Tag Archive: Firefox 3.6

Mozilla Firefox 3.6 Beta 2 Released

Posted Nov.11, 2009 under Firefox, Mozilla
What’s New in Firefox 3.6 Beta 2?

Firefox 3.6 Beta is built on Mozilla’s Gecko 1.9.2 web rendering platform, which has been under development for several months and contains many improvements for web developers, Add-on developers and users. This version is also faster and more responsive than previous versions, and has been optimized to run on small device operating systems such as Windows CE and Maemo.

Developers can find out about all the changes and new features at the Mozilla Developer Center.

News source: Official website
View: Changelog
Download: Mozilla Firefox 3.6 Beta 2

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Mozilla May Finally Move to a 64-Bit Browser With Firefox 3.6

Posted Jul.08, 2009 under Firefox, Google Chrome, Mozilla

Will Mozilla catch up with Internet Explorer?

Mozilla’s Firefox browser does not lead Microsoft’s Internet Explorer in market share, but it does lead in other ways. The new 3.5 version of Firefox introduced last week offers support for the latest standards, including HTML 5, XHTML, and SVG graphics — all of which stock installs of Internet Explorer 8 do not support.

However, Mozilla does trail Internet Explorer 8 in one respect — Mozilla has not offered an official 64-bit version of its software. One developer is working to catch Mozilla up, though. Since 2008 a contributor who goes by the screen name Makoto has ported Firefox 3.0, and now 3.5 to 64-bit editions. He has announced recently that he plans to contribute the 64-bit versions for 3.6 and up, which may mean that Firefox will at last get an official 64-bit build.

Advantages of the transition to 64-bit include faster speeds on pages using encryption, fast-call type function calls, and more efficient memory mapping of large files. Initial benchmarks from the 64-bit build show impressive gains in certain applications.

A notable downside of the patch for Firefox 3.5 is that it breaks Mozilla’s plug-in system, which relies on a 32-bit architecture. However, Mozilla has talked recently of adding official 64-bit support in the near future, so this will likely be addressed shortly.

Google’s Chrome also is not offered in 64-bit versions. Apple’s Safari 4 browser is offered in a 64-bit version (and is the first Safari browser to add official 64-bit support). Opera is offered in 64-bit for Linux and OpenBSD operating systems, but is only offered in 32-bit form for Windows. Within about 4-5 years all of these are expected to jump to 64-bit as the next version of Windows (after Windows 7) is expected to only be offered in 64-bit form, though legacy support for 32-bit software will almost surely be included.

Anyone who wants to take 64-bit Firefox 3.5 out for a spin is suggested to back up their profile, as the build will use the same profile as your current installation. It should also be noted that the build only works with 64-bit operating systems such as those based on the Windows x64 platform, like the 64-bit build of Windows 7 Release Candidate.

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Firefox.Next: Namoroka due in early 2010 – Firefox 3.6

Posted Apr.03, 2009 under Firefox

Even as the Firefox team struggles to get beta 4 out the door, the team is already talking about the next version beyond Firefox 3.5.

The next gen, code named “Namoroka,” is expected to be named Firefox 3.6 and will be released in 2010. It will offer advancements in performance, personalization and customization, task-based navigation and web application support, according to a posting on the Firefox web site.

“Namoroka” will focus on the following areas:

Performance

Observable improvements in user-perceptible performance metrics such as startup, time to open a new tab, and responsiveness when interacting with the user interface. Common user tasks should feel faster and more responsive.

Personalization & Customization

Simplify the development, discovery, installation and management of browser customization and functional extension. Where possible, provide a custom fit user experience based on a user’s interaction history. Act in the user’s interests, leveraging existing knowledge about their identity and browsing habits.

Task Based Navigation

Allow users to organize their tabs, history, downloaded files, and other resources according to the task they were attempting to accomplish. Provide support for executing common web-based tasks, mash-up style, without having to visit a website.

Web Application Support

Blur the distinction between web and desktop applications, providing web developers with the tools required to create rich application experiences for a user who is connected or disconnected from the Internet. Act as the intermediary between web applications and the user’s OS desktop.

System Integration

Integrate with the look and feel of the host operating system, including data-level interactions with existing system services such as dictionaries.

Development Schedule

Namoroka will be based on Gecko 1.9.2, with an initially scheduled release of early 2010. As always, we will only release the finished product when it’s ready.

Meanwhile, the team is planning to release Firefox 3.5 beta 4 during the week of April 13 and a final beta — beta 5 — will be necessary to address fewer than 10 remaining bugs in the code before a release candidate is issued, according to team leaders on the team’s weekly meeting Tuesday. Beta 4 could slip by as much as a week depending on the number of blockers resolved over the next week or so.

View Source: Firefox 3.6

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