Firefox 153.0 Beta Brings HDR Video, PDF Tools, and Enhanced Privacy
Firefox 153.0 Beta introduces High Dynamic Range video playback on Windows and powerful new PDF editing features like merging and adding images. We are also strengthening privacy by restricting local file access for extensions and enabling Local Network Access controls by default. Developers will appreciate experimental JPEG XL support, improved CSS capabilities, and new JavaScript APIs for better web performance and compatibility.
Extensions can no longer access local files by default, requiring users to explicitly grant permission for this sensitive action.
- crote
> Firefox now verifies and displays Qualified Website Authentication Certificates (QWACs) in accordance with eIDAS regulations.
Interesting that they just buried this in the middle without even a screenshot, considering how hostile Mozilla has been to the proposal in the past[0].
Considering that they previously made quite strong arguments that implementing QWAC would undermine security by completely bypassing the existing CA trust process and violate user's privacy by leaking browsing activity to third parties: what changed?
It does seem to fit into a wider movement, though. Mozilla previously explicitly considered WebUSB, WebHID, and WebMIDI as "harmful" as they lacked an effective mechanism against hostile websites tricking users into permanently compromising their hardware. This switched to "neutral" without addressing the underlying issue, seemingly just to satisfy some users asking for parity with Chrome out of a convenience argument. Same with Firefox happily jumping onto the AI bandwagon, and only backtracking after major public outcry.
Not to be dramatic, but Firefox seems hellbent on rapidly turning into a reimplementation of Chrome, completely ignoring its raison d'être. Will there be any traditional user-serving browsers left a few years from now?
[0]: https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/21330628/mozilla.pdf
- rustyhancock
> It is now possible to merge multiple PDFs by dragging a PDF into the PDF sidebar.
> It is now possible to add images as new pages within PDFs using the Firefox PDF editor.
I have always found it odd that browsers are also PDF editors increasingly.
- aorth
Awesome! JPEG-XL support is here. I enabled it via the new "Firefox Labs" section in the settings, then tested on https://jpegxl.info/resources/jpeg-xl-test-page.html without a restart.
- mikae1
Why does this show “Containers” under new? I've used this feature for years and years...
- unethical_ban
They note containers as a new feature. Does this mean containers are shipping with the base installation, instead of as an extension?