Mozilla releases first beta of Firefox 3.6

Those keen to try out Mozilla's latest browser--and its new process to update the software more frequently--now can try Firefox 3.6 beta 1 for Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Among the features in the new version, according to Mike Beltzner, Mozilla's director of Firefox, and Mozilla evangelist Chris Blizzard:

• Personas, which lets people customize the browser appearance. Personas has been available as an add-on, so there are plenty of Personas skins to choose from.

• Faster execution of Web-based JavaScript programs, better browser responsiveness, and faster startup time. Mozilla has been working on JavaScript performance for many months, but the urgency of that and other performance improvements increased with the arrival of Google's Chrome browser.

• The ability to drag and drop files from the computer to the browser. This is useful for uploading files to Web sites, as will a feature not in the beta but planned for the final version, support for the multiple-file input tag so more than one file can be added in Web forms.

• Expanded support for geolocation technology so it can provide a Web site with an approximate physical address of the user, not just latitude-longitude coordinates.

• The ability to detect the computer's orientation for machines that offer accelerometer support.

• Video built into Web pages with the HTML5 "video" tag now can be viewed full-screen.

Mozilla also released a full list of Firefox changes developers should know about with more details.

Firefox is at the vanguard of the second generation of browser wars. Although it competes with Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari, and Opera, all those browsers are also allied in a way against Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which though dominant is relatively slow at some tasks and only now complying more fully with Web page standards of yesteryear. The rivals, meanwhile, are pushing ahead with new features in HTML5 in development right now.

Mozilla released the alpha version of Firefox 3.6, code-named Namoroka, in August.

The organization plans to release the final version by the end of the year, with Firefox 3.7 in the first half of 2010 and Firefox 4.0 in about a year.

One complication of the upgrade is compatibility of add-ons that extend Firefox's features; the new browser version makes some changes. Mozilla is debating whether to release Firefox 3.6 as a minor update automatically distributed to 3.5 users or as a major update that requires those users to actively retrieve it.

One major element of Firefox 4.0 is a new add-on technology called Jetpack that eases this compatibility problem.

[miyochan]

this is greatt~

[hmdz105]

I still can't replace Firefox with anything. Its compatibility with web standards and the way it handles add-ons makes it a hard to beat browser. I also use Google chrome as a faster replacement but only for doing very simple things.
Long live Firefox!

[DeeZee83]

I refuse to use anything google. their privacy policy disgusts me.

[Frederikrooms]

@DeeZee83, are you that famous? Google doesn't bother if you like a specific website or not, it can only help you to provide you the information you need when surfing the web! Think again 20 years later.

Stop making nonsense, if privacy really holds you from using google I wouldn't left my house.

[hmdz105]

privacy or security?!

[BigAl35540]

Have they fixed the HTML text entry problems with this browser yet? I'll bet not! Mozilla has just ignored these SEVERE problems like they don't exist! I ceased using that browser, in fact uninstalled it in Windows because of how annoying these problems were! I get over to Linux and I find the same problems, but now I have to put up with the problems because it's the best browser for Linux. I use it only because I have to! Until these problems are rectified I will consider FireFox to be a substandard quality browser and I could care less about all the fancy features if they can't even get the basics straight! Wake up and smell the roses Mozilla! STOP DENYING AND START FIXING THESE PROBLEMS!

[G-Skaf]

What problems are you referring to? I notice that I can't use copy and paste on some Blogspot sites' text fields.

Have you filed any bug reports?

[abo-ghaith]

????" ??? ??????

[abo-ghaith]

thanks

[Renderman2009]

Flash still runs faster on IE - no other browsers run Flash faster than IE.

Try browsing a website with lots of Flash animation, and compare the frame-rate.

[cbscowards]

IE is still the least-compatible, buggiest browser. By using it, you are driving up the cost of development on the web. Web-site developers must put in extra code to work around IE's flaws so that you can use their site. Do a quick web search for "IE Hacks" to get a sense of the scope of the problem. Luckily there are many people willing the share their experience in these workarounds, but it is still frustrating and slow to track down bug when IE misbehaves.

So long live FF, Safari, and Chrome! No browser is completely bug-free, but these are a world beyond IE.

[goodspeed8701]

@cbscoward... Leave the problem to Website developers and since you are a website visitor why complain? not that you are the one doing the work. I still prefer IE cos I don't see those bugs you mention when I browse and its far safer than your Fire *** that I replaced with Opera. I don't need no addons so its useless for me.

[lazycat202]

goodspeed

well speech! :)

[pentest]

If a website has lots of flash(or silverlight, or javafx) then it is likely a poorly designed site.

[pentest]

I occasionally build dynamic web sites, but it is not my profession(I do lots of low level programming) , I agree with cbs to a point.

However, I don't do any IE workarounds. If someone is stupid enough to use IE, then they deserve the reduced experience. The other browsers work flawlessly with my valid xhtml and css, I am not going to waste time to overcome the incompetence of Microsoft.

[Lemonsquare1]

@goodspeed8701; if you honestly think IE is more secure than Firefox, you have no idea what you're talking about... cbscowards is absolutely correct. Even if you have no use for Firefox add-ons, it's still factually a faster, more compliant and safer web-browser.

[goodspeed8701]

@lemon I honestly think so... Infact I know so... IE is MUCH MORE SECURE THAN FIRE ***. But atleast I'm not blinded by what I like if IE is bad I will say it. But the fact remains I still havent seen a site that IE can't display correctly. And I don't want to install addons like IE tab and so on. I always like my system to be light. Opera 10 is even ok and I will dump it for Chrome. Opera is having hard time displaying some pages. Yahoo site was a good example.

[jake3373]

@goodspeed: You aren't giving any reasons why a browser tied directly into the OS is more secure than FF, Chrome, Opera, or Safari. Cbscowards is right, IE is a nightmare for web developers (like me). I have to put extra code into almost ALL my xhtml sites so IE will display it correctly. Also, even one of my Blogger blogs doesn't display right in IE, no matter what I do to the template. I HATE INTERNET EXPLORER!!

[goodspeed8701]

http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=703 This is a link that should you number of patches and all. IE will endup a victim at last cos of the market share. IE is more stable.

[goodspeed8701]

Jake professional webmasters or developers don't use templates. IE is tied to the operating system don't make IE less secured instead it makes the OS less secured. From your statement you sound like a rookie. Adobe reader is not tied to the OS yet its so buggy and insecured. FF is patching more bugs and holes than IE that link I post earlier said it all. Safari and opera are not even more secured than IE. Your point you made just tells me that you hate IE but its not for the reasons you gave maybe you just hate IE. As for web developing stop using templates if you want to call your self a developer.

[thydavidcome]

The only thing FF is good for is addons.

Its slow, its buggy, the UI is ugly as hell.

Google Chrome is much faster and better looking (but no addons) and is the best for Javascrpt websites (super fast Javascript engine) Also more secure then FF.

IE8 is about the same speed, but better looking (and there is tons of add ons) and it is the best for Flash websites (handles flash well) and more secure then FF.

[Piperapk]

Chrome more secure? How prove it! Like the look of Chrome but for me the UI of Firefox is much more functional and better for me.

[mathcreative]

Google crome is more secure because of their sandboxing feature which doesn't allow access to parts of the system the website doesn't need to access

I have one question for Mozilla that's been bugging me for years now..... What about a 64bit browser!? Half the tweaks they put into this browser would be moot if they gave the browser 64bit plumbing. Faster start times as well as java and html would all be addressed without even touching those pieces of code with the exception of make them compatible under a 64bit environment.

Come on Mozilla get it together already! You have me.... I'm hook on FireFox and don't plan on going anywhere. I'm on a quest to run only 64bit code on a system. It's proving to be impossible in the Windows world. My linux box is already doing it an it runs like a champ. Sabayon Linux 5 is the absolute best linux I've used so far.

[owenc93]

I'm pretty sure there are 64but firefox downloads, but can you live without a flash player?

[pentest]

64 bit isn't a silver bullet.

[jake3373]

Maybe when they have a 64-bit Flash player all the major browsers would become 64-bit.

[myles taylor]

I downloaded it, but I couldn't get the orientation feature to work. :\

[tektaktyks]

yea it told me personas is not compatible with this version...

[Shankland]

Try uninstalling the Personas add-on; Personas is built into Firefox 3.6b1.

[tektaktyks]

yup its working now.thx

[elmansory319]

that is very good

[lazycat202]

too many upgrades!!

[Flexcubed]

This is to FireFox.
please let your updates be seamless and under the hood like it is in IE and Chrome. Everytime I launch FF, it prompts for one update or the other and always have to restart the browser but I never knew when chrome updated it self, I just launched it one day and lo, it has this theme feature installed and some UI makeovers, nothing obstructive.

Also FF has become heavy and starts too slow though I never installed any add on. For now, it's IE8 and Chrome. Yeah I observed that with Flash contents, texts are rendered superbly well in IE than even chrome, I thought it was Adobe's issue anyway.

[G-Skaf]

You don't HAVE TO restart. You can simply choose to continue working, and any updates will be applied next time you open up Firefox. If you prefer, it takes just seven mouse clicks to completely disable automatic updating. You can then manually check for updates anytime you like.

This is called "keeping you in control and informed" and it's probably better than
- Internet Explorer, which is updated through Windows Update. Unfortunately, if you happen to install any system file updates along with Internet Explorer, the system will keep bugging you to restart.

- Chrome, which silently and without your consent installs Google's update service. That's right, an entire service, running with administrator privileges, just to keep all of your Google software up-to-date.

As for slow startup, try defragmenting your hard drive and "vacuuming" Firefox's SQLite databases:
http://www.gettingclever.com/2008/06/vacuum-your-firefox-3.html

[jake3373]

Create a new Firefox profile (Start>Run>Firefox -P) and it will run like lightning

[Ceedub2]

I was disappointed that Xmarks aren't compatible with the beta yet.

[asbury3191]

This version messed up my Netflix. I went back to Version 5.

[Shankland]

What error message did you get at Netflix? Was it a problem with Firefox or Silverlight? And I'm guessing you mean you went back to Firefox 3.5?

[Zbob750]

i have been testing the betas of firefox for as long as I can remember and I haven't used such a piece of **** for as long as i can remember. I used it, It crashed on my cnet homepage every time I started it. I know it's a beta but, it's not a good beta. Mozilla has a lot of bugs and complaints ahead of them.

[MrBenjamin]

It's running great, loading javascript pages very well...I have to say the only thing missing is compatibly add-ons.

[amishra123]

Does this version have windows 7 droplists yet??? Chrome get theirs ages ago!! It about time firefox got on the windows 7 bandwagon aswell!!!
Otherwise Firefox for ever!!

[BigOldDog]

FF has a problem where it consumes nearly 100% of a single CPU as well as consuming tons of memory. It happens almost randomly. It been happening since 3.0 for some and continues right to 3.5.5. If you Google "firefox high cpu usage" you'll be surprised. I hope they get a handle on this problem soon because they are driving people back to IE and over to Chrome.

[dkgod]

Run´´s great strongly recommended for me