Firefox 4 beta 4 goes live with Panorama tabs, Sync
updated 03:10 pm EDT, Tue August 24, 2010
Firefox 4 beta 4 posts late with new features
Mozilla today posted its anticipated Firefox 4 beta 4. The version is the first to implement Panorama tabs, the final version of Tab Candy. A combination of virtual desktops and Apple's Expose, Panorama creates sets of tabs and provides a glimpse at each set with thumbnails for each.
Also in store is Sync, the finished version of its cross-computer sync service. Autofill data, bookmarks, history and the most recently used tabs will port from one computer to another as long as users have Sync accounts they can reach. Google Chrome was the first to have a free, built-in option, although Apple has had Safari syncing in .Mac and later MobileMe.
Other additions bring Direct2D graphics acceleration for Windows users, though disabled by default, as well as buffered HTML5 video. The release is available for Linux, Mac and Windows PCs. At least one more beta is planned that should be followed up by release candidates and a final version.
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sync
Also in store is Sync, the finished version of its cross-computer sync service. Autofill data, bookmarks, history and the most recently used tabs will port from one computer to another as long as users have Sync accounts they can reach. Google Chrome was the first to have a free, built-in option, although Apple has had Safari syncing in .Mac and later MobileMe.
Safari sync doesn't sync anything but bookmarks. Autofill data comes from another source (if it syncs at all). History and tabs might come over if you're silly enough to sync preferences, but I can't imagine anyone doing that. And, of course, only bookmarks sync to Windows machines.
No idea what Chrome syncs, but I'm guessing it's everything on your computer (as soon as it's scanned and advertised up).