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�Firefox 2.0 release confusion: Official build now released

 Firefox 2.0 release confusion: Official build now released

CNET staff
2 min read

UPDATE: Firefox 2.0 has now been officially released as a 17.6 MB standalone download.

A press release states:

"Firefox 2 delivers the best possible online experience for people today," said Mitchell Baker, CEO, Mozilla. "The improvements Mozilla has made to the ease of use, performance, and security in Firefox 2 reflect our ongoing, singular focus on meeting the needs of Web users all over the world."

It's worth noting that the final 2.0 release -- as linked from the Mozilla home page -- carries the same modification date (October 11th) as the RC3 build, and the build to which we posted a link yesterday. In other words, RC3 was and is the final release of Firefox 2.0. If you previously downloaded it, or the build posted yesterday, there is no need to obtain the new download. 

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Yesterday we noted the unofficial dissemination, via an FTP server, of the final (release) version of Firefox 2.0, the dramatically overhauled open-source Web browser from Mozilla.

Although this was not an officially announced release from Mozilla, the linked file may or may not be the final Firefox 2.0 release as noted yesterday. The Mozilla organization has not yet updated its Web site to indicate the release, nor provided any official announcement.

Of interesting note, both the purported 2.0 final release posted yesterday, and the RC3 (release candidate 3) file have the same modification date: October 11, 2006. This does not mean that the file linked yesterday is not the final release, however: as indicated by the term "release candidate," RC3 may have been given the green light as the official 2.0 release.

In a nutshell, here's what happened: Mozilla appears to have posted the 2.0 build (or a different, pre-release build with the 2.0 moniker) to an FTP server, which will then promulgate the release to mirrors throughout the world. The release was picked up by users and links passed around. However, the Mozilla organization is now attempting to dissuade users from downloading and installing this release to avoid putting excessive load on the single server, and in case any code changes are made before the official release which is scheduled to take place this afternoon (October 24th).

As such, if you've already downloaded Firefox 2.0 using yesterday's download link, you may be using a copy that is not the final release. Wait until the official announcement from Mozilla (which we will post here) before attempting the download.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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