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Monday, November 28, 2005 9:18 PM PT Posted by Harry McCracken
Arriving on Tuesday: Firefox's 1.5 Browser
As we reported recently, the final version of Firefox 1.5 is due to show up on Tuesday, sometime in the afternoon. Once it does, it'll be available at GetFirefox.com, and I'll get in line with the teeming masses to download it. But I've been using various pre-release versions for weeks now, and for the most part, things have gone extremely well. The little browser that could has gotten even better.Firefox 1.5 looks practically the same as 1.0, and there's no single new feature that'll change your life. But there's a pretty long list of enhancements, including at least two that are major and overdue: You can now download and install patches to the browser--rather than having to download the whole shebang every time--and you can drag and drop tabs to shuffle 'em around.
Some of the other tweaks include a quick and easy way to flush out your browser history and other settings that snoops might look at, faster performance of the Back and Forward buttons (according to Mozilla--I never had a problem with 1.0's speed here, but 1.5 does feel a tad snappier), and a tidier, better-organized Options dialog. And bravo to Mozilla for taking the time to improve the browser's accessibility to disabled users, including better support for screen readers for the blind.
The upgrade also has a bunch of architectural refinements, such as support for SVG, CSS 2, CSS 2, and CSS 3; most of us won't notice these, but they put the browser in better stead to run today and tomorrow's most sophisticated Web applications smoothly. And Mozilla says it has "many" security enahncements, which might be reason enough to upgrade.
So should you take the plunge? There's one significant gotcha to consider before you do--Firefox 1.5 isn't yet compatible with each and every one of the gazillions of useful extensions that collectively make up a large part of the Firefox experience.
I'm optimistic that all major extensions and lots of minor ones will show up in 1.5-ready versions soon--my beloved A9 Toolbar has already received the requisite upgrade, for example. (The Google Toolbar also seems to run well in 1.5, by the way.) There's also a 1.5-friendly beta of the brilliant Greasemonkey, though the first handful of scripts I tried to run with it weren't working yet.
So the bottom line is this: If you're an extension junkie, try to find out the status of your favorites before moving to Firefox 1.5. (Then again, there's no reason to be overly paranoid--if you do upgrade and then regret it, you can always jump back to 1.0.)
The release of Firefox 1.5 actually kicks off a new round of browser upgrades from all the biggies. My colleague Erik Larkin has been using pre-release versions of Firefox 1.5, Internet Explorer 7, and Opera 9, and reports on his experiences in in an article that's in our upcoming January issue (pssst--it's already on our site).
Me, I've been using the version of IE 7 that's bundled with the beta edition of Windows Vista; I hope Microsoft plans to give it a thorough polish before release, because the beta is actually harder to use than IE 6 in some meaningful ways. I'll try to report in with further thoughts on that, as well as on Opera 9, which I've just begun dipping into.
Oh, an update on browser market share at PCWorld.com: In the month of November (so far), a bit over 70 percent of visitors to this site used IE 6.0 (including its AOL and MSN variants), and a shade under 20 percent use Firefox. Roughly speaking, that's the same breakdown we've seen over the past few months--for the moment, at least, Firefox seems to have plateaued. Will the arrival of 1.5 change that? I dunno, but if you've been holding onto IE because Firefox was a 1.0 product, now's the time to give PC World's Product of the Year a try.
Meanwhile, Opera 8.0 has become a distant-but-significant #3 with a bit over 5 percent of PCWorld.com visitors running it. (Back in January, only 1.7 percent of you guys used Opera.)
Firefox fans: Once you've tried 1.5, point it back here and tell us what you think.
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A nice and frank review! I switched to use the Firefox marjorly, though sometimes still have to rely on IE to get some online supports. Firefox is a versatile application!!!
Bravo! 5% for Opera :hat: . Looking forward to Opera's article.
Get Opera, identify as IE and then you don't need to switch to IE , yipeee!!
"Get Opera, identify as IE and then you don't need to switch to IE , yipeee!!"
doing this only make things worse for Opera as a browser in the long run.
Sites use this to determine how many are using a particular browser. If you just identify as IE it will skew the numbers and lead site maintainers to believe that there are more IE users (and less Opera or Firefox users) visiting their site than there actually are. That's going to give webmasters less incentive to make their sites W3C compliant which of course means that certain sites will continue rendering incorrectly in Opera.
Not that I care personally to be honest. I use Firefox lol
"Get Opera, identify as IE and then you don't need to switch to IE , yipeee!!"
doing this only make things worse for Opera as a browser in the long run.
Sites use this to determine how many are using a particular browser. If you just identify as IE it will skew the numbers and lead site maintainers to believe that there are more IE users (and less Opera users) visiting their site than there actually are. That's going to give webmasters less incentive to make their sites W3C compliant which of course means that certain sites will continue rendering incorrectly in Opera.
Not that I care personally to be honest. I use Firefox lol
"faster performance of the Back and Forward buttons (according to Mozilla--I never had a problem with 1.0's speed here, but 1.5 does feel a tad snappier"
Get real: 1.0's back and forward performance SUCKS. The supposed new feature is the ability to load pages from memory, rather than from disk. You know, like MSIE and Opera have been doing for YEARS already.
Have used Firefox on both Windows and Mac and loved it. Still use on Windows cuz IE just doesn't measure up. But onthe Mac, since Tiger, Safari is the only way to go (sorry Firefox). Maybe 1.5 will changes this?
For me, it doesn't really matter that Firefox is coming out with a new version. I like the old one, and from the bit I've used the current release candidate, I'll like the new one.
For casual users though, the automatic update feature is HUGE. It's reason enough for them to switch over. I don't know how many times I've installed Firefox on a friend's computer, only to have it be outdated a couple months down the road. It is unreasonable to think a casual user is going to completely uninstall and reinstall a browser everytime a new update comes out. Kudos to the team who finally got this implemented.
Go Go Mozilla! Great Web Browser (Firefox) and E-Mail Client (Thunderbird). I am sold!
Go Go Mozilla! Great Web Browser (Firefox) and E-Mail Client (Thunderbird). I am sold! Unlike the other boys, haven't paid a wooden nickle for it yet!
I've been using Firefox since before version 1 and there is no way I am ever going back to IE, Opera (8.5) is way better now too (now that they removed the ads). I am always running the most current version of FF, and have converted most of my family, esp those who had spyware/adware issues, they will never go back.
RIP ie, we dont care about you anymore
Been using 1.0 all along and love it. Will use 1.5 and I'm sure I'll love it.
FireFox 1.5 is a great product. I've been using the 1.5 release RC2. Software development companies such as Microsoft will so realize that software being used by millions of people on the internet can only be supported by it's user. There is no financial gain to Microsoft to giving away Internet Explorer for free. Once the profit is taken out of "browser" all companies will move on to area of software development where they see profit.
Bira Rai
birarai
I've been using Poratable firefox 1.5 RC3 and It's awsome! I don't even need IE for IE-only sites anymore because I use the IE tab Extention
But, where's the LIST of COMPATIBLE EXTENSIONS ?
I, for one, won't switch without (most of) my favorites:
Nuke Anything
AutoCopy
adblock
smoothwheel
Paste Quote
WebMailCompose
QuickNote
FlashBlock
PDF Download
AniDisable
Context Highlight
TextZoom
Gmail Delete Button
OpenBook
ScrapBook
Zoomy
Does anyone know if there's yet an updatable LIST of the COMPATIBLES ?
Thanks
The only reason for the IE figures is because the majority of companies use IE for their browser. Who works anymore when you have the internet to surf? JK. (or am I?)
Super! Glad I "discovered" FF 1.5 from PC World -- I've made the switch from IE6 and very glad I did!
Opera needs an easier method of adblock for linux systems. Enabling voip for linux wouldn't hurt either. Now that Opera is free it's user-base is bound to grow, It's security record and speed are unmatched, but with a faster firefox and adblock incorporated into soon-to-be-released konqueror3.5, Opera will remain a distant 3rd with Linux users. If Opera went open source and had a extension system like firefox, the open-source developer community would turn it into a contender in no time, for mac and windows platforms as well as open-source.
It's ready for download. Hurray!
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/
yeah i use safari but its really only cause its a stupid web browser and who cares what web browser you use.
I have already installed 1,5.
Java windows poping from by bank looks very wide ( some 10 times as wide as they were in 1,07)
I am back to 1,07. So good for me it does not need any further improvement. A great performer.
FIREFOX VERSION COMPATIBILITY CHECK BYPASS.....
http://users.blueprintit.co.uk/~dave/web/firefox/buildid/nightly.html
USE ANY EXTENSION YOU WISH!!! (almost any...)
Several new extensions were released at Firefox in anticipation of the release of Firefox 1.5.
Avoid the rush to get Firefox 1.5. Go to: http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/ and download the new version.
So far the new version is working beautifully. I have been using the Firefox browser since the first version became available, and I highly recommend the Firefox browser to those who are looking for a reliable substitution to Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
I love it! Way faster than IE. Best benefit-- IE grinds my network to a hault and forces me to reboot the router at least every half hour. Firefox does not do this. Most excellent.
Perhaps one reason for not changing from IE is that some pages just don't work unless you're using IE.
BUT: The fantastic extension IE Tab can embed IE in a tab of Firefox! That's right, if you discover that a page doesn't load in Firefox (for whatever reason) then you can simply click the icon in the status bar and it will switch that tab to embedded IE. Awesome!
I installed Firefox 1.5. I love it. For me with tired eysight is of special health, sa a simple Ctrl + can at times substitute my eyeglasses.
I have a complaint. With I.E. I can use Answers.com,
which besides meaning of unknowen words, teaches me how to pronounce them.
Answers.com does not work in Firefox 1.07 nor 1.5
I am sorry that because of this, several times a day I have to turn to I.E.
I installed Firefox 1.5. I love it. For me with tired eysight is of special help, that a simple "Ctrl + " can at times substitute my eyeglasses.
I have a complaint against Firefox. With I.E. I can use Answers.com,
which besides explaining the meaning of unknown words, teaches me how to pronounce them.
Answers.com does not work in Firefox 1.07 nor 1.5
I am sorry that because of this, several times a day I have to turn to I.E.
I have been using Opera 8.51 & I have to say it's the fastest browser currently avaiable. I have used Firefox for about a year & I prefer Opera hands down.
FF 1.5 is great. I love it. Bye Bye IE
Firefox has come a long way. I switched last February, when it was still in the 1.02 version. Back then I admired its speed and simplicity, but its rendering engine was completely off the mark. It didn't render many pages properly, and it didn't work so well under Win 98, which I am running. I had been tempted many times to switch back to IE, but I overcame my frustrations and continued to use Firefox. Then came, its 1.04 version which had solved all my gripes. It became my favourite browser, because of its superior quality. It might have its own faults here and there, but Mozilla is kind enough to patch the browser within a day when a new flaw is disovered. Compare that to IE, which is not only dangereous to use, but it takes Microsoft, a much larger company with more manpower a month to patch its browser. Now, Firefox has tumbled down from the internet to my home. This is the most superior browser, I have ever used. Its secure, even faster than its earlier versions, and comes with several new tricks out of the bag. It is great, that patches can be directly donwloaded and not having to reinstall the browser every time a patch is issued. Its extremely useful, that I can delete all my browsing history with one button, especially that I like to watch mature content as well. Its very nice to be able to drag tabs around, as many times I have to switch between several tabs. But the best part about it, is that Firefox is light. All extra funcionality I need, can be acquired by a few extensions, and I am pressed for speed, as my processor is a 500mhz pentium2. Firefox will become more popular, as IE 7 will not run on Win 98, and this minor issue is not an incentive to buy a new computer, because open-source, free alternatives are taking over the market and my computer as well.
One last Firefox woe: Mozilla, will you please give support for .mht files? My schoolwork depends on it.
Other than that, this browser is fabolous.!!! :)
Well, I don't see a reason to use Firefox. Security, Speed, and usability is not a problem in Internet Explorer.
I use IE 6. What is the function of Firefox? I am afraid to instal Firefox because it might affect IE 6. Please explain or suggest a website where I will find an explanation.
Thank you.
"Well, I don't see a reason to use Firefox. Security, Speed, and usability is not a problem in Internet Explorer."
Security is not a problem in Internet Explorer? Who told you that, Bill Gates? lol. If you truly believe that then you don't know much about your browser of choice
>I have a complaint. With I.E. I can use Answers.com,
wrong it works fine in mine maby you were screwing around with some settings
Firefox is just another browser, like IE.
In many ways, it's a better browser - the big thing is tabbed browsing, like having a lot of windows in one window. You don't realize how useful that is until you try it.
It wouldn't interfere with IE because they're completely unrelated. You should download firefox and try it - it's silly to stick with one browser because you already know it.
When I updated to 1.0.7, Firefox lost the ability to launch Adobe PDF's. This has bee a pain in the butt. Does anyone know if 1.5 solves this problem? Thanks.
my problem w/ Firefox is that it lost all my bookmarks a few days ago. I read that it has a "bookmarks backup" but I can't find it on v1.0 that I have, so I will upgrade to 1.5 and hope it's there. I think Firefox is far better than IE, but losing bookmarks (favorites) is a real drag if you have a lot of them.
I back-up my entire profile before installing the new version, but I was pleased to see, that Firefox 1.5 didn't overwrite any user prefs, from previous versions.
There is an extension for adobe. I believe its compatible with 1.5
DO NEVER assume that I don't know much about computers. Not using non-IE browser and not using Linux or Mac doesn't mean I don't know much about the technology advancements and what's going on from Microsoft.
I know soooo much about Internet Explorer. Even Windows and Windows Media Player, plus other Microsoft products!
Anyone who says "Firefox or Opera rocks, bye by IE" are morons (well, I know not everyone are but not to be offensive). Instead, I'd say "Bye bye Firefox and Opera, Internet Explorer are doing this fine for me>"
If you know all about IE then I guess you know that active X is the biggest security hole in the known universe, and that stuff can download without you knowing it's there, but that doesn't bother you, because you know so much about technology advancements
I much prefered the early beta versions of firefox, don't like the fact that I have to open a blank tab and they click the bookmark to get to two tabs open at once. Used to open a tab for every bookmark I clicked.
For now I prefer Opera -- easier to open 8 websites at once on different tabs, and jump between forums that way.
I us IE for exactly two things -- panda online virsus scan, and MSN groups.
I installed Firefox 1.5 and the status bar is about 1" high and I can't make it smaller.
Any ideas?
Very annoying!
I have the same problem as Joe. help pls
I have the same problem as Joe and Nicky. Running windows 98.
ME too on XP Prof
Me too Joe, Nicky, frank and rick ...I also have XP pro and have the same problem
lol I tried everything, but can't get that bar to shrink as it was before... maybe i will try to change my graphical option to 800x600 and then put it in 1024x768 again...
Hi guys try this, it worked for me. unistall firefox and reinsall it in a different folder from previous installation, for me all extentions worked and also bookmarks.
I have the same problem as the above few, it's hella annoying.
If anyone knows how to fix it, it would be much appreciated. T hanx in advance.
Try uninstalling any incompatible extensions, and updating any compatible ones.
I have upgraded from 1.07 to 1.5xx and have had nothing but problems. I want to go back and the saved password file and other things I can't get to revert back, any idea's.