Filed under: Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Mozilla, Browsers
Mozilla preparing to push Firefox 3 update on all Firefox 2 users
by Brad Linder Aug 20th 2008 at 3:00PM
Ready or not, here it comes. And it is Firefox 3.0.1. Mozilla has been issuing automatic updates for Firefox for ages. If you're running Firefox 3, you were probably prompted to install version 3.0.1 a few weeks ago. But if you've been running an older version of Firefox, you might still be at version 2.0.0.16. Now Mozilla plans to push out an update to all Firefox 2 users that will prompt them to update to version 3.0.1.The update could come as soon as next week. Firefox 3 offers a number of advantages over Firefox 2. First, and probably most importantly, it's the most up to date version of the browser when it comes to security features. But it also has improved JavaScript support, faster page load speeds, and improved performance with web applications like Gmail, Google Docs, and Zoho Office. Firefox 3 also has a completely redesigned location bar that makes it much easier to find pages you've recently or frequently visited.
Firefox 2 users don't have to update. If you're happy with your existing browser experience, you can either postpone the update or decline it.
[via WinBeta]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
andyg8180 said 3:32PM on 8-20-2008
FF3 isnt bad... better than 2... i downloaded the oldBar add-on because i hate the new URL dropdown... its not bad, its just not for me...
But the improvements over FF2 far out-weight any reason for keeping 2...
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adam said 12:01AM on 8-22-2008
andyg8180, what is the actual name of that add-on for the drop down url bar? i hate that thing as well
dukemang said 5:13PM on 8-20-2008
After DL FF3 I must have run into half a dozen compatiblity issues between sites (like NBC Olympic player), add-ons and web apps. I'll stick with FF2 until they pry it from my cold dead hard drive...or until they work the compatiblity issues out of FF3 :)
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iofthestorm said 5:47PM on 8-20-2008
What's wrong with the luddites on tech sites these days. With Vista and XP it was kind of understandable, albeit no less stupid, although at this point Vista is a lot more mature than it was at release. But Firefox 3 is unquestionably better than Firefox 2 in every aspect, and yet I see all these people screaming about how Firefox 3 killed their parents. What. The. Hell.
Addon compatibility is the responsibility of the addon developer, not the Firefox team. Why should they hold back progress just to keep extensions compatible? The reason it's a major version is because it breaks (some) API compatibility, that's par for the course for any major software release. I don't get why people complain about extensions after every Firefox release, go bug the extension developers and get on with life.
paul said 8:06AM on 8-21-2008
FF3 is slow and buggy.
shedders said 6:48PM on 8-20-2008
The reason add-on compatibility is such a big issue with Firefox upgrades is simply that the sheer amount of interesting/useful add-ons out there is one of the main attractions of the browser.
If you find you have become reliant on a specific add-on, maybe something that saves you lots of time or effort, you are bound to be reluctant to upgrade until either the add-on is fixed or you can find something similar that does work on the upgrade. This isn't being a luddite, it's just common sense.
Agreed, it isn't the 'fault' of the Firefox team, but it is a legitimate reason to delay uptake all the same (in much the same way that legacy applications not working properly on Vista was/is clearly a valid reason for some companies delaying its deployment).
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BillyG said 6:54PM on 8-20-2008
What? Are they learning one from M$ or something? I'll use FF3 when I'm sure that all my ext's work with it. Until then, I know where it is, not that it was easy to find after that cattle call to update last time...
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Marc Savoy said 7:12PM on 8-20-2008
I, for one, have been very unhappy with FF 3.0 having it
constantly crash on me and have had to put up with Mozilla's strong-arm tactics to upgrade from 2.0.0.16.
They've already announced December, 2008 as the cut-off
date for 2.0, beyond which I will have no other FF choice but will hold on as long as possible.
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LJ said 10:36AM on 8-27-2008
I haven't personally had the time to read everyone's comment, but I saw your first applicable post and thought, "Oh my God, that's what's happening to me!"
Is my computer a total loss now??? I downloaded the new 3.0 version and it kept saying that Mozilla has experienced a "crash" and will send a Mozilla report if I check yes? I can't gain access to the internet, except for Internet Windows Explorer", which CONSTANTLY repeats "internet has stopped working", or something like that!
I am FRUSTRATED!
I hate Internet Explorer which is "defaulted" on my computer.
My computer was originally set to Mozilla Firefox, and I'm used to that and I want it back, but when I tried to download the "updated" version, I keep getting that CRASH message. Please help!
ez4me2 said 8:06AM on 8-21-2008
I started using FF because it was independent of the OS. I continued to use it because of the ability to customized the browser experience. FF3 reverses my original reason for switching to FF by tying its security to windows security zones. The best thing about FF was it always gave options. But sadly in their effort to court corporate America the FF Team seems to have sold out Its user base.
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Frank at GameFans.Com said 12:17PM on 9-03-2008
I also have Vista and FF3 crashes and will not load. I tried everything. So, its back to 2.0.0.16 for me.
Asgaro said 12:31PM on 8-21-2008
I love Firefox!
And so do a few million people with me :)
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Nick said 5:24PM on 8-21-2008
FF3 does nothing but crash and burn on vista ultimate 64, I was very disappointed that I had to go back to FF2. You won't see me upgrading for a while.
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Pitfiend said 4:19PM on 8-21-2008
FF3 is near perfect. It's fast, reliable, not a resource eater as FF2. The only annoying "feature" is that ugly bilinear filter they insist to apply to every picture you see through it. That filter is really wrong and sucks. It trash one of the most amazing artwork in the digital realm: PixelArt.
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David T. said 5:27PM on 8-21-2008
This sucks for Windows 98/ME users.
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grapeshot said 8:23AM on 8-24-2008
C'mon, are they going to push FF 3 on Mac Panther users?? Really? Even if FF3 wasn't built to be installed on Panther?
Wow. I think that'll take some doing.
Carl said 3:25PM on 8-26-2008
FF3 won't download. I am running XP SP3 and FF3 auto download just errored out "505 internal server error".
I tried downloading from Explorer and same error and then from my FF 2.X Browser directly from website and again same error.
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Lisa said 3:12PM on 9-04-2008
FF3 is very annoying as it crashes daily. I have a G5 Mac OS 10.4.11
It definitely affects workflow. Looking forward to fixes or?
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