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Firefox 4.0 Beta 1 Released

7 min read

This thread's last reply is from . Advice, software, and links below may be out of date — treat specific steps and download links with caution.

Post #1
Source

Firefox 4 Beta

Beta version 1: released July 6th, 2010
These are the release notes for the first version of the Firefox 4 Beta, based on the Gecko 2.0 Web platform. Please read below for more detailed information about what's new in this version of the beta release, as well as the known issues.

We rely on your feedback to help shape our products, so we've bundled a Feedback Add-On with the Firefox 4 Beta that provides an easy to use Feedback button.

If you want to test Add-Ons with Firefox 4 Beta, you will need to install the Add-On Compatibility Reporter first.


Tabs are now on top by default on Windows only - OSX and Linux will be changing when the theme has been modified to support the change.
On Windows Vista and Windows 7 the menu bar has been replaced with the Firefox button.
You can search for and switch to already open tabs in the Smart Location Bar
New Addons Manager and extension management API (UI will be changed before final release)
Significant API improvements are available for JS-ctypes, a foreign function interface for extensions.
The stop and reload buttons have been merged into a single button on Windows, Mac and Linux.
The Bookmarks Toolbar has been replaced with a Bookmarks Button by default (you can switch it back if you'd like).
Crash protection for Windows, Linux, and Mac when there is a crash in the Adobe Flash, Apple Quicktime or Microsoft Silverlight plugins.
CSS Transitions are partially supported.
Full WebGL support is included but disabled by default at this time.
Core Animation rendering model for plugins on Mac OS X. Plugins which also support this rendering model can now draw faster and more efficiently.
Native support for the HD HTML5 WebM video format.
An experimental Direct2D rendering backend is available on Windows, turned off by default.
Web developers can use Websockets for a low complexity, low latency, bidirectional communications API.
Web developers can update the URL field without reloading the page using HTML History APIs.
More responsive page rendering using lazy frame construction.
Link history lookup is done asynchronously to provide better responsiveness during pageload.
CSS :visited selectors have been changed to block websites from being able to check a user's browsing history.
New HTML5 parser.
Support for more HTML5 form controls.

Developers can find out about all the changes and new features at the Mozilla Developer Center.


Download Here:

Download Now - Free

This is taken from a Build that was frozen on 6.29.10 I believe. There are nightly builds that are further along than this. If you are interested in them , you can get them at:

http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/fir…y/latest-trunk/

They update everyday. With the extension called ACR -Addon Compatibility Reporter it will make just about any extension compatible.
Post #2
the most current Firefox release 6/27/10 that I am aware of is is 3.6.6
http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?s=…st&p=661757

"Beta" releases of any software, utility, browser, etc. denotes that the product has not been fully tested on all platforms, or still contains known conflicts and bugs that the author publisher has not yet mastered and repaired.

The (beta) product is sufficiently developed to run on most systems and produce the majority of its features, even though a few features may not yet work successfully, and may cause difficulty on the machines of some users.

Releasing a (beta) version of a product is a popular way for the publisher to give potential users a "test-drive" in advance of the full-release, AND serves as a "testing period" during which users of the (beta-release) can correspond with the publisher about features that don't work, features that may need to be added, and user-discovered "solutions" to bugs that the publisher is still trying to get fixed before final public full-release.

IF YOUR DECIDE TO DOWNLOAD AND RUN A "BETA" VERSION OF ANY SOFTWARE:
  • You should not run it on your main machine.
  • You should not rely upon it to handle data, communication, and projects that you would be afraid to loose or have ruined.
  • You should be prepared to expect at least some level of problems and dysfunction of the product.

Lots of people do download and run "beta" versions of products.
But those who do should have some skills in software development, or have a machine that is a "test-bed" that they can afford to allow out-of-service if they encounter a problem.

"Beta-Testing" can be fun and a good learning experience, IF you are aware of the above.

Beta-Testing is not for the average user, and never should be downloaded and conducted on machines or with data/information/projects, that are valuable to the user and that they are not prepared to loose and have damaged.

Back Up your stuff and be prepared to use a spare machine, if you decide to participate in a Beta Testing release of a software or utility.

It is not the policy of WTT Forums to encourage the average user to participate in Beta Testing.

Doug
Post #4
OK There is a new Beta Release, 4.0 beta1 as you stated in your first post. I understood that the first time you posted. For Firefox users, most folks who would be interested in participating with Beta releases, would already know that. For those who don't many/most won't care to participate until the Release reaches its full public release. Some ought not to be encouraged to download and install Beta Release versions, particularly if they are not aware to use a test-bed machine, or would stumble in to using a Beta Release product with the belief that it is safe to rely upon it, and trust it for their main computing uses, and with their important data. Yes, we have some admirably Tech Savy members here at WTT. Some of them may be interested in participating with the release your mention. Most of our Members come here seeking assistance. The comments and cautions that I posted above continue to stand for those of our Membership who are less tech savvy. Thanks for your participation and for bringing this interesting topic to the attention of WTT Members.
Post #5
It should be the members choice to install or not to install it. Neowin is running this on their News Page. FWIW, I did not install it as I am using Minefield Nightly Builds that are about 8 days newer and futher along than this Beta is.
Post #6
Yes Members exercise their own choice and preference about what they install on their machines and how they use their machines. They are after all, the owner/users of their machines. WTT Forums also exercises choice in how software, operating systems, and hardware are promoted in our Forums. Beta Release and beta testing can be a great learning experience, and exciting for those who wish to explore new innovations. Beta Testing also provides a valuable tool to the developers and publishers who wish to release the best and most productive software for the public to use. It remains important to call attention to risks and best practices. While your linked information provides some of those cautions, my added note is to alert less savvy Members before they start down the path. For more technically skilled and interested folks, perhaps such as yourself, beta testing can be enjoyable and beneficial. I hope you will see fit to describe your own experience and present it for discussion, while still taking cautions into consideration.
Post #7
FYI…

Buried somewhere in the User T&C's (Terms and Conditions) of all BETA software (and thanks to those "legal beagles" for making us very aware of it) is verbiage "similar to" or "the same as" the following:
"…NOTE: Use beta software at your own risk; it is intended for testing and evaluation purposes only. Do -not- install beta software on your primary computer or production environment…"
So, if you -still- choose to use said software under those conditions, feel free to do so. But remember you give up "your right to gripe" when you do.

.
Post #8

FYI…

Buried somewhere in the User T&C's (Terms and Conditions) of all BETA software (and thanks to those "legal beagles" for making us very aware of it) is verbiage "similar to" or "the same as" the following:
"…NOTE: Use beta software at your own risk; it is intended for testing and evaluation purposes only. Do -not- install beta software on your primary computer or production environment…"
So, if you -still- choose to use said software under those conditions, feel free to do so. But remember you give up "your right to gripe" when you do.

.



Thanks AplusWebMaster. :thumbup:
Post #9 last edited
Soap you're are comming across as a bit boorish, you could reply to people with a bit more grace and tact. Doug is just enforcing the fact that if you install Beta software you run the risk of encountering problems. :)