Mozilla has released the second beta of Firefox 2.0 the next-gen version of its open source browser.
Strictly aimed at developers only – it is not recommended for general download – the second beta fixes a number of bugs and is intended to garner further feedback. New features and changes include: a new theme that updates Firefox’s interface, enhanced search engine management and improvements to tabbed browsing (including the ability to re-open recently closed tabs).
Firefox beta 1 saw the light of day back in July.
The beta also features an anti-phishing tool that is turned on by default. In the same vein as Microsoft’s upcoming Internet Explorer 7, the technology checks URLs against a list of known phishing sites. Should a positive match be found, the user is informed and given the option to return to their homepage instead.
Firefox 2 also features better support for RSS technologies, with improved preview and options for feeds once detected. The browser will offer the option to sign up to RSS feeds as a web service, or within a standalone reader, or by using the Live Bookmarks feature in Firefox.
Beta 2 was expected to follow beta 1 within a month or so, after which a series of release candidates will deal with bug fixes. But the original schedule for a final product to be launched at the end of the summer has obviously slipped (‘late Q2/early Q3’ is the phrasing used on the roadmap).
You can find the 2.0 Development Roadmap here.
Firefox 2 will be based on continued development of the Gecko 1.8 branch created for Firefox 1.5.
Note that Firefox 1.5 is the official current release (1.5.0.6 to be precise).
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