FireFox 5

[TigerRaptor]

I mean really? Version 4 is still in beta and they are already thinking of version 5?

http://download.cnet.com/2300-2137_4-10006754.html

[Glowhyena]

Maybe... Firefox 7.

[TechPro]

I mean really? Version 4 is still in beta and they are already thinking of version 5?

http://download.cnet.com/2300-2137_4-10006754.html

Why not? It's typical (and accepted) standard practice with a lot of companies. For example: When Intel is introducing a new processor on the market, they already have the next processor in testing and later stages of development and the processor that will come after it is in early stages ... meanwhile the next processor after that one is going through the initial design stages. With Microsoft, when they release an OS, they already have a team hard at work on the next OS, and the OS after that is in it's early stages. With automobile manufacturers, they are building the car that will replace the car that has been released today, and the car that will replace the one being built ... is in the later stages of development with new ideas being thought up down the road.

This allows companies to keep their whole staff busy selling, finishing, manufacturing, testing, designing, brainstorming ... the whole process of bringing a product to market.

[Aus-RED-5]

x2 TechPro.

Stay ahead, or get left behind.

[Krom]

AMD(ATI) and Nvidia usually have something to the tune of 4-6 different graphics chip design generations in flight at any given time. A new generation comes out every 6-18 months, but it takes 3-6 years to design and build a chip, so it is pretty obvious that they have a number of teams working on different chips and different stages of development at any given time.

[TigerRaptor]

Thanks for the lesson Tech on something I already know. In all honestly I know where you're coming at.

But seeing how steady Mozilla has been over the years with the resent version numbers. The sudden leap to whole numbers feels really out of character. I know Google has been doing this for many years and that comes to no surprise. But bring out 4 major versions within a short period of time. It is almost like Mozilla is admitting that Firefox 4 is inferior to the other browsers, because they have bigger numbers.

It just feels too soon.

[snoopy]

AMD(ATI) and Nvidia usually have something to the tune of 4-6 different graphics chip design generations in flight at any given time. A new generation comes out every 6-18 months, but it takes 3-6 years to design and build a chip, so it is pretty obvious that they have a number of teams working on different chips and different stages of development at any given time.

There's the key. When your product takes 4 years to develop, you have to have multiple projects going in parallel to achieve a next gen release each year.

On Topic:

Tiger, I tend to agree with you, maybe for a different reason:
I really am liking arch's rolling release model. I understand that for purchased software, you need to delineate version numbers in order to justify charging for upgrades; but when your software is free for download, who really cares what the version number says? My vote would be that Mozilla should release version according to the convention (Major updates being a full version number, increasingly minor updates being increasingly less significant digits in the decimal tree), and release small updates often.

Though, if the jumps in versions is an indication of heavy development, then I'm all about it.

[SirWinner]

I think it is great that the Mozilla crew are forcing Microsoft to make a better browser just to keep up with Firefox.

Internet Explorer (MSIE) took too long to add TABS that Firefox had more than 6 months to a year ahead of MSIE!

I applaud the efforts done in Firefox... it is great to see people that are security concerned to the point that they are PROACTIVE on fixing security holes unlike the REACTIVE team that works on MSIE that often takes way too long to fix glaring security issues!

Firefox's automatic notification of software updates and the smooth updates is very commendable.

This long time Software Developer appreciates all the hard work that is put into keeping Firefox out front in innovation.

Bill G.
Computer Programmer / Systems Analyst / Lead Software Developer for over 33 years.
- Age 54 (February 24, 2011)

[Glowhyena]

Beta 12 is worse than before. It sometimes freezes.

[Jeff250]

http://www.canweshipyet.com/

A RC should be out by the 9th.

[MD-2389]

Beta 12 is worse than before. It sometimes freezes.

Not been a problem for me. Maybe create a new profile for it, and copy over your bookmarks? I've seen dodgy plugins/extensions do some strange things. Did you install the extension tester?

[Glowhyena]

Beta 12 is worse than before. It sometimes freezes.

Not been a problem for me. Maybe create a new profile for it, and copy over your bookmarks? I've seen dodgy plugins/extensions do some strange things. Did you install the extension tester?

Nope. I think the fox ran off a cliff and crashed into snow.

[Sirius]

I find it hilarious that the only blocking bug is caused by third-party virus scanner crapware. Figures.

[snoopy]

I find it ironic that the vast majority of anti virus solutions approach the very problem that they're intended to prevent.

That being said, I've found virii on my computer before, so I guess I'm not immune.

[Krom]

Drive-by javascript exploits in your browsers cache don't count (and antivirus programs don't protect you from them anyway).