Mozilla gives Firefox 29 a major makeover

Mozilla released its most ambitious update to the Firefox browser, the first since 2011, with an emphasis on customisation and cross-device syncing. The browser now features a modernized look, with rounded tabs, and the ability to access preferences from the browser quickly and to edit features and add-ons. It continues to feature the same three-bar menu on the right. "The point of the redesign is to adapt the design to how modern users engage with the web," Mozilla VP for Firefox Johnathan Nightingale told TechCrunch earlier this month. The new menu located on the top right lets users access all major controls, features and add-ons in one simple interface. Users can bookmark and manage them in the same menu. Users can pin tabs to highlight them and the new design makes it easier to see open pages while de-emphasizing other tabs in the background. The redesign features Firefox Sync, which is powered by Firefox accounts, allowing users to keep the same browser setup and preferences across devices, including browser history, saved passwords, bookmarks and even open tabs. Mozilla is still recovering from the PR backlash surrounding the appointment of co-founder Brendan Eich as CEO, after it became public that he had privately donated to support a ban on gay marriage in California. Mozilla hopes this redesign and the launch of Firefox 29 will help it to not only compete with other browsers, but also move away from the controversy.