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Firefox 3.1 Beta

Version: 3.1 Beta

Downloads Count: 3,705

License Type: Free

Price: Free

Date Added: Oct 16, 2008

Operating Systems: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003

Requirements: Pentium 233 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 52 MB hard drive space

File Size: 7553 KB

Author: Mozilla

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Editor's Review of Firefox 3.1 Beta

Mozilla's slick, speedy Firefox browser adds a new trick in its latest beta, version 3.1: A clever way to preview and switch between all of the tabbed windows that you have open.

Firefox was one of the first browsers to offer tabbed browsing, which allows you to open multiple Web pages within a single browser window. To switch between those tabs in most browsers, you have to click on the actual tab that you see at the top of the window; admittedly, not a difficult or time-consuming task. But it may seem that way after you try out Firefox 3.1.

If you hold down the Control button and hit the tab key, you'll get a window that shows all of the tabs you have open—complete with previews of the Web pages. Hitting the tab key again lets you scroll through all of the windows that you have open. Releasing the control button brings you to the tab that's in the center of the screen at the time. It visually impressive, and very convenient—especially if you're working with several tabs open at once.

The other changes in version 3.1 are mostly under the hood. It is based on an updated Gecko rendering platform that should improve its handling of Web standards, and it adds support for some new Web technologies.

On the surface, version 3.1 looks almost identical to Firefox's current stable release, version 3.0.3. That said, 3.1 is clearly a beta, so be prepared for a few bugs. Mozilla warns that Firefox add-ons will not work with the browser. In my browsing, I noticed a few quirks: The first time I tried to install Adobe Flash, for example, the process unexpectedly quit on me. I tried it again, though, and Flash installed--and worked--without a hitch. Mozilla is asking users of the Firefox 3.1 beta to submit bug reports so that the major issues can be resolved before the final launch.

Note: This link takes you to the vendor's site, where you can download the latest version of the software.

--Liane Cassavoy

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