For the last six months or so, we've been doing the heavy lifting to build a new social capability into Firefox. Rather than force this integration, a set of features that might not be interesting to all of our users, we took a different approach and built an API that will allow sites like Facebook and others to provide social content to Firefox if Firefox users choose to receive it. If you're not interested in these new features, you'll never see them and they won't impact your Firefox experience in any way. If, on the other hand, you think you'd get value from carrying your social experience with you even when you're off of that site, you should give it a try.
Here's what some Twitter folks are saying about the Facebook integration in this first Firefox release with the Social API.
The new Firefox Social API and Facebook app is pretty awesome. Hopefully twitter hops on board.
— Jack (@jackwmc4) November 21, 2012
Awesome...chatting with Facebook contacts while browsing through stories on Rappler.com. Switching to Firefox for a while. #TechRap
— Josh Villanueva (@michaeljosh) November 20, 2012
it took adding an official facebook social api integration into @firefox for me to finally leave chrome. #lookingforward to this
— Arms (@solrflow) November 20, 2012
Firefox Facebook Messenger Integration is pretty epic - cnet.co/TNE5pF via @cnet
— David Roberts (@David_Roberts_) November 20, 2012
I favorited a @youtube video from @cnetyoutu.be/Apc-aaVPCmA?a How to integrate Facebook Messenger directly into Firefox
— Nathan Semke (@nathansemke) November 21, 2012
Just installed #Firefox 17. The Facebook integration feature is pretty neat. Reminds me of #Flock, minus the memory hogs & crashes.
— Vivek Indrayan (@vivekindrayan) November 21, 2012
Right so I'm using Firefox at work. And v17 has a mean social api that integrates Facebook's vital tools and chat. And I like it. I'm sorry.
— Darryl Radcliffe (@darrylradcliffe) November 21, 2012
Upgraded to the latest version of Firefox, it has integrated Facebook messenger into it....saves me 20 seconds a day now
— BrianWaldron (@ThatBrianW) November 21, 2012
Firefox Social API - very cool!! blog.mozilla.org/blog/2012/11/2...
— Rob Wood (@automationtrail) November 20, 2012
Firefox 17's Facebook integration is fun. I can keep using chat no matter which page I'm looking at. No matter which page :|
— albull (@albull) November 21, 2012
bit.ly/TODF1D Congratulations @mozilla! #mozilla#socialapi#firefoxlove
— Robyn Chau (@robyninstereo) November 20, 2012
Firefox 17 has a Social API, which seems a more sensible way of doing things than a whole new browser like Rockmelt: blog.mozilla.org/blog/2012/11/2...
— Peter Gasston (@stopsatgreen) November 20, 2012
@firefox takes a bold step with their newest browser by integrating Facebook right into it! lat.ms/TODuTQ
— Armour Technology (@armour_tech) November 20, 2012
Who's downloaded the new FireFox 17? What's the social integration like? Facebook Messenger in a sidebar sounds like a great idea. #TechRap
— Josh Villanueva (@michaeljosh) November 20, 2012
Firefox has Facebook integration now! Hell yeah!
— Kevin Brewer (@kbrew_osu) November 20, 2012
Well done Firefox. (Firefox 17 Launches With New Social API, Preview Of Facebook Messenger Integration | TechCrunch) goo.gl/JYEVn
— Tahin Rahman (@tahins) November 20, 2012
Hey guys! Go download the new @mozilla @firefox 17! then add @facebook for @firefox here -> facebook.com/about/messenge...
— David Barratt (@davidwbarratt) November 20, 2012