Firefox 149: Split View, Tab Notes, and free VPN

Mozilla has released Firefox 149. The update includes, among other things, a split-view function for two tabs side-by-side, an integrated free VPN, and faster PDF processing. Additionally, Mozilla is introducing “Kit”, a hand-drawn mascot that will accompany users in the future during onboarding and with new features.

With Split View, users can display two tabs side-by-side in the same window. The function can be activated by right-clicking on a tab and selecting “Add Split View”. This is practical, for example, when researching and writing simultaneously. More information about Split View can be found in a blog post by Mozilla.

With Tab Notes, notes can be attached to individual tabs. The function currently still needs to be activated via Firefox Labs or in about:preferences#experimental. According to Gabriel Harp from Mozilla, the notes remain stored locally: “Your notes are yours. They remain private and accessible only to you. Firefox stores them locally in your browser and doesn’t send them to Mozilla.”

Free VPN included

Firefox 149 also includes a free VPN with 50 GB of monthly data volume. The browser-internal proxy redirects traffic and hides the IP address and location. The offer is available in the USA, Great Britain, France, and Germany. Mozilla announced the VPN together with the new mascot Kit.

For PDF processing, Firefox 149 now relies on hardware acceleration, so many documents load noticeably faster. Additionally, HTTP/3 uploads are said to function more robustly than before with unstable network connections. On Linux, Firefox will use the XDG Portal File Picker by default in the future, if available. Otherwise, the browser uses the GTK3 file selector.

Furthermore, version 149 automatically blocks notification permissions for websites that Google's SafeBrowsing classifies as dangerous. Once granted, permissions are permanently revoked to prevent abusive advertising and phishing attempts via browser notifications. A new TrustPanel in the address bar summarizes privacy and security information.

All information about Firefox 149 can be found in the Release Notes.

(fo)