A month after the previous 127 release, Mozilla rolls out a new version of its widely used open-source browser, Firefox v128. This latest update features improvements in privacy, usability, and updated developer tools.
Specifically, it introduces several key functionalities, including protected content playback in Private Browsing mode and a streamlined process for clearing user data. Here’s more on that.
Firefox 128 Web Browser Highlights
Firefox 128 now supports the playback of protected content from popular streaming services such as Netflix, even in Private Browsing mode. This ensures users enjoy their favorite shows and movies while maintaining privacy.
The update also debuts a more user-friendly dialog for clearing browser data. This new feature simplifies the selection process for data categories and gives users detailed insights into the site data size for any chosen time range.
For macOS users, Firefox enhances the audio experience by utilizing the system-provided voice processing for microphone capture via getUserMedia. This improvement ensures higher-quality audio, which is particularly beneficial for video conferencing and audio recordings.
Moreover, developers will find Firefox 128 especially appealing with its new tools. Notable updates include the ability to display the specificity of CSS rules in a tooltip within the Inspector Rules view. This feature aids in understanding the application order of CSS rules.
Additionally, the setCodecPreferences method offers more control over codec negotiation, vital for web applications dealing with multimedia elements.
In web platform developments, Firefox 128 supports more inline viewing of text/* file types, reducing the need for downloads. It also aligns its Accept header for images and documents with the Fetch standard, ensuring consistency across browsers.
The update also introduces support for @property and the CSS properties-and-values API alongside resizable ArrayBuffers and growable SharedArrayBuffers in SpiderMonkey. These enhancements facilitate more efficient memory management and data handling within web applications.
On the security side, the Firefox 128 web browser strengthens its privacy features by defaulting to DNS proxying when using SOCKS v5.
Android users, particularly those on Android 14 or later, will find the integration with third-party Passkey management applications a significant enhancement. This allows for the creation and use of Passkeys, fostering a more secure and streamlined authentication process.
Lastly, Firefox is now available in the Saraiki language, expanding its global reach and making it more accessible to users worldwide.
Those eager to get it can download the latest version directly from Mozilla’s server. Windows and macOS users can expect an over-the-air update within the next day. Users on rolling release Linux distros should look for the new Firefox 128 as an update in their repos over the next few days.
