topic this new bs is atrocious in Discussions

this new bs is atrocious

annieee — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 21:20:27 GMT

The only way to search open tabs using a dedicated window is to enable an about:config option (sidebar.openTabsPanel.enabled) to be allowed to add the old "recently active open tabs" view to the sidebar.

The "nova" design is ugly, and ironically only the AI bots that websites were accusing me of being before I upgraded would think more rounded corners is a genius idea. Again, I had to disable it in an about:config option (browser.nova.enabled).

One of the first things I notice is a big attention-grabbing button for your new vpn service, which I'm sure doesn't require an account and definitely (/s) won't be en**bleep**tified in future. I have yet to find a way to get rid of it (update: disabling "random feature studies" got rid of the button because it's still being A/B tested (ew)). Thank god we prosecuted Microsoft for bundling Internet Explorer with Windows XP but let Google, Microsoft, and now Mozilla do whatever else they want.

My previous homepage was clutter-free, then the new update added a ton of new stuff to it. Because the default settings for a new user (who hasn't yet cleaned up the homepage) are definitely OK for someone who has already configured their browser (and expects it to try and stay that way).

Please see this meme (in text form because it's 9pm at night for me)
🧑‍💼 What do we need to make our browser more competitive?
👨‌ move everything around and add ads for our new services?
👩‌ rounded corners :vomit:?
🧑‍💻 something people actually want?
🧑‍💼😠😠😠
🧑‍💻 --> 🪟 ‌*CRASH* --> 🪦

Mozilla, you have made it clear that despite claiming to champion FOSS and users, you are just pretending to care while you aspire to become one of Big Tech.

To anyone who okayed these changes: You are everything that is wrong with the world. You should be shot.

Re: this new bs is atrocious

annieee — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 21:27:54 GMT

Oh! And I forgot the worst part! Ctrl+shift+F now opens the extensions page instead of my password manager, and I can't work out how to fix this (just says "can't override a firefox shortcut")! Oh my god.

Re: this new bs is atrocious

annieee — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 21:34:31 GMT

Could be worse though, I guess. They could've disabled about:config like on firefox android because controlling your own computer is soooooo 2000s and is no longer "chic".

Re: this new bs is atrocious

dftf — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 11:01:05 GMT

@annieee : "you should be shot" possibly a tad extreme over a UI change.

Here's what you can do:

Reverse the changes in your current version of Firefox: in the about:config page, change these:
browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.nova.enabled = false
browser.nova.enabled = false
browser.settings-redesign.enabled = false
pdfjs.enableNova = false
sidebar.updatedBookmarks.enabled = false

Move to the 153 ESR release of Firefox, which is the one aimed at business users. It predates all of the Nova changes, so you can avoid it until September next year, when it retires. Download here:
https://www.firefox.com/download/all/desktop-esr/

Move to a different browser, or a "fork" of Firefox (though check how often they are updated, as some are not very-regularly, so you may go-without security-fixes for longer). Common forks include:
Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox • Zen

Re: this new bs is atrocious

annieee — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:06:07 GMT

While I admit my comment was perhaps a little over-the-top, to say I am frustrated with modern computing would be like saying the Pacific Ocean is "a bit damp". It's not just about the changes, it's about the principle. I am fed up of other people having control over MY computer that I paid for with MY money. I am fed up of keyboard shortcuts that no longer do what they're supposed to with no option to change it back. I am fed up of ads trying to lock me into a walled garden. I am fed up of fighting with my tools rather than using them. (At no point would a carpenter wake up to find their trusty Standard Hammer has to be upgraded to a Hamr 26 (with claws at both ends for branding reasons) before they can hammer any more nails). I am fed up of everything that modern computing stands for. And I am fed up of people at Big Tech constantly making things misbehave just for the sake of it.

And I'll say it's mighty convenient that you've carefully avoided addressing the constant ads for mozilla services (because becoming more like G**gle is apparently a goal, rather than something to avoid at all costs).

Yes, I will be switching to a fork, and I recommend that anyone else who finds this thread does as well.