Firefox 2.0 RC3 Launched by Mozilla

Mozilla, maker of the open-source Firefox browser, on Monday released the latest beta, or test, version of the software, dubbed Firefox 2.0 Release Candidate 3 (RC3), and it could be the last test edition before the firm launches the final version, TechWeb News reports via InformationWeek.com.

Mozilla released Firefox v. 1.5, its last major browser update, in the fall of 2005, according to TechWeb News.

Existing users of previous versions of Firefox 2.0 received RC3 via an automatic update on Monday, and the test version is available to other surfers in Windows, Mac OS X and Linux editions via Mozilla’s site, TechWeb News reports.

Among the features included within Firefox 2.0 RC3 are antiphishing safeguards, a spellcheck function, suggested search options and session restore capability, according to TechWeb News.

Though various sources reported RC3 will be the final test version of Firefox 2.0, Mozilla did not confirm the information and it set no release date, TechWeb News reports.

Microsoft’s latest update to its Internet Explorer (IE) Web browser, IE7, is also expected to soon hit the Internet. In late August, the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant released IE7 RC1 and said it’s on schedule to release the final version of the browser before 2007. IE7 is Firefox’s main competitor in the browser space.

In related news, a hacker who recently claimed to have found a serious flaw in the way Firefox handles Javascript admitted the announcement was part of a practical joke.

Related Links:

• Mozilla Firefox Gaining Ground on Microsoft IE

• Mozilla Duped by Hackers’ ‘Humorous’ Demo

• Microsoft IE7 Browser to Hit Web in Oct.

• Microsoft Releases Near-Complete IE7 Browser

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