Mozilla released Firefox 2 - game is getting interesting
Mozilla on Tuesday released Firefox 2, marking a significant update to the open-source Web browser that has gained a large following in the two years since its introduction and, in some ways at least, has set the standard for next-generation Web access.
Mozilla developers have made across-the-board improvements to the Firefox interface and to the browser's built-in security systems.
Mozilla also tweaked the tabbed-browsing features to provide better navigation among sites opened in a single window, and a restore feature to recall previously-open windows when initiating a new surfing session.
By default, Firefox 2 will now open links in new tabs instead of new windows.
Integrated search capabilities in Firefox 2 now include a suggestions feature to update lists of search terms as you enter text into the search bars for Google, Yahoo, or Answers.com.
For handling RSS feeds, the browser now provides a preview of the information being offered with the option to subscribe to a feed as a Live Bookmark.
As for online safeguards, built-in phishing protection is active by default in Firefox 2, with a local blacklist updated hourly.
You can let Firefox check the validity of Web sites or set the browser to use a third-party antiphishing service, such as Google, prior to visiting any site.
The browser will issue warnings and guidance when it detects a suspicious Web site.
The whole package has been upgraded, but the things that differentiated Firefox from the competition, such as tabbed browsing, RSS feeds, and better security features, are now being adopted by others Microsoft, in particular, with the launch of its next-generation browser, Internet Explorer 7, has made great strides in these areas.
In taking a page or two of strategy from Mozilla, Micrsoft has acknowledged that it has to evolve to maintain a browser market share that sits at about 86 percent but has lost some ground to Firefox, which has roughly 12 percent of the market, according to OneStat.
It will be interesting to see if Firefox can hold on to its audience, or if Microsoft can get more people to return to Internet Explorer. One advantage for Microsoft, is that Internet Explorer 7 will be added to the next Microsoft automatic-update cycle, whereas Firefox 2 requires a visit to the Mozilla site to download.
Firefox 2 is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Users are reminded that installing the new browser will overwrite earlier versions of Firefox, although bookmarks and browsing history will be retained.
Mozilla developers have made across-the-board improvements to the Firefox interface and to the browser's built-in security systems.
Mozilla also tweaked the tabbed-browsing features to provide better navigation among sites opened in a single window, and a restore feature to recall previously-open windows when initiating a new surfing session.
By default, Firefox 2 will now open links in new tabs instead of new windows.
Integrated search capabilities in Firefox 2 now include a suggestions feature to update lists of search terms as you enter text into the search bars for Google, Yahoo, or Answers.com.
For handling RSS feeds, the browser now provides a preview of the information being offered with the option to subscribe to a feed as a Live Bookmark.
As for online safeguards, built-in phishing protection is active by default in Firefox 2, with a local blacklist updated hourly.
You can let Firefox check the validity of Web sites or set the browser to use a third-party antiphishing service, such as Google, prior to visiting any site.
The browser will issue warnings and guidance when it detects a suspicious Web site.
The whole package has been upgraded, but the things that differentiated Firefox from the competition, such as tabbed browsing, RSS feeds, and better security features, are now being adopted by others Microsoft, in particular, with the launch of its next-generation browser, Internet Explorer 7, has made great strides in these areas.
In taking a page or two of strategy from Mozilla, Micrsoft has acknowledged that it has to evolve to maintain a browser market share that sits at about 86 percent but has lost some ground to Firefox, which has roughly 12 percent of the market, according to OneStat.
It will be interesting to see if Firefox can hold on to its audience, or if Microsoft can get more people to return to Internet Explorer. One advantage for Microsoft, is that Internet Explorer 7 will be added to the next Microsoft automatic-update cycle, whereas Firefox 2 requires a visit to the Mozilla site to download.
Firefox 2 is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Users are reminded that installing the new browser will overwrite earlier versions of Firefox, although bookmarks and browsing history will be retained.
posted by Kintu at
1:38 PM
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