Firefox 3.1 beta delayed for three weeks

but 3.1b-pre available and it's FAST

[amznVibe]

I was disappointed in Google Chrome for several reasons (mostly lack of interface for plugins/extensions and constantly phoning home without a way to disable) but I did like how fast it's javascript compiler was. Then I remembered that Firefox 3.1 will also have a similar javascript compiler so I went looking for the 3.1 beta that was supposed to come out this week.

The bad news is that they have now moved the 3.1 beta release from September 9th to the 30th, but the good news is the 3.1beta-pre is available and it's lightning fast. I couldn't get the 3.1 alpha to behave when it first came out but this is completely well mannered creature:

firefox-3.1b1pre.en-US.win32.installer.exe [ftp.mozilla.org]

If you use tab-mix-plus (and who doesn't, you should be?!) you'll need the newest development build:

[tmp.garyr.net...]

Backup your profile and firefox folders first and give it a shot!

Hopefully the three week delay won't give Google too much of a head start.

[edited by: jatar_k at 2:42 pm (utc) on Sep. 4, 2008]
[edit reason] switched from exe and xpi to pages [/edit]

[Quadrille]

If Chrome's only achievement is to increase the rate of development of the browser, then I'll be happy, and so will Google, who are good friends of FF, as you know.

I'd guess the delay is to allow them to incorporate some of the quantum leap in design and approach that Chrome has offered; we all gain.

And we all have a choice ;)

[seodreamer]

But are Google only friends with FF to allow them time to slow down IE whilst they developed chrome? Theres alot of conspiracy around Google insterest in FF to bring IE down

[amznVibe]

I suspect Google will be friends with FF as long as they can gain traffic from being the FF default search and splash page. If that traffic ever tapers off significantly, Mozilla is in trouble.

Given Mozilla's contract with Google is through November 2011 and Chrome can't possibly become popular until it has an extensions API, I think they have some time to plan.

[Quadrille]

This has all been aired in the other thread; most would argue that IE's days were numbered anyway, though every bit helps.

More likely that undermining Windows itself is the longer term aim. I already use Chrome to use gmail and docs as free standing apps; that will spread, I'm sure, so later releases may have much more to say ... Chrome and Google Gears are a winning combination :)

[dauction]

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend"

Anyone that takes Market share from MS is Googles "friend" and as a big brother type friend they can control just how much Market FF gets

I can say I wont even be testing the latest edition of FF because of adblock addons they push...

Any Browser that "assists" in allowing people to alter my content and reduce my earnings is on my sh&tlist.

I'll never use FF again ..

I suspect Google also has no long term interest in assisting FF.. They have served their purpose and I fully expect and willing to lay odds you will now see FF losing Market share along with MS

[Quadrille]

I use ads on most of my sites, but I welcome moves to block pop-ups, and I fully understand why the majority of web users want to go further.

It's a classic case where abusing visitors has caused a fight back - and all of us publishers will suffer the result of the greedy few.

'Adblock' and the like is precisely what has helped FF to grow so fast, and it's out of the box now; you'll never beat it!

[amznVibe]

LOL, you don't need adblock to block ads, especially google ads, it can be done right on any windows machine through the HOSTS file.

In fact it's faster that way.

As soon as Chrome gets an extension API, what do you think the first popular extension is going to be, hmm?

People who don't want to view your ads won't click on your ads, so why worry? Maybe if they like your site they will tell other users who WILL be ad clickers.

[edited by: amznVibe at 6:39 pm (utc) on Sep. 4, 2008]

[poppyrich]

most would argue that IE's days were numbered anyway

Who's the "most" who are arguing that? And what do you mean by IE's days being numbered?

Yeah, a half billion plus users are just going to stop and switch to something else. Just like that. You're joking right?

[Quadrille]

IE is a dinosaur. Whatever its advantages, it hasn't competed since the day FF was launched, and the opposition is growing.

No has ever suggested that "users are just going to stop and switch to something else. Just like that." History does not work that way.

But sooner or later, people drift away from a very obviously inferior product. Intelligent, savvy people rather quicker than the conservative consumer ;)

In most cases :)