Mozilla has launched Firefox 5, a new version of the popular open source Web browser and this is the first update that Mozilla has issued since adopting a new release management strategy that has drastically shortened the Firefox development cycle. Mozilla has successfully delivered Firefox 5 to users a mere three months after the release of Firefox 4 and the new version is unsurprisingly light on user-facing changes due to the shortened cycle, but has some decent improvements under the hood. It also proved to be fairly robust during our tests, which suggests that the browser’s quality hasn’t suffered from the transition to the new release management strategy. Firefox 5 is the addition of support for CSS animations, an experimental CSS3 feature that allows Web developers to do keyframe-style animation on CSS properties………..
Mozilla released a new version of Mozilla Firefox for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android. The new version of Firefox comes on the heels of the wildly successful release of Firefox 4, which had more than 200 million downloads on Windows, Mac and Linux and millions of downloads in the Android Market. Mozilla’s shift to a rapid release development cycle delivers cutting edge Firefox features, performance enhancements, security updates and stability improvements to users faster. The latest version of Firefox includes more than 1,000 improvements and performance enhancements that make it easier to discover and use all of the innovative features in Firefox. This release adds support for more modern Web technologies that make it easier for developers to build amazing Firefox Add-ons, Web applications and websites. Firefox for Android includes the Do Not Track privacy feature in this release, making Firefox the first browser to support Do Not Track on multiple platforms. Mozilla created Do Not Track to give users more control over the way their browsing behavior is tracked and used on the Web. The feature, which lets users tell websites that they wish to opt-out of online behavioral tracking, is now easier to find in Firefox Preferences.
Firefox offers users complete control over the look and functionality of their Web browser with a gallery of hundreds of thousands of add-ons. About 85% of Firefox 4 users have an add-on installed to customize the look, features and functionality of their Firefox. Mozilla has a rich set of resources that make it easier for Web developers to build compelling Firefox Add-ons using HTML, JavaScript and CSS. The new Firefox Add-on SDK for Windows, Mac and Linux enables local development of add-ons, while the Firefox Add-on Builder Beta provides a hosted Web-based build environment. Developers can build Firefox Add-ons for all platforms that install and update without requiring a browser restart or interrupting the Web browsing experience. Firefox for Windows, Mac and Linux now supports the CSS Animations standard to enable developers to build more amazing Web applications and websites. Mozilla Hacks has a tutorial on CSS Animations and a comprehensive blog post explaining what developers can create with Firefox. To get the latest version of Firefox for Windows, Mac or Linux click on check for update under the About Firefox menu or download the Firefox Aurora and Beta channels here. Visit this page to get the latest version of Firefox on your Android device or to join the beta. Users with Firefox for Android installed will receive a notification to update to the latest version.
What’s New On Mozila Firefox 5 :
- It’ll be updated quickly: With the launch of Firefox 5, Mozilla has implemented its new rapid-release development cycle. The idea behind it is for the organization to release new versions of Firefox several weeks apart to get updates into users’ hands faster than ever. Though some are keen on the idea, others are concerned that Mozilla won’t support previous versions long enough. Realizing that, it’s incumbent upon Web users to keep in mind that Firefox 5 will be overshadowed in several weeks.
- It has no major improvements: One of the biggest surprises about Firefox 5 is that it doesn’t come with major improvements. Instead, the browser brings a host of small updates that should make it run a bit smoother than Firefox 4. Whether or not it’s a bad thing that Firefox 5 doesn’t come with major updates is up for debate. But itmight make some folks who skipped Firefox 4 question whether or not a jump to Firefox 5 is worth it.
- It addresses many bugs: According to Mozilla, Firefox 5 has over 1,000 improvements. However, the vast majority of those are bug fixes. With FIrefox 5, users will find bug fixes related to crashes, fonts, and other small issues people were experiencing with Firefox 4. However, keep in mind that all those updates should make Firefox 5 more stable than its predecessor.
- It’s slower than counterparts: According to reviews across the Web, Firefox 5 is slower than Google Chrome. Though I didn’t use benchmarking software and only compared load times for different Web sites, I witnessed the same speed issues with Firefox 5. Of course, just because it’s slower than Chrome doesn’t mean Firefox 5 isn’t fast—it is. But those looking for the fastest browsing experience today will find that from Google, not Mozilla.
- It’s easier to find Do Not Track: Though Firefox’s Do Not Track privacy feature was available in Firefox 4, many users complained that it was hard to find. With Firefox 5, Do Not Track is now available in the software’s Privacy tab, making it much easier for users to find. In addition, the Do-Not-Track feature is available in the mobile version of the software for Android-based devices, as well.
- Firefox 4 users will want it: Though there is some speculation that Google Chrome and even Internet Explorer users won’t jump to download Firefox 5, it seems like an obvious choice for current Firefox 4 users. After all, Firefox 5 delivers the same basic functionality, but delivers better stability and security. Plus, it’s free. So, users who are currently running Firefox 4 will find a lot to like in Firefox 5.
- Support for CSS animations: One of the more important additions to Firefox 5 is support for CSS animations. That technology is often used by Web sites and app developers to move elements within a page around the screen. As Mozilla points out, support for CSS animations in Firefox 5 should pave the way for developers to “build more amazing Web applications and Web sites.” So, while the addition is a boon for developers at first, Firefox 5 users might also benefit from it over the long-term.
- It has come under fire: As of late, Firefox 5 has come under fire from critics who say that calling it a new version of Mozilla’s venerable browser is nonsense. Those folks say that the browser delivers no major improvements that would justify its “5” moniker and Mozilla must do more in the future to ensure its updates are meaningful to users. That criticism could drastically affect the way Mozilla handles Firefox updates in the future, and users should keep that in mind.
- The competition is stiff: Mozilla is launching Firefox 5 in an increasingly competitive browser market. Windows owners have several fine options to choose from, including Chrome and Internet Explorer, and both of those browsers deliver their own benefits over Firefox 5. On the Mac side, Safari is a worthwhile alternative to Firefox 5, as well. Simply put, Firefox 5 isn’t competing in a vacuum, and users might do well to consider alternatives before opting for Mozilla’s latest launch.
- Mozilla has made it more secure: As the number of Web-based threats continues to rise, Internet users want to know that the browser they’re employing will help keep them safe. Luckily, Mozilla delivered several security improvements to Firefox 5 to help folks achieve that goal. Of course, no browser can keep someone entirely secure, but the addition of security updates in Firefox 5, including critical issues in WebGLES library, among others, is nice to see.
Download Mozila Firefox 5 For Windows: Here
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