14 DAY TRIAL // That's right, forget about Firefox 3.1. Version 3.1 of Mozilla's open-source browser is heading straight for an early grave even before it was made available to the public, or finalized for that matter. You have been able to read it first right here on Softpedia, at the end of the past week, that Mozilla was considering rebranding Firefox 3.1 as Firefox 3.5 after the model of Firefox 1.1 and Firefox 1.5. In February 2007 Mozilla's Director of Ecosystem Development Mike Shaver indicated that the eventuality of a version evolution from 3.1 to 3.5 would be up for debate once Firefox 3.1 Beta 3 was wrapped up and shipped. However, it seems that Mozilla failed to wait for Beta 3 for the move.
In the Firefox Product Delivery Meeting Details, Mozilla notes that “version numbering [would advance from] 3.1 -> 3.5 to indicate increased scope. [Mozilla] will need to figure out how to update all our tools effectively (build, bugzilla, AMO, etc.) – detailed plan coming this week.”
Mozilla shipped Firefox 3.0 in mid-2008, and although it initially planned for version 3.1 to be available by the end of the past year, the next iteration of the open-source browser has slipped well into 2009. At this point in time it appears that the final availability date of Firefox 3.0's successor will be close to mid-2009, although there is no official confirmation from Mozilla.
Still, Firefox 3.1 is not dead. This is nothing more than a simple care of relabeling. According to Mozilla: “beta 3 will still be shipped under 3.1 moniker. Labels existing increase in scope vs original 3.1 plan, not a willingness to further increase scope.” Yes, there will a Firefox 3.1 Beta 3, the last gasp of version 3.1 for that matter, or among the last gasps, since Mozilla did not deliver an actual date when Firefox 3.1 would morph into Firefox 3.5. In fact, as of March 4, 2009, Mozilla has frozen and closed down Firefox 3.1 Beta 3, with the delivery date scheduled for March 12, next week.
Still, the road to Firefox 3.5 will not end with Firefox 3.1 Beta 3. Mozilla also revealed last week that it planned to add yet another Beta development milestone to the building process. It just remains to be seen whether the upcoming release, following Beta 3, will be Firefox 3.1 Beta 4 or Firefox 3.5 Beta 4.
Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 for Windows is available here.
Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 for Linux is available here.
Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 for Mac OS X is available here.