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October 28, 2004 10:09 AM PDT

Firefox nears final launch

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A final test version of open-source browser Firefox has been released, giving users a peek at what are expected to be the official features of the free software.

The latest test version of Firefox 1.0 fixes about 250 bugs that have been reported since the preview release of the browser earlier this year, according to the Mozilla Foundation.

"If all goes well testing these builds, then we're on target for our 1.0 release in early November," Asa Dotzler, the Mozilla Foundation's community quality advocate, wrote in a Web log posting Wednesday.

Spun off last year by Time Warner, the Mozilla Foundation is the open-source group that produces both Firefox and its predecessor, the Mozilla browser.

The group is making the final test release of Firefox 1.0 available via FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

The organization also is calling on supporters to chip in on a full-page advertisement in the New York Times scheduled to coincide with the Nov. 9 launch of the browser.

As Internet Explorer has taken increasing heat for security woes, Firefox has gained in both stature and numbers. Version 0.8 of the browser was downloaded 3.3 million times within four months. Version 0.9 reached 6.5 million downloads in three months, and the preview release received 5 million download requests in just a month.

See more CNET content tagged:
test version, Time Warner Inc., Mozilla Corp., Firefox, open source

Add a Comment (Log in or register) (8 Comments)
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Netscape Mail
by Peter Thaler October 28, 2004 2:43 PM PDT
Although Firefox is an excellent web tool, test of the beta version was unable to work as a mil tool, but relied on sending the computer back to the Netscape 7.2 folder. The previous bookmarks weren't able to be imported either. Will Firefox be able to do this in the future?
Reply to this comment
FireFox & Thunderbird
by My-Self October 28, 2004 11:36 PM PDT
Firefox is a browser only, just like IE is a browser only.

If you want the mail function, go download the (excellent) Thunderbird standalone mail client, also from the the Mozilla fundation, or the Mozilla suite (Version 1.7.3) that integrates both functions + a HTML composer.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

A full fledged HTML composer based on Mozilla is also in the making and progressing fast :
http://www.nvu.com/

as well as a calendar (some rough edges) :
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/

Neither of these softwares is tied to the OS as IE and Outlook are, so you can try them and delete them in the unlikely case you don't like using them better ...
Netscape Mail
by Peter Thaler October 28, 2004 2:43 PM PDT
Although Firefox is an excellent web tool, test of the beta version was unable to work as a mil tool, but relied on sending the computer back to the Netscape 7.2 folder. The previous bookmarks weren't able to be imported either. Will Firefox be able to do this in the future?
Reply to this comment
FireFox & Thunderbird
by My-Self October 28, 2004 11:36 PM PDT
Firefox is a browser only, just like IE is a browser only.

If you want the mail function, go download the (excellent) Thunderbird standalone mail client, also from the the Mozilla fundation, or the Mozilla suite (Version 1.7.3) that integrates both functions + a HTML composer.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

A full fledged HTML composer based on Mozilla is also in the making and progressing fast :
http://www.nvu.com/

as well as a calendar (some rough edges) :
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/

Neither of these softwares is tied to the OS as IE and Outlook are, so you can try them and delete them in the unlikely case you don't like using them better ...
IE vs. Firefox
by October 29, 2004 7:31 PM PDT
I am a computer/internet programmer. I've used IE for years. It was genuinely a better browser.

Then, I tried Firefox. From my perspective as a programmer, Firefox is head-and-shoulders over IE. There are one-click-to-install "extensions" (simple, fully-integrated plugins) that allow me to view all aspects of a webpage: the HTTP headers, the cookies, image sizes. There are tons of other extensions that allow you to customize your browser. You get ONLY the features you want. Nice.

There are some sites that use IE-specific HTML. By and large, I can get around without IE.

One of the easiet to use features that kicks snot over IE is the "tabbed" feature. Instead of pulling up a new browser window for every fork in your web surfing session, just add another tab...it's a set of windows all in one browser window. Very clean.
Reply to this comment
IE vs. Firefox
by October 29, 2004 7:31 PM PDT
I am a computer/internet programmer. I've used IE for years. It was genuinely a better browser.

Then, I tried Firefox. From my perspective as a programmer, Firefox is head-and-shoulders over IE. There are one-click-to-install "extensions" (simple, fully-integrated plugins) that allow me to view all aspects of a webpage: the HTTP headers, the cookies, image sizes. There are tons of other extensions that allow you to customize your browser. You get ONLY the features you want. Nice.

There are some sites that use IE-specific HTML. By and large, I can get around without IE.

One of the easiet to use features that kicks snot over IE is the "tabbed" feature. Instead of pulling up a new browser window for every fork in your web surfing session, just add another tab...it's a set of windows all in one browser window. Very clean.
Reply to this comment
mozilla foxfire
by domlagreca October 30, 2004 12:00 PM PDT
mozilla foxfire i find to be very good i use it as my defaulf browser it does everything that netscape does foe me i like it better than internet exsplorer, its very clean and boots very fast.i had to get use to a new broswer ,but once you use it for a few days it like you alwasys had it ,it tqakes getting use to. but it is a nice and easy browser

graygoast52@aol.com
Reply to this comment
mozilla foxfire
by domlagreca October 30, 2004 12:00 PM PDT
mozilla foxfire i find to be very good i use it as my defaulf browser it does everything that netscape does foe me i like it better than internet exsplorer, its very clean and boots very fast.i had to get use to a new broswer ,but once you use it for a few days it like you alwasys had it ,it tqakes getting use to. but it is a nice and easy browser

graygoast52@aol.com
Reply to this comment
(8 Comments)
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