CNET Editors' review
No longer a fledgling upstart, Firefox is the gold standard of alternatives to the still-dominant Internet Explorer. This browser is full-featured, secure, and lightning fast--although competition is strong and it can no longer be said that Firefox is the fastest browser available. Its killer selection of add-ons remains strong, however, with built-in support for the next generation of themes, called Personas.
Several notable improvements in recent updates keep Firefox abreast of current browsing tech. In addition to improvements made to the TraceMonkey JavaScript engine so that it renders Web applications faster, there have also been other significant under-the-hood changes. These include: blocking third-party software from encroaching on Firefox's file system turf to increase stability; support for the Web Open Font Format, which means many non-English browser users should have a faster time loading Web pages with downloadable fonts; and support for the File interface, which can help with tasks such as uploading multiple photos and is part of the draft HTML5-standard effort. HTML5 support debuted in Firefox 3.5. Another deeper change to the browser is that it is now running scripts asynchronously, which can help to load a Web page faster by putting off some work until the high-priority chores are complete. Firefox also isolates out-of-date plug-ins so they do not become a security risk.
The latest update to Firefox 3.6.6 fixes security holes and solves some problems with plug-ins crashing (for example, most notably, a Flash or Silverlight crash now won't take Firefox down with it). Upgrading is highly recommended.
Watch the CNET video review of Mozilla Firefox: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.
What's new in this version:
Firefox 3.6 is built on Mozilla's Gecko 1.9.2 web rendering platform, which has been under development since early 2009 and contains many improvements for web developers, add-on developers, and users. This version is also faster and more responsive than previous versions and has been optimized to run on small device operating systems such as Maemo.
Notable Firefox 3.6 features include
- Available in more than 70 languages - get your local version.
- Support for a new ... See all new features
More Popular Web Browsers downloads
- Mozilla Firefox
10,380 downloads
- Google Chrome
2,692 downloads
- Sleipnir
1,618 downloads
- Opera
1,603 downloads
- Apple Safari
577 downloads
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All versions:
3.5 starsout of 481 votes
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Current version:
3.5 starsout of 19 votes
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My rating:
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"Well-designed but slow."
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
Good browser, tons of allowance for customizing + addons, nice user interface. Rarely crashes, and very, very reliable. Possibly the browser I believe to be most reliable.
Cons
It takes forever to start up. On OS X it takes at least 20 seconds on my computer... watching the firefox icon bounce up and down gets frustrating sometimes. On Windows (7) it takes just as long, sometimes even longer. Slow in general.
Summary
Mostly I view this browser in a positive manner, for it is one of the most reliable browsers out there, and also probably one of the safest. The user interface is also very good, and it seems more refined than other browsers. However it starts up pretty slowly, both on Mac and Windows, but that is the only downside.
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"fast. good interface. supposedly more secure than most."
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
better interface than safari. easily customizable view for use on windows netbook small screen. Running one browser on mac and windows simplies things. While better than safari, I prefer how it works with windows.
Cons
not easy to change the cache size, or turn it on and off. Most will not look to do this, though.
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"Sometimes slow, but looks and works great"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
Nice look, organized, personalized, generally fast, easy login
Cons
Sometimes slow, downloading is a little weird since I'm used to Safari
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"Should have waited until the add-ons were updated."
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
Nice look, feel. I've been a Firefox fan for years. Love its security.
Cons
Some hangs (incompatible add-ons, I suppose, that I don't recall as having been reported), caused Firefox to absorb almost 100% of my CPU.
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"Firefox ate my bookmarks and I can't get them back"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
Loved it until it 'ate all of my bookmarks.
Cons
Loved it until it 'ate all of my bookmarks.
Summary
I used Firefox exclusively for about four years or so. About two weeks ago, it 'ate my bookmarks' and, no matter what I have tried (and I have looked on tons of blogs), nothing has gotten them back. I now (sadly) use Chrome, since it had imported my bookmarks. Note: Chrome sucks,since it is impossible to 'organize' them or delete them. I may have to go to Safari.
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"I don't know what you guys' beef is."
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
My add-ons from 3.5 work just fine
Cons
I can't find any.
Summary
Great browser (the only one I use now). I love the tree-style tab add-on because I can have my >50 tabs open and see them without having to scroll back and forth up top.
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"More stable but does not have add on features"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
More stable
Cons
Symantec Anti Virus Add on will not load on this. Also the add ons of the previous version disappeared.
Summary
Stability is present but in other respects it is an average Browser
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"bye bye add-ons!"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
None that I could see
Cons
Ver. 3.6 totally wrecked ALL of my add ons. And it disabled my 3rd-party download speed-up app, and it disappeared all my saved login passwords.
I HATE this version. I immediately uninstalled, re-installed 3.5.7 and restored my Profile backup.Summary
This version BITES, baby!
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"What happened to RealPlayer downloads?"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
Don't notice much difference.
Cons
Except now the RealPlayer Downloader doesn't work.
Summary
It's fine.
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"stability, finally!"
Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.6
Pros
STABLE, fast, tons of add-ons available
Cons
still gets hung on pieces of java script
Summary
Great browser, more versatile than Chrome but not as fast. Most stable I've seen FFX for over a year.
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