Mozilla unveiled another preview of the next version of its Firefox web browser Thursday.
The second beta of Firefox 2 is intended for testing and software development purposes, but offers a look at new features headed to the final version, expected in October.
Mozilla recommends that users of the current Firefox browser — version 1.5.0.6 —should not use Firefox 2 if they want "all of their extensions and plugins to work properly."
Besides some updates to the visual design of the browser, Firefox 2 offers:
- Protection against phishing sites, or fraudulent websites that attempt to trick people into giving up their login and password information.
- The browser history will contain a list of recently closed tabs, with the option to re-open tabs closed accidentally.
- A feature to restore all windows and tabs from a system crash or from the last time the user closed the browser.
- Spell checking of text entered into forms.
- Better search and RSS feed capabilities.
Many of these features can be replicated in the current version of Firefox by using extensions.
Mozilla's code name for Firefox 2 while it is in development is Bon Echo, after Bon Echo Provincial Park, in south-central Ontario.







