The Mozilla tool is supposed to make searching the net easier
Mozilla is looking for new ways in its Firefox browser. (Photo: Shutterstock / monticello)
Firefox is adding another tool for search completion to its repertoire – and is taking a rather untypical step.
The Mozilla browser Firefox recently turned out to be a problem child in a report by the company: The number of users had declined significantly over a longer period of time. Now Mozilla wants to increase the user friendliness in the browser search function with a new feature. The function will initially be tested in the USA.
Under the name “Firefox Suggest”, Mozilla is introducing an extension that complements existing components. So far, Firefox has suggested the most popular additions to terms that are typed in the search line with the “Search Suggestions” function. With the so-called “Address Bar Autocomplete”, users can also add information such as bookmarks and browser history to complete addresses.
For Firefox Suggest, the provider is now working with partners and suggesting certain target pages that match the topic under the most popular search queries. For example, Firefox displays relevant Wikipedia entries, pocket articles and reviews. The proposals also include “credible content from sponsored, audited partners and trustworthy organizations,” according to the Company release notice – If you are looking for a certain item of clothing, for example, you could get an offer from Ebay in the search suggestions.
They are also working on context-oriented proposals. Overall, the innovations should make the search experience more efficient and faster. The new proposals would initially be offered as an option for some of the users in the USA.
For example, by blocking certain tracking cookies, Firefox has repeatedly advocated that user data on the Internet should only be collected transparently and according to certain standards. For the new suggestions for search queries, Firefox would have to send more information than before to Mozilla – specifically, the respective query, location information and the extent to which the suggested pages are used.
According to the report from Firefox, the company wants to continue to act in accordance with the company’s privacy principles in the further development and use of the search feature, and the use of the data should be handled transparently. If you definitely do not want to use the new feature or only want to use it to a limited extent after its introduction, you will also find one detailed instructions in the support area of ​​Firefox.
