Firefox 104 will allow two-finger page forward/backward on Linux, without pressing Alt

Although there is only one Firefox, Mozilla allows us to test it in four different branches: the one we use the most is the stable version, but there is also the Beta (a version above the stable one), the Developer (same as the Beta, but with more updates and options for developers) and Nightly (two versions above stable). This week has been launched the v103, which means that Firefox 104 It's already in the Beta channel, and, although it doesn't seem like it's going to bring many new features, there is an interesting one for Linux + Wayland users.

In recent years, something that we Linux users are starting to enjoy is the touchpad gestures. It is true that the software to achieve this has been around for a long time, but now that GNOME uses Wayland by default, and KDE is working to do the same, that is when most have begun to discover this possibility and have started to really use it. . Also, developers can do more with their software, like in a Firefox 104 than will allow two-finger page forward and page backward on the touchpad.

Firefox 104 will arrive at the end of August

Currently, as long as Wayland is used, we can already make use of this function, but with one difference: we have to have the key Alt pressed. The novelty will be that we will no longer have to press anything to move forward or back on our history. It will be enough to slide two fingers to the left or to the right.

What as an ex-maquero I miss a bit is that there is a kind of animation when turning the pages. That is, in macOS, for more than ten years, this could already be done, and it was done by viewing the current page until we finished making the gesture; the page moved over the next until it disappeared. It is not something of life or death, but it is more aesthetic and helps to know what we are doing. What Firefox offers is the same as if we click on the arrows to move forward or backward through history, although an arrow does appear on the side where we are going to move.

Firefox 104 will arrive on August 23, and it will do so with this one and, at least as far as is known right now, a few more new features, among which there will be several for developers. Those interested in trying out a preview version of Firefox can do so by downloading the binaries from this link.