Firefox 3.5 for 35 days – dreaming about the future of the web

35 days logo

Over the next 35 days we’ll be talking about all of the new developer features in Firefox 3.5.

The upcoming release of Firefox 3.5 is a big upgrade for users.  It includes new privacy features, improvements in interactive performance and a new JavaScript engine that will improve the experience for users using script-heavy web sites.  These are all features that users will appreciate and talk about.

But what Firefox 3.5 really represents is a huge upgrade to the web itself.  We’ve included support for audio, video, threads in JavaScript, new canvas features, tons of new CSS features, downloadable fonts and geolocation.  While Firefox 3 was a signifigant upgrade for the web’s users, Firefox 3.5 does the same for developers.

Because of the sheer volume of new features for developers in Firefox 3.5 we’ll be spending the next 35 days featuring all of them, with two posts a day, every day.  Each day’s first post will describe one new feature in Firefox in depth – how to use it, why it’s there and some examples of what it can do for you.  The second post will be all fun – examples of demos that people have put together using all of the features that are in Firefox 3.5.

Like much of what we do at Mozilla this is a community-led project. We’ve reached out to members of the Mozilla and web developer community for posts and demos.  Some posts will be written by core Mozilla hackers, but many of them will be written by people who are just excited about the chance to use this technology in the wild.

My personal belief is that these posts represent Mozilla’s dreams for the future of the web.  We are not a company like every other browser vendor – our core mission is to improve and protect the web.  Firefox 3.5 represents what we think the next stage of the web will be – interactive applications, video, web sites collaborating and sharing information – all via the browser.  Our hope is that each of you will take what we post here, encourage other browser vendors to implement similar features where they haven’t already, and do your part to keep the web vibrant.

About Christopher Blizzard

Making the web better, one release at a time.

More articles by Christopher Blizzard…


76 comments

  1. Dwight Stegall

    So this means it will be more than 35 days before 3.5 final will be released? Oh goody more waiting. :(

    June 7th, 2009 at 23:33

    1. Christopher Blizzard

      No, the 35 days thing isn’t related to the release date. Odds are you won’t have to wait quite that long. :)

      June 8th, 2009 at 06:27

  2. Kinshuk Sunil

    following @mozhacks now and looking for all the awesome innvoations.. way to go guys :)

    June 8th, 2009 at 01:38

  3. ibn-Hajar

    thaaaaaaank you …..

    June 8th, 2009 at 05:55

  4. Luis Lobo Borobia

    Great news! I’m willing to see and try them!

    June 8th, 2009 at 05:56

  5. Daria

    I am so excited to see this! I love Firefox and have been using it for maybe two years now, and this is a great step in the right direction! Kudos, Firefox 3.5!

    June 8th, 2009 at 05:59

  6. kilinkis

    i cant wait!!! i love ffox!

    June 8th, 2009 at 06:01

  7. Quezako

    As a web developper, I must admit I hardly wait for the RC of Firefox 3.5! The Ogg version of Dailymotion is a perfect example of what the web should be. Let’s hope IE9 will support HTML5 (dreams…).

    June 8th, 2009 at 06:11

  8. Christopher Blizzard

    @Dwight No, the 35 days thing doesn’t have anything to do with the release date. It’s just a set of days we picked to talk about new features.

    June 8th, 2009 at 06:30

  9. Admin

    please make it fast !

    and lightweight… and maybe make some load-plugins-on-demand feature….
    i want to click the fox and it opens in less than 2 seconds

    June 8th, 2009 at 07:29

  10. […] Mozilla Hacks: Firefox 3.5 for 35 Days – Dreaming About The Future of The Web – “Because of the sheer volume of new features for developers in Firefox 3.5 we’ll be spending the next 35 days featuring all of them, with two posts a day, every day. Each day’s first post will describe one new feature in Firefox in depth – how to use it, why it’s there and some examples of what it can do for you. The second post will be all fun – examples of demos that people have put together using all of the features that are in Firefox 3.5.“ […]

    June 8th, 2009 at 09:32

  11. David Naylor

    Great initiative, will be following this closely!

    June 8th, 2009 at 09:47

  12. Lucas

    But…I want it naaaa-ooow!

    June 8th, 2009 at 12:47

  13. mad mike

    im been using fire fox since i was 18 and i hope it will be worth the wait

    June 8th, 2009 at 13:57

  14. dude

    @Admin: dude, leave firefox open, what’s wrong with you?

    June 8th, 2009 at 14:13

  15. Tejaswy

    I love the new Jetpack feature. Though it is in alpha

    June 8th, 2009 at 14:50

  16. ed

    Good news, seems like it will be released earlier than IE9 and Windows 7

    June 8th, 2009 at 18:08

  17. Lycanthrope

    Geolocation? Elaborate please. If it is what I think it is then it had better have an “Off” switch. Speaking of which, how about you try something novel with this release: instead of cramming new features in, why not leave them out? Make available, but as extras for those who want them, and not bloatware for those who would rather not.

    June 8th, 2009 at 19:23

  18. Christopher Blizzard

    Geolocation is the subject of tomorrow’s feature, turns out. It’s actually off until you allow a web site access to that information.

    June 8th, 2009 at 19:26

  19. […] (Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET) I also noticed that there’s a minor interface change in the Preview. Tab management buttons are now gray-on-gray, changed from the green-on-gray. Mozilla’s open source evangelist, Christopher Blizzard, is also highlighting the new developer features coming in Firefox 3.5 in a new blog. […]

    June 8th, 2009 at 19:33

  20. popurls.com // popular today…

    story has entered the popular today section on popurls.com…

    June 8th, 2009 at 20:40

  21. Waiter?

    No rush, no hurry, please!
    It’s better to release products with higher quality.

    I can wait.

    June 8th, 2009 at 21:10

  22. Bruce A

    I’ve been using FF 3.5b4 for a while now and it’s pretty solid. I really appreciate the fact that I can now have the “awesome” bar search only my history, but I’d really rather just have it search typed URLs. Is there a hack to make this happen?

    June 8th, 2009 at 21:28

  23. DevelopersAdvocate

    Quezako – no browser supports HTML5 in full

    What you see in Firefox 3.5 will only scratch the surface of what HTML5 has to offer

    June 8th, 2009 at 21:33

  24. […] 原文地址:http://hacks.mozilla.org/2009/06/35-days/ […]

    June 8th, 2009 at 22:51

  25. […] Mozilla’s open-source evangelist, Christopher Blizzard, is also highlighting the new developer features coming in Firefox 3.5 in a new blog. […]

    June 8th, 2009 at 23:09

  26. cg

    when i tried the firefox 3.5 the favicons stopped working. i like favicons so ff3.5 had to get deleted and i had to go back to the old crappy one. My question is
    Have you fixed the problem where the favicons stop displaying in ff3.5 Thankyou

    June 8th, 2009 at 23:49

  27. pravin

    Bhai, ye to bata de ki kab Release hogaa ye 3.5
    aur kab tak jheelnaa hogaa…

    June 8th, 2009 at 23:52

  28. Sankar

    Glad to know that Mozilla is going to release 3.5 version with all awesome features. Already mozilla has a significant place in the web. Hope it keeps the same and gain more attention of the users in future with this 3.5 version.

    Thanks
    Sankar

    June 9th, 2009 at 00:11

  29. John williams

    Just downloaded the beta and it’s taken over all my addons, skin etc. Very nice but where’s the x64?
    I thought it was going to be x64. J

    June 9th, 2009 at 01:04

  30. […] y completa. Para tratar de promocionar sus novedades se ha creado una iniciativa que hará que el blog de desarrolladores de Mozilla esté los próximos 35 días plagado de posts que desvelarán a estos programadores novedades […]

    June 9th, 2009 at 03:27

  31. […] engine that will improve the experience for users using script-heavy web sites.Source:http://hacks.mozilla.org/2009/06/35-days/ Jun […]

    June 9th, 2009 at 03:52

  32. Pali Madra

    I will look forward to the future posts of Firefox upgrades

    June 9th, 2009 at 05:25

  33. […] Mozilla’s open-source evangelist, Christopher Blizzard, is also highlighting the new developer features coming in Firefox 3.5 in a new blog. […]

    June 9th, 2009 at 05:27

  34. Dan

    35th comment!

    June 9th, 2009 at 07:45

  35. Alan

    Is it going to be as fast as the new Opera (which is gobsmackingly fast) As a web developer i often have 4/5+ browsers open at any given moment, would be nice to see if 3.5 is a bit more lightweight too 300mb of system memory is quite the footprint.
    Even so FF will always be my ‘main’ browser of choice, thank the lawd for IE Tab Addon, means i can keep crappy IE isolated, and closed, Thank god.

    June 9th, 2009 at 09:00

  36. […] JavaScript engine that will improve the experience for users using script-heavy web sites.Source:http://hacks.mozilla.org/2009/06/35-days/ Posted by Andy B at […]

    June 9th, 2009 at 09:26

  37. […] artigos não serão escritos apenas por colaboradores oficiais da Mozilla. Tal como anunciado no hacks.mozilla.org, muitos destes artigos “serão escritos por pessoas excitadas pela […]

    June 9th, 2009 at 09:54

  38. […] Christopher Blizzard hat au

    June 9th, 2009 at 10:05

  39. […] http://hacks.mozilla.org/2009/06/35-days/ […]

    June 9th, 2009 at 14:25

  40. Ben

    Long live the mozilla.org red T-rex logo!

    June 9th, 2009 at 19:55

  41. Yuki

    Hope you finally fixed all the Japanese character displays in Java (most work, but MOST is NOT all, and ALL is the standard, since ALL worked in versions prior to the number 3).

    If it’s not fixed … bye bye, so long, sayounara, and see ya someday. It’s been broken now for WAY TOO LONG.

    June 9th, 2009 at 20:28

  42. WasDam

    The version 3.5 is very slow! already consumes 140Mo from the start!
    There are also bugs display some site!
    Frankly, as an advanced user of firefox (since its first version) that browser is deteriorating!

    June 10th, 2009 at 02:18

  43. […] Über einen Zeitraum von 35 Tagen will Mozilla mit Informationen und Inspirationen für Entwickler und Technikbegeisterte den Zeitraum bis zur Einführung von Firefox 3.5 verkürzen. Jeden Tag sollen dazu in Blog-Beiträgen oder Demo-Videos die neuen Möglichkeiten aufgezeigt werden, die die neuen Funktionen und Web-Technologien aus Firefox 3.5 bieten: Ein Blick in die Zukunft des World Wide Web. […]

    June 10th, 2009 at 08:22

  44. Soner Gönül

    Following for updates http://twitter.com/sonergonul

    June 10th, 2009 at 10:13

  45. Tagada

    The new relaease of Firefox 3.5 b99 works pretty well.
    Acid test 3: 93/100 no improvement compared to Firefox 3.5 b4
    Long live to Firefox

    June 10th, 2009 at 10:21

  46. That Indian kid

    W00t Fx 3.5 is coming!

    June 10th, 2009 at 12:49

  47. Liz

    Appreciate the work you’ve all done. I’m on a 64bit Ubuntu and hope for an integrated version.
    My vision would be rather separate versions, for developer and average user (like me). Preventing an overload of features I’d need to opt out, browsing lightweighted and with self response. I’d appreciate very much if you’ll give it a thought, thanks.

    June 10th, 2009 at 13:10

  48. […] y completa. Para tratar de promocionar sus novedades se ha creado una iniciativa que hará que el blog de desarrolladores de Mozilla esté los próximos 35 días plagado de posts que desvelarán a estos programadores […]

    June 10th, 2009 at 16:30

  49. […] Source You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, […]

    June 10th, 2009 at 17:15

  50. ceronegativo

    Great work!

    June 10th, 2009 at 17:19

  51. […] Pues todo indica que vuelven a la carga. Ahora han anunciado en hacks.mozilla.org que le dedican 35 a ir explicando todas las noveades y ventajas de la nueva versión: Firefox 3.5. […]

    June 10th, 2009 at 17:35

  52. […] This post was Twitted by juaneladio – Real-url.org […]

    June 10th, 2009 at 17:51

  53. Jessica

    @ CG: You’ve got it @$$-backwards… Mozilla builds the browser; the independent developers rework the add-ons to work within the new browser version.
    @Alan & Lycanthrope: I totally agree with both of you. Less fluff/bloat, lightning-fast, add-ons only if you want ’em. Look at how popular salad bars have become. Why? They let YOU personalize the salad to your tastes. Who could ever contest that?! FF rocks, and I’m a REALLY impatient b!t©h, so give us 3.5 now, Mozilla, or I’m calling my Daddy! ;)

    June 10th, 2009 at 18:29

  54. Cristiandlr

    Sounds great! cant wait anymore :)

    June 10th, 2009 at 19:56

  55. Sheikh Nadia Hassan

    I am using firefox 3.5b4 and I can say it’s simply awesome, but seriously more 35 days of waiting is not cool. why don’t you people try to speed up the release(just kidding). You guys have done a great job and I am proud to be a part of it.

    June 10th, 2009 at 20:59

  56. dieq41

    waiting 4 my fav browser…

    June 10th, 2009 at 21:14

  57. Another Indian Kid

    I hope the final release comes out cool.

    The Beta-version is available though.

    http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-beta.html

    June 10th, 2009 at 23:08

  58. Abir-v12

    FoXy Rules…

    June 10th, 2009 at 23:18

  59. (-:SMo:-)Vader

    Firefox ftw.

    June 11th, 2009 at 07:19

  60. […] claim that this is a nice idealism with no practical benifit, or not how the real world works.  In fewer than 35 days, Mozilla will show you how well this approach works in the real […]

    June 11th, 2009 at 07:22

  61. Mike

    Guys, first off the features in 3.5 are NOT bloat.

    Geolocation lets web sites know your physical location (if you choose, off by default) (think google maps)

    Audio/video elements are for sites to embed video and audio WITHOUT the use of flash… and you can manipulate these video’s with JS. So this means videos can have an effect on the page… the page to the video… trigger events… the sky is the limit.

    TraceMonkey is the new javascript engine… The latest nightly is now faster at Sunspider benches than chrome 1(whoa!) (1423ms vs 1556ms)

    Private Browsing is just that.

    However, Mozilla outlined that the next version (3.6 ATM, and not that i can’t wait for 3.5!!) is really the dream come true… they’re going to implement lightweight themes and add-ons, and increase start-up time, UI interactions, etc. noticeably. The same improvements that doubled Firefox 3.5 browser’s java script performance is going to be used internally for the UI.

    Firefox 3.5 most certainly rocks as loading facebook and other JS intense sites is a quick, short and painless… I’d go as far to say it takes a 3rd the time on average, and i can’t wait to see sites that start using the video/audio elements. Like the article states, this is a treat to the developers, we’ll get more presents from mozilla with the next version :p

    June 11th, 2009 at 09:39

  62. Mike

    whoops the sunspider tests are 1223ms to 1254ms (FF3.5 to Chrome 1)

    June 11th, 2009 at 09:41

  63. […] il link ai post che nei prossimi “35 giorni” racconteranno Firefox 3.5 in dettaglio: http://hacks.mozilla.org/2009/06/35-days/ Sempre nell’ambito delle attività create per dare il benvenuto al nuovo Firefox 3.5, […]

    June 11th, 2009 at 11:33

  64. Neil

    I am a longtime fan of Firefox. I have used it and loved it since it was Phoenix 0.3.

    So far I’m not impressed with FF 3.5. I have tried beta 4 and beta 99. There are many sites and pages that just won’t load.

    June 11th, 2009 at 20:06

  65. […] demo was created by René-Luc D’Hont. He created this demo for the 35 days project with open source software and open data from various projects. His company, 3Liz, specializes in […]

    June 12th, 2009 at 19:50

  66. […] the mozilla 35 days project, I created a demo which used Geolocation with open source software and open data from various […]

    June 15th, 2009 at 07:17

  67. Md. Mamun Al Rshid

    I would like to upgrade firrfox with facebook.

    June 17th, 2009 at 04:09

  68. […] during the run up to, and day of, launch.  Promote existing campaigns like Fastest Firefox, or 3.5 in 35 days.  Highlight your favorite features and let everyone know when you upgrade.  For Twitter and […]

    June 19th, 2009 at 23:48

  69. Mithgol the Webmaster

    The address http://www.hacks.mozilla.org should exist and redirect to hacks.mozilla.org

    June 23rd, 2009 at 02:39

  70. […] we released Firefox 3.5, which as we said at the beginning of the 35 days project is a huge upgrade for both end users but also for the […]

    June 30th, 2009 at 08:21

  71. Renwick

    I too am an ardent fan for Firefox and have been looking forward to upgrading to 3.5. Now that has happened I am extremely disappointed to find that it takes upwards of 8 minutes to start. This is totally unacceptable and will have to switch to IE until the problem is fixed.

    July 3rd, 2009 at 01:02

  72. […] 原文地址:http://hacks.mozilla.org/2009/06/35-days/ […]

    July 3rd, 2009 at 02:55

  73. […] which will attempt to further organize and build Mozilla’s visual-design community, and Mozilla Hacks, which will highlight the features of Firefox 3.5 with 35 days of demos. This is all in addition to […]

    August 27th, 2009 at 14:00

  74. […] 원본: Firefox 3.5 for 35 days – dreaming about the future of the web by Christopher […]

    April 14th, 2010 at 12:43

  75. ksmigo

    please tell me how i can downlod fro free real firefox 3.5

    February 25th, 2011 at 05:17

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