Firefox 1.5 is out

[drhowarddrfine]

Get it before they're all gone!

What, we can use links [mozilla.com] now?

[Neo541]

I've been using the RC2 & RC3. Love being able to move tabs around :)

[Compworld]

I just downloaded the program to update my browser session. When I started the program, it looked for updates on the extensions I've been using. For 10 minuntes it was checking for updates. I finally closed it and just proceeded with the new broswer. Anyone else experience this? Are the servers busy or something?

[drhowarddrfine]

I had forgotten that it had an updater. I just uninstalled the old one. Everything worked.

[bill]

I assume that the usual drill applies here? Uninstall previous version of FF and install the new one. Anything in particular we need to look out for with this new version?

[drhowarddrfine]

I've been running 1.5 since beta 1 with no problems. All my extensions work with this final edition though I've heard there are some that still need to be updated. In particular: Webdeveloper, LiveHTTP and IETab.

I had already uninstalled 1.0.7 but I think there is an autoinstaller and you don't have to do that anymore.

And it's faster, too.

[pixel_juice]

I assume that the usual drill applies here? Uninstall previous version of FF and install the new one. Anything in particular we need to look out for with this new version?

I've actually been fine with installing over the top of previous versions (not that I recommend it!). Extension compatibility seems to be much improved, and overall it's gone very smoothly.

For 10 minuntes it was checking for updates

I encountered that problem a lot with older versions, so maybe the uninstall/new install trick might fix it for you.

[bill]

I'm noticing a lot of important extentions are not yet compatible with 1.5. Without extensions like FlashBlock and SessionSaver I really appreciate that all of this is already built into Opera.

[Stefan]

Some of the extension updates can only be found on the home pages for the particular extensions - using the update under "Help" doesn't find them.

Added: Like Flashblock - it's been available since RC1 from their homepage - sorry I don't have the URL handy, but it's available and works with 1.5 RC3 - haven't dl-ed the latest release yet, but it should work.

Added again: Here's flashblock: [flashblock.mozdev.org...]

[bill]

Extension updating is a bit of a mess now. Maybe future updates will be simplified, but there are a lot of dead ends today using the features within FF to update extensions.

Stefan's suggestion was a good one. Go to the extension home page to get updates if FF can't find it automatically. Unfortunately the FlashBlock extension still says it's only good through 1.5RC3. :( The uninstall/install process is complex enough that I'm going to wait.

[jdMorgan]

Looks like a lot of people were waiting for this update... 781 downloads per minute currently.

That works out to 1.1 million downloads per day if the current rate continues. And actually, it is currently accelerating, since it was 712 downloads per minute an hour ago.

Jim

[RammsteinNicCage]

I'm wondering - is it possible that extensions could be the "downfall" to FF? Having to wait for extensions to be updated which might not ever happen or having them cause conflicts could be very frustrating for some and might make them switch to a browser like Opera which has many of the functions already built into it (yes, I'm bias because I'm an Opera user). Will there always be enough coders to pick up where others left off? Will they be the same high quality coders or could they open the browser up to security risks (is that even possible?)?

As I'm writing this, I'm thinking of the phpBB community - it's thrived with the help of the modders, but there are also so many very good mods that are no longer compatible with updated versions of the forum software. Does FF have a tendency or desire to include some of the extensions, like mouse gestures, as default features in their software?

Jennifer

[pixel_juice]

Does FF have a tendency or desire to include some of the extensions, like mouse gestures, as default features in their software?

I personally would hope so, but then extensions tend to favour a particular subset of users, which is probably why firefox does not include them.

is it possible that extensions could be the "downfall" to FF?

I think it's very possible. And without wanting to spark yet another FF vs Opera thread, the main reason I've just returned to firefox is because of certain features/extensions which I've found difficult to add and maintain with opera.

[drhowarddrfine]

If Opera extensions are included, wouldn't that make it less likely to be updated or added because you would need an update to the browser? I don't know about it's extensions because I haven't used Opera in a while.

If anything, extensions are considered a big plus for FF. You'll see all of them updated if they aren't already.

[pixel_juice]

If anything, extensions are considered a big plus for FF. You'll see all of them updated if they aren't already.

Oh, definitely. The problem seems to be that a lot of people update their browser, and the extensions don't work, or they're presented with a 'searching for updates' screen that never ends. This is a big turn off.

You and me and many others can track down extensions and get them to work again, but Joe IE-switcher is going to be annoyed and go elsewhere at that point.

If Opera extensions are included

I don't think Opera has extensions per se, but the difference is that certain very useful features are installed by default, that need extensions in firefox.

Saving Joe surfer the trouble of tracking them down via mozdev.org or wherever (and clicking through warning screens) would help firefox attract more users. But whether or not that is desirable from Mozilla'spoint of view is a different question.

[jdMorgan]

The thing is, Joe IE-switcher isn't going to install a bunch of extensions -- or even look into these items in the "Tools" section.

The extensions are left "outside" the browser to keep it small and fast.

The "unending update" problem happens if you install a newer version over an older version without uninstalling the old one first. This should be come a non-issue now that updates will be done as small "patch files" instead of full binary-installer downloads.

I'm just as disappointed as anyone else that several of my favorite extensions and themes haven't been updated. I'll wait awhile and see if they get updated. If not, I've still got 1.06 and 1.07 on disk to use when I simply must have those functions in FireFox.

Things will settle down and 'big changes' that break extensions will become less frequent, now that we're coming to the end of the "1.x" series of Firefox browsers.

Jim

[pixel_juice]

I'm just as disappointed as anyone else that several of my favorite extensions and themes haven't been updated

Any info on which extensions? I'm currently very happy running adblock plus, web developer, flashblock (always been buggy), ie view, sage, ua switcher, live http headers and all in one gestures on firefox's latest release :P

[drhowarddrfine]

I know all those extensions work except (I don't know) ie view, sage, ua switcher and all in one gestures. I use IETab and it does work.

[pixel_juice]

IETab I thought sounded good, but the idea of IE appearing in firefox sounded like a potential security nightmare so I aborted ;)

[Purple Martin]

I've never had any trouble installing a new version without uninstalling the previous. I just install each version in a new folder with a different name.

[bill]

That's like doing a new install. A lot of people install over their previous version which is where problems have popped up in the past.

[MatthewHSE]

This is even better than the beta versions were. So fast and responsive.

To me, Firefox really needs an integrated "Add Extensions" feature. It would essentially be a small, chromeless browser window that could be launched through a new menu item or something. It would provide a categorized list of features for which extensions were available. Everything, from locating extensions through the installation, should be done right through this window so the user never has to actually browse websites to find extensions they want. The whole system should be stringently regulated by Mozilla, and each extension would need to be approved by a few editors before it was accessible in this way. The goal would be to keep the number of extensions available this way to a minimum, and to eliminate compatibility bugs. Before a new version of Firefox was released, the extensions in this archive would be updated first so there would be no upgrade issues. Extensions added this way would not prompt the "installing software" warning, but would simply download and install upon the user selecting them.

An additional feature for "About My Extensions" or something should be added under the "Help" menu. This would provide quick tutorials on the extensions the user has installed.

I'm not suggesting to eliminate UMO or the ability to install other extensions, but having a small list of tightly-controlled extensions with the most commonly-used features would be a big help to a lot of new users. You could probably get by with ten or fewer extensions in this list.

This system would make it easy, streamlined and straight-forward for the average user to add features, keep upgraded, and use Firefox to its fullest advantage.

It would also take a lot of work. Any volunteers? ;)

[MatthewHSE]

Incidentally, if a "must-have" extension isn't working, try installing "Nightly Tester Tools" to make them compatible.

[Hanu]

Yes, if your favourite extension does not yet support 1.5, Nightly Tester Tools is the way to go. Install it and right click any incompatible extension in Tools - Extensions and click "Make compatible". Easy peasy.

[CritterNYC]

Unfortunately the FlashBlock extension still says it's only good through 1.5RC3. :( The uninstall/install process is complex enough that I'm going to wait.

Firefox 1.5RC3 *is* Firefox 1.5... that's what a final release candidate is... if no bugs are found, that's the final version, so it will work.

While Mozilla.org and Mozilla.com are standing up to the pounding... mozdev.org isn't handling the load. So, get your extensions offhours for the first few days of 1.5.

[jecasc]

And still it's not possible to resize the search box. I do not understand why this has not been implemented.

[Robin_reala]

^ Yes it is, although in a slightly roundabout way. All of Firefox's UI is built using XUL and styled using CSS, so you can adjust your userchrome.css file to change the width:

[mozilla.org ]

/* Make the Search box flex wider
 (in this case 400 pixels wide) */
 #search-container, #searchbar {
 -moz-box-flex: 400!important;
}

[garyr_h]

jecasc there are extensions which let you do that.

One extensions which lets you is actually called "Resize Search Box" ;)

[drhowarddrfine]

Firefox really needs an integrated "Add Extensions" feature.

What's wrong with the one under Tools? Or do you mean not being brought to a web page with all the extensions listed?

[MatthewHSE]

There's nothing wrong, per se, with the way extensions are currently handled. But, I think it would be simpler for new users, and those who have other things to do besides play with their browser, if there was a small set of high-quality extensions that could be added, to all appearances, right from within the interface of the browser itself. The list would be browsable by feature, and for each feature to add, only one or two extension options would be available. For instance, if you wanted mouse gestures, you would just click "Install Mouse Gestures" rather than have to check on Mozilla Update and decide which of the mouse gestures extensions you want.

Extensions are great, but let's face it - there are a lot of them out there and lots of overlap. Making it simple to "Add features" like this would convert a lot of users who just want to browse and aren't into trawling through lists and message boards.