Firefox 3.6.4 testers wanted - edit - **now released **

[TonyE]

Mozilla have made available a preview release of Firefox 3.6.4. Unlike previous minor upgrades which usually just contain security/stability updates, this version contains a new feature called out of process plugins. This new feature is only available in Windows and Linux versions, Mozilla are working on a Mac version.

In previous release versions of Firefox, if a plugin such as Adobe Flash crashes or freezes, it would crash or freeze Firefox. With Firefox 3.6.4 if a plugin crashes or freezes, it will not affect the rest of Firefox. You will be able to reload the page to restart the plugin and try again. By default this feature is only switched on for Adobe Flash, Apple Quicktime and Microsoft Silverlight plugins.

If you would like to help Mozilla test the latest version, you can get it from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-beta.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Though this is labelled as a beta version, the version offered there is a release candidate, which means providing no show-stopper bugs are found it will become the official Firefox 3.6.4 release.
For more information see Mozilla Firefox 3.6.4 Beta Release Notes.
If you find a problem you can report it to Mozilla using their feedback system, or if you have full, specific details you can file a bug report. (You need to register to file a bug report)

Firefox 3.6.4 is currently scheduled to be released on May 4th.

Edit: Released on 22nd June
Available from http://www.mozilla.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Mozilla Firefox 3.6.4 Release Notes

[HansV]

What happened to 3.6.4? It's now a month after the release date that you mention, but I'm still at 3.6.3...

[TonyE]

What happened to 3.6.4? It's now a month after the release date that you mention, but I'm still at 3.6.3...

They are now up to the 6th release candidate build and are planning to release 3.6.4 in early June, Mozilla are currently reviewing 2 bug reports to see if they need to be fixed prior to the release of 3.6.4, the bugs relate to using the Flash plugin on 2 particular sites (CNET & a Japanese site).

Build 6 is available from the link in my original post.

[HansV]

Thanks for the update!

[TonyE]

Barring any last minute issues, Firefox 3.6.4 should be released later today, along with Firefox 3.5.10 and Seamonkey 2.0.5

For info, there will be no Firefox 3.6.5, the next version will be 3.6.6 which is scheduled for mid-late July.

[John Gray]

I am on the 3.6.4 beta which you pointed to originally, and the only problem I've come across is a Google redirect loop when attempting to sign on to a particular Google Group. But this might be entirely unrelated!

[HansV]

Barring any last minute issues, Firefox 3.6.4 should be released later today.

Yep - the built-in updater offered it a short while ago, so I'm now on 3.6.4. Thanks!

[PaulB]

Downloaded and installed 3.6.4 this evening. The issue(s) with Flash videos at Cnet TV are still there. The video portion (but not the audio) will cut out at some point during playback. Very inconsistent. A given video will play properly one time, then cut out part way through the next time. Will keep an eye on this. Also noticed some Flash video problems at the BBC news site.

[TonyE]

I am on the 3.6.4 beta which you pointed to originally, and the only problem I've come across is a Google redirect loop when attempting to sign on to a particular Google Group. But this might be entirely unrelated!

Try clearing the cookies for Google Groups, that should fix your problem.

[PaulB]

The problem I raised above with 3.6.4 turned out to be a false alarm. A reboot of the computer and consequent reload of Flash cleared it up.

I'm still having an issue with flash videos on the BBC news site, however. They look different somehow. Can anyone tell me if the site has changed the way they present the videos?

[HansV]

I'm using the NoScript extension, and I have to allow bbc.co.uk and bbcimage.co.uk to let the videos on the BBC News site run. But once they do, I can't detect a difference in the way they look between Firefox 3.6.4 and Internet Explorer 8.

[TonyE]

Mozilla will be releasing an emergency update for Firefox 3.6.4, possibly as early as later today or tomorrow.

This is to fix an issue where Firefox crashes on Farmville and other complex flash pages. It will be version 3.6.6 and does not include the fixes/updates that were originally planned for Firefox 3.6.6, those have been put back to Firefox 3.6.7. The only thing it does is increase the value of a hidden setting, dom.ipc.plugins.timeoutSecs, from 10 seconds to 45 seconds. This should address the majority of cases where there are Flash hangs/crashes that weren't there before.

[Hey Jude]

Barring any last minute issues, Firefox 3.6.4 should be released later today.

Yep - the built-in updater offered it a short while ago, so I'm now on 3.6.4. Thanks!

Just got it too

[PaulB]

I'm using the NoScript extension, and I have to allow bbc.co.uk and bbcimage.co.uk to let the videos on the BBC News site run. But once they do, I can't detect a difference in the way they look between Firefox 3.6.4 and Internet Explorer 8.

My issues with Flash on the BBC news site do not appear to be due to Firefox. I will close the issue here and re-open it in the appropriate forum after some further investigation. Thanks all.

[Goshute]

My FF 3.6.4 Help menu dropdown had an "Apply downloaded updates" item, and having done so I'm now at 3.6.6. (though frankly I agree with anything that chokes on Farmville )