BigBlueHat

Firefox 3.0 is the upcoming version (currently in beta) of the most flexible browser on earth (very little bias, promise ). I recently installed the latest version available to Ubuntu 7.10 users (Firefox 3.0 beta 3, I believe), and so far it’s been a joy.

Overall Firefox 3.0 beta 3 seems faster and looks better with the rest of my operating system. In the past, Firefox had its own set of user interface (UI) widgets (the buttons, menus, tabs, checkboxes, etc). While perfectly usable and even attractive, they were inconsistent with the surrounding interface.The Firefox team has done a great job of using the native widgets that your operating
system uses. This means that when I restyle my desktop theme (which you can do easily in Ubuntu by the way), I’ll see those changes reflected in my browser.

Beyond just a more consistent UI, Firefox 3.0 now passes the infamous Acid 2 Test. Acid 2 tests how well your browser implemented standard web technologies. The Internet Explorers have been notoriously bad at getting Acid 2 to work. IE 8 will, but only if you “opt-in” to use the standards. A List Apart, Issue 253, has more on that coming apocalypse.

As Firefox 3.0 continues to work through the beta process, many extensions are getting an upgrade. Many of mine worked when I installed Firefox 3.0 late last week. Others, like Firebug, didn’t initially, but it turns out there’s a beta for that as well (1.1) that gets things running again. Firebug really deserves its own post, but if you’re a web developer and you’ve not snagged a copy of this free (BSD-licensed) powerhouse, you should. It’ll change the way you build sites and web-based applications. If you use AJAX or other “Web 2.0″ technologies, the JavaScript and DOM inspector will remove much of your need for coffee, but I’ll save the specifics for another day.

In any case, if you’re into what’s next for the web, get a copy of Firefox 3.0. Do be warned, though, that just like other cutting edge technology, your mileage may vary.

Resource Description Framework (or RDF) is something that’s long held my interest. RDF stores things like we thing in triples. Triples are very similar to sentences. They have subject (resources), predicates (traits or aspects that express relationship to the object), and objects.

Without going into to much more technical information, imagine that your computer had access to data stored in a similar method that your mind stores information (once you know a language anyway). Applications could then create relationships between things that have similar subjects, predicates, or objects–”if the sky is blue, what else is blue?”

In the book, Practical RDF, I picked up this “rule of thumb” for when to use RDF:

Use RDF if “the data is of interest, descriptive, and not easily discovered by any other means.” — page 11, Practical RDF

That said, RDF seems to be best suited for data that’s not available in the document, but that the computer may need to know about (now or later). Things like “last modified,” “program used to create,” “mood of author upon creation of piece,” or whatever.

As the “Semantic Web” (or “Web 3.0“) finally begins to become a reality, you may run into the letters, RDF, as you wonder around the web. In any case, RDF will likely form the backdrop for many programs you use. If you’re using Mozilla Firefox or Thunderbird, it already does.

I personally hope to see RDF take a bigger role in our data processing and distribution as the web becomes more open and useful for more than just browsing.

Mitchell Baker, CEO of the Mozilla Corporation, has announced Mozilla’s plans for funding and promoting the Mozilla Thunderbird and other Internet communications initiatives.

The Mozilla Foundation will be creating a separate organization to run, fund, and market the new communication related products. As avid Thunderbird users, we’re excited about the news. Especially in the wake of other news this week.

For the future, we would still enjoy seeing increased focus given to the Mozilla Platform. For now, though, we’re excited about the new “MailCo” being formed by Mozilla, and look forward to wonderful things for Thunderbird users everywhere.

Brad and I are heavy Thunderbird users. It’s been my exclusive e-mail client for home and business since it was originally spun out from the Mozilla Suite as a standalone product. All this time I’ve been waiting for the day when Thunderbird would take to the skies.

Late last month wheels began moving at Mozilla to get Thunderbird ready for that takeoff. Three options were put on the table. All of them pertained to giving Thunderbird the love it’s been in need of both from Mozilla leadership and from the open source community.

Throwing in our Hat

While we’re an incredibly small player by comparison to those who have contributed code and funds to the Thunderbird project, we do what we can by promoting Thunderbird to all of our clients, friends, and family–many of whom have eagerly switched to Thunderbird from Outlook and various webmail clients.

What I’d like to contribute now are a few ideas. As Thunderbird takes off, I’d like to contribute more tangible items. But for now, some thoughts. (more…)