Like many Firefox users, I recently upgraded to the new version 3.5. Any major changes? Not really. A few problems with some of Google’s pages (no fault to the browser), a few problems with some add-ons (to be expected), but besides that everything seemed to work well.

Wait a second, what was that? I switched tabs, and all of a second a whole new Firefox window opened. Let me try that again. Nope, didn’t happen. That was weird. I didn’t tell Firefox to open a new window, and I know it’s not a javascript doing that because it was my site that opened a new window. Sound familiar? It’s a tear tabbing nightmare.

Firefox 3.1 Tear Tabbing

Tear tabbing nightmare? Yep, though it wasn’t a problem with Firefox version 3.1. Tear Tabbing is the ability to grab a tab, tear it from the tab bar, and drag it down to your taskbar so you can see it in a new window. A nice little feature when it works right.

Tear tabbing in Firefox 3.5 on the other hand is a complete mess. Alterna says it best on the Mozilla forum.

Click Image to Enlarge

I believe the real reason Alterna, myself, and I am sure many others hates tear tabbing on Firefox 3.5 is because it is inconsistent in its handling the feature. It’s simply creating a new window because you may have moved the tab slightly. That’s not a good idea.

How To Fix The Tear Tabbing Nightmare Now?

You don’t. Right now Mozilla has not even confirmed it an issue yet. A few forum members have suggested making tear tabbing an option, which I think is a good idea. I think they should at least fix it so that it performs like it did in version 3.1., its original version release. There is a little help in regards to getting the new window back into your original window. Just grab the tab of the page from the new window, and drag/tear it back into the old window. Now you are back where you started.

So if this is bugging you as well, here is your opportunity to let them know. You will need to be a forum member to vote, so please join, and please vote. This needs to be fixed A.S.A.P.as far as I am concerned. Has the tear tabbing gotten you?

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