Link to release notes: https://zen-browser.app/release-notes/
I saw that the icon and UI changed, so I looked up the release information. They’re preparing for the first stable release!
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page. Thanks everyone for your feedback! ❤️
This release introduces a new stage for Zen Browser, the beta stage! This means that we are getting closer to a stable release, and we are now focusing on fixing bugs and improving the overall experience. We’ve made some significant changes to the UI, including a new layout for the browser called single toolbar and much more!
Fixes
- Various fixes in version 20
- Fix pinned tab state and favicon handling #2853
- Prevent pins deletion from database on non explicit tab closes (window closing) #2875
- […]
Features
- New branding and logos!
- Updated zen glance animations for smoother transitions and adjust timing (Still in development)
- Add reset to pinned URL button to pinned tabs
- Made the URL bar background more rounded
- Updated to Firefox 133.0
- Added support for -moz-gtk-csd-reversed-placement on Linux
- Enhance workspace deactivation styles with grayscale filter for better visibility
- Windows and linux ARM64 builds are now available on the github for testing!
- Hide container label when URL bar is narrow
- Macos ARM64 builds will now ship with PGO, performance increase!
- Added different layouts for zen: single toolbar, multiple toolbars, and no toolbar
- The URL bar will now be floating on the top of the page
- Added native mica support for Windows 11
- Added hiding window controls support
- Created new animations for glance
- Added context aware animations for workspace switching
- New onboarding experience for new users!
- Started experimenting with horizontal tabs
I’m afraid to update ever since they removed the collapsed tab sidebar option, which was the entire reason I used Zen. To be fair, the dev brought it back after people complained, so they listened, but the fear remains 😬
Do be afraid. They rolled it back, and then the most recent update removed it again. It’s the only reason I liked using it as my side browser. Sidebery is great, but I liked the integration. Zen’s UI choices are good, but that was a smooth as fuck workflow I was able to get to.
That is true
The website says “customizable to the last pixel”, so I’m hoping they leave in all the options once they release properly. I might disable updates at some point waiting for that