Firefox for Intel Macs planned for March

Cnet ^ | 01/15/2006 | Renai LeMay

[Panerai]

The Mozilla Foundation has set a March launch date for a version of its Firefox Web browser that will run on Apple Computer's Intel version of Mac OS X.

"We are targeting the official release of Firefox for Intel Mac OS X in late March with the Firefox 1.5.0.2 update," said Mozilla software engineer Josh Aas told.

Demand for the browser on Apple's new CPU platform is expected to rocket as the PC vendor last week started selling the first Macs based on CPUs from Intel. Previously Apple had used IBM's PowerPC chips.

While an unofficial version of the software is now available on Aas' personal Web site, until Mozilla approves it, the developer recommends those with Intel Macs use Apple's Rosetta technology to run the normal PowerPC Mac OS X version of Firefox.

Rosetta is a transcoding tool that allows programs written for PowerPC to run on Intel machines.

Similar Intel Mac OS X versions of Mozilla's Thunderbird e-mail client and the third-party Camino browser are available from the same site. Camino utilises Mozilla's Gecko Web rendering engine--as does Firefox--and is specifically aimed at full integration with Mac OS X, in the same way as Apple's own Safari browser.

Aas is already satisfied with the quality of the new version, despite some minor bugs that need to be worked out.

"The port has been very successful and we have native versions running very well on Intel Macs," he said. "There are two minor issues to resolve before we can do an official release."

"The first issue is some compatibility issues between the (Macromedia) Flash plugin shipped with Mac OS X 10.4.4 and Firefox. We have been working closely with Macromedia to resolve the issues."

[Ma3lst0rm]

Firefox is great. I use it most of the time except for those few sites that require IE. It is usually faster with the integrated ability to pause and resume downloads and tabbed browsing making it a pleasure to use.

[Izzy Dunne]

It is usually faster with the integrated ability to pause and resume downloads and tabbed browsing making it a pleasure to use.

Faster than what?

Safari has had tabbed browsing and pausable downloads for a long time.

[ShadowAce]

[Ma3lst0rm]

Safari is for Apple. I buy my apples at the grocery store. ;-)

[Swordmaker]

Firefox for Intel Mac due in March... PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[avg_freeper]

Firefox is currently incompatible with any mac running OS X 10.2.8

[SmoothTalker]

I use both Firefox and Safari. Really don't have a preference either way. Both are very nice. Safari seems faster. Firefox seems a tiny bit more stable (though both are pretty stable).

[Izzy Dunne]

Safari is for Apple.

Who do you think makes the Macs this software is for?

[Mr. Blonde]

I switched to Camino. Basically the same as Firefox but made specifically for Mac. There are a few sites that safari doesn't work on, and Camino does. I primarily use Safari though.

[Ma3lst0rm]

I use Firefox on my PC. I've never been interested in Macs or Apple products and probably never will. I never have liked the way they marketed their products or the proprietary nature of them. I like the having the most choice and lots of options.

Apple always seemed have control issues and it apparently still does. I do have to give Apple credit for thawing its image and moving to x86 architecture. I've always been impressed with the ease of use and stability of the Apple OS and hope someday they sell an open version that can be installed on any x86.

[Peelod]

Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20041107 Firefox/1.0 is currently running on my MT G3 300.

[Terpfen]

I use Firefox on my PC. I've never been interested in Macs or Apple products and probably never will. I never have liked the way they marketed their products or the proprietary nature of them. I like the having the most choice and lots of options.

Then what are you doing commenting on the Mac port of Firefox?

[noblejones]

>>
Safari has had tabbed browsing and pausable downloads for a long time.
<<

Yeah, but it crashes like it's running in os9. Lots of memory problems.

[avg_freeper]

I downloaded 1.5.0.1 and the bug that was in 1.5 is now gone.

I do suggest that if you have OS X 1.3-10.4 that you download the version of 1.5 that's optimized for G4s and G5s. I've heard there's a big difference.

[contemplator]

Then what are you doing commenting on the Mac port of Firefox?

Maybe it's for the same reason that the OMHA (Official Microsoft Haters Association) can't resist making snarky comments about how they prefer Linux, Unix, Mac's, Firefox etc.. every time Microsoft is mentioned in any article ever posted on this site, or attempts to slam or discourage anyone who hints at having a preference (The post I'm responding to being a prime example). At least this person made simple, frank observations about their preferences and didn't try to mask it with technobabble. I found the comments refreshing.

[Terpfen]

Except the Mac version of Firefox is practically a separate product from the Windows and Linux versions, for a variety of reasons (though these various problems are set to be fixed in version 1.5.0.1, which is coming out soon.)

When discussing a problem with Windows, suggesting an alternative is a legitimate topic of discussion. But as far as the Mac port of Firefox goes, it really isn't comparable to the Windows version: it's just not as good.

Take the snark elsewhere, please.

[contemplator]

The posters comments fell fully and justifiably within the scope of the article in that he compared the underlying OS's and hardware. As to my "taking it elsewhere", if the snark fits...

[Terpfen]

The poster was commenting about his experiences with the Windows version of Firefox, on a thread about the availability of the Intel Mac version of Firefox. I'm not seeing the point there.

Your snark is needed elsewhere.

[contemplator]

I'm not seeing the point there.

It's not for you to see the point. Thankfully, no one has to get your permission to post. As to your snarky comments, your rubber/glue approach must have worked well for you in kindergarten.