Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Firefox Loses Some of Its Edge: Mossberg

It's not the fastest browser anymore

By Sarah Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 16, 2009 9:58 AM CDT

(Newser) – Mozilla's Firefox is still good, but it doesn't stand out as much as it used to, Walter S. Mossberg writes in the Wall Street Journal. The latest edition of the web browser, version 3.5, works well on both PCs and Macs, but "Firefox has lost its traditionally biggest advantage: greater speed than its rivals." In tests, Mossberg found that it often lagged behind Safari 4.02 and Chrome 2.0.

Second, the new Firefox doesn't include many new features, and "some of them are merely catch-ups to those introduced earlier by Microsoft and Apple." Private browsing mode, for instance, lets you surf the web without leaving tracks—a feature Safari and market leader Internet Explorer already have. Other additions: Firefox 3.5 lets you "forget” any page you've visited, "wiping out all traces you’ve been there," and recovers open tabs if you crash.

Screenshot-????????? Mozilla Firefox (©phisite)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 14 comments

Nagahota

Jul 17, 2009 12:04 PM CDT

Newser, Sarah Quinn and Wall Street Journal should do a better job of providing dense informaiton. This whole article could be short and provide more information. How much slower is it? What is a plug-in? (most reader probably don't know) How many more plug-ins are there for FF3? Yeah and what about viruses? "I tested the browsers and sometimes one was faster than the others" is pretty much what she said.

nathanielfoster

Jul 17, 2009 1:48 AM CDT

Using Peer to Peer software such KazaA, Limeware etc is another huge window to download malware on your computer. If you're going to use it, please use with care.

Fig-Neutron

Jul 17, 2009 1:21 AM CDT

Me no techie, but me likey all de Firefox add-ons.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

Wall Street Journal (Source Grid »)

Technology

Internet • Microsoft • Apple • web browser • Internet Explorer • Safari • Firefox • Mozilla

More Newser Stories

Chrome Surges to No. 2

Explorer, Firefox down as Google's browser makes big gains

(NEWSER) - Less than three years since its official public launch, Google's Chrome has become the second-most popular web browser in the world, reports Digital Trends . In November, Chrome accounted for 25.7% of global browser usage, climbing just past declining Firefox, which fell to 25.23%. Just two years ago, Chrome had been roughly tied for third, along with Safari and Opera, with about 4.5%, but since then has steadily gained market share around the world. More»

US Cuts Off Funding to UNESCO Over Palestine

Political workaround unlikely to go anywhere

(NEWSER) - The US has officially cut off all funding to the UN’s Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization over its acceptance of Palestine as a full member. The impact will be felt immediately, because the US had a $60 million dues payment due in November, the AP reports. The Obama administration’s hands are effectively tied by an existing law prohibiting the US from supporting a UN agency that accepts Palestine, though a State Department spokesman hinted that it might "work with Congress" to get around the law, Politico reports. More»

IBM Surpasses Microsoft, Claims No. 2 Tech Spot

Shift illustrates tech industry's move away from PCs

(NEWSER) - Microsoft, once the world’s most valuable tech company, has now fallen to third place. IBM surpassed Microsoft yesterday to take the second-place spot, as its market value rose to $214 billion and Microsoft’s fell to $213.2 billion. It marked the first time IBM’s closing prices exceeded Microsoft’s since 1996, Bloomberg reports. The new rankings illustrate the industry’s shift away from the personal computer: IBM sold its PC business six years ago and now focuses on software and services for the government and corporations; Apple, of course, surged past Microsoft to claim the No. 1 spot last year thanks to its iPhones, iPods, and iPads. More»

Shoppers Blast Retailers' Online Anti-Gay Ties

Petitions prompt Microsoft, Apple to cut connection to charity group

(NEWSER) - Apple, Microsoft, and an array of other online retailers have found themselves at the center of a gay-rights battle, the New York Times reports. The retailers have been tied to an Internet marketer, the Charity Giveback Group, that receives a commission when it sends the retailers an online customer. There's nothing unusual about the arrangement—except that part of that commission goes to a Christian charity selected by the customer, and the list of charities said customer has to choose from includes Christian groups that loudly oppose homosexuality. More»

Google Bought Motorola for the Patents

Firm seeks protection from intellectual property litigation: Kit Eaton

(NEWSER) - Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility isn’t just about giving the company a seamless ability to blend hardware and software—it also buys Google a new set of patents, helping to shield it from Apple and Microsoft complaints about intellectual property infringement. Apple is already battling Samsung over the “theft” of its IP, and Microsoft has launched similar attacks on makers of Android devices. “By grabbing Motorola,” writes Kit Eaton at Fast Company , “Google's certainly gained access to more patents to shore up its Android patent portfolio and thus enable it to counter (and respond with counter suits) any future IP threats.” More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Firefox Loses Some of Its Edge: Mossberg

It's not the fastest browser anymore

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Internet • Microsoft • Apple • web browser • Internet Explorer • Safari • Firefox • Mozilla

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Chrome Surges to No. 2

Explorer, Firefox down as Google's browser makes big gains

US Cuts Off Funding to UNESCO Over Palestine

Political workaround unlikely to go anywhere

IBM Surpasses Microsoft, Claims No. 2 Tech Spot

Shift illustrates tech industry's move away from PCs

Shoppers Blast Retailers' Online Anti-Gay Ties

Petitions prompt Microsoft, Apple to cut connection to charity group

Google Bought Motorola for the Patents

Firm seeks protection from intellectual property litigation: Kit Eaton

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Firefox Loses Some of Its Edge: Mossberg

It's not the fastest browser anymore

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Internet • Microsoft • Apple • web browser • Internet Explorer • Safari • Firefox • Mozilla

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Chrome Surges to No. 2

Explorer, Firefox down as Google's browser makes big gains

US Cuts Off Funding to UNESCO Over Palestine

Political workaround unlikely to go anywhere

IBM Surpasses Microsoft, Claims No. 2 Tech Spot

Shift illustrates tech industry's move away from PCs

Shoppers Blast Retailers' Online Anti-Gay Ties

Petitions prompt Microsoft, Apple to cut connection to charity group

Google Bought Motorola for the Patents

Firm seeks protection from intellectual property litigation: Kit Eaton

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?