The next version of Firefox, version 3 is due out soon, and Mozilla needs your help to beta test it!

The only problem is of course is that this is very much a Beta version, so expect bugs and bits that are rough around the edges. If you can though, please do, as the next version sounds very exciting and Mozilla do need your feedback to help progress to the next stage of the release process.

Security

The new version promises new and improved security features that help to combat phishing attempts as well as communicating with anti-virus software. It will also provide clearer and stricter SSL error pages when suspect certificates are found.
A much needed new feature is that it will also now automatically checks add-on and plugin versions and will disable older, insecure versions.

Features

There are also due to be better zooming and tab controls, and tweaks such as offering to save tabs on closing which will be very useful. Other things like easier password management where an information bar replaces the old password dialog so you can now save passwords after a successful login will be welcome as well as simplified add-on installation, a new download manager, and resumable downloads . There is also new graphics and font handling which provides rendering improvements in CSS, SVG as well as improved display of fonts with ligatures and complex scripts. Whether this will give us lovely smoothed fonts for PC users, like Internet Explorer 7 does, I don’t know as yet.

A quick warning about Beta Testing

So will I be beta testing? In short no. Well not just yet anyway because the Beta overwrites your existing copy of Firefox, and also many of the numerous add ons I use might not work, so for me it is too early to risk a non working browser at present.
As soon as I get my testing PC back up and running though, I’ll join in.

View the release notes, and download Firefox 3