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Why are app tabs excluded from the "load when selected" option in Firefox 9?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I was using the "don't load tabs until selected" option in Firefox 8 and I appreciated it a lot. Now it seems app tabs are excluded from this option.

From what I can find, Firefox programmers decided to exclude app tabs because most users would want the apps they contain to update at all times, even before they have been selected. Here's my problem: 4 of my 6 app tabs are Google apps. Until I'm logged into my Google account, those tabs won't refresh to anything anyway. Now not only do I have to wait for six tabs to load at the same time when I start my browser, but I have to select all of them separately to log into my various apps.

I do not appreciate that Firefox programmers would remove an option because they assume it will be for the user's own good. Trust your users to know how to tweak their browser and don't take option away from them.

I was using the "don't load tabs until selected" option in Firefox 8 and I appreciated it a lot. Now it seems app tabs are excluded from this option. From what I can find, Firefox programmers decided to exclude app tabs because most users would want the apps they contain to update at all times, even before they have been selected. Here's my problem: 4 of my 6 app tabs are Google apps. Until I'm logged into my Google account, those tabs won't refresh to anything anyway. Now not only do I have to wait for six tabs to load at the same time when I start my browser, but I have to select all of them separately to log into my various apps. I do not appreciate that Firefox programmers would remove an option because they assume it will be for the user's own good. Trust your users to know how to tweak their browser and don't take option away from them.

All Replies (4)

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Such a "load when selected" is not standard in Firefox and thus is added by an extension.
You can check the settings of that extension to see if you can extend it to App tabs as well and if not try to contact the developer and suggest adding it in a next update.

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I have no such extensions. I learned of this option on lifehacker, which lists it as an option in Firefox, not from an add-on.

It's in their power-users' guide to firefox, here: http://lifehacker.com/5867444/the-always-up+to+date-power-users-guide-to-firefox

I first used the option in Firefox 8 and it worked with app tabs. It doesn't anymore in 9.

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I have no such extensions. I learned of this option on lifehacker, which lists it as an option in Firefox, not from an add-on.

It's in their power-users' guide to firefox, here: http://lifehacker.com/5867444/the-always-up+to+date-power-users-guide-to-firefox

I first used the option in Firefox 8 and it worked with app tabs. It doesn't anymore in 9.

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I had forgotten about the setting in that window.
I don't know if that behavior has changed from previous versions, but it is quite possible that App tabs have a higher priority and are always reloaded.