New Firefox Version Out Today
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James Joyner | Tuesday, November 29, 2005 |
Mozilla is making a new version of its Firefox browser available for download today.
Overhaul for Firefox web browser (BBC)
The people behind Firefox are planning a big marketing push for the latest version of the open source web browser. Firefox 1.5 is due to be available for download on 29 November, marking the end of a thriving year for the browser.
[...]
Many more websites were also tweaking their webpages to ensure they render properly. Mozilla will also put tools in the next release of the browser that let people report webpages that look strange when viewed via Firefox. At the same time Mozilla is planning regular updates to Firefox every six to nine months and to move quickly to close security loopholes.
The release of Firefox 1.5 marks a big overhaul of the browsing “engine” inside the program, Mr Beard told the BBC News website.
Software Journal reports that,
Some of the new features in this major update include support for Web standards, adding support for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), JavaScript 1.6 and new versions of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). In addition, the latest update would also handle popups in a more efficient manner. Mozilla is also adding an auto-update facility in this upgrade, which would make it easier for users to stay up-to-date to the latest browser release.
TechWorld’s Elizabeth Montalbano adds,
The browser will include an improved updating system, faster navigation using the “Back” and “Forward” tabs, and a redesigned Options/Preferences window that increases the number of category icons and moves them from the left side of the window to the top.
[...]
The update includes better pop-up blocking and a host of security improvements, plus the addition of Answers.com to Firefox’s list of search engines and a Clear Private Data function that allows users to quickly remove personal data through a menu item or keyboard shortcut.
I’ve actually been using the Beta version of 1.5 for quite some time and have not noticed much difference. It does seem that I encounter fewer sites that are incompatible with Firefox these days, although I don’t know whether that’s a function of improvements made by Mozilla or just better compliance with HTML standards by webmasters.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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In your experience, have you had problems with 1.5 crashing on Java-heavy sites? It happens to me all of the time with 1.0.7.
I hope the new version doesn't affect the functionality of Firefox's great extensions, like Greasemonkey. It's extendability gives webpage viewers such great power over the surfing experience!
It still crashes occasionally one a few sites but I haven't noticed a specific pattern.
James, I haven't seen you mention the browser, Flock. It is based on Firefox and has some interesting blogging features. It is still in beta, but seems promising.
(I have no connection to the developers and discovered it through some other blogger reviews)
I've tried Flock for a few weeks...but eventually, I went back to my favorite browser, Firefox. I had nothing against Flock, but just preferred the "Fox"...to the "Flock".
:-)
Here's my build info:
Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.8) Gecko/20051111 Firefox/1.5
I've had no problems with crashing in this build. I have been having crash problems with Thunderbird when replying to messages...but I guess that's a different topic.
I've really been enjoying 1.5 beta! Can't wait to download the 1.5 final release this afternoon!
Harrumph. I've been checking Mozilla.org daily uin anticipation of this release, and when I finally find out it's available, it's from OTB.
I coulda saved myself the trouble.
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