Most Firefox users could probably care less about the date the next release of the web browser gets published publicly. But there are some users who like to know. This can be extension developers who want to make sure that their Firefox add-on is compatible with the next releases of the web browser, system administrators who want to make sure they can update the web browsers of their clients in time or advanced users who just like to be up to date with all technology news.
The Firefox web browser, like Google Chrome, is developed in several branches simultaneously which makes it kinda hard to track. There are currently three different versions of Firefox under development not counting the future releases of Firefox 3.7 and 4.0. First there are the two official public releases Firefox 3.0.15 and Firefox 3.5.4 and second there is the soon to be released Firefox 3.6. The release schedule looks like the following currently (subject to change, source: FF Extension Guru).
Firefox 3.5.5 – November 6th
Firefox 3.0.16 – December 15th
Firefox 3.5.6 – December 15th
Firefox 3.6 RC1 – Late November 2009
Firefox 3.6 – Mid December 2009
According to this list two versions of the Firefox 3.5.x branch will be released this year, one Firefox 3.0.x version and the final version of Firefox 3.6 which is likely to replace the Firefox 3.5.x branch. If you are a Firefox user: Which version of the web browser are you currently running and why?
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i am at 3.6b1. and why? always trying new things :)
I’m running latest stable version of Firefox, that is 3.5.4
I’ve tried 3.6 Beta, but too many extensions here (78) of which most are limited to 3.5.* … could use known strategems to deal with that, and I should move myself and help the Mozilla community by being a beta tester, but I’m just too darn selfish ! And I like to have neat and square stuff around me, I’m not much of a theorist, you know!
I like 3.6, it seems to me (a normal user) faster, more responsive and it has the IE tab behaviour (open tabs next to the current one and not at the far right). As mentioned above many add ons don’t work but some of the most important ones actually do (NoScript, AdBlock Plus).
Still on 3.0.15 waiting for 3.6.
I am using v.3.5.4 now. I just tried the 3.6 Beta but one of my three add-on’s wasn’t supported so I uninstalled it.
Incidentally, there are 2 settings starting from Fiirefox 3.5, regarding the Tracemonkey Java Compiler,
1- javascript.options.jit.content / Default=true
2- javascript.options.jit.chrome / Default=false
javascript.options.jit.chrome is set to false because, as I’ve read it, either not yet implemented, either risky to be set to true.
Well, I’ve set this javascript.options.jit.chrome to true and, believe it or not, the result is not an effect of my imagination: Firefox has never ran so fast :)
Forgive me please, Martin, this comment slightly out of context, but true that I wish to know more on this setting of Tracemonkey.
I shall be looking forward to the upcoming release of Firefox 3.6. As a long term fan & user of this excellent browser I am always excited about news from the Mozilla camp.
Apologies if this is becoming a Ff mini-forum, Martin; just delete this if you wish.
Trans, here is another about:config speed-up from two years ago (I am still using it): http://www.pcworld.com/article/136862-8/15_undocumented_firefox_tips.html
3.6 b1 because its fast! .. for those that are worried about add-ons not working just get the Nightly Tester Tools ..
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6543
you can force all your add-ons to be compatible with one click.
Huh, sunny, ty, I will try that.
Latest stable, 3.5.4. I’m satisfied with it and don’t want to run ahead this time.
3.6b1 cause I had the previous version killing the internet connection (! first buggy release for me years) and crashing a couple of times per day. 3.6b1 is supersmooth, didn’t crash once and runs noticably faster.
Way to go Firefox!
sunnytimes thanks for the link
Glad to know I wasn’t the only one having problems w/ freezes & crashes w/ v.3.5!! I also had a terrible time getting it to open,even though it was running.
I am using 3.6 b2 now as my daily browser & it seems steadier & quicker.