Firefox The Better Browser
Wednesday 2nd March 2005 11:22:00 AM
Over the last year or so I've been using an open-source browser called Firefox, developed by the kind people over at Mozilla.
Open-source is software where the source code is available for anyone to extend or modify therefore allowing users to customize it according to their needs.
Firefox has been made possible thanks to the tireless effort of hundreds of community volunteers and developers around the world.
As time goes on Firefox gains more popularity and market-share posing a greater threat to Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Currently Firefox has over 27 million users and is growing rapidly.
Microsoft had originally said they were not going to release a newer version of IE after version 6, and will only provide security updates. Firefox has forced Microsoft to think again about the browser market and as a result IE7 is now being developed. Even after the release of Service Pack 2, Microsoft has failed to provide any decent security in its browser as new vulnerabilities are being exploited all the time.
What the media has to say about Firefox:
"Beware of spyware. If you can, use the Firefox browser." - USA Today
"Better than Internet Explorer by leaps and bounds." - Forbes
"Best of 2003, Web Browser" - PC World Magazine
"Best Web Browser, 2003" - LinuxJournal Magazine
"Beyond Bliss" - Time Magazine
I have realized many advantages of Firefox, namely:
Tabbed browsing
Allows you to view more than one page in a single window. Great as you can open a page in the background for viewing later, also keeps the taskbar free of clutter.
Pop-up blocking
Stops annoying popup ads immediately.
Extensions
Customize the Firefox browser to do what you want to do. An example is me using the web developer toolbar to check web-page accessibility amongst other things. There are various extensions available.
Ad blocker
This is one of the extensions available. It allows you to block banner ads that you specify so no more annoying web-pages!
& its won awards too
CNET Editors' Choice, November 2004
Maximum PC 2004 Softy Award Winner
If you are not already familiar with Firefox, I strongly encourage and recommend that you download it and give it a whirl. To show my support to Mozilla for creating Firefox, I have included a link to the download page on every post.
I hope you enjoy Firefox as much as I do.
in Firefox
