Firefox's New Browser Out As Free Download

Release Delayed As Web Servers Overloaded By Visitors

(AP)  The new version of the Firefox Web browser became available as a free download Tuesday.

The release was delayed as visitors checking for the update overloaded Firefox's Web servers. The site was slow or unreachable for about two hours starting about 12:45 p.m. Eastern time, 15 minutes before the scheduled release time, according to AlertSite, an Internet performance monitoring company. Performance improved later in the day.

Firefox supporters organized launch parties around the world as they tried to set a world record for most software downloads in a 24-hour period.

The category is new, and Guinness World Records must certify it, a process that could take a week or longer.

Firefox comes from Mozilla, an open-source community in which thousands of people, mostly volunteers, collectively develop free products. Firefox is the No. 2 Web browser behind Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer.

Firefox 3 includes enhancements to help users organize their frequently visited Web sites and block access to sites known to distribute viruses and other malicious software.

Users of Yahoo Inc.'s mail service can also use Firefox 3 to send e-mail by clicking a "mailto" link they might come across clicking on a name or a "contact us" link on a Web page. Previously such links could only open a standalone, desktop e-mail program.

Firefox 3 also offers other design and speed improvements.

[lily_ayanami]

w00t!!!

[Wookiee-1138]

My thoughts so far:
Works faster
Nicer GUI
All my add-ons still worked or got updated within a few hours.
Despite some server farts to start, last I heard Mozilla had almost 2 million downloads logged.
The microsoft guys were nice enough to send a cake.

[rational_1]

"Firefox supporters organized launch parties around the world as they tried to set a world record for most software downloads in a 24-hour period."

Okay I''m as big a fan of Firefox as the next guy (and think IE blows), but doesn''t hosting a launch party just scream NERD?

[nothappyatall]

Why does this seem like an infomercial ~AD~ for a commercial product on a NEWS site?

[jseymouriii]

"Okay I''''m as big a fan of Firefox as the next guy (and think IE blows), but doesn''''t hosting a launch party just scream NERD?"

I think more like GEEK.

[cdfoxtrot]

Why does this seem like an infomercial ~AD~ for a commercial product on a NEWS site?

Posted by newster1

It''s news about a technology. There are news items all the time about Microsoft products, etc. Do you complain about those too?

[pub17]

IT''S BLOODY AWFUL!!!!! Using your browsing history is a two-handed, soul-shattering chore. I''ve already ripped it out and unless I can find a source to reinstall Firefox 2, I''m back to (ick) IE for the first time in FIVE YEARS.

[dragon8me]

Of course it''s an infomercial, CBS is owned by AOL. If you think this is bad their CBS station in Abilene TX Has private bussiness on the "news" every day, as if there some sort of experts. Nothing but Corporate Media, How do you think Bush got away with so much, including stealing the election?