Mozilla releases faster, safer, smarter version of Firefox browser

***AppleInsider*** · 06-30-2009, 12:18 PM

Mozilla on Tuesday released Firefox 3.5, calling it the best performing version of its popular web browser ever released, offering better JavaScript performance, private browsing, native support for open video and audio, and location aware surfing.

Built through Mozilla’s global, open source development process, Firefox 3.5 is said to be more than two times faster than Firefox 3 and ten times faster than Firefox 2 on complex websites thanks to a new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine. The new version arrives roughly one year after the release of Firefox 3.0, which was also billed as "two to three times faster" than its predecessor.

Firefox 3.5 has undergone "extensive under-the-hood work to support new technologies" that will allow Web developers to create the next generation of Web content, Mozilla says. It also packs a handful of user-oriented features such as:

Open Video and Audio: Supports playback of video and audio content from within the browser, without the need for plugins. Web developers can use these technologies to design pages that interact with video content in new and interesting ways, offering richer interactive experiences beyond controlling playback and volume.

Privacy Controls: Like the "Private Browsing" feature of Apple's Safari web browser, an identically-named addition to Firefox 3.5 similarly prevents the browser from storing anything related to a browser session once it's been activated.

Unique to Firefox 3.5, however, is a new Forget this Site feature that removes every trace of a site from a user's browser. Users who want to remove all private data or activity from the past few hours can also use a Clear Recent History function, which is another Firefox-only feature that offers users more control "over what stays and what goes."

Location Aware Browsing: Location Aware Browsing is an optional feature that, when enabled, lets websites tap into a user's location information to find nearby points of interest and return additional, data-like maps of their particular area.

Firefox is currently the world's second-leading browser with a 22.5% share of the global web browser market. It trails only Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which maintains 65.5% of the market. Apple's Safari is distant third with just under 8.5% market share.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

DdubRes79 · 06-30-2009, 12:32 PM

Ah Firefox, how you are faster than Safari 4 and support better color management for wide gamut displays!

Plus it feels faster just from loading it up to browsing in general. So far so good.

The Apple Doctor · 06-30-2009, 12:37 PM

Just downloaded it and installed it!!! bad idea

Just wiped off my Aero Fox theme and none of the favicons are showing on Bookmarks Toolbar.

Do not use if you want to lose this Bookmarks Toolbar.

patroll · 06-30-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Firefox is currently the world's second-leading browser with a 22.5% share of the global web browser market. It trails only Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which maintains 65.5% of the market. Apple's Safari is distant third with just under 8.5% market share.

Does anyone know what the share of Safari and Firefox is on Mac OS X?

ThinkAdrian · 06-30-2009, 12:42 PM

Great! Better ways so surf porn than IE8!

adisor19 · 06-30-2009, 12:44 PM

Only because with Tab mix plus i can have multiple rows of tabs. No other browser does this and untill they do, i can't switch.

Is there a hack/plugin for Safari 4 that allows mutiple rows of tabs ? Anyone ?

Adi

solipsism · 06-30-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Apple Doctor

...and none of the favicons are showing on Bookmarks Toolbar.

Reopen those pages, the FavIcons should reappear.

PS: I wish the bookmark bar on OS X would show FavIcons because I much prefer the little icon with no writing than having to put in a name for each item. I can so many more bookmarks in there with the icon only setup. Any way around that?

The Apple Doctor · 06-30-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solipsism

Reopen those pages, the FavIcons should reappear.

PS: I wish the bookmark bar on OS X would show FavIcons because I much prefer the little icon with no writing than having to put in a name for each item. I can so many more bookmarks in there with the icon only setup. Any way around that?

Nope, it is buggered, favicons will not show anymore, only name of site, if you run the mouse over the bookmark toolbar, the booksmarks are shown as little indents, but no picture favicon.

I guess we will have to wait for a Theme to be done that will allow it.

Nukeman · 06-30-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adisor19

Only because with Tab mix plus i can have multiple rows of tabs. No other browser does this and untill they do, i can't switch.

Is there a hack/plugin for Safari 4 that allows mutiple rows of tabs ? Anyone ?

Adi

Totally agree with the multiple tab rows! However, just checked and Firefox warns that TabMixPlus 0.3.7.3 is incompatible wit FF v3.5

Oh well, I hope the developer updates TMP soon ;-)

adisor19 · 06-30-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nukeman

Totally agree with the multiple tab rows! However, just checked and Firefox warns that TabMixPlus 0.3.7.3 is incompatible wit FF v3.5

Oh well, I hope the developer updates TMP soon ;-)

They have updated it. Check the Builds section of their forums : http://tmp.garyr.net/forum/

Adi

bobrik · 06-30-2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Firefox is currently the world's second-leading browser with a 22.5% share of the global web browser market. It trails only Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which maintains 65.5% of the market. Apple's Safari is distant third with just under 8.5% market share.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

Safari 8.5% is hardly global statistic, much more likely a US-only statistic (probably dressed up as "global"). E.g. OS X in Europe is roughly on 3%. Go figure.

anantksundaram · 06-30-2009, 01:23 PM

Can't wait to replace the mediocre new version of Safari.... hate it.

mstone · 06-30-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Open Video and Audio: Supports playback of video and audio content from within the browser, without the need for plugins. Web developers can use these technologies to design pages that interact with video content in new and interesting ways, offering richer interactive experiences beyond controlling playback and volume.

I don't know any web developers that want to interact with video content in new and interesting ways if it means sniffing browsers and providing multiple layers of alternate content to support other browsers. Maybe years from now when we have a video standard other than Flash.

BlackPepper · 06-30-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Apple Doctor

Nope, it is buggered, favicons will not show anymore, only name of site, if you run the mouse over the bookmark toolbar, the booksmarks are shown as little indents, but no picture favicon.

I guess we will have to wait for a Theme to be done that will allow it.

Favicons are working as desired for me. I use Chromifox theme.

coolfactor · 06-30-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adisor19

Only because with Tab mix plus i can have multiple rows of tabs. No other browser does this and untill they do, i can't switch.

Is there a hack/plugin for Safari 4 that allows mutiple rows of tabs ? Anyone ?

Adi

Count my vote against the idea of multiple rows of tabs. Talk about a user interface nightmare. So glad that Apple doesn't give into such ideas, because 3rd parties would just abuse them to bits.

coolfactor · 06-30-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Can't wait to replace the craptastic new version of Safari.... hate it.

Please elaborate on why.

BB Sting · 06-30-2009, 01:35 PM

Some of my extensions were disabled

brucep · 06-30-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DdubRes79

Ah Firefox, how you are faster than Safari 4 and support better color management for wide gamut displays!

Plus it feels faster just from loading it up to browsing in general. So far so good.

I am loyal to safari
It is a speed demon , Pages open before i even knew i wanted to open them .
and some great new features !!!!

Stay with safari and win free gifts

9

**JeffDM** · 06-30-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Can't wait to replace the craptastic new version of Safari.... hate it.

Once I figured out that I had a dormant plug-in and removed it, Safari has been working fine for me.

But I still use Firefox as my primary because of a certain plug-ins and certain behaviors that I prefer.

brucep · 06-30-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Can't wait to replace the craptastic new version of Safari.... hate it.

Really ?? Or did you just want to use the word craptastic somewhere today ?

mstone · 06-30-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Can't wait to replace the craptastic new version of Safari.... hate it.

I don't hate Safari but I do prefer the old refresh button and the close tab hover x doesn't really appeal to me either. Otherwise it's ok. I use FF on Windows though.

adisor19 · 06-30-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nukeman

Totally agree with the multiple tab rows! However, just checked and Firefox warns that TabMixPlus 0.3.7.3 is incompatible wit FF v3.5

Oh well, I hope the developer updates TMP soon ;-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolfactor

Count my vote against the idea of multiple rows of tabs. Talk about a user interface nightmare. So glad that Apple doesn't give into such ideas, because 3rd parties would just abuse them to bits.

What user interface nightmare ?! Have you ever tried using it ? I have about 45 tabs currently open in FF 3.5 in a nice 3 row arrangement. I click on one and i instantly see the page. Where is the usability problem ? They all have favicons and the active one is green underlined. This makes navigating between them relatively easy.

Adi

TenoBell · 06-30-2009, 01:43 PM

The over all Safari stat usually also includes iPhone/iTouch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobrik

Safari 8.5% is hardly global statistic, much more likely a US-only statistic (probably dressed up as "global"). E.g. OS X in Europe is roughly on 3%. Go figure.

TenoBell · 06-30-2009, 01:45 PM

Elaboration defeats the point of making sensationalistic statements.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolfactor

Please elaborate on why.

anantksundaram · 06-30-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolfactor

Please elaborate on why.

1) It is s-l-o-w compared to the previous version. Especially when loading up for the first time after turning on the computer.

2) I miss the active the loading bar.

3) I miss the refresh button on the top left.

4) I find nothing new or interesting in this version (vis-a-vis my usage habits).

5) One would think that, by now, Apple would have better cookie-management software (e.g., allowing me to create 'cookie folders', being able to easily get rid of - or not store - crappy cookies from all the ad-sites and ancillary sites associated with the pages I visit, etc).

anantksundaram · 06-30-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenoBell

Elaboration defeats the point of making sensationalistic statements.

You spoke too soon....

anantksundaram · 06-30-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Once I figured out that I had a dormant plug-in and removed it, Safari has been working fine for me.

But I still use Firefox as my primary because of a certain plug-ins and certain behaviors that I prefer.

What dormant plug-in? Perhaps that explains the sluggishness on first boot-up......

solipsism · 06-30-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstone

I don't hate Safari but I do prefer the old refresh button and the close tab hover x doesn't really appeal to me either. Otherwise it's ok. I use FF on Windows though.

I use Safari on Windows, too. mainly because I don't use the fF extensions and Safari 4 Beta gives me the most browser window space on a netbook, even a little more than Chrome.

tumme-totte · 06-30-2009, 02:09 PM

Safari 4 is fast, Firefox 3 (and I guess 3,5) are fast. But there is one thing - both of them stops rendering if they miss something from the page. pages like AppleInsider and such are seldom a problem. Take a regular newpaper instead. Ohhh my god! Ads from several sub-suppliers and many sites to fetch from. Sometimes both Safari and Firefox stops for what feals like minutes! 130 of 131 it says, just to after beginning loading again say 150 of 156 and so on.

Does the browser wait for a complete page before renedering because it looks nice? I'm sick and tired of this! I don't need all pictures to evaluate a page. I can find a article and move on without the 50 or so ads.

Change Safari and changs Firefox to render as soon as they can!

mstone · 06-30-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tumme-totte

. Sometimes both Safari and Firefox stops for what feals like minutes! 130 of 131 it says, just to after beginning loading again say 150 of 156 and so on.

Does the browser wait for a complete page before renedering because it looks nice? I'm sick and tired of this! I don't need all pictures to evaluate a page. I can find a article and move on without the 50 or so ads.

Change Safari and changs Firefox to render as soon as they can!

That is a web development issue. If you code everything inside an enclosing <table> then it waits. Of course that is the way everyone codes because it looks nice.

michaelab · 06-30-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB Sting

Some of my extensions were disabled

Yes, because the extension developers haven't had time to update them yet. If you must download a new update the microsecond it gets released then I'm afraid it kind of goes with the territory.

TenoBell · 06-30-2009, 02:23 PM

Nothing you've listed proves Safari crappy in general. It may not fit your personal preference. Unless you feel the world revolves around your personal preference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

You spoke too soon....

michaelab · 06-30-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstone

That is a web development issue. If you code everything inside an enclosing <table> then it waits. Of course that is the way everyone codes because it looks nice.

Any competent web developer stopped using tables to do layout and replaced them with CSS years ago. Tables should only be used for, erm, tables.

mstone · 06-30-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelab

Any competent web developer stopped using tables to do layout and replaced them with CSS years ago. Tables should only be used for, erm, tables.

I agree in theory but there are situations where tables are quite convenient. DIV with CSS is just another tool in the kit and not completely without issues either.

Virgil-TB2 · 06-30-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DdubRes79

Ah Firefox, how you are faster than Safari 4 and support better color management for wide gamut displays!

Plus it feels faster just from loading it up to browsing in general. So far so good.

See, this is why people think FireFox users are stuck up. The very first comment and you have to say it's "faster than Safari," when the article specifically doesn't say that.

FireFox has much bigger market share. Why crap on Safari users over one of the few things Safari does better, which is the speed?

Quadra 610 · 06-30-2009, 02:51 PM

It's not Webkit.

WPLJ42 · 06-30-2009, 03:14 PM

I still like Safari best. Unfortunately, version 4 looks too Windows-ish. For my needs, Safari and Firefox are near identical. Safari does play better with the other Apple apps like Preview. As for speed and function, I can't see any real difference. On the Windows side, Firefox is better for me. Safari is really slow. IE is terrible, as is Chrome. Firefox is by far THE browser for Ubuntu. Advantage Firefox. Many Windows users also believe it is the most secure.

meelash · 06-30-2009, 03:15 PM

Even if Firefox did everything else (marginally) better than Safari, I'd still use Safari 4 just because of coverflow browsing of history. I am *always* remembering that I saw something but can't remember where, and cover flow browsing of history saves my ass.

No question, that is the best feature of any browser for me. Once I got used to it, I can't bear to use any other browser.

Funny thing is, I never use Cover flow in iTunes or Finder, both of those have always seemed like useless gimmicks. But the history implementation is GENIUS IMO.

mdriftmeyer · 06-30-2009, 03:31 PM

Simple Question: Does your browser fully comply with HTML4.01, HTML5, CSS2.1 and CSS3; and SVG1.1/1.2?

I won't even mention MathML which when that happens one can finally leverage browsers for far more technical markets.

However, instead of standards for the browser being the benchmark I'm seeing whiny discussions on plugins and how tab functionality is enhanced.

Get my question answered and I'm happy.

mdriftmeyer · 06-30-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

See, this is why people think FireFox users are stuck up. The very first comment and you have to say it's "faster than Safari," when the article specifically doesn't say that.

FireFox has much bigger market share. Why crap on Safari users over one of the few things Safari does better, which is the speed?

They are crapping on Safari because not only is Safari eating away more of IE it is also eating away part of FF market growth.

Add Chrome and the WebKit based browser market will surpass the Gecko market within 18 months.

06-30-2009, 12:18 PM	#1
*AppleInsider* Kasper's Automated Slave Join Date: Nov 1997 Posts: 6,151	Mozilla releases faster, safer, smarter version of Firefox browser Mozilla on Tuesday released Firefox 3.5, calling it the best performing version of its popular web browser ever released, offering better JavaScript performance, private browsing, native support for open video and audio, and location aware surfing. Built through Mozilla’s global, open source development process, Firefox 3.5 is said to be more than two times faster than Firefox 3 and ten times faster than Firefox 2 on complex websites thanks to a new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine. The new version arrives roughly one year after the release of Firefox 3.0, which was also billed as "two to three times faster" than its predecessor. Firefox 3.5 has undergone "extensive under-the-hood work to support new technologies" that will allow Web developers to create the next generation of Web content, Mozilla says. It also packs a handful of user-oriented features such as: Open Video and Audio: Supports playback of video and audio content from within the browser, without the need for plugins. Web developers can use these technologies to design pages that interact with video content in new and interesting ways, offering richer interactive experiences beyond controlling playback and volume. Privacy Controls: Like the "Private Browsing" feature of Apple's Safari web browser, an identically-named addition to Firefox 3.5 similarly prevents the browser from storing anything related to a browser session once it's been activated. Unique to Firefox 3.5, however, is a new Forget this Site feature that removes every trace of a site from a user's browser. Users who want to remove all private data or activity from the past few hours can also use a Clear Recent History function, which is another Firefox-only feature that offers users more control "over what stays and what goes." Location Aware Browsing: Location Aware Browsing is an optional feature that, when enabled, lets websites tap into a user's location information to find nearby points of interest and return additional, data-like maps of their particular area. Firefox is currently the world's second-leading browser with a 22.5% share of the global web browser market. It trails only Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which maintains 65.5% of the market. Apple's Safari is distant third with just under 8.5% market share. [ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

06-30-2009, 12:32 PM	#2
DdubRes79 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 89	Happy Days Ah Firefox, how you are faster than Safari 4 and support better color management for wide gamut displays! Plus it feels faster just from loading it up to browsing in general. So far so good. "MacPro 09 Quad 2.66 \| iPod Touch 32GB \| Finally: Unibody MBP with 'antiglare'

06-30-2009, 12:44 PM	#6
adisor19 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 25	Still my default browser Only because with Tab mix plus i can have multiple rows of tabs. No other browser does this and untill they do, i can't switch. Is there a hack/plugin for Safari 4 that allows mutiple rows of tabs ? Anyone ? Adi

06-30-2009, 01:23 PM	#12
anantksundaram Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,218	Can't wait to replace the mediocre new version of Safari.... hate it. Last edited by anantksundaram; 06-30-2009 at 03:38 PM.. Reason: changed "craptastic" to "mediocre."

06-30-2009, 02:51 PM	#36
Quadra 610 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,055	It's not Webkit. (Formerly LTD on Neowin.net) (currently *LTD* on Macrumors.com) Mac OS users have made a conscious technology choice and are therefore typically better informed than their peers. -- Paul Thurrott, winsupersite.com, December 06, 2004

06-30-2009, 12:37 PM	#3
The Apple Doctor Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2	Just downloaded it and installed it!!! bad idea Just wiped off my Aero Fox theme and none of the favicons are showing on Bookmarks Toolbar. Do not use if you want to lose this Bookmarks Toolbar.

06-30-2009, 12:42 PM	#5
ThinkAdrian Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 21	Great! Better ways so surf porn than IE8!

06-30-2009, 01:35 PM	#17
BB Sting Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 32	Some of my extensions were disabled

06-30-2009, 02:09 PM	#29
tumme-totte Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 28	Safari 4 is fast, Firefox 3 (and I guess 3,5) are fast. But there is one thing - both of them stops rendering if they miss something from the page. pages like AppleInsider and such are seldom a problem. Take a regular newpaper instead. Ohhh my god! Ads from several sub-suppliers and many sites to fetch from. Sometimes both Safari and Firefox stops for what feals like minutes! 130 of 131 it says, just to after beginning loading again say 150 of 156 and so on. Does the browser wait for a complete page before renedering because it looks nice? I'm sick and tired of this! I don't need all pictures to evaluate a page. I can find a article and move on without the 50 or so ads. Change Safari and changs Firefox to render as soon as they can!

06-30-2009, 03:14 PM	#37
WPLJ42 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 208	I still like Safari best. Unfortunately, version 4 looks too Windows-ish. For my needs, Safari and Firefox are near identical. Safari does play better with the other Apple apps like Preview. As for speed and function, I can't see any real difference. On the Windows side, Firefox is better for me. Safari is really slow. IE is terrible, as is Chrome. Firefox is by far THE browser for Ubuntu. Advantage Firefox. Many Windows users also believe it is the most secure.

06-30-2009, 03:15 PM	#38
meelash Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,016	Cover flow history FTW!! Even if Firefox did everything else (marginally) better than Safari, I'd still use Safari 4 just because of coverflow browsing of history. I am always remembering that I saw something but can't remember where, and cover flow browsing of history saves my ass. No question, that is the best feature of any browser for me. Once I got used to it, I can't bear to use any other browser. Funny thing is, I never use Cover flow in iTunes or Finder, both of those have always seemed like useless gimmicks. But the history implementation is GENIUS IMO. Ain't it funny how countries we "liberate" promptly descend into crime and civil war-Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. ? Countries the "violent Islamists" subjugate end up peaceful, crime-free, and self-sustaining-Somalia,Afghanistan pre-U.S. ?

06-30-2009, 03:31 PM	#39
mdriftmeyer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northwest Posts: 2,695	Simple Question: Does your browser fully comply with HTML4.01, HTML5, CSS2.1 and CSS3; and SVG1.1/1.2? I won't even mention MathML which when that happens one can finally leverage browsers for far more technical markets. However, instead of standards for the browser being the benchmark I'm seeing whiny discussions on plugins and how tab functionality is enhanced. Get my question answered and I'm happy.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode