Mozilla testing near-final Firefox 3.5

Mozilla is close to releasing of its near-final version of Firefox 3.5, but the updated browser wasn't quite ready in time for a planned day of widespread testing.

Earlier this month, Mozilla set Friday to be Firefox 3.5 RC1 Test Day. But RC1, the first release candidate designed to be more stable than the earlier Firefox beta versions, wasn't finished for the occasion.

"Even though RC1 hasn't been released yet, the test day will still go on with the latest nightlies (nightly builds of Firefox based on the latest source code) which are practically RC1 minus some minor uplifts," said Aakash Desai of Mozilla's quality assurance team on Thursday. Mozilla has set up the Litmus program to encourage broad testing of its software.

RC1 is expected in a few weeks, spokeswoman Melissa Shapiro said Friday, though one developer told CNET News he hoped it would arrive in less than two.

The new version of Firefox began as version 3.1, a modest update. But a gradually expanding feature list led Mozilla to rename it 3.5 and release it months later than had been planned initially. In the meantime, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 8, Apple released a beta of Safari 4, and Google has released a rolling series of upgrades to its new Chrome browser.

Among the changes compared with the current Firefox 3.0.x versions are the faster TraceMonkey engine for running Web sites' JavaScript programs; support for tags to describe audio and video content the way images have been available for years; the private browsing mode for leaving no traces on your computer while surfing; support for geolocation technology to let permitted applications know the user's location; built-in JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) technology for exchanging data between servers and browsers; and support for the Web Workers standard for letting a browser perform processing in the background without holding back a Web application's user interface.

[lexingtonlawreview]

I always hated yahoo 360. I wonder if they fixed all the bugs?

[jscott418]

My personal opinion is that Firefox is going the way of what it started out as trying not to be. A bloated and buggy browser. That's just what it was not when it first came out. Now, after Firefox 2 it has tried to be too much for too many. Its many options and plugin's have actually started to hurt it. I have tried 3.5 beta and am not anymore impressed so far. Chrome seems to be what Firefox started out as, and even Internet Explorer is starting to get some speed. I really think Firefox needs to intro a stripped down lean version or it may actually see its usage start to slip.

[tm_anon]

Don't like the plugins? Don't use them.

I used Firefox 3.5 beta earlier today, runs fast, renders pages quickly with no trouble and runs every addon I use on a day to day basis.

The problem with addons is when you go overboard and, if you're complaining there are too many, I'm betting you went overboard with them.

By the way, both Chrome and IE are trying to get more addons, Firefox just happens to have the hard part already in place.

[whiplash55]

I hate to agree with a negative comment on my favorite browser, but I find myself using IE more and more because FF takes so long to load and crashes so much. 5 find myself dumping the add-ons that used to make it so much more useful. I hope they pull out of it with 3.5, its certainly better than 3.0.

[ikramerica--2008]

I'm just tired of every time there is a X.X.1 update, most or all of your extensions or themes break, and you need to update them, but they aren't available. Why is backward compatibility broken with as simple a thing as a theme in a minor X.X.1 release?

[ElArZ]

"I'm just tired of every time there is a X.X.1 update, most or all of your extensions or themes break"
That's nowhere near true.

I've been updating Firefox from v3.0.0 and none of my extensions stopped working. (and i have lots of them)
Plus, it's the author of the extension that specifies whether his extension should stop working with a new minor release, although a minor release doesn't affect extensions, so it's the authors mistake not Firefox's.

[jake3373]

I actually make extensions. With every release of Firefox, I have to test each extension with the new version. If it works, I have to log into Mozilla Add-ons and just update the version. If it needs repairs, I have to fix the code, debug the entire thing, and upload the new version. The updates can take a while to be found by Firefox's Add-on update checker.

[Mr. Dee]

I am not downloading this update to Firefox until at least version 3.5.5 or 3.5.8. I just suspect its being rushed and you are going to be hearing about a lot of vulnerabilities when its released. It has been in development so long now I just feel something is not right about it.

[Fuddyman]

it is not being rushed it has been really delayed to fix all the bugs for the release.
it was supposed to be released it December

[pithenumber]

try the Beta before you open your mouth to criticize it

[1812dave]

WOW! Maybe you guys should be using IE instead. Enough of the *******' about FF.

[monkeyfun14]

I know right how dare someone complain about a product not owned by Microsoft.

[ikramerica--2008]

I'd try IE, but MS stopped making it for the Mac years ago. ;)

[ikramerica--2008]

I'd try IE, but MS stopped making it for the Mac years ago. ;)

and BTW, 1812, do you think it's acceptable that a minor dot update to fix bugs or security holes breaks just about every theme or extension you have installed? I don't know of any other software that behaves this poorly, so why is that defensible?

[tuneslover]

yea...IE & Chrome both rock..i stopped using firefox a year ago

[jake3373]

@ikramerica

It is the author of the extension/theme who has to check its compatibility. If the extension is not being regularly updated, it is the author's fault, not Mozilla's.

[firefoxluva95]

@ikramerica

Wow, what a superfluous statement. Every single addon breaks? Not really, there are a few handful that break but I'm a risk taker and I have disabled addon compatibility checking. If any problem, occurs, I'll open up in safe mode and then permanently disable the culprit addon.

Remember that each extension has its own author that is usually not affiliated with Mozilla at all other than the fact that they upload their addon to a Mozilla site. It is not Mozilla's job to pester developers to update and test their code.

[keeeemal]

Firefox is a great browser, when it comes to functionality. But it is so ugly. It doesn't make use of aero glass, and in vista basic its even uglier. Makes me want to switch to a browser with less functionality, but better looks. Please Mozilla, do something about it!

[BlitzBoy1120]

First, there's a add on that gives an aero look to Firefox. Second there are vista themes.

[keeeemal]

@BlitzBoy1120

More tacky bloat, you mean.

[firefoxluva95]

A theme doesn't add much to bloat unless it's Safari 4 with all those extra eye candy options.

[jpap93]

They have. It's called "SKINS"

[eleavings]

ikramerica-2008
The plugin developer is the one who sets the compatability. Some developers set it open so no check is done. Some set a "maximum" version for compatability. But you can override this check.
1. In your address bar, type "about:config" (remember, no quotes).
2. Once the configuration page loads, right click anywhere within the configuration options list and select "New" and then select "Boolean" from the choices given.
3. The next box that pops will ask you to "Enter the preference name". Enter: "extensions.checkCompatibility" (without quotes). Then click OK.
4. Another box will pop up asking you to choose the Boolean value. Select "False" and click OK. Your new statement should now appear in the list of configuration options.
5. Restart your browser and all your incompatible add-ons should mostly work.

Keemal
Try https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browse/type:2 for many many skins/themes to change the look of firefox. They are as easy to install/use as a plugin. They have compact, aero, holiday themed, etc.

E

[ArsFragica]

Firefox 3.5 has the speed of Google Chome, the compability of Internet Explorer, and the safety of Safari. It can't be beat.

[jake3373]

Compability of IE?

IE is the least compatible browser out there. For my websites, I usually have to add extra code just to get the site working in IE.

Also, Firefox (version 3.0.10) is already the safest. I once wrote a test webpage just for fun in about 5 minutes that prevented the page from being closed. Every time I tried to close it in IE, Safari, and Chrome, it would just open a new window with the same webpage. But that script didn't work in Firefox. Go Firefox!

[iTrackmine]

The built-in JSON support sounds awesome. It's something that my sites use more and more of each day.

[pkennedy]

just hope the FF team reverted back to the OLD FF2 BOOKMARKS way of doing things in this latest 3.5 version... as I stated in this comment I made back in January...keeping my fingers crossed... they ruined the Bookmark Organizer/Manager in FF3 so much so that I uninstalled FF3 right away... why do they do things like that .. they were so far ahead of IE then took a big step backwards with FF3.. craziness
http://reviews.cnet.com/browsers/firefox-3/4864-3514_7-33087853.html?messageID=10022241&tag=commProfileMain;profileBot

[Arun Yegneshwar]

great News and i hope mozilla adds support for mhtml for firefox in later versions

[jake3373]

Me too.

I use the IE Tab add-on which automatically uses the embedded IE rendering engine for MHTML pages

[dmimis]

Firefox for ever!!!!

[rstwolf]

i installed FF 3.5 beta4. I must say that all the add ons i had before are stil working and no bugs so far. There's no noticable change except the plus icon to open a new window ,the private browsing and a little speed bosting. I 'd like if they change the appearance to be more modern, slim and smooth. Also I 'd like if they have added a slide effect like the Opera's one (one the best reasons why Opera is so fun to surf with).

[Thorax232]

I see a lot of people saying Firefox has slowed down because of add ons?? Really? Quit downloading so much! You know all those add ons run constantly in the background right? They don't just magically turn on when you need them. My firefox only has a couple add ons such as Ad Blocker, Fasterfox and XMarks. I don't download all that crap like Stumble Upon, Color Tabs, Cooliris and all those greasemonkey scripts that change a web pages content. And because of it, Firefox is running just as fast as Google Chrome, with all it's functionality.

[jdrollette]

I have been using firefox for a long time and ive had much better results with it then interent explorer, internet explorer usually cuts me off or the browser freezes my computer. I like firefox but i tried the newer one 2.0 and it was crappy.. freezes alot of the time it would just randomly close out on me.. for no reason and it did this alot.. I think im still using version 1.5.. and it works great.

[Freedomstarfox]

I have been a long time fan of Firefox and still am. Most add-ons only slow down start up time, not browsing. Only add-ons that need to transmit data from other servers slow browsing down a bit. But its worth it! I'm running Firefox 3.5 Beta 4 and it works perfectly and is just as fast as Google Chrome even with almost 20 add-ons.

I prefer unobtrusive features over a very slight speed difference any day.

[bafranksbro]

I hope they fix the mem leak I've noticed in FF 3. Recently with the small updates I've noticed that a mem leak has appeared out of no where and I've noticed it on two separate OS installs so it's definitely there. I can leave it sitting doing nothing while only having one tab open and it will slowly chew up the mem and next thing you know it's hogging half my system memory, uses more memory on me than Photoshop CS3 does. Don't get me started with the start up times but it's still the best browser for my needs and I'm so used to using now that the little differences in the usage of Chrome makes it impossible for me to get used to it or anything else other than FF. FF is definitely bloated now though, no question. Also where is a first party 64-bit version? I'm guessing once a 64-bit version of flash is out for Windows.

[allaboutenergy]

I experience the same thing! FF when left open (which I do and need to do) slowly but steadily takes over my memory on my computer. The only fix is to close, clear it out and restart. It is annoying.

HUGE memory usage is my primary concern with the new 3.5, can someone who has used it address this? Is this corrected. I like FF3 otherwise.

[rshimizu12]

Firefox works great. I can view 99.99999% of all web pages without problems.