Second Firefox 3.1 beta due 'very shortly'

Update 6:15 p.m. PST: An earlier version of this story said the second beta version of Firefox 3.1 would likely be the last. Firefox is planning a third beta version. Also, added a comment from Paul Rouget about when the second beta version will likely be released.

The second beta version of Firefox 3.1 is "due out very shortly," Mozilla programmer Ben Turner said Thursday.

One big change in the 3.1b2 is the addition of "Web workers," a feature that lets the browser process tasks in the background. That feature, part of the still-evolving HTML 5 specification, adds another level of sophistication for programmers writing Web applications and gives multicore computers a better way to use their processors' abilities.

"We've been hard at work with folks from Google, Apple, and others to get this new spec nailed down," Turner said of the Web workers work.

Google and Apple also build their own browsers, as does market-leading Microsoft and ever-scrappy Opera. With the browser wars back in full force, those organizations are racing to outdo each other on features and performance.

He gave one illustration of Web workers in action running a JavaScript program that emulates a decades-old processor design, the 8080. One thread emulates the processor in the background while another handles user interaction such as checking for typing on the keyboard.

In a post on the Mozilla Add-ons Blog, Paul Rouget said: "Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 will likely be released the first week of December." He added: "We have added a Beta 3 to our schedule."

[zhackstack]

Mozilla's nightly browser is 3.1b3pre, code-named "Shiretoko" (previously Minefield) available for download now for testing or for use as the default browser. (I love it).

[goodspeed8701]

IE8 is still the best.

[loose_screw]

Jeez, are you a MS shill or what? First slamming Google, now here with the lovefest for IE. Give it up already.

[this1!]

i second that ^^

[AppleSuxLeo]

I have to agree to some extent. When pages render in the blink of an eye anyway on all my browsers , IE8 has the best interface and usability for me. Chrome`s bookmark system I do not like. I also prefer IE for the way you can quickly change search engines. Also , Microsoft gets "right-click" choices better than anyone.

[Mr. Dee]

I am in solidarity with goodspeed8701. Just check you Task Manager in Windows and you will see start differences in performance between IE 8 Beta 2 and Ff 3.04. Firefox remains the worlds Memory hog and CPU hogger too.

[dwinks]

Until IE has plug-ins it will NEVER be anywhere close to as good as Firefox. Yes, I know it has something they call "plug-ins" that consist of $40 crapware and "toolbars" that do nothing useful other than take up screen space.

No script and ad-block are a must for web browsing. As is a customizable menu-bar. My Firefox only uses 1 row for navigation, address, search-box, etc. Also, the default function of the address bar in IE SUCKS! If I type "google" and hit enter, take me to http://www.google.com damn it, not crappy live-search results for google!

[goodspeed8701]

From what i read on your post... its like you know nothing about browsers you just go around and install plugins and addons and dont have time to use it.

[ranpha]

You can disable JavaScript on any browser, so your NoScript point is moot. When I type 'google' on the address bar, it bring me straight to Google result for the keyword 'google' (IE7 is set to use Google as default search engine). If I do the same with Firefox 3, typing 'google' on the address bar will bring up OpenDNS result for 'google' (even if Google is still the default search engine.

[mathcreative]

Yeah but no script lets you choose the websites that you do want to run javascript on. With browsers like ie you have to change the settings to use a website that has javascript. I have set google as my default search engine, meaning that when I type somthing in the address bar and hit enter, it will take me to the google search of that website, as long as I don't have www. in the front and .com or any of it's equivalents in the back. Plus their are tons of usefull plugins for firefox that aren't just adblock and no script. For example if I am working on a paper, and need to origanize my online sources I use Zotero, and if I want to build a website I use web developer. I also use foxmarks synchronizer to help me syn my bookmarks to other computers. Though I have to honestly say I keep most of my extensions disabled, but when I need them I enable them.

[goodspeed8701]

My lat post i sad i use firefox because of their ftp addon to upload my site. But i never slamed them i only said i prefer IE an Opera. About chrome i said they did some reverse engineering with M$ code and i think its fastest due to what people say.

I have never use a chrome and i dont think i will do that till i see the final version of IE i think chrome can be a good alternative. But firefox well i used it and i dont like it. It does not display pages faster. i like opera its kool. i dont need widget or plugin i browse almost normaly so i dont need any addon. By the way IE has loads of addons and i only choose to install cooliris.

[mathcreative]

I think firefox 3 still loads pages much faster then ie., but it's no opera.

[Endbringer]

Firefox is still the best browser out there. Is IE8 going to be multithreaded? Will it speed up Javascript like Chrome and Firefox? Will it still be tied to core Windows? Will it have plug-ins and themes? Will the file size be less than 10mb?

Almost all browsers are based on the original Mozilla code from Netscape. Microsoft copied it and used it in IE.

[sanenazok]

I use FF all the time and yep there's no going back to a browser without adblock (the only feature I care about). One important question: will there be a 16-bit binary of FF 3.1 for Windows 3.1? That's very important to me.

[tipoo_]

i dont think the "web workers" will be as good as chrome is at multithreading...chrome uses separate threads per tab and add-on, so it will use as many cores and threads as you can throw at it. still, it should be interesting to see Firefox's attempt at multithreading, and this can only mean good news for dual and quad core users.

[mathcreative]

It will mean that web applicaitons will now be able to multithread. Which means that they will be able to function faster on a computer with a hyperthreading cpu or a computer with more then one core. If the computer will be able to meet those requirements, the application will be able to run much faster, then google's way of multitreading. But with google crome you'll probably be able to run more applications at the same time. Yeah understand now. If firefox get's web developers interested in building application that are multithread then firefox will have the upper hand.

[therealgeeves]

IE is finally going to be put back in it's rightful place, third rate software category.
Anti-monopoly rulings have proven to be correct, the innovation coming from Opera/google/firefox/camino etc prove that the user deserves a better experience and also judge for themselves the best software - not the OS.

[knowles2]

At the moment I loving chrome. While for some reason firefox keep crashing on me at the minute. IE is allright but I am not comfortable the interface.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Are web workers kinda like worker bees ?

[Charlie_V]

Why shill for a free download?

The IE hostility is thick here. I have all three (IE, Chrome, and Firefox), and Firefox and IE are the only serious contenders. I checked out Opera and Safari, too. The are not ready. Nor is Chrome. IE is the best, but you already know that. What browser are you using to read this?

IE8. Seriously; MSFT may be many bad things, but it did invent the way we interact with the world through computers. Give Gates his due.

[cyberdesingnz16]

the new version of fire fox 3.1 beta2 has the addition of new feature for web workers that lets the browser process tasks in the background. That feature, part of the still-evolving HTML 5 specification, its is very good feature you can get more feedback from this.
http://www.cyberdesignz.com/