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Firefox 2 Beta 1 is a developer preview release of the next generation Firefox browser and available to download "for testing purposes only," intended for web application developers and our testing community. Mozilla.org warns that current users of Mozilla Firefox 1.x should not use Firefox 2 Beta 1 and expect all of their extensions and plugins to work properly.
I don't have much in the way of Firefox plugins, so that was no problem for me, and in a week of use I've found Firefox 2b1 reasonably stable and dependable with just one crash and no other stability bugs encountered as yet. It's also satisfyingly fast, as fast or faster than SeaMonkey, which has been my workhorse browser for the past year or so - maybe not quite as fast as Opera, although I did no comparison timing. This new Firefox now has a bunch of new features that distinguish the user experience more vivdly from that of SeaMonkey, and it may well win me over.
However, not for a while yet. As I said, stability with Firefox 2b1 has been fine, but I have encountered a strange issue in that postings to the Applelinks CGI, both articles and image uploads, don't work when I use 2b1 with my PowerBook G4 running OS 10.4.7. Curiously, it works fine from my PowerBook Pismo running OS 10.3.9. I've noticed the same phenomenon with the latest SeaMonkey 1.1 Alpha browser build. In either case, the current final versions of the two browsers work fine from OS 10.4.7. I wont venture to even specualte as to what the reason for this might be, but until it's ironed out, I will be using SeaMonkey 1.0.4 for production work from the G4 PowerBook. Since only a handful of us use the Applelinks CGI, this is not something that would concern most users unless it is behavior affecting other sites. If you use this build with a CGI, double check to make sure it's working. (Interestingly, I've discovered that the same upload failure phenomenom manifests with Safari 1.0.4, but not with Opera 9. Very weird.)
Changes in this Development Milestone
There is a lot in Firefox 2 Beta 1 that the developers invite you to play around with and give them feedback on:
• Visual Refresh:
Firefox 2's theme and user interface have been updated to improve usability without altering the familiarity of the browsing experience. For instance, toolbar buttons now glow when you hover over them. This takes a bit of getting used to, because when not moused over, the buttons look sort of half grayed-out, but it's an interesting wrinkle.
• Built-in phishing protection:
Phishing Protection warns users when they encounter suspected Web forgeries, and offers to return the user to their home page. Phishing Protection is turned on by default, and works by checking sites against either a local or online list of known phishing sites. This list is automatically downloaded and regularly updated when the Phishing Protection feature is enabled. Please note that at this time there is only a limited list to test the core Phishing Protection framework within the browser. Users are encouraged to wait until a future release of Firefox 2 to verify the accuracy of the list of Web forgeries.
• Enhanced search capabilities:
Search term suggestions will now appear as users type in the integrated search box when using the Google, Yahoo! or Answers.com search engines. A new search engine manager makes it easier to add, remove and re-order search engines, and users will be alerted when Firefox encounters a website that offers new search engines that the user may wish to install.
• Improved tabbed browsing:
By default, Firefox will open links in new tabs instead of new windows, and each tab will now have a close tab button (Hooray!). Power users who open more tabs than can fit in a single window will see arrows on the left and right side of the tab strip that let them scroll back and forth between their tabs. I have mixed feelings about this.
On the one hand, it beats having "overflow" tabs land up in a pull=down menu at the right end of the tab bar, however I find that I can easily lose track of tabs once they scroll off. With Opera and iCab, the tabs just keep adding and getting smaller and smaller until you can no longer read the titles, but I find when that happens I still have a pretty good idea which is which spatially. I really am not sure which mode I prefer, but I'm willing to give the new Firefox scrolling tabs a chance to win me over.
The History menu will keep a list of recently closed tabs, and a shortcut lets users quickly re-open an accidentally closed tab.
• Resuming your browsing session:
The Session Restore feature restores windows, tabs, text typed in forms, and in-progress downloads from the last user session. It will be activated automatically when installing an application update or extension, and users will be asked if they want to resume their previous session after a system crash. Very welcome, and something Opera and OmniWeb have had for some time.
• Previewing and subscribing to Web feeds:
Users can decide how to handle Web feeds, either subscribing to them via a Web service or in a standalone RSS reader, or adding them as Live Bookmarks. My Yahoo!, Bloglines and Google Reader come pre-loaded as Web service options, but users can add any Web service that handles RSS feeds.
• Inline spell checking:
A new built-in spell checker enables users to quickly check the spelling of text entered into Web forms without having to use a seperate application.
• Live Titles:
When a website offers a microsummary (a regularly updated summary of the most important information on a Web page), users can create a bookmark with a "Live Title". Compact enough to fit in the space available to a bookmark label, they provide more useful information about pages than static page titles, and are regularly updated with the latest information. There are several websites that can be bookmarked with Live Titles, and even more add-ons to generate Live Titles for other popular websites.
• Improved Add-ons manager:
The new Add-ons manager improves the user interface for managing extensions and themes, combining them both in a single tool.
• JavaScript 1.7:
JavaScript 1.7 is a language update introducing several new features such as generators, iterators, array comprehensions, let expressions, and destructuring assignments. It also includes all the features of JavaScript 1.6.
• Extended search plugin format:
The Firefox search engine format now supports search engine plugins written in Sherlock and OpenSearch formats and allows search engines to provide search term suggestions.
• Updates to the extension system: The extension system has been updated to provide enhanced security and to allow for easier localization of extensions.
• Client-side session and persistent storage:
New support for storing structured data on the client side, to enable better handling of online transactions and improved performance when dealing with large amounts of data, such as documents and mailboxes. This is based on the WHATWG specification for client-side session and persistent storage.
• SVG text:
Support for the svg:textpath specification enables SVG text to follow a curve or shape.
Returning Firefox features include:
A Better Web Experience
Firefox 1.5 has an intuitive interface and blocks viruses, spyware, and popup ads. It delivers Web pages faster than ever. And it’s easy to install and import your favorites. Packed with useful features like tabbed browsing, Live Bookmarks, and an integrated Search bar, Firefox will change the way you experience the Web, for the better.
Faster Browsing
Enjoy quick page loading as you navigate back and forward in a browsing session. Improvements to the engine that powers Firefox deliver more accurate display of complex Web sites, support for new Web standards, and better overall performance.
Automatic Updates
The new Software Update feature makes it easy to get the latest security and feature updates to Firefox. Firefox automatically downloads these small updates in the background and prompts you when they are ready to be installed.
Tabbed Browsing
Use tabbed browsing to open multiple Web pages in a single browser window, and quickly flip back and forth. Drag and drop open tabs to keep related pages together.
Improved Pop-up Blocking
Firefox’s built-in pop-up blocker has been enhanced to block more unwanted pop-up and pop-under ads.
Integrated Search
Tap into the power of the Web’s most popular search engines with the built-in Search bar, and easily add new engines.
Stronger Security
Firefox keeps you more secure when you’re browsing the Web, closing the door on spyware, worms, and viruses. The Firefox community of developers and security experts works around the clock to monitor security issues and release updates to better protect you.
Clear Private Data
Protect your privacy with the new Clear Private Data tool. With a single click, you can delete all personal data, including browsing history, cookies, Web form entries and passwords.
Live Bookmarks
Stay up to date with your favorite Web sites and blogs. Use Live Bookmarks that update themselves automatically with the latest content from the Web.
Accessibility
Firefox 2 delivers easier navigation for everyone, including those who are visually or motor-impaired. Firefox is the first browser to support DHTML accessibility, which, when enabled by Web authors, allows rich Web applications to be read aloud. Users may navigate with keystrokes rather than mouse clicks, reducing the tabbing required to navigate documents such as spreadsheets.
Customize Firefox
Select new button controls for your toolbars, install extensions to add new features, or change the look of your browser with themes - the way Firefox looks and works is under your control.
Next Generation Web Support
Innovative new Web applications and services deliver a richer Web experience. Support for open Web standards in Firefox ensures you can get the most out of this emerging class of Web-based tools.
System requirements:
Mac OS X 10.2.x and later
Minimum Hardware
Macintosh computer with an Intel x86 or PowerPC G3, G4, or G5 processor
128 MB RAM (Recommended: 256 MB RAM or greater)
200 MB hard drive space
Free
For more information, visit:
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/bonecho/all-beta.html
and
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/central/
Charles W. Moore
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