Mozilla is constantly experimenting with ways to improve the Firefox browser. The company has announced that it’s testing changes to the New Tab Page, and the new look might remind you of other web browsers.
Firefox is experimenting with new layout variants for the New Tab page, which users can try out in Nightly builds by toggling specific preferences in about:config. The templates will focus on recommended content, which means Mozilla is looking to improve the New Tab page’s utility beyond just a collection of frequently visited sites. This strategy aligns with trends seen in other browsers. The mobile Google Chrome browser, for example, prominently features its Discover feed on the New Tab page, offering personalized content recommendations. Microsoft Edge, while criticized for its somewhat cluttered MSN-heavy approach, also prioritizes news and information on its New Tab page.
Firefox’s approach seems to lean towards a more curated experience. This could set Firefox apart from its competitors and offer a middle ground between the minimalist approach of some browsers and the information-dense New Tab pages seen in others. We’re already seeing a weather system get added, so the company is clearly trying to bring users to the new tab page. Mozilla could create additional revenue streams by showing sponsored content and potentially incorporating affiliate links within recommended articles. This would reduce how much Mozilla relies on search engine partnerships like Google.
Mozilla highlighted a few other improvements currently in testing. The adress bar auto-complete now supports intuitive restrict keywords, which lets you use natural language keywords to narrow your searches in specific browser areas. For example, instead of typing “*” to search for bookmarks, users could type “@bookmarks.” This will make things a lot easier for newer users of the browser. To help the move over, Firefox is getting browser-to-browser migration improvements soon. This is from a new messaging experiment to encourage account creation, focusing on smoother device migration and data transfer. We still need to see how these experimental layouts will evolve and how users will receive them, but the company is clearly trying to put Firefox at the forefront of creating its own revenue.
Source: Firefox
