Firefox 68 will offer a new implementation in the address bar

In Firefox 68, whose launch is scheduled for July 9, it is planned to include a new implementation of the address bar, Quantum Bar, instead of Awesome Bar. From the user point of view, with a few exceptions, everything was as before, but the internals were completely redone and the code was rewritten with the replacement of XUL / XBL with the standard web API.

The new implementation greatly simplifies the process of expanding functionality (the creation of plugins in the WebExtensions format is supported), removes links to browser subsystems, makes it easier to connect new data sources, has higher performance and responsiveness of the interface.

What changes are there in the new address bar for Firefox 68?

Of the noticeable changes in behavior, only notice the need to use the combinations Shift + Del or Shift + BackSpace (previously worked without Shift) to delete browsing history records of the result shown at the beginning of the introduction of the suggestion.

In the future, the process of gradual modernization of the address bar is expected. The designs are already available, reflecting some ideas for further development.

Most of the changes relate to the sharpness of the little things and the ease of operation. For example, when focusing, it is proposed to increase the size of the address bar by displaying directions as you type a block adjusted to this size, without using the full width of the screen.

In the proposal, as the search results are entered, it is planned to select not the user entered text, but the proposed part of the search query.

Besides this the web browser will also remember the state of the address bar as you type it and it will return it after changing focus outside of the address bar (for example, the recommendation list used to get lost after a temporary transition to another tab, and now it will be restored when returning).

While for additional search engine pictograms, it is proposed to add pop-up explanations.

For the future, Several experiments are also planned to assess the feasibility of implementing some new ideas:

• Show, when the address bar is activated (before the start of the entry), of the 8 most popular sites in the activity stream
• Replace search buttons with shortcuts to open a search engine;
• Remove a separate search string from Activity Stream pages and the private mode home screen
• Displays contextual tips for working with the address bar
• Interception of Firefox-specific search queries to display explanations of browser functionality.

Track This

On the other hand we can also highlight Mozilla's new introduction of the Track THIS service, that allows you to visually evaluate the user the working methods of the advertising networks that track the preferences of the visitors.

This Track THIS service allows, through an automatic opening of approximately 100 tabs, to simulate four typical behavior profiles on the network, after which the advertising networks start offering content corresponding to the selected profile for several days.

Since for example, depending on the type of user profile created, hotels, cars, brands from different technology manufacturers could appear in the ad.

Or on the other hand also depending on the type of age or gender, it can show the latest trends, exclusive offers, comfortable clothes and the latest musical news.

For a paranoid profile, links to various conspiracy theories, information about creating bunkers, and information about storing on a rainy day will be displayed.

For the profile of an online buyer, ads for fashion clothing and skin care products, among other things, will be displayed.