Firefox 9.0 Download Released; From 3.6 to 9.0 in 2011

Our little Firefox is growing up so fast.

by Marcus Yam December 20, 2011 at 10:00 AM

Can you believe that we entered summer with only Firefox version 4.0, and now we're going to close out the year with version 9.0? Firefox is definitely eating its Wheaties.

Here are the changes for Firefox 9.0:

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

Find the Firefox download links below, or use the update function in your browser.

Windows

Mac OS X

Linux

About the author

Marcus Yam @marcusyam

Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.

Software

Ask a Category Expert

Create a new thread in the US News comments forum about this subject

Title
Title
Subject

This thread is closed for comments

52 comments

Comment from the forums

Your comment

Top Comments

falcompsx 6 years ago

going from 3.6 to 9.0 in one year, is just stupid. Frequent updates are a good idea, sure, but lets keep some meaning to version numbers. Instead of changing the major version number for every minor update, do what we always have, call it firefox 4.8 or whatever because to the average user, 9.0 and 3.6 are indistinguishable. Same goes for Chrome. This inflation of version numbers is nothing more than a pissing contest to see who's browser sounds more advanced by version number alone. Google started it with Chrome and its a shame the others are taking notice and following the trend.
JamesSneed 6 years ago

Only explanation for going from 3.6 to 9.0 is the Firefox girl.
VirtualMirage 6 years ago

The other negative about Mozilla using whole version numbers for what is essentially an incremental update to the browser is that it makes it a pain the butt to update the browser to receive necessary fixes in a work environment that only allows approved software to be installed. When incremental updates are released and the version number is only a minor increment (say a .01 or .2 version number change), those can be installed usually without issue since it is the same major product version. But when you start changing the version number in major increments, say 4.0 to 5.0 or 9.0 in this case, the 'gods' in the approval office won't allow the product to be installed until it goes through the proper procedures (which can take weeks or months). Having to do this several times in one year by filling out paperwork, submitting, and hoping for a quick turn around for what is essentially a reliability update with some security improvements, and a few new features thrown in to give it that new car smell, is just a headache in the workplace. All because of the version number...

Other Comments

doped 6 years ago

mozilla just hopped on the weird version numbering bandwagon the software of tomorrow uses. And how is that for inappropriate image??
falcompsx 6 years ago

going from 3.6 to 9.0 in one year, is just stupid. Frequent updates are a good idea, sure, but lets keep some meaning to version numbers. Instead of changing the major version number for every minor update, do what we always have, call it firefox 4.8 or whatever because to the average user, 9.0 and 3.6 are indistinguishable. Same goes for Chrome. This inflation of version numbers is nothing more than a pissing contest to see who's browser sounds more advanced by version number alone. Google started it with Chrome and its a shame the others are taking notice and following the trend.
Netherscourge 6 years ago

I read this article on my Chrome Browser.
JamesSneed 6 years ago

Only explanation for going from 3.6 to 9.0 is the Firefox girl.
ta152h 6 years ago

I know they think this is supposed to help them, but their market share keeps going down anyway. So, maybe it's not a great strategy after all. It probably irritates more people than it helps. Can you imagine trying to support so many versions? What's the point? So, they aren't more than seven behind Chrome's release number?

It doesn't seem like anyone wants this.
HansVonOhain 6 years ago

dopedmozilla just hopped on the weird version numbering bandwagon the software of tomorrow uses. And how is that for inappropriate image??

You must be a virgin.
ta152h 6 years ago

falcompsxgoing from 3.6 to 9.0 in one year, is just stupid. Frequent updates are a good idea, sure, but lets keep some meaning to version numbers. Instead of changing the major version number for every minor update, do what we always have, call it firefox 4.8 or whatever because to the average user, 9.0 and 3.6 are indistinguishable. Same goes for Chrome. This inflation of version numbers is nothing more than a pissing contest to see who's browser sounds more advanced by version number alone. Google started it with Chrome and its a shame the others are taking notice and following the trend.

Others? Seems like only Firefox is doing this stupid stuff. Opera sure isn't. IE isn't. Safari is Apple, so weird from the beginning, and irrelevant from the beginning. So I don't know, and don't care.
icepick314 6 years ago

ta152hOthers? Seems like only Firefox is doing this stupid stuff. Opera sure isn't. IE isn't. Safari is Apple, so weird from the beginning, and irrelevant from the beginning. So I don't know, and don't care.

you forgot Chrome...

it's at version 16....
ta152h 6 years ago

[

HansVonOhainYou must be a virgin.

Actually, I think most of the guys here that post about her are. She's got a face like a moose, her figure is average at best, with a thick waist, and only average bust. She's arching her body in a way that exaggerates the positive aspects of the female figure, but that's about it.

But, you'll get comment after comment on her. Those are probably the virgins (not that there's anything wrong with that). Normal men aren't going to be so aroused by a mediocre female they don't know, that they have to create post after post about it. She's not exactly Marilyn Monroe or Monica Bellucci.
VirtualMirage 6 years ago

The other negative about Mozilla using whole version numbers for what is essentially an incremental update to the browser is that it makes it a pain the butt to update the browser to receive necessary fixes in a work environment that only allows approved software to be installed. When incremental updates are released and the version number is only a minor increment (say a .01 or .2 version number change), those can be installed usually without issue since it is the same major product version. But when you start changing the version number in major increments, say 4.0 to 5.0 or 9.0 in this case, the 'gods' in the approval office won't allow the product to be installed until it goes through the proper procedures (which can take weeks or months). Having to do this several times in one year by filling out paperwork, submitting, and hoping for a quick turn around for what is essentially a reliability update with some security improvements, and a few new features thrown in to give it that new car smell, is just a headache in the workplace. All because of the version number...
ta152h 6 years ago

icepick314you forgot Chrome...it's at version 16....

Chrome was what he was referring to as other's copying. Therefore, it can't be one of the others, since they couldn't be copying themselves.
mrmaia 6 years ago

"mozilla just hopped on the weird version numbering bandwagon" because the everyday user hops into the "bigger version number = more advanced" bandwagon.

I'll download this update. I meant, I WILL download it, nothing will be installed behind my back like Chrome does.

And that blondie just made me like Firefox a bit more right now
rohitbaran 6 years ago

falcompsxgoing from 3.6 to 9.0 in one year, is just stupid. Frequent updates are a good idea, sure, but lets keep some meaning to version numbers. Instead of changing the major version number for every minor update, do what we always have, call it firefox 4.8 or whatever because to the average user, 9.0 and 3.6 are indistinguishable. Same goes for Chrome. This inflation of version numbers is nothing more than a pissing contest to see who's browser sounds more advanced by version number alone. Google started it with Chrome and its a shame the others are taking notice and following the trend.

Well, Chrome is the COD of web browsers in a way.
Netherscourge 6 years ago

rohitbaranWell, Chrome is the COD of web browsers in a way.

Firefox is the Windows Phone of web browsers.
DXRick 6 years ago

I feel like an idiot for asking this: Where is "the update function in your browser"?
mrmaia 6 years ago

DXRickI feel like an idiot for asking this: Where is "the update function in your browser"?

In Firefox, go to Help - About and it'll check for updates.
DaddyW123 6 years ago

ta152h[Actually, I think most of the guys here that post about her are. She's got a face like a moose, her figure is average at best, with a thick waist, and only average bust. She's arching her body in a way that exaggerates the positive aspects of the female figure, but that's about it. But, you'll get comment after comment on her. Those are probably the virgins (not that there's anything wrong with that). Normal men aren't going to be so aroused by a mediocre female they don't know, that they have to create post after post about it. She's not exactly Marilyn Monroe or Monica Bellucci.

I'm 31, I have a beautiful wife and a 2 year old Son. I had plenty of play in college, and I think the girl on this pic is hot! She may not be the hottest girl I've ever seen, but I wouldn't kick her to the curb if she wanted a piece... well actually I would because I'm married - but I'd be taking a cold shower directly after.
cybrcatter 6 years ago

Normal users who aren't anal retentive do not care about the numbering scheme.
The only individuals who take note are the marketing teams and a small, vocal minority.
ta152h 6 years ago

DaddyW123I'm 31, I have a beautiful wife and a 2 year old Son. I had plenty of play in college, and I think the girl on this pic is hot! She may not be the hottest girl I've ever seen, but I wouldn't kick her to the curb if she wanted a piece... well actually I would because I'm married - but I'd be taking a cold shower directly after.

And I'm as rich as Bill Gates, have a body like Arnold, smart as Newt, and have as many women as Hugh Hefner. We can be anything on the internet.

The reality is, if you're posting about this female, you're not getting much of anything, or can't get much of anything. Maybe you'd have a romp with her, most guys are that way, but when you post about someone, and think the whole world has to know you find her attractive, there's something off with that.

I wouldn't find this girl the least bit attractive, but even if I did, I wouldn't see the point in posting about it, unless she were the one writing the article. In that event, you'd at least make her feel good, and there would be a point.

Writing about how you find a picture of a girl, you don't know, you've never spoken to, and you desperately want is not only pathetic, it's shameful.
lahawzel 6 years ago

otacon72still a memory hog.

http://media.bestofmicro.com/K/6/309174/original/memuse40tabswbgp7.png

I see you seem to believe that we live in a universe where 475.3 > 1057.2.

Display All 52 comments

Display more comments