 In the world of entrepreneurship, one business owner’s journey proves the power of simple technology. And group chats. When Richelle Samy founded Culture of Stamina, a coaching service, she set out to create an online presence that was elegant and professional. She found what she was looking for when a group chat led her to Solo, Mozilla’s AI website creator for solopreneurs. After a few clicks using Solo’s generative AI (GenAI) tools, Richelle had a website for her brand with bold, sharp text and colors that perfectly captured her vision. For Richelle, Solo enables her to focus more on empowering and training her clients instead of spending hours on her website. Other website builders weren’t as easy. “Those tools are really nice, but I feel like you need a little bit of knowledge of what you want to do and how you want to put things together,” she recalled. “Whereas with Solo, I knew I was looking for a window for my business for people to contact me, and I only wanted a couple of pages. It was very easy to use something that was already pre-made, versus something I had to do from scratch.” When Mozilla launched Solo in December, we were curious to see how people like Richelle would receive GenAI with website creation. Six months into this journey, we’re happy with the progress, and it’s time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and learned along the way. We talked with the head of Solo at Mozilla, Raj Singh, about the AI website creator, its journey since the early stages, how it’s disrupting itself in the $2.1 billion website builder software industry with free custom domains and much more. Below is a snippet of our conversation. For the entire interview, follow along at our Innovations Projects blog. To start, let’s talk about the first few months of Solo since its Beta launch in December. How big is the team, and how many websites have been published? Solo started in May of last year with just myself and a part-time designer. We built a lightweight, clickable prototype and technical implementation to test whether generative AI could really work for website authoring. We also spent significant time surveying the broader landscape to make sure we had something that could differentiate and compete in an entrenched market.  After initial validation, we added one engineer and started the development process in June. By September, we had our first iteration that could create a website for a solopreneur with just a few simple inputs, and from there, we continued to refine the user experience. In October, we released an internal beta, and then in December, we launched our beta publicly. Since then, our team within the Mozilla Innovation Projects group grew during this journey from just an engineer, a part-time designer and me, to three engineers, a part-time designer, myself and other part-time resources to support us. We launched Solo 1.0 this past month, and in that period since beta, we’ve seen over 7,000 published websites across industries, from pool cleaners, to coaches, to immigration consultants. When we started, our goal was to make it simple for non-technical solopreneurs to build their web presence and grow their business, and we believe we have accomplished the first step.  How do you compete with Solo in such a crowded market? How are you making Solo free? When we initially conceptualized Solo, marrying GenAI with the service provider segment was an insertion point. Since then, and as expected, the incumbents have also built GenAI capabilities and improved their user experiences for the service provider audience. In this situation, where we are the underdog, my approach is to look for maximum disruption, and we landed at the business model. Every competitor — that we are aware of, at least — charges for connecting and hosting your custom domain. This makes sense – 20 years ago, bandwidth wasn’t cheap and SSL ( Secure Sockets Layer) certificates that enable an encrypted web connection cost money. Today, the former is near zero and the latter is zero. We asked, “What if we just made this free?” This would be very disruptive, so this is exactly what we are doing. Not only is it disruptive, but democratizing the category is also in line with our mission to increase access to the web. We are making web hosting and connecting your custom domain free, similar to how Robinhood disrupted brokerages by eliminating trading fees. Many do not launch their website because they can’t afford or don’t yet have enough business to justify the cost. It also doesn’t help that many of these incumbents rely on hidden upsells and next thing you know, you’re spending $100 a month for your dog walking service. In this way, Mozilla continues to be a global public resource looking out for the interests of people.  How is it building Solo, a new product at Mozilla? Building a new product at Mozilla, also known as zero to one, and probably any large organization, has challenges. I come from a startup background, so this is my comfort zone and I have some principles I generally abide by. First, it’s important to be the top advocate for the product. This can be hard because things will pull you in different directions, whether other initiatives, shiny objects or your own self-doubt. Second, adopt the tools you need and optimize on speed — it’s easy to get stuck in administrative stuff. Third, resourcing can be slow, so optimize on generalists and make sure everyone is comfortable with grunt work. Fourth, make product decisions — many of them one-way — quickly. There’s just not enough time to get consensus or have everything be data-driven at the onset. The last thing is to take agency when you can. The five minutes here, the half day there, the follow-up meeting tomorrow cause delays and they compound. Can you share details about how Solo fits into Mozilla’s overall mission? In many ways, Mozilla has been at the intersection of the internet and the interests of the people, as opposed to big tech. With Solo, we are squarely within this vision. We are democratizing access to the web for solopreneurs, and we’re increasing equity by helping those that can’t afford to host their websites in emerging markets, or where English isn’t their first language, with writing, designing and curating their content. For the entire interview, follow along at our Innovations Projects blog.  Ready to start creating?Launch your websiteThe post How Mozilla’s AI website creator, Solo, is shaking up a $2.1 billion industry appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
Back-to-school season is here, and TikTok is teeming with viral product recommendations. Gone are the days of battling crowded aisles and long checkout lines at big box stores. Now, with just a few clicks, you can have almost anything you want delivered to your door before classes start, thanks to the convenience of two-day shipping from Amazon and other online retailers. But how can you be sure those rave reviews are reliable? That’s where Fakespot, your shopping sidekick, steps in. Spotting unreliable reviews on TikTok’s trending products with FakespotFakespot is a browser extension that is powered by AI to help millions of shoppers make better purchases. It analyzes product reviews in real-time across supported retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, giving you the lowdown on which product reviews seem credible and when you should proceed with caution. Whether you’re seeking product pros and cons or highlights, Fakespot has you covered. It even provides seller ratings for eBay and Shopify stores so you can shop with confidence. How to read Fakespot’s Review GradesHere’s how Fakespot’s grading system works:
 Top TikTok back-to-school product categories on Amazon and their reliabilityWe took a deep dive into top back-to-school categories and analyzed their Fakespot product review grades. Here’s what we found: LaptopsImpressively, nearly 83% of laptop reviews on Amazon appear to be reliable. A safe bet, especially if you’re shopping with the Fakespot extension and sticking to verified retailers. The Lenovo Yoga 7i, a popular choice on TikTok, gets a Fakespot review grade of A.
Water bottlesAbout 30% of water bottle reviews on Amazon appear unreliable. Staying hydrated? Just make sure you’re buying from verified retailers. The Thermos Hydration Bottle has been trending on TikTok and gets a B grade from Fakespot, meaning the product listing has pretty reliable reviews.
Keyboards and miceWhile 34% of Amazon reviews in the keyboards and mice category appear to be unreliable, one popular gaming mouse still earns a solid B from Fakespot, so you can be more confident in the reviews.
PillowsWith 37% of Amazon reviews on pillows appearing unreliable, those trendy pillows still have potential. If you’re looking for a decorative dorm pillow, we found an option with reliable reviews for you to consider.
BackpacksFakespot detected concerns with nearly half – 47% – of the reviews on backpacks on Amazon. Despite this, we found a durable option with an A review rating from Fakespot. Nonetheless, before you snag any bag, let Fakespot give you confidence that those raves are reliable.
 ChargersThose fast chargers blowing up on TikTok? They might not be so fast after all. About 53% of Amazon reviews for chargers seem unreliable. However, this listing for a popular wireless charging dock gets an A from Fakespot, so you can be more confident in the reviews.
Earbud headphones and computer accessoriesIn the earbud, headphones and computer accessories category on Amazon, more than half appear to be unreliable reviews (58%) – so take a beat before you buy. But these noise-canceling headphones, a TikTok favorite, still get a B grade from Fakespot, meaning the reviews are more reliable.
If you’re one of the millions of students gearing up for the new school year, don’t waste time scrolling through endless product reviews. Download Fakespot today, and spend your time soaking up the last bits of summer instead.  Shop confidently with FakespotDownload the latest version todayThe post Fakespot’s guide to trending back-to-school products appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
TL;DR: Mozilla is excited about today’s new definition of open source AI, and we endorse it as an important step forward. This past year has been marked by more and more people recognizing the societal benefits of open source AI. In October, a large coalition of people signed onto our statement emphasizing how openness and transparency are critical ingredients to safety and security in AI. In February, Mozilla and the Columbia Institute of Global Politics convened AI experts, who emphasized how openness in AI could help advance key societal goals. Policymakers have also been embracing open source AI. The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently issued a seminal report embracing openness in AI. Even companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta are beginning to open certain aspects of their AI systems. The growing focus on open source AI makes it all the more important that we establish a shared understanding of what open source AI is. A definition should outline what must be shared and under what terms or conditions. Without this clarity, we risk a fragmented approach, where companies label their products as “open source” even when they aren’t, where civil society doesn’t have access to the AI components they need for testing and accountability, and policymakers create regulations that fail to address the complexities of the issue. The Open Source Initiative (OSI) has recently released a new draft definition of open source AI, marking a critical juncture in the evolution of the internet. This moment comes after two years of conversations, debates, engagements, and late-night conversations across the technical and open source communities. It is critical not just for redefining what “open source” means in the context of AI; it’s about shaping the future of the technology and its impact on society. The original Open Source Definition, introduced by the OSI in 1998, was more than just a set of guidelines; it was a manifesto for a new way of building software. This definition laid the foundation for open systems that have since become the backbone of the modern internet. From Linux to Apache, open source projects have driven innovation, collaboration and competition, enabling the internet to grow into a diverse and dynamic ecosystem. By ensuring that software could be freely used, modified, and shared, the original open source movement helped to expand access to technology, breaking down barriers to entry and fostering a culture of innovation and transparency, while making software safer and less vulnerable to cyberattacks. This is a significant step toward bringing clarity and rigor to the open source AI discussion. It introduces a binary definition of “open source,” akin to the existing definition. While this is just one of several approaches to defining open source AI, it offers precision for developers, advocates and regulators who benefit from clear definitions in various working contexts. Specifically, it outlines that open source AI revolves around the ability to freely use, study, modify and share an AI system. And it also promotes the importance of access to key components needed to recreate substantially equivalent AI systems, like information on data used for training, the source code for AI development and the AI model itself. And, this definition also offers an initial attempt to wrestle with the complex issue of whether and how training data for AI models should be shared as part of open source AI. The definition acknowledges that sharing full training datasets can be challenging in practice, and, therefore, avoids disqualifying a significant amount of otherwise open source AI development from being considered “open source.” We are working to change this state of play by making open datasets a more commonplace part of the AI ecosystem. Mozilla and Eleuther AI recently brought together experts to outline best practices for open datasets to support AI training, and we intend to publish a paper soon that promotes norms that support AI training data being more widely available. We acknowledge that some may disagree with aspects of OSI’s definition, such as its treatment of training data, and that the definition will need refinement over time. However, we believe that the OSI’s community-driven process — which involved over a year of stakeholder engagement — has established a crucial reference point for discussions on open source AI. For instance, this definition will become a valuable resource to combat the widespread practice of “openwashing” that is becoming quite rampant, where non-open models (or even open-ish models like Meta’s Llama 3) are promoted as leading “open source” options without contributing to the commons. Researchers have shown that “the consequences of open-washing are considerable” and affect innovation, research and the public understanding of AI. At its core, this effort embodies the open source community at its best — engaging in open discussions, addressing differences, acknowledging shortcomings and refining this definition together, to build something better. It effectively incorporates many key aspects of openness that the open source community has been grappling with, such as going beyond just considering openness in model weights and including broader model components, documentation, and licensing approaches as outlined in the Columbia Convening. In contrast, the closed source ecosystem operates in secrecy, with limited access and behind-the-scenes deals where large tech companies exchange compute power and talent. We prefer our sometimes imperfect but consistently transparent approach any day. We, and many others, are eager to continue collaborating with OSI and the broader open source community to bring greater clarity to the open source AI discussion and continue unlocking the potential of open source AI for the benefit of society.  Get FirefoxGet the browser that protects what’s importantThe post Celebrating an important step forward for open source AI appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
The second annual Rise25 Awards in Dublin wasn’t just about celebrating 25 AI leaders. It was about mapping out the future. The Gardiner Brothers, known for bringing Irish dance into the social media spotlight, kicked off the night with a performance that mixed tradition and innovation. Siobhan McSweeney of “Derry Girls” fame hosted the ceremony, and she kept the crowd engaged with humor, quipping, “AI touches everything like a child with sticky fingers that comes around to the house, just after you cleaned it.” Then, the honorees took the stage to lay out the principles guiding their work. Here are the highlights: The stories we tell about AI shape its futureSinead Bovell, one of the 2024 Rise25 honorees in the artist category, works on preparing young people for a future driven by advanced tech. She emphasized that the narratives we craft around AI are crucial; they frame public understanding and ultimately influence the direction of AI development. “It’s such an honor to be recognized in the artist category, because the stories that we tell about artificial intelligence matter deeply,” Sinead said. She pointed out that it’s easy to feel trapped in a binary narrative about AI, with dangers and risks on one side and benefits and possibilities on the other. “But the truth is, these stories aren’t separate. They’re intertwined,” she said. Citing technologist Jaron Lanier, Sinead argued that to be a true optimist about AI, you also need to be a fierce critic. “We have to continue to tell the stories of a future where we get AI right and where it transforms humanity for the better. But we also have to tell the stories of how we got there, the challenging decisions we made in the present, and where we chose to keep humanity at the center of technological advancements.” For Sinead, understanding and telling these nuanced stories is essential for guiding AI toward an ethical and inclusive future. AI’s effects on individuals can be profoundGemma Galdon-Clavell, an honoree in the entrepreneur category, is focused on finding and fixing bias and flaws in predictive and large language model (LLM) tools. She shared a deeply personal story that underscored the far-reaching impact AI can have on individuals:
Gemma highlighted the dangers of relying solely on algorithms to determine someone’s potential, as these systems often reduce complex lives to mere data points. “I am here because I managed to beat the odds — because no one set my odds in an algorithm.” Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the need for rigorous oversight and auditing of AI systems to ensure they don’t limit the futures of those who, like her, might defy expectations. “People, like everyone else, deserve a chance,” she concluded, advocating for a future where AI supports rather than stifles human potential. Design choices in AI have far-reaching consequencesPhilosopher and AI Ethics Lab founder Cansu Canca, a change agent honoree, spoke passionately about the critical importance of ethical design in AI, highlighting how every decision made in the design process has the potential to shape society. “When we design AI systems, we’re not just making technical choices. We’re making moral and philosophical decisions,” she said. Cansu challenged developers to consider questions that go beyond code: “What is a good life? What is a better society?” These questions, she argued, should guide every step of AI development. “The design choices we make today will determine whether AI becomes a tool for justice or a mechanism that perpetuates inequality,” Cansu warned. She called for an approach to AI that integrates ethical considerations from the outset, ensuring that systems are designed to promote fairness, transparency and respect for human dignity. “Ethical design isn’t an afterthought — it’s the foundation on which AI should be built,” she said, stressing the far-reaching impact of these decisions on our collective future. AI’s untapped potential lies in open collaborationResearcher Aaron Gokaslan, an honoree in the builder category, aims to keep generative model development open. He highlighted the immense, largely untapped potential of AI, particularly within the realm of open-source development. “We’re in the very early innings of AI today,” he remarked, pointing out that while AI has already made significant strides, its full potential is still on the horizon. Aaron emphasized that the true power of AI will be unlocked through collaboration and accessibility, which would enable a diverse range of innovators to contribute to its development. “By sharing knowledge and resources, we can drive AI forward in ways that benefit society as a whole,” Aaron said. Thoughtful AI policy is essential for a fair futurePhilip Thigo, an advocate honoree and the special envoy on technology for the Republic of Kenya, underscored the critical need for thoughtful and proactive AI policy, warning that without it, AI could deepen existing inequalities and erode public trust. “AI has the potential to revolutionize society, but without robust and thoughtful regulation, it could also exacerbate inequalities and undermine public trust,” he cautioned. Philip argued that AI policy must prioritize fairness, transparency and accountability to ensure that AI development benefits everyone, not just a privileged few. “We need policies that don’t just react to AI’s challenges, but anticipate them — setting clear guidelines for ethical development and use,” he said. Philip called for a collaborative approach to AI governance, involving not only policymakers and technologists, but also the broader public: “By engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, we can create a framework that guides AI toward serving the common good.” As the honorees made clear, AI will leave its mark wherever it touches, much like those “sticky fingers.” The challenge ahead is making sure that mark is a positive one. The evening was a powerful reminder that the future of AI is not just about innovation — but about inclusivity, ethics and accountability. Get FirefoxGet the browser that protects what’s importantThe post At the Rise25 Awards, the future of AI is ethical, inclusive and accountable appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
 Firefox users, we’ve got tips for you. The Mozilla team has gathered some of our favorite tricks to help you get the most out of your browser – from customizing the look of Firefox and managing tabs, to watching videos on the sly and staying cozy while gaming. Let’s dive in. For the cozy gamerOur senior web UX designer, Elise, loves a cozy game. She finds player guides on her desktop during the day and accesses them on her phone at night through Firefox tab syncing. That way, she doesn’t have to leave her late-night gaming cocoon. Read more: Firefox tips and tricks for gamers For the creativeBeing a content creator is fun but demanding. For Steve, Mozilla’s video lead, Firefox features like the eyedropper tool, the built-in PDF editor and picture-in-picture come in handy. Read more: Firefox tips and tricks for creatives For the online shopperFakespot social producer Hannah is an eBay hawk, a casual Amazon browser and a Sephora VIB insider. Her tips, of course, include avoiding unreliable product reviews with Fakespot. She shares other tricks like how to discreetly shop for gifts online and finding deals without manually searching for coupon codes. Read more: Firefox tips and tricks for online shopping For the minimalistAs Mozilla’s blog editor, I do a lot of reading and research, so a minimal browser helps me stay focused. I have a step-by-step guide to turn Firefox into a distraction-free workspace. Read more: Transform Firefox into the ultimate minimalist browser  For the tab maximalistTyler, a global product marketing manager at Mozilla, may not keep 7,000 tabs open. But you can find her with 50+ tabs open across multiple Firefox windows on any given day. From closing duplicate tabs to searching for that one tab you lost in the haystack, here’s her list of tricks to manage tabs. Read more: Top 5 Firefox features for tab maximalists For the newshoundIt’s Alex’s job as recommendations editor to find great content for users across Mozilla’s products. He uses Pocket to save and organize articles, plus a number of extensions to stay productive. Alex’s background in journalism also makes him particularly keen on Mozilla’s commitment to security and privacy in making products, including Firefox. Read more: Firefox tips and tricks for journalists For the college studentAs a master’s student, Gian has spent too much time searching online for free PDF editors – giving out his email address or downloading dubious software so that he can annotate lecture notes, complete projects and more. Enter Firefox’s built-in PDF editor. Read more: Streamline your schoolwork with Firefox’s PDF editor There are endless ways to make Firefox your own, however you choose to navigate the internet. We want to know how you customize Firefox. Let us know and tag us on X or Instagram at @Firefox. Get FirefoxGet the browser that protects what’s importantThe post Firefox hacks for everyone: From cozy gamers to minimalists and beyond appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
As a student pursuing a master’s degree, I’ve spent too much time searching for PDF editors to fill out forms, take notes and complete projects. I discovered Firefox’s built-in PDF editor while interning at Mozilla as a corporate communications intern. No more giving out my email address or downloading dubious software, which often risks data. The built-in PDF tool on Firefox is a secure, efficient solution that saves me time. Here’s how it has made my academic life easier. Fill out applications and forms effortlesslyRemember those days when you had to print a form, fill it out and then scan it back into your computer? I know, tedious. With Firefox’s PDF editor, you can fill in forms online directly from your browser. Just open the PDF in Firefox on your smartphone or computer, click the “text” button, and you’re all set to type away. It’s a gamechanger for all those scholarship applications and administrative forms, or even adult-life documents we consistently have to fill.  Highlight and annotate lecture slides for efficient note-takingI used to print my professors’ lecture slides and study materials just to add notes. Now, I keep my annotations within the browser – highlighting key points and adding notes. You can even choose your text size and color. This capability not only enhances my note-taking, it saves some trees too. No more losing 50-page printed slides around campus.  Sign documents electronically without hassleSigning a PDF document was the single biggest dread I had as a millennial, a simple task made difficult. I used to have to search “free PDF editor” online, giving my personal information to make an account in order to use free software. Firefox makes it simple. Here’s how: Click the draw icon, select your preferred color and thickness, and draw directly on the document. Signing documents electronically finally feels like a 21st century achievement.  Easily insert and customize images in your PDFsSometimes, adding an image to your PDF is necessary, whether it’s a graph for a report or a picture for a project. Firefox lets you upload and adjust images right within the PDF. You can even add alternative text or alt-text to make your documents more accessible, ensuring everyone in your group can understand your work.  There are endless ways to make Firefox your own, however you choose to navigate the internet. We want to know how you customize Firefox. Let us know and tag us on X or Instagram at @Firefox. Get FirefoxGet the browser that protects what’s importantThe post Streamline your schoolwork with Firefox’s PDF editor appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
  Dr. Erica Brozovsky is a sociolinguist, a public scholar and a lover of words. She is the host of Otherwords, a PBS series on language and linguistics, and a professor of writing and rhetoric at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. You can find her at @ericabrozovsky on most platforms. Photo: Kelly Zhu The internet is ubiquitous: on our desks, in our pockets, even in the air around us, as radio waves transmit between devices so we can be online on the move. It’s a sprawling web of interconnectivity, linking people and gadgets around the world. When computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee wrote his first proposal for a hypertext project called WorldWideWeb in 1989, there’s no way he could have known the impact his invention would have on billions of people across the globe, which he confirmed in a 2014 Reddit AMA. In the 35 years since the invention of the World Wide Web, an explosion of new internet words has emerged. As new technologies develop, we adopt words or create novel ones to fill in the linguistic gaps. For example, to describe one of the advancements of the Industrial Revolution, the word train was extended from its older definitions as a procession or sequence of objects in a row. And the steam-powered vehicle pulling a train of railway cars? That brand new technology needed an innovative name: locomotive. People often incorrectly think locomotives and trains are synonymous, and are similarly mistaken with the internet and the World Wide Web. To keep the transportation analogy going, the internet is the railway system, the data that moves between sites or sends emails is the train, and the World Wide Web is the scenery and points of interest along the route.  As far as names go, internet and World Wide Web make sense. The words visualize interconnectedness. Other internet terms like bookmark, which functions digitally the same way as a tangible piece of material is used to denote a place in a book, and email (an abbreviation of electronic mail), show clear parallels in meaning to their analog counterparts. Websites are locations, or sites, on the web. Domains are subsets of the internet under the control of a single authority, much like a physical territory that a ruler would have dominion over. And if you know that the prefix hyper- means above or beyond, you’ll understand that hypertext and hyperlinks essentially go beyond the constraints of normal text and links. But not all internet words are so etymologically evident, and some even come with stories. Let’s start at the very beginning.  When you access the internet, you open a browser (which first appeared as the acronym BROWSER for BRowsing On-Line With SElective Retrieval) and begin to navigate around, otherwise known as surfing the internet. The term is often attributed to librarian Jean Armour Polly, who wanted a pithy metaphor for the fun and chaos of navigating the online world for her 1992 article’s title. Polly wasn’t the only one with a penchant for riding waves online: a 1991 comic book “The Adventures of Captain Internet and CERF Boy” published by CERFnet depicted a superhero who literally surfed around on a surfboard answering internet cries for help. Keeping it oceanic, the term phishing is attributed to hacker Khan C. Smith in the mid 1990s, allegedly based on the homophone fishing: trawling for sensitive information from a sea of internet users. The alternative spelling is a nod to phreaking, which was a way of hacking telephones (hence “ph”) to avoid paying long-distance phone charges (remember those?). And speaking of pesky things, the word spam comes from an iconic 1970 Monty Python’s Flying Circus sketch wherein a horde of Viking cafe-goers repeatedly sing the menu item Spam, drowning out all other conversation. That’s not the only internet food you’ll encounter. It seems like every website you access will ask you to accept cookies in order to personalize your experience, but weren’t we all raised not to accept sweets from strangers? So where did the name come from? Programmer Lou Montulli got the idea for the web version of cookies from the Unix data token term magic cookie, which sounds even more questionable to accept. There has been no confirmed origin of “magic cookie,” but three main theories prevail: drugs, fairy tales, and literal cookies. Perhaps it comes from the 1960s comic strip “Odd Bodkins” that uses magic cookie as a euphemism for LSD. Or maybe much like the Hansel and Gretel crumb trail, browsing the internet leaves a stream of cookie data in your wake. Or potentially the connection is less imaginative: cookie jars store cookies the way browsers store information. When you go to delete cookies on your machine, you’ll also be asked if you want to clear your cache. Cache has been around since the turn of the 18th century as a hiding place for goods and treasures, from the French cacher meaning “to hide.” The word was first applied to computing in 1967 by IBM Systems Journal editor, Lyle R. Johnson. Apparently no one had any suggestions for a substitute for the clunky phrase “High Speed Buffer” so Johnson sat down with a thesaurus and came up with cache. Another cache on your device is the download cache. Downloading was originally used in military contexts to refer to unloading people or goods from various military vehicles (and uploading was the reverse). By 1968, the US Air Force extended the meaning to computers, as discussed in a quantitative study that referenced downloading records from the IBM 305 RAMAC computer to the newer IBM 1050, which took almost two weeks.
Thirty years later, Jorn Barger coined the term WebLog, a portmanteau of web and log, to refer to online personal journals. In 1999, perhaps as a joke, Peter Merholz posted in the sidebar of his own website: “”For What It’s Worth, I’ve decided to pronounce the word “weblog” as wee’- blog. Or “blog” for short.”” And now blog has generated other new words like vlog, blogosphere, and blogger. Avatar derives from the Sanskrit avatara, meaning “descent,” which in Hinduism referred to the manifestation of a deity into an Earthly terrestrial form. The 1985 computer game Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar was the first application of the concept of an on-screen character as the digital incarnation of the human user. Neal Stephenson’s novel Snow Crash popularized the idea, which continues to be applied across a wide variety of genres: video games, social media, virtual worlds, even Hollywood blockbusters. Speaking of width, bandwidth was initially very literal in the 1800s (the width of a band of color or material) and then evolved significantly over 200 years. We can follow the logical progression to physics and mathematics (a range of values within a limited band), to physics and telecommunications (the difference between two frequencies which represents transmission capacity) to computers and telecommunications (data transfer capacity) to general life (emotional or physical capacity). It’s curious how the term moved beyond computers and technology back to the human experience. We’re humans after all, and the internet and World Wide Web are tools for expanding our human experience. While we stare at our phones and computer screens, it’s a nice reminder that the intention behind these technologies was to connect us together. After all, Tim Berners-Lee said the thing he’s most proud of about the World Wide Web is “the wonderful global collaborative spirit of all the people who turned up to help build it and build things on it.” Get FirefoxGet the browser that protects what’s importantThe post Browsers, cookies and surfing the web: The quirky history of internet lingo appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
Some days there’s something extra interesting to watch online — a sports event, election coverage, a certain show is leaving Netflix so you gotta binge — but you’ve got work to do. The Picture-in-Picture feature in Firefox makes multitasking with video content smooth and easy, no window shuffling necessary. Picture-in-Picture allows a video to be played in a separate, small window, and still be viewable when you switch tabs or away from the Firefox browser. To use it on videos longer than 45 seconds, hover your mouse over to see a small Picture-in-Picture button. Click the button to pop open a floating window so you can keep watching while working in other tabs.  You can also right-click on a video and select “Watch in Picture-in-Picture.” (This will work on shorter videos like the one below.) Move the video around your screen and drag the corner to shrink or enlarge it. If you need to mute it, just tap the speaker icon on the right. Check it out. Just don’t blame us if you end up with a gold for procrastination instead of getting that monthly report done. Get FirefoxGet the browser that protects what’s importantThe post Picture-in-Picture lets you watch videos while ‘working’ appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
Following the news of our 25 honorees for The 2nd Annual Rise25 Awards, Mozilla is thrilled to announce that actress and presenter Siobhan McSweeney will be hosting this year’s ceremony which will celebrate these individuals for leading the next wave of AI. The Irish actress, best known for her BAFTA award-winning performance as Sister Michael in Channel 4’s (Netflix in the U.S.) series “Derry Girls” and most recently in Hulu’s “Extraordinary,” will take the helm during this year’s ceremony which will take place the evening of Tuesday, August 13 at the Convention Centre in Dublin, Ireland. “I’m so excited to host these awards. AI is one of the biggest issues facing us, not only in my industry but across the board. To recognise and award individuals who are working for the benefit of society and not corporations is a great honor,” said McSweeney. She continued: “I’m so looking forward to meeting them. And having them explain what AI is.” Rise25 is more than an award ceremony—it’s a platform to spark discussion, forge connections and inspire a wave of new ideas that will shape the future of AI. Siobhan’s contributions to television and theater, characterized by depth and charisma, make her an ideal voice to help us highlight these themes. “The Rise25 awards are committed to bridging the gap between complex technological innovations and the very human stories at their core,” said Mark Surman, President of Mozilla. “Ms. McSweeney’s portrayal of Sister Michael in ’Derry Girls’ has left a lasting impression on audiences around the world (we’re big fans!). Her ability to deliver lines with sharp wit, while maintaining a warm presence, perfectly encapsulates the blend of insight and approachability we covet at our event.” The awards show will also feature a special performance by Galway, Ireland-based Irish dancers The Gardiner Brothers. The American-born Irish dancers have won over 40 major Irish dancing titles between them and have performed to audiences all over the globe, including with the world famous Riverdance cast. They are known for their fast paced and rhythmic style of dance that they developed after training at the Hession School of Irish Dance in Galway, Ireland. Bridget Todd, host of Mozilla’s Webby Award-winning “IRL” podcast, will be on hand to present the award categories at this year’s ceremony. Bridget is also the host of the iHeart Radio Podcast Award-winning podcast “ There Are No Girls On The Internet,” and is a Shorty Award winner for “Best Podcast Miniseries” for DISINFORMED, a miniseries exploring how misinformation, and conspiracy theories around COVID, gender, and race hurt marginalized communities. Bridget’s writing and work on technology, race, gender and culture have been featured at The Atlantic, Newsweek, “The Daily Show” and more. Mozilla’s 2nd Annual Rise25 Awards build upon the success of last year’s Rise25 Awards which were held in Berlin, Germany, bringing to life what a future trustworthy Internet could look like. This year’s awards ceremony will be available on demand on Mozilla’s YouTube channel the morning of Friday, August 16, 2024. For more information, please visit https://rise25.mozilla.org/ The post BAFTA Award-Winner Siobhan McSweeney to host Mozilla’s 2nd Annual Rise25 Awards in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 13 appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
 I am a tab maximalist. On any given day, you can find me with 50+ tabs open across multiple windows on Firefox. Having this many tabs open can seem chaotic, but rest assured there is a method to the madness. As a global product marketing manager at Mozilla, a large part of my job is to think critically about various inputs, synthesize and pass information from one team to another. Unsurprisingly, one of my guilty pleasures is being the first to provide a resource when in group conversation (e.g. a link to an insight or framework). These are not just any links. These are links to tabs that have been open for weeks… months … that I can recite like the alphabet. Now, I may not keep 7,000 tabs open, but I do know five features that can help you manage yours… however many your heart desires. 1. Pinned Tabs Pinned Tabs are my go-to for keeping essential tabs easily accessible. By pinning tabs, they stay in a fixed position on the left side of the tab bar, saving space and preventing accidental closure. I pin my active work and resources like documents in development, recent insights or my favorite playlist. Unlike bookmarks, which are great for long-term link storage, I use pinned tabs for resources I need to access frequently throughout the day but don’t need to hold onto for longer than a month or two. They also offer reduced page load times since they are technically still open in the tab bar and less likely to be unloaded when your memory is low.  2. Search tabsHaving several pinned tabs can also become overwhelming. That’s when the search tabs feature becomes a lifesaver. When I need to find a specific tab among the dozens I have open, I can search for any open tab by typing a keyword into the address bar. This feature saves me from endlessly navigating tabs and quickly locating the exact information I need, ensuring I stay efficient and productive.  3. Pocket integrationIf you are a tab maximalist, you probably need a place to get away from the noise. Pocket is a great escape, like your own personal library. Luckily, Pocket is integrated directly into Firefox, allowing me to save articles, videos, and web pages for later. When I need to take a beat from work, this is the perfect place to catch up on my favorite topics – which currently includes House of Dragons fan theory and recaps. This doesn’t fit easily into my workday though, so it is great to revisit later when I have the time to dive into the rabbit hole.  4. Close duplicate tabs Close duplicate tabs is exactly as it sounds, a handy feature that can detect and close duplicate tabs with a simple right click. As of Firefox 127, this feature is directly integrated into the browser for greater ease of use. With this feature, I avoid the clutter and confusion of having multiple tabs open for the same webpage. It’s a small but powerful tool that keeps my browser organized and streamlined. It is no wonder why this was a top requested feature from our community. For those moments when my tab habits become unwieldy, this feature is a real lifesaver.  5. Multi-Account ContainersIf you have interests you want to keep private, Multi-Account Containers are for you. They allow you to separate different browsing activities into different containers, enhancing privacy and organization. Click here for a quick tutorial on using Multi-Account Containers. For a tab maximalist, this is a game-changer. With Multi-Account Containers, you can keep your tabs organized by context, making it easier to find what you need without the clutter of unrelated tabs.  With these features, I hope you explore your greatest curiosities and become the most efficient version of yourself. Never lose a link again. Be a maximalist with Firefox. There are endless ways to make Firefox your own, whether you’re a tab maximalist, a minimalist or however you choose to navigate the internet. We want to know how you customize Firefox. Let us know and tag us on X or Instagram at @Firefox. Get FirefoxGet the browser that protects what’s importantThe post Top 5 Firefox features for tab maximalists appeared first on The Mozilla Blog. | ↑ |
