Why wait until tomorrow, when you can download Firefox 6 today

Although not due to be officially released until tomorrow, Mozilla has placed Firefox 6 Final on to its download servers. The latest version of Mozilla's open-source browser -- the third major release in five months -- sports a brand new Permissions Manager, which allows users to set privacy controls on a site-per-site basis.

Developers can make use of a new scratchpad window for testing Javascript snippets, while domain names are highlighted in the Address bar to aid identification of websites. Other changes are mostly beneath the hood, designed to improve compatibility, performance and security.

Firefox 6, which will be officially unveiled tomorrow, currently launches to a window telling you that you're running a beta version. Once the app is officially launched this should subsequently point to a new page introducing you to the latest version.

Its most notable new feature is the new Permissions Manager. This is accessible by typing about:permissions into the Address Bar, and allows you to set up customised privacy settings for individual websites. These cover passwords, cookies, pop-up windows, offline storage and shared location settings. A global setting for all non-configured sites is also available, making it possible to set up highly restricted settings for unknown websites to improve privacy and security.

Other visible changes include a subtle change to the way URLs are displayed in the Address Bar, with the main domain highlighted to make it more obvious which site you're on, allowing users to confirm the identity of sites visited through clicking links. Developers will find the new Javascript Scratchpad window accessible by clicking the Firefox button or opening the Tools menu (Mac) and choosing Web Developer > Scratchpad.

Most of the improvements in Firefox 6 are behind-the-scenes, with performance improvements of up to 20 per cent over Firefox 5 being debated. Add-on compatibility is now tested automatically by a plug-in checker, while WebSockets are now supported and HTML compatibility is extended further.

With the move of version 6 to the release channel, expect Firefox 7 to switch from Aurora to Beta, with Firefox 8 taking its place in the Aurora channel shortly. Firefox 7 will finally take steps to address the memory leak problem that has plagued Firefox, while version 8 should see major changes to the way add-ons are installed and updated, with silent installs blocked and users having to manually select which add-ons are retained from previous versions.

Firefox 6 Final is available as a free, open-source download for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Top three reasons why Google is buying Motorola

This morning Google announced that it was spending $12.5 billion to acquire Motorola Mobility(MMI). In cash. Clearly Google must see a lot of value in Motorola that shareholders didn’t see as late as Friday, when the company was valued at “only” $7.7 billion. Why does Google want Motorola so badly? I believe there are 3 main reasons:

1. Patents. The US patent system provides government-sanctioned monopolies, ostensibly to protect the little guy that comes up with a truly novel and unique invention in his workshop from having his idea stolen and replicated by robber barons without giving the original inventor a cent. At least that was the intent when the first patent was granted on US Soil to Samuel Winslow in 1641 for a new way of making salt.

Lately, though, patents have been less about protecting the little guy and more about generating revenue and protecting markets. IP holding firms buy up patents and then use them to extort money from companies that actually make products, and big companies encourage their employees to submit thousands of patents that are then used to sue their competitors. Compounding the problem is the lack of quality in patents granted. It’s all-to-common for the patent office to grant multiple overlapping patents covering basically the same invention, or granting patents for ideas that are obvious to anyone skilled in the field.

As a relatively new company that started with the silly notion that it was more important to do innovative work rather than lock up the work in patents to prevent others from doing it, Google has found itself on the short end of the patent stick more often than not. The purchase of Motorola gives the company a much bigger stick with which to fend off attackers. As sole owners they can also pass on this protection, if they wish, to Android licensees down stream.

2. Enterprise features. One area where Google has been lagging is security and other features that are required by Enterprise customers. For example, plain vanilla Android does not support some of the most popular VPN protocols used by big business. Motorola, Samsung, and others have been working hard to differentiate themselves by providing packages of Enterprise ready features on top of the base features supported by Android. Now Google can take the Motorola offering and fold it into Android, making these features available for free to all Android licensees.

3. Home devices. So far, Google’s efforts to break into the home market have been a flop. Google TV and Google @ Home could both benefit from Motorola’s expertise in making consumer devices and exploiting Internet technologies in smaller and more personal ways. I’m doubtful this will ultimately be a success, but certainly the Motorola purchase will give it a shot in the arm.

So those are the reasons why Google is buying Motorola. How about the reasons that they shouldn’t have made the purchase? The main one is possible damage to Google’s partnerships with Android phone makers. Google claims that the Motorola purchase will not hurt its relationship with Motorola’s competitors such as HTC and Samsung. But how can it not? Before today’s announcement were rumors that Google would buy Motorola but divest itself the phone making parts, keeping only the software and patent parts. But today Google says Motorola will continue doing what it’s doing as a “separate business“. That’s going to be a tough balancing act.

Source : zdnet

Google buys Motorola Mobility, Android's top supporter

Google thoroughly rocked the smartphone world on Monday morning by announcing it will be acquiring Android phone maker Motorola Mobility for approximately $12.5 billion. Motorola Mobility has existed as a standalone entity for just 8 months, and has produced some of the most successful Android smartphones such as the first Droidwith Verizon Wireless.

Most importantly, though, Motorola Mobility holds one of the most valuable wireless patent portfolios in the business, and this acquisition serves as a follow up to the Nortel Patent auction where Google placed bids, but lost out to a consortium of bidders that included Apple, EMC, Microsoft, Ericsson, Research in Motion, and Sony.

The results of that auction turned into quite a war of words, when Google publicly accused the consortium of buyers of wanting those patents strictly to sue Google for Android patent violations.

Irrespective of patents, Motorola Mobility has been a committed Android manufacturer that devoted one hundred percent of its catalog of devices to Android. Without the manufacturer's total support, Android's position in the smartphone market would no doubt look very different than it does today.

"Motorola Mobility's total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers," said Larry Page, CEO of Google in a statement on Monday.

Google's announcement said the transaction will close at the end of 2011 or beginning of 2012, and Motorola Mobility will run as a separate business.

Source : betanews

Firefox 6 available ahead of official launch

Eager to get your hands on the next version of the Firefox browser?  Mozilla is scheduled to officially launch the browser on Tuesday, but you can get your hands on it now … if you know where to look!

… and I just happen to know where to look!

• Windows
• Mac
• Linux

Ignore the ‘first run’ screen that appears telling you that this is a beta … this is normal and Mozilla won’t change this page until the official release.

There are a lot of changes made under the hood. For example, startup is faster as users can choose whether or not to load all the tag groups or not.

Another interesting change is the way Firefox shows URLs in the address bar. Domain names are now highlighted to make it it easier to see where you are on the web.

There’s also a new permissions tool that allows users to set site-specific permissions for things like saved passwords, cookies, popups and so on. Just type about:permissions into the address bar.

So, if you’re interested, hit one of the links above and grab a copy. If anyone asks, say a friend sent you.

Source : zdnet

Google calls for more network-friendly apps

Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) director of Android global partnerships John Lagerling is urging developers to create mobile apps that minimize network data consumption.

Speaking at a recent Pacific Crest investment conference, Lagerling said the move toward metered data pricing models requires the introduction of thinner applications. More interestingly, he said companies such as Google must give partners the incentive to create mobile experiences that address network limitations and subscriber billing concerns.

"What we haven't done yet that I think is sort of in the pipeline is to incentivize everybody, including the developers as well, to be able to lean their applications," Lagerling said, according to ZDNet. "We haven't even augmented yet the possibility to show users how much each app is using. How much bandwidth is my Skype clients using as opposed to my Twitter clients or my Google+ clients? And it's more U.S.--specifically in the U.S., carriers move toward metered plans where you basically pay per gigabyte even or you start with a bundle and then pay for add-on gigabytes. I think we naturally need to give end-users better visibility on which apps are consuming more."

Lagerling's comments come as mobile operators are calling for collective action to solve the network overload problem. That could happen via the introduction of an operator-led initiative that could then publish best practices for app developers by an industry group such as the GSM Association.

Source : fiercebroadbandwireless