Firefox 57.01
Because of Mozilla’s non-stop minor Firefox releases with major integer version numbers, we haven’t covered Firefox in the TidBITS Watchlist for over a year (see “Firefox 49.0,” 22 September 2016). However, the release of Firefox 57 — dubbed Firefox Quantum — is worth mentioning, thanks to its speed enhancements, revamped user interface, and improved memory usage. Mozilla has overhauled Firefox Quantum’s browser core with a new CSS engine that takes better advantage of multi-core processors optimized for low power consumption. The new version now prioritizes the tab you’re viewing over all others to make better use of
system resources, and it shuts down video decoding when the tab playing the media is sent to the background or the video is not visible on the screen. The new release also brings a unified address and search bar, a revamped new tab page that includes top visited sites, and an expanded preference section to manage all Web site permissions. (Free, 52.5 MB, release notes, 10.9+)
I've found that Firefox 57 (Quantum) breaks some functionality in the Lastpass plug-in, specifically the Attach Document feature that lets one attach files and other info to a 'Secure Note'.
Support at Lastpass indicates that they are aware of this limitation, blaming it on Firefox/Mozilla. They offered no ETA for a fix, but said they are looking into it.
Quantum is a memory hog!
I was glad that I had kept a backed up copy of 56.0.2. After downloading 57.0.1 installer, it later installed itself when I launched 56 and trashed it. I ran it for about 10 minutes and dumped it. The UI is black background tabs with square edged tabs. A real duh dumb down, despite the speed improvements.
Awful.
I can't choose "text only" for my favorites in the toolbar, which crowds the whole bar so it's become much more difficult to choose a website.
I got off Firefox's weekly update schedule and now only use their ESR releases - I only update maybe once a year.
I can't use Firefox since it went to 57. Amongst several other things it made NoScript unusable for me. Maybe I'm just a bit thick but it removed the easy simple functionality of the add-on. I had been happily using FF for years, it suited my preferences. It seems to have copied Chrome, and what is the point of that, I wonder?
I now have to use Safari and Chrome, neither of which are anywhere near as agreeable to my preferences. Really p*****-off about it! :-(
I did give them some feedback but there has been no response (I didn't expect one).
Used Firefox since v1.0 (Phoenix v0.1 actually). 57 is the worst version by far. Had to switch to 52ESR. Quantum is like big government -- only it knows best. Quantum refuses "Theme Font & Size Changer" add on; so Firefox 57 on my 2560x1440 iMac display is just about unreadable. "Classic Theme Restorer" on 52.5.2 mitigates some of the "improvements" made on 57. "Roomy Bookmarks Toolbar" also helps restore the look and feel of Firefox prior to Quantum. I will remain on 52ESR. Auto update turned off.