Mozilla has announced and released Firefox 14, the latest version of its web browser. While not the major overhaul the company previewed earlier in 2012, minor features include improved search security.
The secure search implementation, according to tech website Ars Technica, means that the HTTPS address is used by default in Google's searches. While only working with Google search, browsers such as Google's Chrome allow the feature to be enabled by default. Sites can take longer to load, but entering personal information behind the HTTPS filter is advised when making transactions.
Favicons, icons custom to a website, are now gone. Instead, a padlock or world icon' will appear depending on whether the site is SSL enabled. It'll serve as a quick indicator for users only wanting to browse on HTTPS websites, or when to be wary when browsing.
The feature means that sites can't mislead users by wrongly using a padlock icon as a favicon, though favicons are still displayed in tabs.
Also new is the Point Lock API, which basically locks the mouse in an area users can interact with. Mozilla said over at its Developer Network that the feature is useful for applications requiring a significant amount of mouse movement. An example of the API's functionality that was given was its ability to control a game without clicking, when playing first-person games. If you're playing Battlefield 3 on the PC, moving the camera can now be done through just moving the mouse. In a MMORPG such as Guild Wars 2, right clicking and moving the mouse rotates the camera.
The new version of the browser also supports the full screen mode in OS X Lion, which is already available in Chrome and Apple's Safari browser. However, the feature is slow to transition, reducing its appeal for some.
Firefox 14 is available to download now and will be available as an update for users. Mozilla also recently talked about its overhaul of Firefox, as Chrome gains market share, a move causing the company to develop an iOS version of the browser - again. Chrome has already released a mobile version with a greater focus on design.
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