Firefox beta 12 features HTML5 controls, silent update

Mozilla released Saturday (Manila time) the latest beta for its Firefox browser, featuring a silent update, developer tools and HTML5 video controls.

 

A report on tech site CNET said these were among some 85 changes that Mozilla included in the beta version of Firefox 12.

 

"Windows users will no longer get pestered by a User Account Control pop-up every time the browser updates, and the HTML5 media controls have been updated," it said.

 

This may mean security patches and other under-the-hood improvements can be delivered without interruption, CNET noted.

 

CNET also noted the developer tools indicate Mozilla's renewed focus on Web developer communities.

 

It said many developer tools built into Firefox have been fixed, improved, tweaked, or altered, including the Web Console, Style Editor, Page Inspector, Style Inspector, and HTML View, as well as the recently introduced Scratchpad and Page Inspector 3D View.

 

A smaller but still notable change has been to improve the HTML5 media controls, such as adding a full screen button.

 

Mozilla has also moved the stable release of Firefox to automatic updates.

 

Earlier this week, Mozilla had limited Firefox's updates to manual to check the effect of major patches Microsoft had released for its Windows operating system.

 

Firefox 12 is expected to graduate from beta to stable around six weeks from now, CNET reported. — TJD, GMA News