Mozilla Firefox - faster, more secure, easier to use and sporting a new look, this latest Firefox release sets a new standard for web browser innovation. Mozilla Firefox project (formerly Firebird, which was formerly Phoenix) is a redesign of Mozilla's browser component, written using the XUL user interface language and designed to be cross-platform. It is small, fast and easy to use, and offers many advantages over other web browsers, such as the tabbed browsing and the ability to block pop-up windows. Firefox has the most ways to customize your online experience specifically for the way you use the web. There are more than 6,000 Add-ons (little extras that augment Firefox to meet your unique needs) just waiting out there to help you do more, have more fun and be more creative online. Firefox keeps your personal info personal and your online interests away from the bad guys. Simply put, your security is our top priority.

Firefox 3.6 (code-named Namoroka) is based upon Gecko 1.9.2. Please collect information about changes that will impact developers here, and our happy, helpful documentation gnomes will make sure that articles are written to explain your hard coding work.

Namoroka will employ a highly iterative, milestone based development process which will rely on feedback from developers, testers and users to ensure that we are properly investing time and resources. An initial exploration phase will be used to investigate development cost and benefit, as well as to create user interaction prototypes. This will be followed by an alpha development phase for early user testing and feedback, and then a beta phase for broader compatibility testing.

Namoroka will focus on the following areas:

Performance

Observable improvements in user-perceptible performance metrics such as startup, time to open a new tab, and responsiveness when interacting with the user interface. Common user tasks should feel faster and more responsive.

Personalization & Customization

Simplify the development, discovery, installation and management of browser customization and functional extension. Where possible, provide a custom fit user experience based on a user's interaction history. Act in the user's interests, leveraging existing knowledge about their identity and browsing habits.

Task Based Navigation

Allow users to organize their tabs, history, downloaded files, and other resources according to the task they were attempting to accomplish. Provide support for executing common web-based tasks, mash-up style, without having to visit a website.

Web Application Support

Blur the distinction between web and desktop applications, providing web developers with the tools required to create rich application experiences for a user who is connected or disconnected from the Internet. Act as the intermediary between web applications and the user's OS desktop.

System Integration

Integrate with the look and feel of the host operating system, including data-level interactions with existing system services such as dictionaries.

Firefox 3.6 is built on Mozilla's Gecko 1.9.2 web rendering platform, which has been under development since early 2009 and contains many improvements for web developers, add-on developers, and users. This version is also faster and more responsive than previous versions and has been optimized to run on small device operating systems such as Maemo.

Notable Firefox 3.6 features include:

* Available in more than 70 languages - get your local version.
* Support for a new type of theme called Personas, which allow users to change Firefox's appearance with a single click.
* Protection from out-of-date plugins to keep users safer as they browse.
* Open, native video can now be displayed full screen and supports poster frames.

* Improved javascript performance, overall browser responsiveness, and startup time.
* The ability for web developers to indicate that scripts should run asynchronously to speed up page load times.
* Continued support for downloadable web fonts using the new WOFF font format.
* Support for new CSS attributes such as gradients, background sizing, and pointer events.
* Support for new DOM and HTML5 specifications including the Drag & Drop API and the File API, which allow for more interactive web pages.
* Changes to how third-party software can integrate with Firefox in order to prevent crashes.