Firefox 3, the latest salvo in the browser wars

aroundcentralflorida.com

Click writer's name to email Emery Jeffreys.

Posted: 7/7/2008 10:59:27 AM

Firefox 3, the newest Internet browser, has been released and at least 14 million people have downloaded it since its release June 19.

Ten years ago (that's about 100 years in Internet time), the release of a new software application was greeted with the slaying of fatted calves and huge celebrations. Now it's a smile, a raised eyebrow and several clicks of a mouse. Ten years ago the killer application was Netscape Communicator 5. Most new Internet users have never heard of it.

Firefox features

Firefox's new address bar is known as the Smart Location Bar. Internet denizens claim it should be renamed the awesome bar.

And it is awesome.

The Smart Location Bar is quick way to get to Web sites you love -- even the ones with addresses you only vaguely remember. The new Firefox 3 location bar learns as you use it.

Even Mozilla refers to it as the "awesome bar." Over time, it adapts to your preferences and offers better fitting matches. Type in a term and the autocomplete function includes possible matching sites from your browsing history, as well as sites you've bookmarked and tagged. For example, you could enter the tag: "Central Florida" to find http://aroundcentralflorida.com, or "Bright House" to find http://cfl.mybrighthouse.com. Matched terms are highlighted, making the list of results easy to read and choose.

The new Firefox 3.0 resembles its predecessor. The real changes are under the hood. While the changes are tucked away in the programming code, the end user will notice faster Web page loads. Mozilla claims Web pages load two three times faster than Firefox 2.

Zimbra ranks Apple's Safari as the fastest browser, followed by Firefox 3, Firefox 2, the new Internet Explorer 8. Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 brings up the end of the line. Your experience may vary.

Firefox's new features:

• Library - Firefox stores your browsing history and bookmarks in a library. It can save frequent searches in smart folders that automatically grow along with your browser's bookmarks and history.


• Tags - Label sites with names or categories that are meaningful to you. For example, you can label http://aroundcentralflorida.com with news, entertainment and events tags. You can tag Central Florida News 13 as a news and weather site.
  

  You may not remember the name of the site, but by typing "news" in the awesome bar, Mozilla provides a list of possible of sites you may want to see. That means no more searching through a lengthy bookmark list or heading to your favorite search engine because you can't remember a Web address.

  Between the library, tags and the awesome bar, Mozilla can become its own mini search engine that becomes familiar with the sites you visit frequently.

• One-click bookmarking - One click on the star icon at the end of the location bar bookmarks a site. Two clicks and you can choose where to save it and whether to tag it.


• Smart Bookmark Folders - These dynamic folders give you easy access to your favorite sites and can be placed in your Bookmarks menu or Bookmarks toolbar.

The Firefox programming team has also raised the bar for online security.

Its malware and phishing protection helps prevents viruses, worms, trojans and spyware to keep people safe on the Web.

My favorite security feature is Firefox 3's one-click site ID information that allows users to verify that a site is what it claims to be. Just click the little tag in the awesome bar. The browser reveals detailed information about the Website.

I've saved the best for last - customization and add-ons.

Firefox 3 looks very much like Firefox 2 with the exception of Firefox 3's large back button. If you don't like the way Firefox 3 looks, change it! There are dozens of themes that can be used to change the look of Firefox.

The add-ons are tiny Java programs that extend the functions that can be performed by Firefox. Firefox has a core set of functions, but it's openness allows Web developers to add new functions with small programs.

My favorite is AutoCopy. AutoCopy allows cutting and paste from a Web page with one action. It's a simple, simple tool that saves me a huge amount of work. Try getting that functionality in Explorer, Safari or Opera.

Unfortunately, AutoCopy's programmers did not update it for Firefox 3 until several days after the first release. It was frustrating to work without it, but it's one of the dangers of using cutting edge software.

Which browser should I use?

I tend to favor Firefox because I use it so much. That may cloud a recommendation coming from me. I also use Safari and Explorer to test Web pages we build at aroundcentralflorida.com.

The best advice is to try them all. You may choose one over the other. My bet is that you will stick with Firefox because it allows a choice. I believe it's a better browser.

Road Runner customers are entitled to download free CA Security Suite Software. Get the details here.

For more information about Bright House Networks High Speed Internet, check here.