HOW TO+REVIEW: Firefox 4 and how it should look like Google Chrome and Opera

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Firefox 4 was released less than a week ago and the download statistics can be seen in this interactive page made by Mozilla here. While I was writing this, there was already a whooping 28,726,286 downloads around the world, with Kuala Lumpur having 128,366 downloads and Malaysia having a total of 258,604 downloads. This post will have a review section and followed by a how to section on how to tweak some of the annoying settings in the new Firefox 4.

Review:

At first glance, Firefox 4 looks like Opera 11 (I sometimes use this as I can continue downloads even if I close my browser) and little like Google Chrome (my favourite browser!). It has two new cool functions here. Firstly, it's the new Firefox Sync, which allows you sync with different devices (Firefox for Android/N900 - get it here) and multiple computers. This is great, as I tried Google Chrome's sync with my portable Google Chrome as I go around in uni. Firefox already has a page dedicated to how you can sync your devices here.

The next new thing is my favourite in Firefox 4, is the "Tab Groups" or Panorama. It allows you group tabs together in a tab group according to your interests, like separating your work and leisure web surfings. You can do it by clicking  on the top right corner of your page. All you need to do is drag anywhere in the space to create a new tab group or you can simply drag a tab onto another tab and a new tab group will appear.

 

Tab Groups/Panorama: Awesome stuff

The only thing is that Firefox loads webpages a little slower than Google Chrome (I tried loading up http://www.facebook.com/ with both at the same time 3 times).

HOW TO:

As the new Firefox's new look is a little annoying, you can tweak it below. The numbers will indicate the before and after look, and as an indication of what will be tweaked.

1: That is the "Tab Group"/Panorama button. Click that to see the new function.

2: The new "Firefox menu button is at the top, which wastes some space for surfing the net. All you need to do is Download and install the addon "Movable Firefox Button 1.3" here.

 

After restarting the browser, go to Firefox Menu ---> Options ---> Toolbar Layout and you can drag it to the position in the picture.

3: You can move the refresh button by going to the Firefox Menu ---> Options ---> Toolbar Layout, and drag it to the left of the address bar, just like in the picture.

4: Finally, the most annoying one, for Firefox users, is that the tabs that is now above the address bar. Move the tabs to below the address bar, by going to Firefox Menu ---> Options and uncheck (or click) "Tabs on Top". Enjoy! I hope you can share this with your friends and have a better Firefox experience.

5 (not numbered): Drag the Google Search bar away. Go to Firefox Menu ---> Options ---> Toolbar Layout, and drag the Google toolbar into the "Customize Toolbar" window, because you can now search right at the address bar.

Opera 11 Lookalike (before): A lot of space is wasted with the new Firefox button on the top left corner.

A better look (after): After tweaking the settings, this is how it should look like.
Source for How To: Lifehacker

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Although I like the new Firefox 4's sync and the "Tab Groups"/Panorama function, I still prefer Google Chrome :P To Google: I WANT TAB GROUPS IN CHROME!! I (still a Google fanboy)blog in techknew about stuff in the internet after I have tried them and has guides to problems that we normally face as we use our computers everyday. Check out SOLVED: IE9 Crash and SOLVED: Google Chrome - Aw, Snap! He's Dead, Jim!

Additional tags: How to tweak firefox, firefox settings

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