser , there shall be a new addon which will help you to go 3D .

While on Internet Explorer ( it works even will IE 8 eta 2 ) its prretty easy , you shall notice  an icon which says  Visit in 3D on the command bar .


So how do they get the money ?
Simple . ExitReality's revenue will be driven largely by its own search engine, as advertisers are more likely to want to be featured on 3D sites.

Did you test this on a website   ? 

Yes i did , and tragically it was disastrous . I tested :  news.yahoo.com on Internet Explorer 8 beta 2 .  I was pretty excited about the fact that my browser would be now 3D , but the moment it did make a 3D environment it shocked me . I have never ever seen such poor graphical environment in my life and  it is so heavy on the system it seems as if i am running a big programme on my P.C .   It was so bad , most of the links were hidden behind by some stupid  graphics , the only cool thing is the news is continuously coming on a separate  television screen and guess what ,  The text on the screen isn't visible !

Here are some of the screenshots of my journey from excitement to dissapointment 

 

  

 

What about its features  ?

• The most tidy feature :  instantly switch from 3D to 2D and back to 3D in matter of minutes... .
  

• You can change the 3D websites from the toolbar itself 

• You can Search , Chat , Edit , ask for help in the same toolbar

• There is an option to Walk in all the 4 directions , Hide/Show avatar , use torch , use gestures , etc .
  

• For for information , you can add buddies if you have singed up at exit reality

So what's the verdict ? 

The idea behind this web browser is 13 years old and what we did expect was something way better than this . The idea is really cool but where it lacks is the application itself.  The browser is becomes dead slow and you can't do anything except watch websites in 3D . By the way , who doesn't want his/her website in 3D ,so website or blog owners ,  submit your website/blog to this link .

What i recommend is that you give it a try once ,  opinions vary as you know hence giving it a try wont spoil anything . So now , enjoy the world of 3D on your web browser  !

Take Care ,