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Second beta of Firefox 2 released

Last Updated: Thursday, August 31, 2006 | 12:35 PM ET

CBC News

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.

This story is now closed to commenting.

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Firefox 2 Beta 2

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