Just today, Mozilla, famous for their Firefox browser, have released the second release candidate for the upcoming version 3.5, for public use. This build comes not long after the first release candidate, and as you can expect, packs some changes. The Washington Post has a great overview of all the next features in the updated browser.Private Browsing:
Firefox 3.5 includes a private browsing feature, much like the other main browsers on the market now, which means that you can surf the Internet without leaving a trace; history is not recorded, so it's perfect for those that are... looking for gifts for others. The one problem that people see with the Mozilla solution to this is that the browser does not show you if you are in private browsing mode; you'll just have to remember, although, you will get an occasional message the pops up.
To add to the privacy factor of the new 3.5 version, you can open up the History page, and then by right-clicking an item of history, you can choose to 'Forget this Site'. By doing so, you will (as expected) have all items of that URL gone from history.
Location Services:
Firefox 3.5 brings the interesting feature of location services; you can find your location by I.P. address, using nearby WiFi networks via Google Location Services. If you're using a WWAN card in your notebook, you can use the nearby cellphone towers to pinpoint your location. As it stands, this new service isn't particularly useful as not many sites support it, but in the future it could be very handy. The Washington Post tested it out and their location was found to within a couple of blocks, so if you're in a new city, using it to find nearby restaurants or other services could be extremely useful.
The other features that are improved in this new release candidate aren't exactly new, so they're not worth mentioning here (tear-off tabs and restoring your session from a crashed browser). If you want to download the second release candidate, you can either use the automatic updater within Firefox, or visit this link.
either way, can't wait for 3.5 final
I wish it was in Cocoa and it had a native interface on the Mac... not that I'm looking for an alternative to Safari, but I respect Firefox a lot and would like to use it a little more sometimes...
I thought it was native on the Mac, since version 3?
There's going to be a few slight differences, but from what I've seen the interface is beautiful on the Mac version (e.g. clicking on the bookmark star brings up that nice black overlay thing).
@artfuldodga -
It used to be very slow for me and would crash / make my system very slow after loading up a lot of tabs - something Safari, Chrome, Opera and even IE haven't done yet. However, I have gone back to Firefox since the release candidate as it is my favourite browser. I just hope the issues I mentioned aren't there anymore. It seems much faster than it was before I tried this RC version.
There never was a RC1.
There never was a RC1.
There was. If you were using beta 4, it automatically updated to technical preview (rc1)
There never was a RC1.
There was. If you were using beta 4, it automatically updated to technical preview (rc1)
It was pre-rc, official and final rc was never announced
that's the bottom line 'overall'
each browsers has there up's and down's but i think when you look at the browser as a whole and what it offers it's probably the 'best all around choice' of Browser.... with extensions (extensions are a big bonus. AdBlock Plus etc) general all around speed and most sites seem to work in Firefox pretty well and Firefox is getting more and more mature to.
There's going to be a few slight differences, but from what I've seen the interface is beautiful on the Mac version (e.g. clicking on the bookmark star brings up that nice black overlay thing).
Hmmm, this is also what I read, but not what I think... The prefpane looks like it's not native to me (the transitions between tabs seem different,it doesn't follow Apple's guidelines at all (ok it has nothing to do with being native though - I know), that button to remove the toolbar is not supposed to be there and if it was meant to be there, there's no transition, etc.), same for the back button, and there's no transition in the black HUD when you enlarge it with the "view more" buttons, no transition to hide the main controls of Firefox, it seems they used a different kind of coding that makes these transitions really hard to do
But I recall myself viewing immediately that the interface wasn't native, now it's harder to see, so you know what... I think you're right. It IS native, but it just doesn't respect Apple's guidelines and uses special buttons that don't even fit with the OS, and we don't have any transition.
Last edited by PsykX on 20 Jun 2009 - 22:55
There never was a RC1.
Then what did I download with the filename Mozilla Firefox 3.5 RC1?
There never was a RC1.
http://www.neowin.net/news/software/09/06/17/firefox-35-rc1
Apart from, y'know, the bit in the title bar stating "Private Browsing".
My brain just died.
caerma you clearly have not tried this or RC1, its very different to older Betas. Most people are saying it can match Chrome when it comes to speed.
WTF??
Completely true. Opera still kicks its ass.
Except Opera does not properly display large text images (They are blocky) when zoomed into. For those of us who are over 40, have decent vision but have problems with small print, that is a deal breaker.
However, this RC version has ran brilliant for me. Extremely fast compared to any version of Firefox I have ran before and I am glad as it is my favourite browser
Love the RC, but Neowin should start using the new icon for the posts.
+1. Chrome rules.
At being a failure, sure.
Fixed for ya
terrible way to word a sentence, not the best way to use english language considering a lot of foreign people browse this site.
you used would future tense and a positive followed by a double negative in one sentence. Awesome.
It does make sense though
That's just being childish, not choosing your browser because of the one you think is best but because of how the company acts with the EU. Also it isn't Mozilla leading the attack on Microsoft.
I actually respect that... Most people are just against Opera, but the truth of the matter is that Mozilla and Google are in the mix with Opera
No. Shove your infantile crap where the sun ain't shining.
You use it because you're a notorious MS troll and so is Andrew Bares. I don't know how you two get away with posting this kind of flame bait on a regular basis when I get a warning for saying "Firefox FTW" once!
Umm, sorry mate but I agree with C_Guy. Every once in a while I switch to Opera/firefox when I get bored then immediately switch back to IE. And this is because it doesn't seem to matter what site I'm browsing IE always opens it more quickly. Could just be me, but I am fed up of people slating MS and their apps. IE is very quick.. stop denying it.
This belongs into the "Sad, but true" category.
Are you switching to FF2 and Opera 8? FF 3.5 and Opera 10 are so much faster than IE8. Load something that actually takes some time to load (like a javascript heavy webmail portal) and you'll see the difference. Loading sites that are going to be instant on pretty much every browser isn't going to tell you anything apart from what you imagine.
LOL!
No. And flash does not support 64bit and that is the reason why Mozilla isn't releasing a 64 bit version.
(there is flash 64 bits for linu
but if there's no wide support for x64 browsers yet (in windows), adobe wont be bothered. and those browsers who are optimizing those javascript engines, they should also think of x64. the x64 versions of firefox get worse results in that sunspider test than the 32 bit counterparts.
But the Mozilla website says:
"When browsing in Private Browsing mode, the Firefox window's title will show (Private Browsing) during your session."
1) It doesn't make it obvious you are using that mode.
2) It closes all of your non private browsing windows and then restores them again when you stop using the private browsing mode - that is fantasic. Most of the other browsers open another Window, which I find annoying as it's always in a different place and can become messy.
1) It doesn't make it obvious you are using that mode.
2) It closes all of your non private browsing windows and then restores them again when you stop using the private browsing mode - that is fantasic. Most of the other browsers open another Window, which I find annoying as it's always in a different place and can become messy.
I feel differently. IE8 and Chrome have it right. A simple hotkey opens up an additional in private mode. You can sign into two email accounts at the same time that way. In addition, you can have regular and in private windows.
I think it depends on the way you use them. For me, I almost never have a private session and normal session open at the same time. 99% of the time, the first thing I do after starting incognito mode in Chrome, is closing the other window. For me, it would be a much bigger time saver to simply switch the existing window to a private window and let me choose whether or not I want to open a second window on my own.
What does being religious about a browser mean? I've never heard anyone talk about there preferred without stating valid points for their opinions.
I believe that they are morons.
i think this doesn't go somewhere
If something screamed for open source, it's something as inherently ****ty and in need of polishing as Flash.
If something screamed for open source, it's something as inherently ****ty and in need of polishing as Flash.
So you think you can port a JIT Code interpreter by simply recompiling?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQjsadxCpvI
and as for site speeds? varies with connection, PC, etc but it too is in no way slow
And I'm still finding Chrome faster than FF3.5RC2. Maybe when all the extensions officially work again I'll consider switching back. Right now, I'm using the Nightly Tester Tools to force some to work.
IMO, the best and fastest browser right now is the Google Chrome 2.0. Yes, it is simple and less features like add-on. But, it uses far less resources than any other browsers, and it is extremely fast in rendering and javascript. Plug, it can handle most essentials plug-in well such as flash, windows media, silverlight, etc..
IMO, the best and fastest browser right now is the Google Chrome 2.0. Yes, it is simple and less features like add-on. But, it uses far less resources than any other browsers, and it is extremely fast in rendering and javascript. Plug, it can handle most essentials plug-in well such as flash, windows media, silverlight, etc..
Resource hog? Not really. And wow, Chrome can handle flash and java? Thats a big plus indeed! Who would have thought...
IMO, the best and fastest browser right now is the Google Chrome 2.0. Yes, it is simple and less features like add-on. But, it uses far less resources than any other browsers, and it is extremely fast in rendering and javascript. Plug, it can handle most essentials plug-in well such as flash, windows media, silverlight, etc..
wrong
Opera 100% KICKASS Browser.
Not saying I can do better, but this is very awkward to read.
It also removes the whitespace from the removed ads to gain more page room. If only IE had something comparable, I would switch in a heartbeat.
Everything else with FF, I can do without it seems.
so what?
It is a good test for measuring future web standards, Acid 2 misses out some crucial areas.
"FF is soooooo slow. I click on Neostring and it opens yesterday!!! But when I use IE, it opens 2 days ago. How anyone can use FF is beyond me!"
Or something like that.
"I click on teleport and it takes an extra 2seconds to initiate my network teleporter!! wtf?"
Also, what is it with FF and sucking up RAM these days? I have 2 tabs open right now and it's sucking up nearly 200 megs. WTH?
Also, what is it with FF and sucking up RAM these days? I have 2 tabs open right now and it's sucking up nearly 200 megs. WTH?
Fresh tabs, or do they have a history? Complex pages? Many addons?
It blows up in your face when loading is complete?
Plus is still very buggy. Many times it will go into its 100% cpu usage, which is another huge gripe I have with it. Its had that problem for years now, and never gets fixed.
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