Mozilla Gives the First Taste of Firefox 3.0 Release Candidate 1 (RC1)

[CadCrazy]

While the wait for the final Firefox 3.0 is still far from over, with the browser needing to continue to bake for approximately one month, the first bits of what could end up as the gold release are already available for download. At this point in time, Mozilla is in the final stages of cooking Firefox 3.0 Release Candidate 1, but the code for this version of the browser is complete since May 10, 2008. Mozilla is in fact serving the first taste of Firefox
RC1 via nightly builds preceding the fully-fledged Release Candidate.

As far as Firefox 3.0 is concerned Mozilla has already dealt with the string freeze phase and closed the tree since the beginning of April. And on May 11 it handed off the code in order for the first builds to be put together. Unlike Microsoft who manages a closed development process for its proprietary Internet Explorer browser, Mozilla's Firefox benefits from the input of the community, via a building process characteristic for open source solutions. This is the reason why intermediary builds that are labeled as candidates for the RC1 version are already available.

The progress of Firefox 3.0 RC1 is also available to the public and the Release Tracking & Schedule features a link to Mozilla's FTP servers that permit access to the nightly preview builds of the next release. However, users are advised not to grab the Firefox 3.0 RC1 bits in advance and wait for Mozilla to finalize the build. Exception to this rule make of course all those involved in the development process of Firefox 3.0 RC1.

"This server is the only place to obtain nightly builds and needs to remain available to developers and testers. High bandwidth servers that contain the public release files are available [on Mozilla's FTP servers]. If you need to link to a public release, please link to the release server, not here. Thanks! Attempts to download high traffic release files from this server will get a "550 Permission denied." response", reads a message posted on the FTP website.

Source

[ring_wraith]

Can't wait.

[gxsaurav]

The condition of Firefox 3 is going to be just like Windows Vista when it was first relesed. Most of the old extensions do not work, most will not be updated to work with Firefox 3 cos either the developers have no interest in developing for free or something else.

Sometimes I wonder, when IE 7 came I was using firefox full time, but then I switched back to IE 7 & everything worked flawlessly. Now IE 8 is coming with full web standard support so where does Firefox stands a chance? What new it is bringing to the table now? most if not all features of Firefox/IE are already available in other browser.

CadCrazy, really....tell me why should I switch back to Firefox 3, gimme some compelling reasons.

[sourav123]

^^First thing, you don't have to switch. I you are satisfied with IE, as you should be being an MVP, then stick to it. No one is asking you to switch.

Now, why firefox 3 is needed. Firefox was and still now is not meant to do a competition with IE. Mozilla never wanted that. Firefox was designed as a means of showing how open source software should be designed and it has achieved that goal. It has shown that open source need not mean to be anti-organization. Numerous programmers have been inspired by Mozilla and Firefox to write new softwares and they have come up with a lot of new softwares which are sometimes much better that their paid counterpart.

So the crux of the matter is, is you do not believe in open source software and happy with IE or whatever else, then stick to it. Other users who may like firefox will use that and that only. There is no competition here because it never meant to be a competition.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by sourav123

^^First thing, you don't have to switch. I you are satisfied with IE, as you should be being an MVP, then stick to it. No one is asking you to switch.

I am a MVP, Windows Vista comes with Windows Photo Gallery but I don't like it & use ACDSee instead. Does that rings a bell???

Now, why firefox 3 is needed. Firefox was and still now is not meant to do a competition with IE. Mozilla never wanted that. Firefox was designed as a means of showing how open source software should be designed and it has achieved that goal. It has shown that open source need not mean to be anti-organization. Numerous programmers have been inspired by Mozilla and Firefox to write new softwares and they have come up with a lot of new softwares which are sometimes much better that their paid counterpart.

So the crux of the matter is, is you do not believe in open source software and happy with IE or whatever else, then stick to it. Other users who may like firefox will use that and that only. There is no competition here because it never meant to be a competition.

lolz....that's why we see "Use Firefox to view this site" buttons, firefox ads everywhere.

I m now using Firefox 3 beta 5 with all the extensions that I need to make it comparable experience to IE 8 beta 1. Most of the functionality I have achieved in Firefox 3 too. I like one thing about Firefox 3, it;s new address bar that I just write add-ons & it shows me a page from history of Firefox addons. IE 8 should copy this feature.

I like the Feeds reading feature of IE 8 more then Firefox 3, Firefox 3's method just plain sux. Is there some extension to make it compatible like IE 8?

Memory usage is not a problem with 2 GB RAM. It is eating 102 MB right now

[sourav123]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

IE 8 should copy this feature.

Why is it that every time MS has to copy something? Why cant they try and invent something better?

[Faun]

^^lool

Btw there is a workaround to get the extensions working in FF3, just a matter of MaxVersion setting for most of the extensions.

Btw I hav almost all my extensions already compatible for FF3, a few which were not, i just edited the MaxVersion setting

[nvidia]

@T159: How'd you do that?
I'm using FF3 beta 5 now... I wanted the Datafox plugin which i used to use in FF2

[Faun]

^^Here is the procedure

1. Download the extension (.xpi file)
2. Change its extension to .zip
3. Extract it
4. Inside the extracted folder open "install.rdf" file in a text editor.
5. change the value inside the element <em:maxVersion> to 3.0.0.* instead of 2.0.0.*
6. Now archive the whole thing again as .zip and rename the extension to .xpi.
7. Install it by dragging over firefox now

PS: It may or may not work, but 70% chances are there, what we are doing is just adding 3+ version to the extension installability list

[Hitboxx]

You can also use Nightly Tester Tools, which in simple terms is a extension which makes other extensions compatible with new versions of Firefox.

http://www.oxymoronical.com/web/firefox/nightly

[Krazzy Warrior]

Eagerly waiting for the new version.

[selva1966]

Only because of Firefox; MS has bothered to release ie7 and now ie8. Otherwise everyone would be struck with ie6 only.

[mail2and]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

CadCrazy, really....tell me why should I switch back to Firefox 3, gimme some compelling reasons.

You shouldn't.

[praka123]

firefox3pre,already using it!now cant live without it!esp the search in address bar with sqlite

[The Conqueror]

Upgrading Right now,thanks for informing

[legolas]

isn't firefox3beta5 the latest version?

[praka123]

well,in my debian it is shown firefox3pre

[ax3]

me 2 waiting 4 its release .....

i think, 1 thing they should work on is restarting FF after installing either skin\extensions .... its pretty boring ...... 1 refresh button should do the thing, thats all 1 want .......

[Vishal Gupta]

Hey guys

Mozilla has included an Easter Egg in this new RC1. To reveal it type “about:robots” in Firefox addressbar and press Enter. It’ll show a screen as following:

[Hitboxx]

Hehe, yeah, it's also their in beta 5. The title of the page reads " Gort! Klaatu barada nikto! ".

Somebody tell what that means...

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by Vishal Gupta

Hey guys

Mozilla has included an Easter Egg in this new RC1. To reveal it type “about:robots” in Firefox addressbar and press Enter. It’ll show a screen as following:

lolz

I remember other mozilla easter eggs too. there are a few more about:abc jokes.

try about:mozilla

[Faun]

^^it says robots (modern science) will destroy the world

[praka123]

^then press "try again"
and see!