Mozilla Firefox 4.0 Browser Screenshots and Concepts

The Mozilla team has posted several Firefox 4.0 screenshots or mockups, as they call them, which show what they are planning for the new 4.0 version of its browser.

The first screenshot that you see shows off a new "Bookmarks Widget" that could serve as a replacement for the Bookmarks Menu and Bookmarks Toolbar, but of course you could always enable them since the functionality would remain for those that love the two 'old' bookmark features.

The next screenshot illustrates the possibility of placing the tabs on top of the address bar instead of below the address bar. This concept shows that it saves on vertical space, shorter mouse distance to page controls, and removes visual complexity. On the downside of the new concept is that it could confuse existing users a bit, especially ones switching from other browsers and who are technically challenged.

Lastly, they have added some interesting colors to the Stop/Refresh/Go buttons to give the user indication by "color" of what's happening at any given time. As you type a URL, the button changes to green and to "Go" or a Play button. When nothing is being done, a refresh button will appear with no color or neutral. If you hover over the refresh button it will turn blue. As a page is loading, the button will turn red indicating its loading. Furthermore and my favorite feature is a green colored progress line just under the address bar showing the progress of the loading page.

"The proposed iconography is mostly colorless. Adding color to these temporary action driven buttons will make it more obvious something is going on." the Mozilla Wiki said.

"I guess the idea of having a combined go/refresh button is good. It will help the users who are just switching from IE. Also, there must be more flexibility in changing the button settings, however. Foxy is the most customizable browser out there, so I say, take one of the ideas here for the default, then let the user choose how many buttons are there, their position etc. Also, it would be great even if the progress bar design was changable too. Why not?"