Mozilla posts

Mozilla's Weave browser sync add-on for Firefox hits beta

by Lee Mathews Nov 16th 2009

I've been using Mozilla Weave to keep my Firefox profiles synched across different machines and platforms for quite some time. Today, Mozilla Labs has announced that the add-on is finally ready for official beta testing.

Version 1.0b1 is out now and available for installation. Version 0.8 is still listed in the Firefox add-ons directory, but it should install the newest release. If you're already running Weave, just head to your Firefox add-ons and check for updates.

What's new in the latest version? More speed, a simplified interface, and smarter syncing in the background. Weave's settings screen is nicely integrated into the Firefox options menu, so there's every chance we'll see it integrated in a future version of Firefox - like its Labs cousin Personas.

Tags: add-ons, addons, extensions, firefox, mozilla, sync, synchronize, weave

Filed under: Mozilla, Browsers

Firefox 3.6 Beta 2 now ready for download, with 190 bug fixes

by Jay Hathaway Nov 11th 2009

The second beta version of Firefox 3.6 has arrived, following hot on the furry little heels of 3.6b1, which was only a week and a half old. Mozilla's touting a whopping 190 bug fixes in that time, many of them user-submitted. If you're using an older version of 3.6, you should definitely update.

In my personal experience with 3.6, I've found that most of my themes and several of my add-ons (including the essential Greasemonkey) haven't been updated yet. On the whole, however, it feels very fast (especially at startup) and has proven very stable.

All the major upgrades came in 3.6b1, but if you're using Firefox 3 or 3.5, here's what might entice you to give 3.6 a shot: it offers faster Javascript performance and startup time, built-in support for the Personas one-click theming system, full-screen video and poster frames. If you want to wait for the final version of 3.6, you'll be pleased to hear it's scheduled for December. If the quick turnaround on Beta 2 is any indication, Mozilla is back on track to make that deadline.

Tags: beta, browser, firefox, firefox 3.6, Firefox3.6, mozilla

Filed under: Features, Mozilla, Browsers, Lists

Five essential addons for new Firefox users (Happy fifth birthday, Firefox!)

by Lee Mathews Nov 9th 2009

Five years ago today, a new web browser arrived on the scene. Yes, it was Firefox 1.0. At the half-decade mark, Firefox has become a force to be reckoned with. Nearly one in four people on the Internet is now using Firefox - and that includes the entire population of Antarctica!

If Firefox users were a country, they'd be the third most populous in the world - behind only China and India - at 330 million people! 2009 has certainly been a big year for the Fox.

Mozilla's add-on site reports 4.3 million registered users using nearly 164 million add-ons. That's a lot of people using a lot of add-ons. If you're a new Firefox user, you might be having trouble deciding which are worth installing.

Since this is Firefox's fifth birthday, here are five add-ons that can make browsing better for just about anyone!

Tags: add-ons, addons, extensions, features, firefox, lists, mozilla

Filed under: News, E-mail, Mozilla, Open Source

Mozilla scores enterprise email win: 130,000 French government PCs switch to Thunderbird

by Lee Mathews Oct 29th 2009

A French website [Google Translate link] is reporting that 130,000 Tax Authority computer systems are soon to make a major switch to open source software. Email and calendar duties are being handed over to Thunderbird and the Lightning plugin. The move also includes a transition to OBM's open source groupware/collaboration/messaging platform.

When the General Directorate of Public Finance was formed, two tax agencies were combined. Their users were split, with 80,000 using Lotus Notes and 50,000 running Microsoft Outlook. In the end, the new agency's decision had a lot to do with a desire not to re-license Lotus Notes and Outlook and to simplify operations by supporting a single client.

Thunderbird had already made inroads with the French Department of Defense as well as the Misitry of Culture. The new migration brings the total number of installs to more than 200,000.

Always nice to see Mozilla adoption in the enterprise!

[via OSOR.eu]

Tags: email, mozilla, open source, opensource, oss, thunderbird

Filed under: Macintosh, Mozilla, Browsers

Lightweight Mac browser Camino 2 introduces a release candidate

by Jay Hathaway Oct 29th 2009

Mozilla's Camino, the lightweight Mac alternative to Firefox, is getting very close to a 2.0 release. The first release candidate is out now -- you can download it by checking for updates in an earlier version of the browser -- and it's got updates to appearance, security features and more. You'll notice a new, more Leopard-like look for the tabs and toolbars, making Camino blend in better with recent versions of OS X.

One of the best additions to the new version of Camino is a built-in Flash blocker. You can turn it on to block all Flash animations, and then add exceptions the sites whose Flash you actually want to see. Other security features include making use of Google Safe Browsing, which warns you when you're headed for a site that Google has blacklisted for malware or phishing. All-in-all, Camino 2 isn't as feature-packed as Firefox, or as pretty as Safari, but it's lighter than either one (and offers Firefox-equivalent page-load times using Mozilla's Gecko rendering engine).

[via TechCrunch]

Tags: browser, camino, camino 2, Camino2, mac, mozilla, release candidate, ReleaseCandidate

Filed under: Mozilla, Browsers

Firefox 3.6 might become a pretty major "minor update"

by Jay Hathaway Oct 23rd 2009

Firefox 3.6 is due to be the next major version of Mozilla's popular browser, but some people inside Mozilla are pushing to reclassify it as a "minor update." It's not that 3.6 isn't a big deal, it's just that users adopt minor updates at much higher rates than major new versions. That's because Firefox prompts users to install minor updates when they come out, but you're on your to download and install a major one.

The argument for 3.6 as a minor update is that it doesn't bring any UI changes or other high-profile feature updates, but it does do a lot under the hood for stability and compatibility with the latest web technologies. Keeping up with changing web standards makes quicker browser updates a good thing, but Firefox is a special case because of all its add-ons. 3.6 is going to require add-on developers to write updates, and they won't have as much time if it's a minor update.

[via CNET]

Tags: firefox, firefox3.6, mozilla

Filed under: E-mail, Productivity, Web services, Mozilla, Beta

Mozilla Raindrop: don't call it another Google Wave

by Jay Hathaway Oct 23rd 2009

The lead designer for Mozilla Messaging describes Mozilla's new communication tool, Raindrop, this way: "Raindrop is not another email client. We started from scratch with fresh ideas about what a communication application should be ... " Sound familiar? That's the same promise we heard from Google Wave a few months ago. Raindrop is similar to Wave in some ways, but it takes a completely different approach to dealing with integrating different kinds of communication into one service.

Raindrop's main goal is to separate personal conversations from bulk email that's less relevant to you. To that it, it pulls out all of the notifications you get from various web services, as well as messages from newsgroups, and sorts them into separate places. It also brings in Twitter, and separates out replies and direct messages. Other social networks will eventually be integrated, and the UI is still in the draft stages, but Raindrop looks pretty promising for a version 0.1 product. It's not as hard to get your head around (or "revolutionary," depending on who you ask) as Wave, but its focus on the problem of bulk vs. personal communication might make it more useful to the average Internet joe.

[via Slashdot]

Tags: mozilla, mozilla labs, mozilla messaging, MozillaLabs, MozillaMessaging, raindrop

Filed under: Mozilla, Beta, Browsers, Mobile, Android

Mozilla makes its mobile move, brings Firefox 3.6 to Android

by Jay Hathaway Oct 20th 2009

In the mobile browser wars, Webkit-based browsers seem to be pulling away from the pack. Don't count Firefox out yet, though, because the CEO of Mozilla says that Firefox has put together "the most advanced mobile browser," and it's due to hit Android phones soon. Fennec, the mobile version of Firefox, is based on Firefox 3.6, which is a generation ahead of the current desktop version of Firefox. As CEO John Lilly told Om Malik of GigaOM, this browser does "everything - Javascript, CSS, Flash, SVG, video and audio."

Like the desktop version of Firefox, the mobile version uses the AwesomeBar, which provides quick access to bookmarks and browser history, right from the address bar. Mozilla also plans to support add-ons for Firefox's mobile version, which would make it the first mobile browser to do so. Add-ons might be the sole factor keeping Firefox competitive on the desktop. In the mobile space, they'd give it an edge. Along with Android, Mozilla is also developing for Nokia's Maemo OS, which isn't too widespread in the US, but is growing in global popularity.

Tags: android, fennec, firefox, mobile, mozilla

Filed under: Mozilla, iPhone, Browsers

Mozilla getting ready to roll the dice on Weave for the iPhone?

by Lee Mathews Oct 19th 2009

Om Malik waxed poetic over the weekend about a chat he had with Mozilla CEO John Lilly. Among the topics that came up: a Mozilla submission to Apple's App Store.

Don't go getting all excited about a Fennec port for the iPhone. We're all well aware of Apple's stance on apps that ~~compete~~ ~~with~~ duplicate functionality of their own apps or offer ~~choice~~ "potential confusion for users." Fennec most certainly would stomp all over Safari's toes, so that's pretty well out.

Malik mentioned something based on Weave as a possibility, and he received a Nudge-Nudge style knowing grin from the Mozilla crew. Could it be true? Is Weave about to run the gauntlet that is Apple's approval process?

While it's a sync app and might step on MobileMe's toes ever so slightly, Weave for the iPhone should be able to wrangle an approval. After all, the only functionality they would likely share is bookmark syncing.

And what about Apple preferring not to let app out of the sandbox? Vic and I kicked this around, and a simple Safari-based front end to your Weave data in the cloud could very well be a workable solution. Mozilla's actual plan remains a mystery for now.

While I'm sure all Firefox fanatics with an iPhone are pulling for Mozilla, we probably shouldn't hold our breath. Apple's rejected plenty of apps on fairly tenuous grounds before, after all.

Tags: app-store, apple, fennec, firefox, iphone, mozilla, weave

Filed under: Mozilla, Beta, Browsers

Firefox 3.6 reaches beta stage

by Lee Mathews Oct 14th 2009

While it's slightly behind schedule -- having been originally slated for a mid-September release -- Firefox 3.6 has reached beta.

Version 3.6 beta RC1 is now available for download from Mozilla's servers. As Softpedia mentioned a few days ago, Mozilla is pondering an early exit for Firefox 3.5. Mozilla's Mike Beltzner stated, "It's not 100% decided yet, but if we issue a Firefox 3.6 as a minor update, then yes, we'd stop supporting the 1.9.1 branch at that time." He's referring to Gecko 1.9.1, on which Firefox 3.5 is based. 3.6 is based upon version 1.9.2 of the Gecko engine.

It may not benchmark in the same league as Google Chrome, but Firefox 3.6 certainly feels speedier. Our content management system runs more smoothly than it did for me under 3.5.3, and my go-to web apps like GMail and Seesmic are also more responsive.

A couple of features that appear in the 3.6 beta candidate: control-tab previews (as previously mentioned) and taskbar thumbnail previews on Windows 7 (not just for FF3.7 apparently).

Testers - if you've given 3.6 beta 1 a go, tell us what you think in the comments!

Tags: beta, firefox-3.6, mozilla, namoroka

Filed under: Mozilla, Browsers

Mozilla launches SeaMonkey 2.0 RC1 internet suite

by Brad Linder Oct 12th 2009

Mozilla's SeaMonkey is a utility that bundles a whole slew of internet activities into one application. It's a web browser, email application, IRC client, and an HTML editor. And it's inching toward version 2.0. Mozilla pushed out SeaMonkey 2.0 Release Candidate 1 this weekend.

If the concept of an all-in-one internet app sounds familiar, that's because that's what Mozilla originally did, in the days before there was a Firefox web browser or Thunderbird internet client. While development of that first Mozilla application stopped long ago, SeaMonkey brings the idea back to life.

I first looked at version 2.0 back when it was still in beta this summer. The release candidate build features a number of bug fixes and is generally more stable than the beta. It also feature the ability to reopen closed browser windows, delete/cut bookmarks from the bookmark search view, and it features a Thunderbird-style tabbed mail client.

There's also a long list of new features since SeaMonkey 1, including support for RSS and Atom feeds in the MailNews component, an improved password manager, an updated web page rendering engine, customizable toolbars in MailNews, and a web browser component that behaves more like Firefox.

SeaMonkey is an open source, cross-platform application that's available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Tags: mozilla, seamonkey, seamonkey-2.0, seamonkey-2.0-rc1, web-browsers

Filed under: Security, Mozilla, Beta, Browsers

Turn your head and cough, Firefox! Mozilla's plugin check is live

by Lee Mathews Oct 5th 2009

Whichever browser you happen to be using, there's more to keeping it up to date than running automatic updates for the browser itself. There are all those nasty plugins -- like Flash, Java, and Quicktime. Each one presents new opportunities for malware pushers, so an outdated plugin can put an unsuspecting web user at great risk.

Mozilla announced a while back that they were tweaking the "What's new?" landing page to alert users to possible danger. After a Firefox update installs the page is displayed in a new tab when your browser re-opens, hopefully urging you to update an unpatched Flash player.

Taking things a step further is the new Plugin Check, which looks at all the popular plugins. If things are up to date, you'll see only green "Learn More" buttons. If you fall behind and aren't running the latest version but there's no major risk, you'll get a yellow "Update" button.

If there's a known exploit fixed by a newer version of a plugin, you'll get an un-subtle red "Update NOW." And in the event that some horrible exploit is floating around with no known patch, the button will offer to disable the offending plugin for you.

Am I the only one daydreaming about a 1950's style public service announcement warning Johnny about this sort of thing?

"Not so fast, Johnny! You shouldn't be browsing with that old Flash Player plugin. Haven't your parents talked to you about unsafe browsing?"

Tags: firefox, flash, java, mozilla, online-safety, plugins, quicktime, security

Filed under: E-mail, Productivity, Mozilla

Mozilla releases Thunderbird 3 Beta 4

by Jay Hathaway Sep 23rd 2009

The upcoming version of Mozilla's desktop email client, Thunderbird 3, just entered its 4th beta. This new beta adds significant features, including better Gmail integration, smart folders, and better search filters. If you've been looking for an excuse to stop using webmail - especially if you're a Gmail user - it looks like Thunderbird now has most of the features you would have missed.

Gmail integration now includes syncing for your sent mail and trash folders, and uses All Mail as the archive folder. Smart Folders allow you to combine special folders (like your inboxes, and the aforementioned sent and trash folders) from multiple accounts. Advanced Filtering lets you search by a specific category, including by sender, tags, and attachments. Sure, there might still be something you can do in Gmail on the web that you can't do in Thunderbird, but that list seems to be shrinking with every new beta.

[via Lifehacker]

Tags: email, gmail, mozilla, open source, OpenSource, thunderbird, thunderbird 3, Thunderbird3

Filed under: Developer, Mozilla, Browsers

Firefox learns some new accelerometer tricks

by Jay Hathaway Aug 26th 2009

You might be able to get more use out of your accelerometer. That little component that recognizes which way your device is tilted - you can find one in the Macbook Pro and the iPhone, amongst others - is getting some love from the Firefox developers at Mozilla, who have just added orientation support to the latest trunk build of Firefox. While it may seem like it should be far from a top priority for browser development, accelerometer support has a lot of potential, especially since it will eventually be available on Windows Mobile devices running Firefox's mobile version, Fennec.

Mozilla developer Doug Turner initially started building the orientation API because he was impressed by a Labyrinth game on the iPhone, where the player rolls a ball through a maze by tilting the phone. iPhone users already know that orientation support is great for gaming, but if it comes to Fennec on other devices that actually support Flash, we could see some amazing web-based accelerometer games. So far, however, the Macbook Pro is the only supported device.

[via MozillaLinks]

Tags: accelerometer, API, firefox, mozilla, orientation

Filed under: Internet, Mozilla, Open Source, Browsers

Handful of users re-download Firefox 3.5 for the billionth time

by Adam Maras Jul 31st 2009

It looks like the folks over at Mozilla are quite proud of their flagship product's odometer reading. After all, some time between 10:46 AM and 11:00 AM (our time) this morning, Firefox was downloaded for the billionth time.

Of course, if you're anything like us here at Download Squad, you can probably account for more than simply one download. Lee admits to having downloaded just the latest version 30+ times himself (some day he'll remember to save it to a flash drive), and if I counted all the times I downloaded Firefox... well, I would most likely be counting through my retirement years.

Now, reaching one billion downloads is certainly nothing to shake a stick at! I did a quick news scan for "billion downloads," and only managed to turn up articles on Firefox (of course) and Apple's App Store, which has a total download count of over a billion and a half; however, this count is split up over the tens of thousands of applications served by the store.

So, whether you're a proud Firefox user saying "awesome!" or a proud Opera user saying "another Download Squad post about Firefox?," you should check out their celebratory page. Oh, and apparently something cool is supposed to show up at "onebillionplusyou.com" on Monday, so keep an eye on it.

Tags: billion downloads, BillionDownloads, firefox, mozilla, mozilla firefox, MozillaFirefox

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

View more Time Wasters

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Mozilla posts

Mozilla's Weave browser sync add-on for Firefox hits beta

Firefox 3.6 Beta 2 now ready for download, with 190 bug fixes

Five essential addons for new Firefox users (Happy fifth birthday, Firefox!)

Mozilla scores enterprise email win: 130,000 French government PCs switch to Thunderbird

Lightweight Mac browser Camino 2 introduces a release candidate

Firefox 3.6 might become a pretty major "minor update"

Mozilla Raindrop: don't call it another Google Wave

Mozilla makes its mobile move, brings Firefox 3.6 to Android

Mozilla getting ready to roll the dice on Weave for the iPhone?

Firefox 3.6 reaches beta stage

Mozilla launches SeaMonkey 2.0 RC1 internet suite

Turn your head and cough, Firefox! Mozilla's plugin check is live

Mozilla releases Thunderbird 3 Beta 4

Firefox learns some new accelerometer tricks

Handful of users re-download Firefox 3.5 for the billionth time

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