Firefox 2 Alpha 1 Available

This release is a preview version for developers, install it at your own risk. Your installed Firefox plugins and themes will not work under this alpha version. If you are really curious and wish to install it, you can download and use the Portable Firefox 2.0 Alpha 1.0.

According to this Firefox 2 Roadmap, the stable release of Firefox 2.0 is expected to happen late 2nd quearter or early 3rd quarter this year.

For those who wish to wait until a stable version is released, here’s what to expect in Firefox 2:

A new bookmark and history system

Places is a new feature that makes it easier for people to search through their History and Bookmark. Please can be accessed using this icon on the bookmark toolbar. View screenshot of Places Window.

The “Go” menu on menubar is renamed to “History”. The “History” menu have two new sub-menu, “Search in History..” and “Clear History …”. View screenshot of History Menu.

Tabbed Browsing UI improvement

Tabbed browsing is one of the most popular feature of Mozilla Firefox. Some of the changes to tabs in Firefox are undo tab close, and close button is now located on tabs. Tab X extension is no longer needed to add close button on tabs. More information on Tab ».

Screenshot of Firefox 2 Alpha 1 with close button on tabs.

Other features

I’m not sure if these features are available in this alpha release, but the stable version will include the following features:

Session Saver — Firefox 2.0 will automatically restore the user’s workspace exactly as it was after a crash.
Extension Blocklisting — Provide a method to remotely disable extensions due to security vulnerabilities, behaviors that adversely impacts the user experience, and unforeseen behaviors.
Native Theme support — Firefox on Windows will fit with XP/Vista look and feel, on OS X will fit with OS X look and feel, on Linux will fit with GNOME look and feel.
Search engine remover — Easier for user to dump unwanted engines from Search Bar
Inline spell-checking
Anti phising technology

Related Links:

March 20, 2006

An alpha release of Mozilla Firefox 2.0 (Alpha 1) is available for the public to download. This pre-release version of Firefox 2.0 is codenamed Bon Echo, taken from a public park located in Ontario, Canada, Bon Echo Provincial Park. This release is a preview version for developers, install it at your own risk. Your installed Firefox plugins and themes will not work under this alpha version. If you are really curious and wish to install it, you can download and use the Portable Firefox 2.0 Alpha 1.0. According to this Firefox 2 Roadmap, the stable release of Firefox 2.0 is expected to happen late 2nd quearter or early 3rd quarter this year. For those who wish to wait until a stable version is released, here's what to expect in Firefox 2: ### A new bookmark and history system Places is a new feature that makes it easier for people to search through their History and Bookmark. Please can be accessed using this

icon on the bookmark toolbar. View screenshot of Places Window. The "Go" menu on menubar is renamed to "History". The "History" menu have two new sub-menu, "Search in History.." and "Clear History ...". View screenshot of History Menu. ### Tabbed Browsing UI improvement Tabbed browsing is one of the most popular feature of Mozilla Firefox. Some of the changes to tabs in Firefox are undo tab close, and close button is now located on tabs. Tab X extension is no longer needed to add close button on tabs. More information on Tab ». Screenshot of Firefox 2 Alpha 1 with close button on tabs. ### Other features I'm not sure if these features are available in this alpha release, but the stable version will include the following features:

Session Saver -- Firefox 2.0 will automatically restore the user's workspace exactly as it was after a crash.
Extension Blocklisting -- Provide a method to remotely disable extensions due to security vulnerabilities, behaviors that adversely impacts the user experience, and unforeseen behaviors.
Native Theme support -- Firefox on Windows will fit with XP/Vista look and feel, on OS X will fit with OS X look and feel, on Linux will fit with GNOME look and feel.
Search engine remover -- Easier for user to dump unwanted engines from Search Bar
Inline spell-checking
Anti phising technology

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