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We've been closely watching the development of Firefox's next iteration which brings a long list of additions and refinements to the popular Web browser. After a small developmental setback, Beta 1 arrives highlighting the following new features:
- Users can now change their browser’s appearance with a single click, with built in support for Personas
- Firefox 3.6 will alert users about out of date plugins to keep them safe
- Open, native video can now be displayed full screen, and supports poster frames
- Support for the WOFF font format
- Improved JavaScript performance, overall browser responsiveness and startup time
- Support for new CSS, DOM and HTML5 web technologies
Since the release of Google Chrome, a lot more focus has been put on browser's speed, not only by Mozilla but all major players including Microsoft. While I still consider Firefox the best all-around browser out there (in good part thanks to the numerous useful add-ons available), I've been experimenting severe slowdown problems on JavaScript heavy pages, whereas even Internet Explorer seems to behave just fine.
Other additions should appeal to a variety of users, depending on what you like to do with your browser. Personas support lets you skin your browser instantly, in fact you can preview Firefox's modified looks by merely hovering over the different styles available. Video support continues to be enhanced on the browser, while developers will be keen about Web Open Font Format (WOFF), HTML5 and CSS' new features support.
Last but not least, Firefox 3.6 Beta will likely break a majority of your current add-ons, however, if you are lucky you should still be able to override compatibility and put them to use regardless.
User Comments: 36
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I'll wait for the next final to give the new firefox another try.
I've used 3.5 for quite a while and wasn't happy with it at all. It got slow and unstable when it was open for a longer time and the few additional features were not worth this hassle, so I went back to 3.0.15 and am pretty happy with it.
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Eh, it crashed on me one too many times. I have XP 64bit pro.
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Am downloading it now
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3.5 is a memory hog, I have seen or heard about it from too many people, it can't be 'just my experience'
3.6 beta seems better, somewhat, but mozilla guys are already putting themselves in danger relative to Chrome
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Souljacker said:
All of the addons I use are still working, I imagine a lot don't, but the likes of linky, adblock plus, stumbleupon and flashgot work.
Love the feature that lets you preview tabs using aero peek.
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Xclusiveitalian said:
Does beta 1 imply a better 2? Im glad to see there overall support for there browers continues, I can't believe they could make it any faster as it was already the fastest one I use. Lately iv been falling for safari brower, maybe I wont tho if this is the future for firefox. It can only get better.
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Firefox is getting a lot better, but I wish they'd hurry up and supported threading like Chrome. I'm tired of having a single tab getting stalled on something and making the entire Firefox process unresponsive.
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Once again FF FTW (and not just because I help make it).
IE users need to get with the program!
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Puiu said:
What older versions did you use?
Here are some pros: better security (much better that IE8); better support for newer versions of html, CSS, etc; better java script engine; here are some addons: download status bar, downloadthemall!, built in IRC client (don't remember the name now), FireFTP, AdBlock Plus, Noscript, VideoDownload helper, etc (there's something for anyone!) + themes.
Here are some cons: it can use a bit more memory that IE (especially if you have many addons), if you have many addons loading times increase (i only keep 3 or 4 at max just to be sure) - no other cons i can think of right now. FF 3.6 solves most of the loading times problems but i'm waiting for the final release not the beta
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The full screen video feature is extremely useful, especially for JTV and other streams
Hopefully this will leave beta soon. -
StaffDoes beta 1 imply a better 2? Im glad to see there overall support for there browers continues, I can't believe they could make it any faster as it was already the fastest one I use.I take it you've never used Chrome? :-)
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