The new version, which was recently launched, came from Firefox, the second largest browser on the Internet after Google Chrome, carrying three new features. The first is to run the “Image in Image” feature that allows the user to view video files within a separate, operable framework From inside and outside the browser, and the "VPN" feature that provides fully secure encrypted browsing, with new security patches that included overcoming 11 security vulnerabilities. The new edition carries the number "71", and was recently put up by "Mozilla", the company that officially produced it.

Technical review

Over the past few days, computerworld.com analysts have conducted a comprehensive technical review of the browser in light of its actual performance across the web. The results of the review were published on this 25th, and analysts concluded that the new updates provided by "Firefox" came as an attempt to "catch up" and not to achieve the great goal that it announced, and that "Mozilla" has been seeking for a while, which made "Firefox" the most attractive browser ever. Online.

1- Picture in Picture

"Mozilla" added to the new version the functionality known as "BNP", or an image in an image, a feature that allows the inclusion and display of video files in a separate small window, which appears in front of the browser, within the active tab in a "floating" image on the page and not fixed, As usual, then it can be worked on, and it can also be dragged and played on the move from one tab to another, or pulled out of the browser entirely on the desktop.

And about this feature, said Vice President of Products in «Mozilla», Marisa Wood, that «feature image in image was only available in a copy and version (71 of Firefox) that works on the operating system (Windows), during the beta stages, but were added To versions running on Linux and Mac operating systems.

And «Mozilla» prepared this feature so that the video does not play as soon as the user hovers or hovers over the mouse pointer over the image box as usual in some other browsers, but the mouse pointer must be pressed twice over the image to play.

Marisa Wood pointed out, that the reason for resorting to this option is to reduce the inconvenience experienced by the user from the automatic operation of videos that work with this feature, especially advertising videos, but the feature also includes pressing a small pop-up message that appears in the frame that leads to moving the video out of the browser to Desktop to be viewed separately whenever the user wants.

2- An imaginary private network

Mozilla has made significant improvements to the secure encrypted browsing feature, which provides the user with the security and encryption provided by virtual private networks known as VPN networks. Firefox 71 offers this feature under the name “FBN” or “Firefox Private Network”.

The new enhancements are an extension of what Mozilla started in this regard in the previous version, “70”, which was launched last September. The FBN service guarantees full encryption of traffic from the browser to the site. In the test phase, Firefox provided it free of charge to everyone who has a computer on Firefox, and then entered into an agreement with the company, "Cloud Flare", which specializes in securing websites via the Internet, to start a second testing phase with the emergence of the new version "71".

Currently it is being used in a restricted manner, which includes 13 hours of free monthly usage for account holders in «Firefox», and users get 13 permission to use, each valid for an hour of encrypted traffic, and those who wish to take advantage of this offer can now benefit from it when they browse The Internet is through open public networks, in cafes, airports, malls, etc.

As for the permanent use of the service throughout the day, it requires subscribing to the "full service" option for five dollars per month, and this ensures encryption and full security of traffic from the browser to any site throughout the month, and this service is done through servers that are controlled by a company called "Milevad" It is a Swedish company specialized in virtual private network solutions.

3- Security patches

The technical review, conducted by analysts, revealed that programming and information security engineers at Mozilla corrected 11 security vulnerabilities that were previously reported in Mozilla 70, six of which were classified as “high risk”, and none were Classified as "critical risk", and security improvements also included a remedy for a security vulnerability named "CVI-2019 - 11745", it is believed that criminals are using it to disable part of the devices' temporary memory.

New version

"Mozilla" provided more than one way to download and install the new version, including downloading it from its site directly, and in one step, is to choose the appropriate version for the operating system on which the user is working, from among three versions, the first for "Windows 10", and the second for the "Linux" system , And the third for the Mac OS. Another way is to auto update through the browser settings, to update in the background, or through manual operation by opening the menu under the three horizontal bars in the top right of the browser, then clicking the Help icon (the question mark inside a circle), and choosing "About Firefox", where it will open a page showing that the browser has either been updated or needs to be updated.

It was also noted that Mozilla modified and improved the browser development cycle, so that the interval between each version and the next one was reduced. According to the company announced, the development cycle will be shortened to four weeks, instead of eight weeks previously, and then six now, beginning in January. This means that users will get a new and updated version of «Firefox» every month at most, instead of two or a month and a half before.

Fall in front of competitors

According to data announced by the company, "NetApplication", on the day of the launch of the new version of the browser, the share of "Firefox" for last November, in the browser software market, reached 8.2%, down half a percentage point from the previous month. This was the seventh month that Firefox had reached this low in the last 12 years. This means that Mozilla’s plan to make it the most attractive browser on the Internet is faltering. After it moved its share from 7.7% in 2016, and made progress that reached it to a share of 13% in October 2017, it returned again and started a decline journey that reached 8.2% currently .

Correcting 11 security vulnerabilities and filling a vulnerability that affects electronic memory.