14 DAY TRIAL // Mozilla has just released a new Firefox version for all supported platforms, and the company explains it’d continue to ship browser updates just like before, with no major change caused by coronavirus outbreak.
But despite new Firefox versions landing at the original pace, Mozilla says it’s paying more attention to the big changes that it makes to the browser, so some features might be pushed back because it wants to avoid breaking down things.
One such risk, for example, is an impact on resources, such as government and health organization websites, that so many people try to access these days. So while Firefox will continue to receive updates normally, changes that could affect these are put on hold for now,
“We know that this is a time when our users depend on Firefox to provide uninterrupted access to vital government and health services, so we have taken steps to avoid shipping changes that might negatively impact user experience or possibly break these websites,” Mozilla explains.
“For example, we have prioritized fixing video conferencing issues specifically in this time of greater usage. Going forward, we will continue to examine all new features and planned changes with closer attention paid to backwards compatibility, and their potential for any user-facing issues.”
New Firefox version coming in May
Mozilla says that its release calendar is unaffected by the coronavirus outbreak mostly because its staff and contributors are already used to working from home, as most of their work on Firefox was already performed remotely.
The next major update for the browser is Firefox 76, which according to the current calendar, is projected to land on May 5.
Both Microsoft and Google announced they would be skipping one major release of their browsers, so after shipping Edge and Chrome 81, respectively, the would jump straight to version 83 in mid-May.