Mozilla releases Firefox 9, claims to boost JavaScript preformance by 30%
December 19, 2011 39
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Does it feel like you just updated to Firefox 8? That is because you literally did just update to Firefox 8. But hey, Mozilla has a rapid release cycle schedule to meet. Who cares if these rapid updates are bloody annoying. Here comes Firefox 9.
Firefox 9 doesn’t contain as many user-facing changes as previous updates. Rather, most of FF9 changes are under-the-hood, aiming to make up for Firefox’s recently bloated past:
- Added Type Inference, significantly improving JavaScript performance
- Improved theme integration for Mac OS X Lion
- Added two finger swipe navigation for Mac OS X Lion
- Added support for querying Do Not Track status via JavaScript
- Added support for font-stretch
- Improved support for text-overflow
- Improved standards support for HTML5, MathML, and CSS
- Fixed several stability issues
The biggest change in FF9 is undoubtedly the new Type Inference:
Firefox 9 features the release of Type Inference, or TI, a research project under way for over a year. TI is a feature in the SpiderMonkey Javascript engine which generates type information about Javascript programs through a combination of analyzing the program’s code and monitoring the types of values as the program executes. This type information is used during JIT compilation to generate more efficient code; Firefox 9 includes modifications to the JaegerMonkey JIT compiler to use inferred type information. This compilation mode, which is the default in Firefox 9, speeds up major benchmarks like Kraken and V8 by over 30%, and gives a large speed boost to many JS heavy websites.
Now that we know why Mozilla insisted on releasing Firefox 9, let’s hope we don’t break anything (particularly add-ons) while upgrading.
Firefox 9 is going to be rolled out through Firefox’s auto-update starting December 20, 2011. If you are impatient, you can manually update by downloading FF9 from Mozilla’s FTP repository.
Official Mozilla Firefox 9 FTP Repository
[via Ghacks]
@hatman:
Use the PortableApps (from PortableApps.com) version of Firefox on any HDD, USB drive or SD card. It’s self standing and won’t install as a Windows program as such, so you can remove it by simply deleting the directory (i.e. no rubbish left in registry), however, you can’t run it simultaneously with another version of FF.
@smaragdus:
A fanatic post with dinosaur mentality.
- Do numbers really matter to users? Talk about caring for pointless things.
- What a hyperbole, and completely ignorant. RSS icon isn’t an important feature, more like extra add-on functionality. Also the add-on bar is far more customizable than the old status (you can add any button to it).
- Get a theme then, it’s identity is dependent on the user.
- about:config fixes that, Firefox is made for the masses, which can be idiotic.
- Your machine or brain’s issue, all valid data proves the exact opposite.
I can elaborate as well. There are replacement add-ons, Add-on Compatibility Reporter, etc. so don’t be lazy.
@Farrukh: No problem! For what it is worth, FF9 is available via auto-update now — I just did it myself.
@hatman: I plan on writing the “how to” later today.
@Grantwhy: Mobile browser machine you are :-P
@Grantwhy: Ah that is interesting. I didn’t know the updates are instant on portable versions too, now. Do you know when they made that change?
@smaragdus: FF3.x was the best FF version. Ever. Period. I remember FF4+ has just been downhill.
@Jimmy: You are welcome!
@Zapped Sparky: Re: no Firefox anger management class for me tonight — LMAO!
@Fred: Yeah, easily. Just turn on Returnil’s disk protection before upgrading and ensure in settings Returnil is set to drop all changes upon reboot.
@Rick C.: Interesting. Thanks for that tip.
@ebony: Did you miss the dT article on Gushpippy? :-P
@ebony: FF3.x is good but you must almost note later versions of FF have security updates. So, yeah.
@Jeanjean: You are welcome — and thanks for keeping me informed about that issue!
@Jason Carver: Meh. With larger and larger HDDs I find installing multiple browsers a non-issue.
@jayesstee: Your directions are spot on — my article will say much of that, expect with addition of a few tweaks.
@jayesstee: Oooo good add-on there.
And why is everyone doing the whole dot thing with URLs? LMAO if you are only posting one URL you are good to go. Spam filter only goes berserk if you post multiple URLs or style your comment a lot.
@hatman: Try the latest — v9.
@J.L.: A lot of my issues with FF aren’t the changes they have made but rather the stability, in general, of the browser. I remember clearly FF3.x was great for me. FF4+ I have had regular crashes. FF8 has been the best update in the recent past — made the browser a lot more stable. Hopefully FF9 will continue that.
@Ashraf: I take back what I said about FF 3.x not having security updates. It looks like Mozilla is still maintaining FF 3.6.x in regards to security and stability updates.
@Ashraf:
Glad to hear that. Now I feel better.
As to question re Gishpuppy, was that before my time? rofl
@ebony:
Gishpuppy is still available. May be able to force it to work with newer version. Supported to 3,6.3 as far as I know. It allows you to create an e-mail within seconds that expires at a time of your choosing.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-Us/firefox/addon/gish-it/
@smaragdus: Here, here, I agree completely. worse is I discovered too late that Firefox’s automatic Add-On updater will update your system to not compatible add-ons. Several of my favorite Add-ons stopped working after an update and I had to update to version 4 to get them back. Some of them I still haven’t gotten back.
Do you know if the add-ons work in SeaMonkey? I’d switch myself if they do.
@jayesstee: It’s not as effective at backward compatibility I’ve found out. Some of the add-ons started working again after Firefox updated them to uselessness but most did not.
@J.L.: And what do I do when I carefully configure Firefox 4 to look like Firefox 3 only to have it forget all my configurations 1 – 2 times a month? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Have you ever tried COMODO DRAGON Browser??
Quicker than Firefox and more secure than CHROME:
http://www.comodo.com/home/browsers-toolbars/browser.php
http://www.techishare.com/tech/comodo-dragon-vs-google-chrome-updated/
And to install incompatible extension on a new upgraded version of Firefox just apply these tricks:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-update-firefox-thunderbird-addons-new-release.htm
http://www.techairlines.com/2010/01/16/force-install-incompatible-firefox-extensions/
Enjoy!!
@Ashraf: This my first post in the last couple of months, comprising of more than three lines, which has not been held for moderation! I’ll stick with the “whole dot thing with URLs” to give my convoluted posts a sporting chance.
P.S. When I opened my mailbox – eleven (11!) notifications from dotTech. dotTech is buzzing just like old times. :=D
@Darcy:
Why are you still on Firefox 4? Firefox 3.6x is ancient and in the way of future web innovation.
The issue your describing is more likely a profile problem than Firefox. You can make backups of it:
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20your%20information
Or you can try debugging the problem with Safe Mode.
@J.L.:
v.3.6.21 was released August 30th, 2011 THAT IS NOT “ANCIENT”