Firefox 6 "On Track" to Launch on Tuesday
Firefox 6 "On Track" to Launch on Tuesday
Posted 08/12/2011 at 6:59am
| by Paul Lilly
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While you're busy grilling cow parts and getting ahead on back-to-school shopping this weekend, Mozilla will spend the next few days spit shining Firefox 6, the next major browser release slated to ship on Tuesday. And though Mozilla is known for pushing back release dates, there doesn't seem to be any cause for concern that Firefox 6 isn't ready for prime time.
"On track with a few bugs still remaining. No concerns for Tuesday," Mozilla wrote in a note on its website.
Mozilla's rapid release schedule has kicked things into high gear, but if the notes are any indication, quality doesn't seem to be suffering as a result. Neither is add-on support. According to Mozilla, 94 percent of available add-ons still work with Firefox 6, and you can add another percentage point for top usage add-ons.
Looking ahead, Mozilla is planning to launch Firefox 7 barely a month later on September 27th, followed by Firefox 8 on November 11th. If all goes to plan, Mozilla will squeeze in one more browser release -- Firefox 9 -- before the end of the year.
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GetOutOfBox
August 12, 2011 at 4:51pm
This is pathetic. Why the retarded marketing scheme, Mozilla? I thought you were a not-for-profit organization, so why bother using tactics such as inflated version numbers to get the few people split between FF and Chrome? It's not as if money's at stake.
Either way, both Chrome and Firefox have their pros and cons. Most people that use FF/Chrome over IE are probably technically oriented enough not to fall for the "OH LOOK, FIREFOX JUST RELEASED VERSION 22 1 MONTH AFTER VERSION 10 WAS RELEASED, IT MUST BE SO MUCH BETTER!!11!!" tactic.
nmanguy
August 13, 2011 at 11:55am
From a pragmatic view, I guess it's easier to say "Compatible with Firefox 5+", rather than "Compatible with Firefox 4.6.11.3+".
Paul_Lilly
August 12, 2011 at 7:05pm
There's actually quite a bit of money at stake. Most of Mozilla's money comes from search royalties, and of that, Google is by far the biggest contributor to Mozilla's bottom line. In 2009, Mozilla reported revenue of more than $104 million, almost all of which came from Google.
Another reason for the intense competition among browser makers is the tug-of-war over Web standards, especially as we move into HTML5 territory. There are several competiting standards, and those with the most market share tend to have a larger influence.
Finally, Microsoft has a huge interest in maintaining its market share dominance, as businesses build their internal networks around IE and purchase related products and services, Sharepoint being a good example.
thetechchild
August 12, 2011 at 6:43pm
On the other hand, why not? If the only thing different is the numbering of the versions, then I don't see how that negatively effects Firefox or Mozilla. If the features, backwards compatibility, and stability, are all the same or improved, the numbering shouldn't bother you (which, apparently, it does).
livebriand
August 12, 2011 at 12:01pm
I didn't even realize it, but I was on the beta upgrade channel for FF and already running the beta of V6. It seems fine. However, like all V4 and later, it's a bit bloated and slow. I use Chrome most of the time, except that V13 has some issues with a forum I visit that's based on IP.Board. (dang it.. is 13 the unlucky number?) I don't have huge issues with Chrome though. Mozilla is heading down the wrong path though, what's with the accelerated version numbers with little change? STUPID...
JohnP
August 12, 2011 at 9:54am
The ONLY issue I have ever had with upgraded Firefox is that the add-ons get broke. I was totally amazed then when Roboform did an upgrade yesterday that made it WORK WITH FF ver 6! The first time ever that Roboform was ahead of the game...
naxself
August 12, 2011 at 9:12am
Seriously, WTF are they doing? A new browser per month? That's just mental.
I've been using Firefox since it was created. I'm seriously considering switching now.
grayscale00
August 12, 2011 at 3:32pm
You're only reason for switching is the rapid release schedule?? I really do hope you're being sarcastic there.
I Jedi
August 12, 2011 at 9:46am
Why switch, if you like Firefox? Find an appropriate version, which is stable and you can live with, and wait a few releases before updating again.
naxself
August 14, 2011 at 6:12pm
No, I'm not switching because of the release schedule, though I still don't see the point of it. It'd be nice if they gave each version time to mature.
don2041
August 12, 2011 at 9:01am
Oh they shuffled the icons again and call it a new version. what a pile.
I Jedi
August 12, 2011 at 8:13am
*Captain Picard face palm*
Words cannot express why this pains me so.
Zoandar
August 12, 2011 at 7:54am
This is getting quite literally ridiculous. Version 4 was barely stable when version 5 released, which I can't even make run on one of my WinXP notebooks. On Win7 version 5 periodically 'stops responding' and has to be restarted to make it work. Plus I get 'script errors' all the time with verion 5. Fortunately I also run Chrome, and have found it to be far more stable on BOTH platforms. 5 is also slower in performance than 4 was. Is it time to re-think 'Firefox Explorer' and switch to Chrome instead? I've yet to see anything lacking in Chrome.
Dman222123222
August 12, 2011 at 11:33pm
No issue with scripts here, but Firefox does occasionally freeze for me too.
Scatter
August 12, 2011 at 11:18am
I've been running version 5 for a while now and never had any of the script errors that you describe. It works just fine here. Perhaps its due to your hardware, a virus on your PC or an addon that you have installed. The only problem that I've ever had with upgrading to new version have been occasional incompatible addons.
People need to stop worrying about what version of Firefox they're coming out with. If it makes you feel any better about it just imagine a 1 infront of the version. That would make my version 1.5 and the upcoming ones 1.6 and 1.7. A version number is only a version numer and they've been coming out with regular updates forever.
Brett Schealler
August 12, 2011 at 8:27am
I was in the same boat a couple years ago. Firefox seemed to be bloated and slow like IE was. It was then that I found Opera. such an amazing browser, with features like speed dial and magic wand that others are copying today. the only downside I had was a couple of sites in a thousand didn't work properly- much like openoffice to microsoft office. Eventually I switched back. was it worth it? yes.
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