With Firefox 3.6’s release, we can all do a quick about:config tweak that will enable the prettier tab switching.  By default, when you hit the keyboard keys Ctrl + Tab you just rotate through your tabs.  By making some quick adjustments though, you can pull up the new tab switcher that you see in the picture above.

How to Enable Firefox’s Secret Visual Tab Switcher

• Type about:config in the address bar. Then, if needed click the “I’ll be careful, I promise!” button.
• Next, in the filter box – type in:
  • browser.ctrlTab.previews
• Right-click that about:config entry, and select “Toggle”

Now, when you hit the keyboard combination of Ctrl + Tab you will get the new visual tab previews, rather than just scroll through the tabs one by one.  If you want to switch back, just follow the same steps to toggle it from true, back to false.

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You can view your tabs in a number of different ways:

• Wall – like a TV store. select the desired tab (“TV screen”) from a wall.
• Grid – the tabs are aligned on a grid.
• Row – the tabs arranged in a row.
• Cycle – rotate between tabs.

Activating it is easy.  Either hit the toolbar button for it, or hold the Ctrl key down and then hit the Tab key.  If you want to keep it front and center, just hit Ctrl + Q.  From the options, you can also set the size of the tab switcher (just in case you don’t like it being full screen). 

All in all it provides a new visual method for quick tab switching that is both useful and beautiful at the same time.  Currently FoxTab is only for Windows users, and is an experimental add-on.  If you wish to download it, and try it out – you can do so at the Firefox Add-ons site.