tabs

Google says its latest browser update is "the largest gain in Chrome performance in years." It claims the browser will now be significantly faster, drain less battery and be more useful. Unlike many software updates, the majority of the changes in ... the latest version of Chrome are behind the scenes and affect performance rather than add new features. For example, Chrome will now devote more resources to "active tabs" (the ones that have most recently been used) rather than give the same attention to every open tab. It says on average this will reduce CPU usage by "five times" and add an extra ... (view more)

Microsoft has unveiled a range of new features for its Edge browser. They include vertically arranged tabs, enhanced cut and paste, and warnings of potential password breaches. Edge has been somewhat light on new features recently as Microsoft has ... been concentrating on major behind-the-scenes changes. The browser used to run on Microsoft's own code but is now based on Chromium , the same open source code behind Google's Chrome. Microsoft hopes that will tempt over some Chrome users who should be able to use many of their existing browser extension tools in Edge. However, it's also adding some ... (view more)

Google is introducing more options to deal with the Chrome browser using too much computer memory. It's implementing less severe options for users with multiple tabs open. The way Chrome was originally designed means every open tab uses up computer ... memory (RAM). That can mount up substantially if you are accustomed to having many tabs opened when Chrome is launched, or even with Chrome is idle. In turn this will significantly slow the computer down on older systems that don't have enough RAM to begin with. Since 2015 Chrome has had a feature called "Tab Discarding" that kicks in ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Jean B. writes: " Dear Dennis, I hope this email finds you well. My system recently upgraded to the newest version of Firefox Quantum (version 57), and so far it is much faster than the previous versions. One of the annoying ... features of the Firefox upgrade is the black tabs (black background) near the top of the page. Previously the Firefox tabs were gray in color and I prefer that to the black tabs. I have looked in the program preferences but can't find a way to change it back. Can you help? " My response: I am also not a fan of the black tabs in Firefox and am in the ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Jean K. writes: " Dear Dennis, Recently my Firefox web browser updated to version 56.0.2. When I go Tools -> Add-ons , I see most of my addons are marked as ' Legacy '. I read online that when Firefox 57 is released, it will ... use ' web extensions ,' (also spelt " WebExtensions ") which will make the current addons incompatible. This is a big problem! I have been using the ' Tab Groups ' addon by Quicksaver for a while now (which groups my web browser tabs into categories) and cannot imagine life without this incredibly helpful addon. Unfortunately the developer ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader James R. writes: " Dear Dennis, I just upgraded to Windows 10 and something strange has happened to my Task Manager. When I press CTRL + ALT + DEL on the keyboard, then click on the 'Task Manager' option, it brings up the Task ... Manager window - but the top menu of Task Manager is missing. Normally I would see 'File', 'Options', 'View' menus, plus the tabs (such as Processes, Performance, Details, etc) but neither of those are present. What gives? " My response: According to Microsoft Knowledge Base Article #193050, what you are describing is Task Manager that is operating in ... (view more)

When Microsoft launched the Windows 10 Technical Preview a couple weeks ago, the company offered users the chance to provide feedback through a "Windows Feature Suggestion Box." As expected, feedback is pouring in as to which features should be ... present in the operating system's final version. Windows Explorer Tabs Top List So far the most requested feature is adding tabs to Windows Explorer. Microsoft says more than 1,600 people have requested a feature that would effectively treat Windows Explorer the same as an Internet browser. As such, users would be able to create new tabs ... (view more)