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Topic: Browser

All systems are go for Firefox 3 launch; RC3 needed for Mac OSX only

Summary: All systems are go for the market launch of Firefox 3 for Windows and Linux but Mozilla plans another minor release candidate for the Mac OSX version due to plug-in problems introduced by Apple's 10.5.

Paula Rooney

By for Linux and Open Source |

All systems are go for the market launch of Firefox 3 for Windows and Linux but Mozilla plans another minor release candidate for the Mac OSX version due to plug-in problems introduced by Apple's 10.5.3 update.

That's the word from Mozilla's Firefox group, which held today what may be the final pre-release meeting for the much anticipated Firefox 3. Apparently, the Apple update causes the browser to hang. RC3 for Mac OSX  is being built and the update is expected to go live tomorrow, according to Mozilla.

It does not appear likely that the glitch will hold up the mid month launch of Firefox 3. The open source product is the second leading web browser on the market next to Microsoft's Internet Explorer with roughly 18 percent market share.

"QA will re do tests on OSX builds," according to meeting notes posted on the site today. "Windows and Linux RC2 builds will be copied over into RC3 folders."

Overall, Firefox 3 is in good shape and will soon be released, said one of the project's lead developers. The remaining 17 issues in the web browser update "are pretty well contained," said Mozilla phenomenologist and lead developer Mike Beltzner. "We're pretty confident we'll have them all resolved by the end of the week."

Last week, the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg said Firefox 3 has recaptured the performance title and gave the browser a solid review.

Topics: Browser, Apple, Hardware, Operating Systems, Software

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41 comments
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  • I already using it now

    Ubuntu maintainer already released an update that will upgrade all Firefox beta to final version
    cruggeld
    Reply Vote

    • I tried it and went back to ff 2.0

      it was cool for a few minutes but a lot of the add-ons are not ready for 3. look before you leap. I also don't like the drop down address bar that caches your sites. It doesn't clear and the other day my friend was checking out where I was going while I was surfing. and that just wasn't cool. I hope in the future they make an add or remove feature for this. I like it but now the words are great big and everyone can see when you visited your favorite sites good or bad or very bad. and that just isn't cool.
      IceTheNet@...
      Reply Vote

      • You can manually clear it

        It's annoying but you could just click the pulldown menu scroll down to the sites you don't want to see listed there and press DELETE.

        For the Most Visited button, click on the Most Visited, right-click on the item you don't want there and select Delete.

        I'm sure at some point there will be a preference offering to clear those, but what it does. Or you go the paranoia route, go to Tools->Tools->Privacy and uncheck Keep My History, uncheck Remember what I downloaded, uncheck Remember what I entered in forms and search bar. Then go further to always clear everything when I close Firefox down at the bottom where it says Privacy Data.
        duchovny
        Reply Vote

  • RE: All systems are go for Firefox 3 launch; RC3 needed for Mac OSX only

    "The open source product is the second leading web browser on the market next to Microsoft???s Internet Explorer with almost 18 percent market share"

    More than 18% according to Net Applications Market Share report. (18.4% to be precise.)

    - A
    asadotzler
    Reply Vote

  • wow

    I didn't know 70% are still using horrible Internet ExpLoder! What happen to competition. I think Mozilla and Apple need to be more aggressive and take some more market share.
    Firefox 3 will be great!
    exxtraz
    Reply Vote

  • RE: All systems are go for Firefox 3 launch; RC3 needed for Mac OSX only

    So the build of FF in Ubuntu is the final, or is it still the release candidate?
    Steven Rosenberg
    Reply Vote

  • RE: All systems are go for Firefox 3 launch; RC3 needed for Mac OSX only

    It's good some place's not work to good may only one in 1000 loot better than old,download help is very good you can stop & go & it pickup from ware left off
    Hotdoge3
    Reply Vote

  • RE:Firefox 3 launch; RC

    It's good some place's not work bad web to good may only one in 1000 loot better than old,download help is very good you can stop & go & it pickup from ware left off
    Hotdoge3
    Reply Vote

  • So looking forward to yet another browser

    I mean it's not as if you get a free one with Windows that actually works and looks better than all the FF incarnations. Oh that's right you do.

    Nevermind all hands to reinventing the wheel.

    Such an incredible waste of talent and time.
    tonymcs@...
    Reply Vote

    • The wheel had fallen off!

      Did you ever use IE6?

      The wheel had fallen off the wagon. Even when it was on, it was made from rotten old wood, banded in rusty iron, squeaked atrociously and wobbled abysmally.

      MS said 'The wagon still goes, doesn't it?'

      Firefox came along with a cast alloy wheel with a pneumatic tyre and cassette bearings that actually goes in the direction it's pointed- for free.

      That's the only reason Windows comes with a decent browser today.
      FreewheelinFrank
      Reply Vote

    • Works and looks better????

      Really? IE7's GUI is garbage...nice address bar that takes up the full screen. Nice to shove a bunch of navigation buttons away from other navigation buttons. IE7's GUI looks like something made by retarded monkeys (no offense to the mentally handicapped and/or monkeys intended...I guess they need to be employed somewhere, I am just surprised it's at Microsoft).

      As for working better...you are kidding, right?
      ccrashh2@...
      Reply Vote

    • Couldn't agree more!

      Yes, Microsoft's development of Internet Explorer was a waste of time and talent!
      reibertg@...
      Reply Vote

      • I'd second that

        if only MS would divert some money, time and resources away from their marketing services and instead spend of it on writing good code... but it looks like MS is sticking to what it knows best.
        balaknair
        Reply Vote

    • Learn about history

      Someone seems to forget that IE wasn't the first browser offered for free.

      Typical response from a MS Employee who likes slow, buggy apps, where javascript programmers have to rewrite code to run on IE's broken interpretor.
      fldbryan@...
      Reply Vote

      • Yes, learn about history.

        But also remember it too. Remember that is order to be understood, we must first agree on what the word "is" really means.

        Whoops, wrong rant! But seriously, how can IE's interpreter be broken if it works exactly as it was designed? If you design in adherence to the addiction of IE, then IE can never be broken. This is why if Firefox can't render a page that IE can render, I consider the Web site to be a virus factory! I get out of it as soon as I can and never return.
        sqr(cos(180))
        Reply Vote

    • This is competition in a free market

      Whether you like FF or IE, this is the benefit of free market economics.

      If Novell had not put so much into DR-DOS, we would probably still be running DOS 3.1 today.

      Comptetition brought us the cheap Internet bandwidth we have today. Yes, I know that outside the USA gets more for less money.
      Uncle Caleb
      Reply Vote

  • awesome, can't wait...I hardly ever use IE anymore

    I'm a huge Microsoft supporter and for years I've used IE without issue. But since IE7 was released I started using Firefox and everytime I use IE now I find it is just a matter of time before it locks up, hangs or crashes so I end up with firefox open.

    Firefox is without a doubt a superior browser...now if I could just rid of the google crap that seems to keep popping up in it. I am looking forward to version 3.
    GeiselS@...
    Reply Vote

    • Google crap

      I'm not sure what Google crap you're talking about, since I've never had any such issues in around 6 years using FF. The only possibility I can think about is you have Google toolbar installed(which can be uninstalled from Tools> Addons> Extensions).
      balaknair
      Reply Vote

    • huh?

      Are you talking about the Google toolbar? It sounds like you might have updated something else like Java and while updating you didn't uncheck "Install Google toolbar". Firefox doesn't have anything google on it but it's search bar in the top right corner and as someone said, you don't have to use it as your default search bar and it's easily removed.

      Just be aware that Java, Flash and other plugin type software these days sometimes will "innocently" ask you if you want to also install (insert product here, openoffice, google toolbar, yahoo toolbar, etc.). You have to be diligent and read and not just quickly click the NEXT button because you are in a hurry.
      duchovny
      Reply Vote

  • Sadly shipping with all the nsapi bugs still in it

    I guess now that they've been completely googlized they just dont care about plugin developers at all anymore. Such a shame and a very sad fall to witness...
    Johnny Vegas
    Reply Vote
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