Mozilla brings us the first beta release of Firefox 4. This is just the beginning and this first release offers individuals and organizations a first look at the upcoming versions of the popular open-source Web browser. The company has promised many more beta versions of the browser in the near future. The browser’s new features include a UI facelift, a new Add-ons manager, support for the HD HTML5 WebM video format, and process isolation for browser plug-ins.
The move can be seen as the reflex reaction by the company by the fast popular becoming browser the Google Chrome. The browser also has tough competition from another very popular browser in the market the Microsoft Internet Explorer. Every few weeks the refinement is in the works as the competitiveness in the web browser market is ever increasing.
July the sixth saw Mike Beltzner, director of Firefox development at Mozilla, posting on the Mozilla blog “Your feedback is essential to help shape the product, which is why we’re launching now to hear from you early in our development process,”
The new browser is earning praises for some of the features that are new and were highly desired from the earlier versions. These new features include revised menu layout, more screen space for Web pages, and more HTML 5 HD video support.
Not many changes are seen at a first look in the new version over the earlier Firefox 3. The visual changes are scant except the appearance of tabs on top of the browser as seen in Chrome and a button to replace the menu bar quite similar as that in Opera. The browser now offers a greater protection against crashes by regulation the plug-ins. The new entry is the an Extension system named the Jetpack that eases the process of building and usage of coding extensions. The JavaScript performance in the Firefox 4 is though better but it still lacks in the same when compared to Chrome or Opera.
The Firefox’s beta version is available as a free download.
The site also informs that “This is pre-release software: you may encounter compatibility problems with some websites and add-ons.If you find a problem please let us know or file a bug.
For more details, read the release notes and known issues at website of firefox