Firefox 3 Beta 3 now available for download

[The Batman]

Please note: We do not recommend that anyone other than developers and testers download the Firefox 3 Beta 3 milestone release. It is intended for testing purposes only.

Firefox 3 Beta 3 is now available for download. This is the eleventh developer milestone focused on testing the core functionality provided by many new features and changes to the platform scheduled for Firefox 3. Ongoing planning for Firefox 3 can be followed at the Firefox 3 Planning Center, as well as in mozilla.dev.planning and on irc.mozilla.org in #granparadiso.

New features and changes in this milestone that require feedback include:

* Improved security features such as: better presentation of website identity and security including support for Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates, malware protection, stricter SSL error pages, anti-virus integration in the download manager.
* Improved ease of use through: easier add-on discovery and installation, improved download manager search and progress indication in the status bar, resumable downloading, full page zoom, and better integration with Windows Vista, Mac OS X and Linux.
* Richer personalization through: one-click bookmarking, smart bookmark folders, location bar that uses an algorithm based on site visit recency and frequency (called “frecency”) to provide better matches against your history and bookmarks for URLs and page titles, ability to register web applications as protocol handlers, and better customization of download actions for file types.
* Improved platform features such as: new graphics and font rendering architecture, JavaScript 1.8, major changes to the HTML rendering engine to provide better CSS, float-, and table layout support, native web page form controls, colour profile management, and offline application support.
* Performance improvements such as: better data reliability for user profiles, architectural improvements to speed up page rendering, over 350 memory leak fixes, a new XPCOM cycle collector to reduce entire classes of leaks, and reductions in the memory footprint.

(You can find out more about all of these features in the “What’s New” section of the release notes.)

Testers can download Firefox 3 Beta 3 builds for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux in over 30 different languages. Please be sure to read the full release notes before using this preview release. Developers should look at the Firefox 3 for Developers article on the Mozilla Developer Center.


I'm currently using it and I noticed that its alot faster and better than the other firefox

[Blahages]

You did like I almost always seem to do... Post about things like this one day before the next beta or next version is released. :P

Beta 4 was released yesterday, about 12-14 hours after you posted this.

There were several speed enhancements between Beta 3 and 4, and supposedly ~900 Changes.


Release Notes: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.0b4/releasenotes/
Review: http://mozillalinks.org/wp/2008/03/firefox-3-beta-4-review/
Download: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-beta.html

[Maverick]

Is it coincidental Microsoft and Firefox are doing new browsers betas at the same time or is it a competition?

[DouggyO.o]

Me likey =)

[Patchy]

Yep I like it too,

its got more "animated" pop up things (such as the remember password is now animated) I reckon it would look great with vista, but I cnt be bothered booting up vista :P

[Maverick]

The home button being moved to the bottom really throws me off .

[Patchy]

The home button being moved to the bottom really throws me off .

oh yeh its in like the bookmark bit, grrr

[Blahages]

The home button being moved to the bottom really throws me off .

You can fix that. Right click on the navigation bar (like on the back or forward buttons, and hit "Customize." Then, grab the home button with your left mouse button, and drag it back to where it should be.

[Maverick]

Thanks for that. :)

[Patchy]

You can fix that. Right click on the navigation bar (like on the back or forward buttons, and hit "Customize." Then, grab the home button with your left mouse button, and drag it back to where it should be.

thanks for telling me that +rep :D

[Blahages]

Thanks for that. :)

thanks for telling me that +rep :D

:)

If anyone wants to "restore" the URL drop down for FF3 back to the look it had in FF2, I wrote up a little "how-to" I posted somewhere else earlier today:

There was a Firefox Extension made for FF3 PRE-Beta4, so it doesn't work with Beta 4 without modifying it.

I found out how to modify the extension. Here's the process:
Open the page for the "oldbar (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6227)" Extension. Do NOT click on the "Install Now" link. It won't work. Right click on it, and hit "Save Link As" and save it to your Desktop, or whereever is convenient.
Change the Extension of the file from .xpi to .zip. Extract the file to a folder, like "OldBar" or something.
Open the folder you just created with the extracted files in it. Open the "Install.RDF" file with Wordpad. NOT Notepad, as it won't display it correctly.
On Line 17, Modify <em:maxVersion>3.0b4pre</em:maxVersion> To say <em:maxVersion>3.0</em:maxVersion> If you're lazy, just clear the contents of the file, and paste all of this in there:<?xml version="1.0"?>

<RDF xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"
xmlns:em="http://www.mozilla.org/2004/em-rdf#">

<Description about="urn:mozilla:install-manifest">
<em:id>{46868735-c3fa-47ce-8ce7-cce51a66aceb}</em:id>
<em:version>1.2</em:version>
<em:type>2</em:type>

<!-- Target Application this extension can install into,
with minimum and maximum supported versions. -->
<em:targetApplication>
<Description>
<em:id>{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}</em:id>
<em:minVersion>3.0b3</em:minVersion>
<em:maxVersion>3.0</em:maxVersion>
</Description>
</em:targetApplication>

<!-- Front End MetaData -->
<em:name>oldbar</em:name>
<em:description>URL bar uses Firefox 2 style results</em:description>
<em:creator>Seth Spitzer</em:creator>
<em:homepageURL>http://www.sspitzer.org/</em:homepageURL>
</Description>
</RDF>
Save it as the same name (install.rdf).
Copy the new "install.rdf" file back into the zip file you have, or create a new zip file with ALL of the contents of the "OldBar" folder.
Rename the zip file you modified or just created using the .XPI Extension (like oldbar.xpi"
Open Firefox. Grab the new oldbar.xpi file that you modified/created, and drag it to your Firefox Window. It'll ask to install. Let it.
Restart Firefox
Enjoy the gone-ness of the new URL bar.If you don't care about what I just said and just want the fix, just download this (http://www.sendspace.com/file/q7y3ng) modified file I created. Save it, and drag it to Firefox. :P

Remember to be in FF3 Beta 4 while you're installing this.

EDIT: There's not much I can do about the Black Text in the PHP Tags. When you use those tags, they change the font to black. Just highlight it to see it if you can't already.

[Mzor203]

I hate how on the new versions you can't use the 'find next' and 'find previous' buttons on the quickfind.

[Blahages]

I hate how on the new versions you can't use the 'find next' and 'find previous' buttons on the quickfind.

This Bar?

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/blahages/SearchBarFF.jpg

Mine works just fine.

[Mzor203]

Mine doesn't. It looks like that but only with the text field. No other buttons.

[Blahages]

Mine doesn't. It looks like that but only with the text field. No other buttons.

Hmm... It's possible somehow it got corrupted.

Try uninstalling the browser, and reinstalling it to a different folder.

You might also try creating a new profile for Firefox. You can do this by going to Start -> Run (Windows Key + R) and typing

C:\PATH\TO\FIREFOX\BETA4\Firefox.exe -profilemanager

Of course, changing the C:\PATH\TO\FIREFOX\BETA4\ to the correct path.

Then, if you restart FF, it'll give you an option of which profile to use. Try the new profile. If it works, it was a corrupted profile. If it doesn't it's something else.

[Mzor203]

I think I'm using beta 3,ut anyways I'm too lazy.

[KingCrimson]

Isn't there a Beta 4?

[Blahages]

Isn't there a Beta 4?

Yes.

[Bryan B]

Yes I'm a beta tester from Mozilla and i USe the Beta of firefox 3 its has some new improved features
and I also using the IE8 Beta and its better Firefox always.

[Blahages]

I also using the IE8 Beta and its better Firefox always.

Care to explain (In other words, what's better about IE8 over FF3 in your Opinion)?

I've used both, fairly extensively, and I can say, without hesitation, that the current builds of FF3 are a MASSIVE leap over IE8's builds.

The only thing I like about IE8 thus far is that MS has finally decided it's a wise move to comply with web standards.

But that doesn't take any standing over Firefox, because they've been doing it right along steady anyway.

[Bryan B]

Care to explain (In other words, what's better about IE8 over FF3 in your Opinion)?

I've used both, fairly extensively, and I can say, without hesitation, that the current builds of FF3 are a MASSIVE leap over IE8's builds.

The only thing I like about IE8 thus far is that MS has finally decided it's a wise move to comply with web standards.

But that doesn't take any standing over Firefox, because they've been doing it right along steady anyway.

The new things that i liked from IE8 (Internet Explorer 8 Beta) is that Flash movies are not any more from the Activex but i still hate it, it still more slow than Firefox and cannot install to much things like themes or Extensions.

And the New of the Firefox 3 BETA
Is that i fell it a little more faster
and they improved more the browsering bar and add some other things

[Blahages]

The new things that i liked from IE8 (Internet Explorer 8 Beta) is that Flash movies are not any more from the Activex but i still hate it, it still more slow than Firefox and cannot install to much things like themes or Extensions.

What do you mean about Flash and ActiveX?

Flash still uses an ActiveX Control in IE.

I know they were talking about doing something with the way ActiveX works in IE8. I haven't kept up-to-date on that, though.

And, Although the way ActiveX controls work is ridiculous, it would probably be a disaster to just flat-out disable ActiveX. There are too many things that are in use that rely on ActiveX controls.

When I do use IE, I've installed IE7Pro. Obviously that's only for IE7, but it adds the Adblock-Like functionality that is offered in a FF Extension to IE, and adds some plugins, and other things that are nice to have.

I've also found that Java's SSVHelper ActiveX Control is buggy, and causes a HUGE decrease in Browsing Speed in IE. It's used for litterally nothing, so disabling it doesn't cause an issue 99% of the time, and speeds up browsing significantly.

And the New of the Firefox 3 BETA
Is that i fell it a little more faster
and they improved more the browsering bar and add some other things

It is quite a bit faster on a lot of things. Especially the way it renders Javascript. It's currently faster than Opera, Safari, IE, Etc, as of Beta 5.

It even runs faster than Safari on OSx now, which I find funny.

Personally, I don't like the changes to the URL Bar that they've made, so I've found an Extension that changes the appearance of the bar back to what FF2's looked like. I've also found a FF2 Theme, because I prefered that. But, otherwise, I've found FF3 much more stable and better-running than FF2, even from Beta 1-2 of FF3 on.

It handles memory better. Not drastically, but better. They've fixed the Memory hole pretty well.

It also handles opening several Tabs/Windows at once a lot better. It wouldn't handle that worth anything before. It's a lot better now.

There are still a few bugs lying around in the Code, but it's still a Beta.

I tried IE8 Beta about a month ago, and the FIRST time I ran it, to try to upload some screenshots of the install of the Beta, the browser entirely locked up, and never came back. I had to end the process. It's been really finicky since the install. The Beta 1 of FF3 was more stable for me than the IE8 Beta 1.

One thing I do like about IE8, is that they're supposedly finally going to be adhering to web standards better than they have in the past. Hopefully, that'll start to do away with the coding that website programmers have had to implement, where they would have one separate set of coding for IE, and a separate set for every other browser, since MS decided that they were the ones that should be setting standards, not everyone else.

I'm actually using the Nightly builds of FF3 now. It auto-updates every day, and it's been running pretty well.

There was an annoying new bug introduced in Beta 4, that they've resolved now, that caused text boxes, like this one I'm typing in, to look corrupted, but they fixed that in Beta 5.

I really don't have any complaints, overall about the progress of FF3 right now.

EDIT: I've Edited my Post DRASTICALLY (Well, I've added a fair amount) Since I posted it a few minutes ago.

[Bryan B]

I'm actually using the Nightly builds of FF3 now. It auto-updates every day, and it's been running pretty well.

There was an annoying new bug introduced in Beta 4, that they've resolved now, that caused text boxes, like this one I'm typing in, to look corrupted, but they fixed that in Beta 5.

I really don't have any complaints, overall about the progress of FF3 right now.

Yes FF3 is still Beta so yes it has a few bugs but is more stable than IE8 and in a few day the FF3 RC 1 will be released.

And i also don't liked the new Firefox Theme so I installed The NASA Theme but i think that the browsering bar new stuff its much better i found more easily my pages.

[Blahages]

Yes FF3 is still Beta so yes it has a few bugs but is more stable than IE8 and in a few day the FF3 RC 1 will be released.

And i also don't liked the new Firefox Theme so I installed The NASA Theme but i think that the browsering bar new stuff its much better i found more easily my pages.

You've either reversed your stance on which browser you prefer, or I misunderstood your first post in this thread.

I read it as "IE8 is better than FF3"

Here's what you said:

I also using the IE8 Beta and its better Firefox always.

From what you keep posting, it looks like you actually meant that FF3 is better.

Correct me if I'm wrong, though. :P That's why I asked you to explain originally.

I don't like the URL bar, because I don't want it searching things. I use the URL bar solely for typing in a URL. I want it to auto fill the URL that I start typing first by the beginning of the URL I type, then by How many times I've visited the page.

Like, if I typed "goo" into the URL Bar, I expect it to fill in "google.com," since I've been to it. I don't want, say, an article I may have read about Google somewhere else, or a Yahoo Search for "Google" or something, showing up in the drop down. If I want something like that, I'll use the Google Search bar to the right of it.

[Bryan B]

You've either reversed your stance on which browser you prefer, or I misunderstood your first post in this thread.

I read it as "IE8 is better than FF3"

Here's what you said:



From what you keep posting, it looks like you actually meant that FF3 is better.

Correct me if I'm wrong, though. :P That's why I asked you to explain originally.

I don't like the URL bar, because I don't want it searching things. I use the URL bar solely for typing in a URL. I want it to auto fill the URL that I start typing first by the beginning of the URL I type, then by How many times I've visited the page.

Like, if I typed "goo" into the URL Bar, I expect it to fill in "google.com," since I've been to it. I don't want, say, an article I may have read about Google somewhere else, or a Yahoo Search for "Google" or something, showing up in the drop down. If I want something like that, I'll use the Google Search bar to the right of it.

haha
sorry yes i make a mistake when i was writing
what i mean is that Firefox 3 is much Better than IE8 BETA
I still need to improve my English Sorry
lol

[Blahages]

haha
sorry yes i make a mistake when i was writing
what i mean is that Firefox 3 is much Better than IE8 BETA
I still need to improve my English Sorry
lol

Yeah, No problem. I figured that since your location was listed as "Mexico" that English was probably not your native language, so I didn't really say anything about it. :)

I can't really speak or write any other languages very well, anyway. I can do a little with Spanish, but not a lot. Definitely not nearly as much (Like 2%, Haha) of what you're doing with English.

I'm glad you've clarified that FF3 > IE8.

If you hadn't, I'd think you were crazy. :P

[Bryan B]

Yeah, No problem. I figured that since your location was listed as "Mexico" that English was probably not your native language, so I didn't really say anything about it. :)

I can't really speak or write any other languages very well, anyway. I can do a little with Spanish, but not a lot. Definitely not nearly as much (Like 2%, Haha) of what you're doing with English.

I'm glad you've clarified that FF3 > IE8.

If you hadn't, I'd think you were crazy. :P

yea
My native language is the Spanish and English is my Secondary and French my Third Language.
But my English I still have some problems with the grammar.