3.5

Firefox 3.5 brings the world's second-most popular browser up to speed with current browsing technology and trends, and perhaps nudges it just a bit ahead of the competition. However, it is by no means the leap ahead that its predecessor Firefox 3 was, and it's clear that the competition isn't going away anytime soon.

Available for Windows, Windows Portable, Mac, or Linux, Firefox 3.5 nevertheless represents the best Firefox we've yet seen from Mozilla. This comes as no surprise, and with a testing process that involved four beta builds, three release candidates, and a … Read more

China has delayed required installation of Green Dam Youth Escort, but we find out it does a better job blocking pork than porn. Whew. Protect those kids from the piggies! Also a big win for remote cable DVRs! And the Pirate Bay got sold. You can sell it?

Swedish company to buy Pirate Bay http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10275759-83.html http://thepiratebay.org/blog/164

China Delays Mandating Filtering Software http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124636491863372821.html

China also filters Jonny Depp, … Read more

Editors' note: Updated June 30, 2009, at 5:55 p.m. with more extensions details. Updated at 12:42 p.m. with more add-on details and a statement about Google Gears.

Like you, we've been hotly anticipating the launch of Firefox 3.5 for Windows and Mac. Yet every time a browser receives a major update, it ghosts out a good chunk of those favorite, ingenious, and time-saving extensions we've come to rely on. That is, until the lagging publishers update their add-ons to make them compatible once again.

Google is one high-profile example with Gears. "We'… Read more

Four betas, three release candidates, and one version number change later, Mozilla finally gave Firefox 3.5 the kick out the door that the general public has been waiting for. If you're not convinced that it's worth upgrading, watch what's new in this First Look video, and download it for your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.

Die-hard fans probably already know this, but this is the fastest version of Firefox yet. Even though some of its competitors can load JavaScript faster, version 3.5 offers plenty of toys for developers and casual users alike.

Internet Explorer 8 now comes with a Nickleback.

No, Microsoft isn't again offering cash to get people to download the browser. This time it has partnered with Live Nation and the band to offer a custom version of the browser.

The software maker is sponsoring Nickleback's 2009 tour as well as Live Nation's Bamboozle music festival. As part of the tie-up, users can download music-themed versions of the browser.

Those who download Internet Explorer 8 from a special Web site gain access to a new live version of Nickelback's hit single "Something in Your Mouth,&… Read more

A major update to the Firefox browser, version 3.5, is on track to launch tomorrow. CNET News senior writer Stephen Shankland tells us what to expect, why it matters, and how Firefox is faring against Microsoft and the new browser up-start, Google.

Also, how Michael Jackson's death swamped Google, how to run OLPC software on your laptop, Shaq's Twitter challenge, and a look deep inside the Cheyenne Mountain Complex.

Today's stories:

Firefox 3.5 to ship on Tuesday?

DOJ extends investigation into Oracle-Sun deal

Report: Microsoft to cut Razorfish loose… Read more

Updated June 26 at 3:45 p.m. PDT: Mozilla stated in an e-mail today that it expects Firefox 3.5 to go public on the morning of Tuesday, June 30, almost missing its self-imposed deadline of "the end of June."

Despite hoping that Firefox 3.5 would receive only one release candidate, Mozilla has now published Firefox 3.5 RC 3 for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Details on what's changed between RC 2 and RC 3 are light, with Mozilla saying only that the changes are based on user feedback. Given the history of Firefox updates, … Read more

Barcoding inventory, patient charts, customer files, and more is easy as pie with this handy app. Using it with Excel files for multiple items, or simply creating single barcodes is as simple as printing labels from your own printer.

Universal Barcode Maker launches a drab but very functional interface. Although it displays a number of fields, drop-down menus and radio buttons, the items are cleverly arranged in categories according to the steps to follow in creating barcodes, so understanding how to use the app requires only a minute or so. This neat little app performed nicely in our tests, responding … Read more

Fans of Firefox's beta builds can now download Firefox 3.5 Release Candidate 2 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The latest build contains bug fixes although, according to Mozilla's Director of Firefox, Mike Beltzner, these were minor stability issues corrected after the release of the first release candidate.

Belzner also addressed some confusion among the 800,000 or so beta users about Firefox's beta-naming conventions. When the beta moves into release candidate mode, he said, it takes on the name of the final version because if no further problems are found the RC build will simply become … Read more