14 DAY TRIAL // While end users might choose to focus on palpable features for the next version of Mozilla’s open source browser, such as the overhauled graphical user interface, fact is that Firefox 4.0 will bring to the table much more than the revamped UI. And there are new features bound to make little sense to the vast majority of the Firefox audience. This, however is not valid for developers, no matter whether they choose to focus on the browser itself or on building web experiences. Just as Microsoft has the new IETestDrive website, an online destination dedicated to web developers (much as the Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) Platform Preview releases), so too Mozilla offers a nook for devs interested in the evolution to Firefox 4.0.
“Firefox 4, due to enter beta in late June, enhances performance, adds more support for HTML5 and other evolving Web technologies, and further improves security. This article provides initial information about this upcoming release and what features are available for Web developers, add-on developers, and Gecko platform developers alike,” an excerpt from the website reads.
According to the open source browser vendor, developers should keep revisiting the webpage in question, for additional content will be added as Firefox 4.0 begins to take shape. The online destination also features an impressive enumeration of Firefox 4.0 features set up especially for web developers. And as devs will be able to see, there are a number of focus points, such as HTML, CSS, graphics and video, DOM, Security, and JavaScript.
At the same time, Mozilla reveals the changes that will impact developers of Firefox 4.0 add-ons. Extensions are a very important part of the overall Firefox experience, and, with version 4.0, the open source browser will sport: tabbrowser (gBrowser) changes, new JavaScript code modules, XUL modifications, but also changes to storage and memory management.
The Alpha preview of 64-bit (x64) Firefox 4.0 for Windows 7 (Firefox-3.7a5pre.en-US.win64-x86_64) 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.
Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) Platform Preview 2 Build 1.9.7766.6000 is available for download here.
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