Firefox 2.0 hits the web today

[BGonaSTICK]

A new version of the Firefox browser for the web 2.0 age is to make its debut on 24 October.

Built in to the updated software is anti-phishing technology, to prevent fraud, as well as built-in spell checking and a search engine manager.

It is released less than a week after Microsoft unveiled Internet Explorer 7.

The Mozilla Corporation, which oversees the development of Firefox, says more than one million people helped refine the final release.

The first version of Firefox was released in November 2004 and since then has steadily been chipping away at the dominance of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser.

Now it is believed to enjoy a 12-15% market share of the net browsing market globally. But, said Mike Schroepfer, vice president of engineering at Mozilla, in some nations the share is far higher.

Mr Schroepfer said that there were about 12 big improvements in Firefox 2.0 along with thousands of minor tweaks and bug fixes.

Big changes include a phishing finder that alerts people when they stray on to a site that tries to trick them into handing over login details for a bank or other valuable service.

Another change was a spell checker that keeps an eye on every bit of text typed in almost any Firefox browser box be it in a web-based e-mail program or an add-on that lets people post blog updates directly.

Firefox 2.0 also has an improved session restoration system that will let users resurrect tabbed webpages they accidentally closed or will re-start a net session at the point before a crash.

Other changes include improvements to the web feed, search engine and add-ons manager.

The project to create Firefox 2.0 kicked off in June 2006, said Mr Schroepfer and the software was released once the work was finished. It was mere coincidence that the work was done so close to the release of IE 7, he said.

"We really didn't target a specific date," said Mr Schroepfer.

He said the browser had been developed with the demands for a rich web 2.0 age in mind.

As an open source software project, the development of Firefox is led by the non-profit Mozilla Corporation but most of the development work is done by keen volunteers.

"We live and die by whether each individual wants to download and run it," said Mr Schroepfer.

Many have contributed to the project by customising the software for their own language, said Mr Schroepfer. At launch the software will be available in 36 languages, by contrast IE 7 was available only in English.

Many users also create add-ons for the browser which add all kinds of functions that people see a need for. There were now more than 1,900 add-ons for Firefox, said Mr Schroepfer, which made it possible to keep the core software slim.

[nanochickin]

I can only find the beta release at the momment. Looks like i'll be staying with Firefox 1.5 for the momment.

[BGonaSTICK]

Yes, it's supposed to be out, but no-show on the website yet.

Sure it won't be long coming

[diapason]

I did try it some time ago, but it was no use for internet banking as it would not allow funds to be transferred. It is, however, supposed to give added protection against viruses so it might now have improved and I might give it a go soon.

[BGonaSTICK]

I use Firefox 1.5 for Internet banking with 5 major UK banks, two major credit cards and all my utility companies, so as they say in the TV adverts, you should switch banks!

STICK

[nanochickin]

The only problem i have with Firefox is that you have to use raw html when listing stuff on ebay as the description builder doesn't work for some unknown reason. >

Other than that little flaw which is probably to do with eBay i think it beats I.E hands down.

[BGonaSTICK]

There are two things in particular that get me all 'tired and emotional' with it.

The first is that sometimes it doesn't work properly with the TinyMCE WYSIWYG editor used in some web-based packages.

More annoyingly, If I'm say replying to a post on the forum, and I then open another Firefox window (as opposed to a tab - yes I know, but old habits die hard...) it often protects all the input fields in the new window (like the Google search box) and instead pops open the search string bar.

That really drives me nuts, as I then have to close it and open an IE window! >

[nanochickin]

They have finally got it up on their website.

Just installed it and i must say up to now its nearly exactly the same as version 1.5 it just looks a bit different. Mind you I haven't had chance to check it out fully yet. Still a 100 times better than Microshafts I.E7.

The biggest thing i have noticed is that it now works with eBay properly and loads a hell of a lot quicker.

Should be interesting to see what other people think of this. :?

[diapason]

I might just be tempted!!

[BGonaSTICK]

I installed it earlier, and it corrupt the navigation toolbar and all the icons in the options section :

Not impressed so far. Guess I'll have to export all my bookmarks and then uninstall and reinstall from scratch >