Extensive Firefox 48 revamp safeguards against freezes, crashes, lag - woodberryandever

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The latest version of Firefox just hit the proverbial streets, and it should make the web browser Thomas More responsive and less prone to freezing for tab addicts. Firefox 48 includes a new under-the-hood feature called "multi-process for Firefox for Desktop." Whew, what a mouthful. Mozilla also nicknamed it Electrolysis or e10s.

The base idea is that Firefox processes web content and browser components separately, the way Chrome has for years now. That way if a web app consumes too much storage the web browser's controls won't freeze up, including tabs, buttons, and menus.

Firefox's e10s feature has been in examination with several test versions of the browser since August 2015.

multiprocesswindowsfirefox — Firefox 48's multi-operation feature.

Mozilla says e10s is only enabled on a constricted number of desktops for now and will slowly build up to include all users over prison term. To see if the feature is enabled happening your browser type about:support into your address bar and attain Enter. Under the "Application Basics" sub-heading look for the entry called "Multiprocess Windows." If that ingress says "1/1 (Enabled aside default)" then the characteristic is enabled in your browser.

Why this matters: Mozilla's introduction of e10s will bring Firefox closer to functionality at the sum of its contende, Google Chromium-plate. One of the driving ideas behind Chromium-plate when it first rolled out in 2008 was that IT separates processes. That way of life one tab break up South Korean won't cause problems in others and the web browser won't freeze functioning. How that all shakes out in practice is another count. Chrome has a reputation for eating up too much memory. We'll consume to see if Firefox bequeath now earn a similar distinction.

Beyond e10s, Firefox 48 also adds more automobile-complete suggestions when you type a new interrogation in the address bar. In increase, the breakthrough pane for untested add-ons has been simplified to allow for one-click installation of featured add-ons.

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Ian is an independent writer based in Sio who has ne'er met a tech subject he didn't like. He in the first place covers Windows, PC and gaming hardware, video and euphony streaming services, social networks, and browsers. When he's not covering the news he's working on how-to tips for PC users, or tuning his eGPU setup.