Mozilla has just rolled out the latest update to its popular Firefox browser, adding new functionality to its ‘Private browsing’ mode, together with a new downloads manager and other enhancements. The new browser, Firefox 20, is available today on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android platforms.

The latest version of Firefox offers a much better implementation of its private web browsing mode, allowing users to open up a new window that doesn’t record their browsing history without needing to close or change their current session. Essentially, this means it’s now possible to open a link or a brand new window in private mode, whilst other windows in ‘normal’ mode remain unaffected by the action. The feature has also been implemented on the Android version of Firefox.

“Firefox includes a new enhancement to private browsing that allows you to open a new private browsing window without closing or changing your current browsing session,” explains Mozilla in a blog post.

“You can shop for a birthday gift in a private window with your existing browsing session uninterrupted.”

The other big change for the desktop version is a new download manager that pops up in the Firefox toolbar, allowing users to view, monitor and locate their downloads without having to click on a new window as they did before. The new features are illustrated in the video below.

Firefox Comes to 50 Million Mobiles

As for the mobile version of Firefox, it not only includes the new private browsing features, but for the first time can be supported by devices running on ARMv6 chips. This means that people with phones like the Samsung Galaxy Next, Samsung Galaxy Pop, Samsung Galaxy Q, HTC Aria and HTC Legend will all be able to download the browser for the first time.

Firefox mobile also includes a new way to customize shortcuts on your home screen, displaying your top bookmarks or the most frequently visited sites. In addition to this, Mozilla says that the update includes numerous critical bug fixes on both mobile and PC versions of the browser.

Happy Birthday Mozilla!

At the same time as this announcement, Mozilla took the opportunity to remind us that it just celebrated its 15^th birthday last weekend, on March 31. In a blog post making the announcement, the Mozilla Foundation’s Mitchell Baker takes a look back on some of its achievements since its launch back in 1998, including how the organization has “helped shift the center of gravity to a Web that’s more open”, giving people the chance to enjoy the internet on their own terms.

“Billions of people experience the openness of the Web every day as they create, connect and invent in ways that reflect their goals and dreams, without needing the permission of a few commercial organizations.”

However, Blair also warns us of the numerous threats that the internet now faces as it takes on more importance in our daily lives:

“As the role of data grows and device capabilities expand, the Internet will become an even more central part of our lives,” she writes.

“The need for individuals to have some control over how this works and what we experience is fundamental.”

Check out Mozilla’s site to see a slideshow presentation of foundation’s key achievements over the last 15 years.