14 DAY TRIAL // Mozilla is preparing some very interesting new features for the Firefox Internet browser that will require users to have a Firefox account if they haven't got one already.
Mozilla developers have been quick to announce what changes they are going to implement in the next Beta, right after they promoted the previous Beta to Stable just a day before. These are the kind of features that will need some proper testing, and that is probably why we didn't get them in the Firefox 38 branch that was just made available.
The browser recently got a new feature called Hello, which allows users to connect to other browsers that support WebRTC (they don't need to be Firefox) and make video calls. It's still being refined and that is why it's still in the Beta stable, at least for Mozilla.
Firefox Hello will become more important
For the time being, Firefox Hello is a cool feature that didn't manage to get a lot of traction. It sure has a lot of potential and it's easy to see why people should really use it, but it will take a while until users become more aware of what it can do.
"We're experimenting with new features in Firefox Beta to give you more ways to connect with the people and content you want on the Web. There’s a new tab sharing feature in Firefox Hello Beta so you can share any website you’re viewing while talking to friends, family, and co-workers. We're also testing a new integration with the popular service, Pocket. Pocket allows you to save stories, videos and websites to enjoy at a later time," reads the entry on Mozilla's blog.
Even if Firefox Hello works without having to log in with your Firefox account, the fact that it's being used more and more shows that it will become much more relevant for the services provided.
Also, the addition of a third-party service like Pocket it's rather strange, as it ties the browser to a service independent of Mozilla that may or may not be a success.