Firefox adds new-tab widgets for tasks, timers and scores

Mozilla is rolling out Firefox widgets that can place basic productivity and information tools on the browser’s home page, according to The Verge. The change matters because Firefox users can now put a checklist and focus timer directly on the new-tab screen, alongside options for sports scores and time zones.

The Verge’s Stevie Bonifield reported that the widgets appeared on her Firefox home page and are among the browser’s newer additions. Mozilla’s support page lists the new-tab widgets as tools users can add to the Firefox home page.

The focus timer and checklist are the most productivity-oriented pieces in the set. According to The Verge, they give users browser-based versions of tools that people often keep in separate apps, such as phone timers or task managers.

How the widgets work

Mozilla’s implementation lets users add or remove widgets through the Firefox home page customization tab, The Verge reported. Users can also turn on an expanded view for the widgets.

The timer uses a Pomodoro-style setup by default, according to The Verge. It starts with a 25-minute focus period and a 5-minute break, while allowing users to change both lengths.

Mozilla also includes an optional alert for the end of a timer session, The Verge reported. The timer itself is described as minimal, with its main advantage being its placement on the page users see when opening a new tab.

The checklist works as a lightweight task tool on the same screen, according to The Verge. The sports and time-zone widgets broaden the feature beyond focus work, giving Firefox users quick-glance information without opening another site or app.

Part of a broader Firefox update cycle

Mozilla’s Firefox 151 release notes referred to the new widgets as an improvement arriving between Firefox 151 and Firefox 152, according to The Verge. Firefox 152 has since been released, The Verge reported.

The widgets arrive as Mozilla has been outlining other Firefox changes. The Verge reported this week that Mozilla launched a roadmap that includes Project Nova, a planned Firefox redesign.

The new home page tools do not replace dedicated task or focus apps, based on the features described by Mozilla and The Verge. They do, however, put small, frequently used controls in a place Firefox users may see many times during the day.

For now, the rollout appears focused on the Firefox home page and new-tab experience. Users who receive the feature can decide which widgets appear and whether the expanded layout fits their setup, according to The Verge’s report.

This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.