Firefox 3.6

Firefox 3.6 is the latest browser to be created by the Mozilla Foundation and, like previous versions, it remains true to its principles of usability and customisation. If you’ve never used Firefox before, it’s worth trying it out, particularly at a time when there are doubts about the security of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (see page opposite). At the time of writing, the final version hadn’t been publicly released but, barring a major bug, you should be able to download the full release of Firefox 3.6 by the time you read this. As the name Firefox 3.6 suggests, it’s not a massive change from Firefox 3.5 – the interface is largely the same and visually there is little to distinguish between versions. It’s under the surface that Firefox 3.6 differs from its predecessor.

Firstly, it’s faster - or so Mozilla says. We’ve not been able to test this rigorously enough to confirm the claim. It’s also worth pointing out that the speed of your browsing experience will depend a lot on your web connection and the hardware you are using. But we didn’t notice any difficulty in loading web pages during our tests.

Secondly, there is now a feature that ensures all your plug-ins – Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight, for example – are up to date, and which prompts you to do something about it if they are not. Other browsers leave you to check whether you have the latest version of a plug-in, but Firefox 3.6 has taken over this responsibility, which is all the more commendable when you consider that out-of-date plug-ins give cybercriminals an easy way into your PC.

If customising your browser is a priority, you’ll love the Personas feature. This tool that lets you choose a theme for your browser interface and, with 35,000 templates to choose from, you’re bound to find something you like. In the unlikely event that you don’t, there’s an option to create your own skin.

Available as a free download for Windows, Mac and Linux systems, there is no excuse for not having Firefox 3.6 installed on your computer. It’s slick, customisable and reduces security headaches – we can’t find a bad word to say about it.


Source of Information : WebUser January 28 2010