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Why do I need an add-on to set the URL for a new tab?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Cemal Ekin

Cemal Ekin
Cemal Ekin
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Since Firefox 57 I believe, a new tab opens with a lot of unwanted elements. Although it is possible to turn them off, for some reason Mozilla removed the option to enter the user's preferred URL to open. The recommended solution to this, as I read in some threads, is to install an add on. Why do I need to install an add on to restore a functionality you removed? And, why did you remove it anyway? What harm can a user inflict by being greeted with a familiar page when opening a new tab.

I will repeat the request I have read several times, in more polite words: Please bring back this feature that many users seem to miss. Forcing the user to open an unfamiliar page in a new tab does not make much sense from user experience design perspective and providing this option causes no harm to Firefox.

Chrome is calling! I don't want to switch, but if you impose an "our way, or the highway" attitude on the users you are creating unnecessary ill-will.

Thanks,

Since Firefox 57 I believe, a new tab opens with a lot of unwanted elements. Although it is possible to turn them off, for some reason Mozilla removed the option to enter the user's preferred URL to open. The recommended solution to this, as I read in some threads, is to install an add on. Why do I need to install an add on to restore a functionality you removed? And, why did you remove it anyway? What harm can a user inflict by being greeted with a familiar page when opening a new tab. I will repeat the request I have read several times, in more polite words: Please bring back this feature that many users seem to miss. Forcing the user to open an unfamiliar page in a new tab does not make much sense from user experience design perspective and providing this option causes no harm to Firefox. Chrome is calling! I don't want to switch, but if you impose an "our way, or the highway" attitude on the users you are creating unnecessary ill-will. Thanks,

All Replies (4)

TyDraniu
TyDraniu
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Reasons behind removing it are here: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1118285

Now the platform team is considering adding back the capability to set the New Tab page to a user specified URL.

Check this bugs: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1452144 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1417155

Cemal Ekin
Cemal Ekin Question owner
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Thank you for the quick response and the good news that it may be coming back. That said, is the search hijackers' potential problem on new tabs not the same as the default home page?

I will surely welcome the return of the new tab URL setting and will wait for it instead of using an add on.

TyDraniu
TyDraniu
  • Top 25 Contributor
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What's wrong with this addon BTW?

Cemal Ekin
Cemal Ekin Question owner
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It is not what's wrong with the addon but what's wrong with Firefox. By this line of thinking, a browser may remove the bookmarking feature, saving the page or an image, etc. and relegate them to addons. I don't have objections to using addons that provide "additional" capabilities that are not expected from a browser. But, I do object using addons for regular browser functionality. And, of course, there is the additional overhead that comes with addons along with potential conflicts among them.

Modified by Cemal Ekin