Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
No longer a fledgling upstart, Firefox 3 is full-featured, lightning fast, and an able foe for both the big-dog competitor Internet Explorer and competitors nipping at its heels. Firefox's killer add-ons remain strong, and the latest update makes version 3.5 about two times faster than version 3. However, competition is strong and it can no longer be said that Firefox is the fastest browser available.
Several notable improvements in the latest revamp keep Firefox abreast of current browsing tech. Along with Mozilla's new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine that renders Web applications faster on Firefox than ever before, there have also been improvements to the layout engine Gecko for faster page rendering. The new Private Browsing brings a feature to Firefox that competitors have had for a while: the capability to turn off cookie and history logs. Users also have more granular control over cookies, history, and bookmarks in version 3.5 via the redone Clear Recent History option under Tools. Geolocation courtesy of Google has been activated by default in Firefox, so that generic searches such as "city hall" will come closer to pegging the government offices nearest you.
Web developers should be excited about expanded support for HTML5 local storage, downloadable fonts, and native support for OGG-formatted embedded video. ICC profiles, SVG transforms, CSS media queries, native JSON support, and Web worker threads also get lots of love from v3.5. There's no doubt that Firefox 3.5 is a must-have, but it's an update that's more about keeping the browser current rather than blazing new trails.
Surf the Net like it's 1991 with Gopher:Publisher's Description
From Mozilla:
Mozilla Firefox is a fast, full-featured Web browser. Firefox includes pop-up blocking, tab-browsing, integrated Google search, simplified privacy controls, a streamlined browser window that shows you more of the page than any other browser and a number of additional features that work with you to help you get the most out of your time online.
Firefox 3.5 is based on the Gecko 1.9.1 rendering platform, which has been under development for the past year. Firefox 3.5 offers many changes over the previous version, supporting new web technologies, improving performance and ease of use, and adding new features for users: It is now available in more than 70 languages, includes a Private Browsing mode, better performance and stability with the new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine, the ability to provide Location Aware Browsing using web standards for geolocation, support for native JSON, and web worker threads, support for new web technologies such as: HTML5 < video > and < audio > elements, downloadable fonts and other new CSS properties, JavaScript query selectors, HTML5 offline data storage for applications, and SVG transforms.
What's new in this version: Version 3.5.5 makes three stability fixes.
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All versions:
4.3 starsout of 15,263 votes
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Current version:
4.0 starsout of 216 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"HORRIBLE MELWARE INFESTED PROGRAM!!!"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
NONE, STAY AWAY
Cons
IT WILL INFECT YOUR COMPUTER WITH 34 PYWARE AND 78 TROJANS!!
Summary
IF YOU LOVE TROGANS AND SPYWARE, PLEASE DOWNLOAD!!!
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"Not the best browser"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
Customizable
Cons
Forced security browser settings
Slower than previous versions of Firefox
Hogs system resources -
"very convenient"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
simple, available
Cons
difficulty of copying to other places
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"Great browser."
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
Easy to use
Cons
Initial load is slow.
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"Utter crap: Unstable, crashes, If i could give it 0..."
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
nothing really.
I like the old version! it worked! bring it back!Cons
Unstable, prone to crashing when multiple windows or numerous tabs are open, not nearly as reliable as 2.X versions.
Summary
Firefox 2.x was a beautiful thing. On my battered old laptop, with a mere .5g ram, I could open hundreds of tabs, multiple windows, load all the content my heart desired, and keep them open for days at a time when connections were limited. Never had a problem.
Since upgrading to 3.x, (same computer, freshly installed windows and increased ram to 1.5g), i constantly battle a frozen system, 100% cpu usage, crashed sessions. it's delightful. once I've got more than 1 window open, or anything over 15, maybe 20, tabs, firefox gets sluggish, starts locking up, crashes. the new feature to restore tabs is nice - though it would be better if it were voluntary. as often as not, when i try to reopen firefox it automatically starts loading the same content and lock up the system again.
I tried reverting to 2.x, everything worked fine again, content, windows and tabs to my hearts content and a functional system.
Fortunately, I have an old install file for a 2.x version that i kept around for when i needed to reinstall everything without a connection. Unfortunately, an increasing number of sites won't function/allow access without updating over 3, including several of my university's sites.
So... I'm probably switching soon. Though I've loved firefox for years, I loved it because it worked - and that it no longer does. I'm weighing my options, checking out safari and chrome, though am less than stoke about the equal resource hogging on the first, and the lack of certain options on the second. I guess it will be a process of trial and error. God help me if i end up back with IE after all this. -
"Better than Explorer 8"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
It's much more reliable than Explorer 8. It saves your tabs across the top instead of in separate windows. It offers to remember your login details. Overall, it's a much better-designed product than its Microsoft competitor.
Cons
It does freeze from time to time, on my Windows 7 machine, but it remembers one's tabs, so it's not as inconvenient as Explorer.
Summary
I'm very glad it's available. It has made my browsing experience enjoyable, as opposed to barely functional
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"Seems to work just fine!"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
Seems to work just fine!
Cons
nONE that i know of yet.
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"I've always liked Firefox -- and still do."
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
It's a simple straightforward browser with no evident flaws.
Cons
No noticed downside.
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"Mozilla easy to use"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
better speed
Cons
Can't load my Home page. Can't erase history on command Bar
Summary
I like this product because its quicker. Dislike because it doesnt load home page,
and can't erase history on command bar -
"system hangs when I open more than 2/3 windows"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.5.5
Pros
used windows previously are well displayed
Cons
System hangs when more than 2/3 windows open in Firefox. I use Windows XP
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