14 DAY TRIAL // Mozilla is cooking a consistent update to the latest iteration of its open source browser, diverging just a tad from its normal refresh cycle that is focused on the delivery of stability fixes and security patches. Essentially, the plan is to integrate Firefox codename Lorentz into Firefox 3.6 via the next minor update scheduled for the browser, although, in this specific case, “minor” is not necessarily the best term to describe the upcoming step in the evolution of v3.6.
In this first half of April 2010, early adopters got their first taste of Firefox 3.6 Lorentz through a Beta Build offered as version 3.6.3 plugin 1. Firefox 3.6.3plugin1 was essentially nothing more than Firefox 3.6.3 with Out of Process Plugin capabilities added on top. The release was designed for testing purposes only, and OOPP is planned for integration into Firefox 3.6.4. In fact, a Beta development milestone of Firefox 3.6.4 is already available for download.
“Firefox 3.6.4 provides uninterrupted browsing for Windows and Linux users when there is a crash in the Adobe Flash, Apple QuickTime or Microsoft Silverlight plugins. If a plugin crashes or freezes, it will not affect the rest of Firefox. You will be able to reload the page to restart the plugin and try again,” an excerpt from the Release Notes for the Beta of Firefox 3.6.4 reads.
Of course, unlike the testing release for codename Lorentz, Firefox 3.6.4 Beta also delivers additional improvements and patches on top of v3.6.3. “Firefox 3.6.4 also fixes the following issues found in previous versions of Firefox 3.6: fixed several security issues and fixed several stability issues,” Mozilla reveals. The specific changes will be detailed as Firefox 3.6.4. is released.
At the time of this article, testers could download Firefox 3.6.4 nightly builds (candidates) via Mozilla’s FTP servers. Of course, existing members of the Beta program might have already noticed that the build was automatically served to them.
Firefox 3.6 Lorentz Beta (3.6.3 Plugin 1 / v3.6.4) for Windows is available for download here.
Firefox 3.7 Alpha 4 / Mozilla Developer Preview of Gecko 1.9.3 Alpha 4 for Windows is available here.
Firefox 3.7 Alpha 4 / Mozilla Developer Preview of Gecko 1.9.3 Alpha 4 for Mac OS X is available here.
Firefox 3.7 Alpha 4 / Mozilla Developer Preview of Gecko 1.9.3 Alpha 4 for Linux is available here.
Firefox 3.6.3 for Windows is available for download here.
Firefox 3.6.3 for Mac OS X is available for download here.
Firefox 3.6.3 for Linux is available for download here.