As of this writing the Firefox 2 Beta 2 download page doesn’t link to it but with this URL you can download Beta 2. I have been using Beta 1 ever since it was released and really came to like it (especially live, inline spell checking). So what does Beta 2 bring to the table you ask? A nicely refreshed look – new icons and tab styling. However, I do think that the updated look lacks contrast in the navigation toolbar.
As for other features new in Beta 2, there is support for Live Titles on sites with microsummaries in addition to support for JavaScript 1.7. Check out the release notes to learn more.
Update: I forgot about the Windows users… Firefox 2 Beta 2 download link.
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Interesting… I’m not sure how much I like how the browser looks, let alone what it’d do to extension compatibility, but I’ll try it out and see what I think.
JS 1.7 YUM :)
Thanks for posting this
Thanks for the link, just installed :)
It’s running so much better than FF2.0b1. I can’t wait to see the final released product.
Is it better than my beloved Flock?
I’m only using Firefox now because the current Flock isn’t yet based on Firefox 2. Now when Flock 0.8 comes out in (maybe) September, it will be based on Firefox 2, so I will definitely be pleased with that release.
Thanks for the linkage Paul. I hope extensions will be compatible in the near future. Especially the Web Developer extension. If anyone knows of a workaround, please post up!
Are your extensions and themes all compatible with beta 2?
I didn’t download beta 1, but I’m in the process of downloading and installing beta 2. As for the extensions, here is an article that talks about activating your extensions for firefox 2. I’m not sure if this still works for the newest beta, but worth a try. Be careful though, as some of the commenters on that page have reported problems.
Zach, not all extensions and themes are compatible, but its something that will come with time. I liked this new version, just hope updates come soon.
I’ve been playing with it all morning and I took some comparison shots of 1.5, 2.0b2 and IE7 to demonstrate how I think the interface should be, namely with the tabs.
I can’t say I’m impressed with the new Winstripe theme, and I hope they improve it (quite a lot) before release. The spellchecking is nice, though it also needs some substantial refinement.
Thanks for the linkage Cyrris – I definitely like being able to download the older Winstripe theme.
I can’t wait for the official release.
Hey Paul,
CoComment it’s working now!!!!!!!!!!
Keep it!
:-)
Some of us were nerding it out at Mozilla HQ’s “LunchZilla” event, they announced Beta 2 today there and gave out some swag and prizes.
It was cool meeting some different folks from around the valley, and also getting a chance to meet some of the Firefox developers in person – it’s not often you get to thank the people whose browser you look at (in my/our cases,) for hours on end every day. ;)
And of course there are photos.
I can’t say I’m a big fan of the new theme – I’m left underwhelmed. And I agree with Paul, there needs to be better contrast. I prefer the close tab icon (per tab) from Beta 1 more (the box style seems bigger and easier to click), however the curved boxes for URL and Search are a nice touch. Luckily this is a beta, and not a release candidate or full release, so there’s still time for more changes to the theme.
Oh very nice Scott, the schwag says it all..
It was cool meeting people “IRL” as they say – and dude, it wouldn’t be a “bubble” if there wasn’t some free schwag! ;) (They gave out some shirts, hats, umbrellas and even some “rare” stuffed firefox toys as well.)
I ran into Will Pate at the lunch event, we briefly chatted and I mentioned you, Dimitry and Phil’s exploits as interns and a way to break the ice. He’s a good dude. (They’re apparently working on some Yahoo! Photos integration for the next version of Flock.)
Also related, apparently Mozilla have chosen a Toronto software firm to do the new UI for Firefox 2. Given it was them vs. two other firms, I’d imagine the design looks pretty good. Looks like they previously did the Firefox 1.5 shirts, so it might have been a natural fit – to make a bad double-pun. ;)
I really liked the spell checker in Beta 1 but couldn’t loose my extensions. Here is a link for an extention where you can add spell checking to Firefox 1.5. Spellbound It works great.
Looks like it’s much more stable than beta 1. Still waiting for it to get a “cocoa shot” but seems like that won’t be untill Firefox 3 which currently has the codename “minefield“…
If you want to switch back to the ‘old’, ‘classic’ look of FireFox, before these 2.0 beta’s arrived, you should check out the theme files that got released for it:
http://kmgerich.com/2006/08/05/firefox-1x-classic-themes-available/
I guess a lot of you will want to switch back, because now it really looks like crap, really!
This feels so much faster than any previous version of Firefox…fast enough that I might even consider moving from Safari to this.