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Mozilla history diagram:
diagram of mozilla history

Firefox is getting a lot of attention lately as a safer and very popular web browser (on windows, mac, and linux). Like Mozilla, it has tabbed browsing and built-in popup blocking. Unlike Mozilla, it has configurable toolbars and an extensions manager. See recent security fixes.

Thunderbird is the email and newsgroup client, the "other part" of Mozilla which is being redone as a separate application. Personally, I use Thunderbird because it can do SSL IMAP (a way to keep my password secure and keep my mail folders on the server).

The Mozilla suite (ending with Mozilla 1.7.13) was a descendant of Netscape "Communicator". It has been replaced by SeaMonkey. It includes the web browser, email program, HTML editor, and more, all in one program. Major development work by the Mozilla Organization has shifted to Firefox and Thunderbird instead of the Mozilla suite.

The HTML editor is being redone as a standalone app called "NVU". The Calendar software is being redone both as a standalone app and an extension. The IRC client "Chatzilla" is available as an extension for Firefox.

Some other browsers based on Mozilla technology are: Netscape 6.x thru 8.x Camino (for Mac OS X), and Epiphany (for Linux, from Gnome).

Some Firefox extensions which I recommend:

image zoom (download) -- try the mouse wheel zooming feature (enable it in options. RMB=hold down Right Mouse Button)
prefbar (download) -- which I customize to look like this:
flashblock -- replace flash objects with a placeholder (click, and it shows)
adblock -- automatic ad blocking (based on URL, not just site)
web developer -- power tools for web developers etc.
nuke anything -- add "remove this object" to the popup menu (for images and most things)
Live HTTP headers -- if tracing HTTP transactions sounds like fun, this is for you.

General Firefox Tips:

ZAP Plugins is a "bookmarklet" for zapping annoyances (embeded objects and third party iframes), good to have in your bookmarks toolbar, from the zapping annoyances page.
The official "mozilla update" site is missing some good extensions. It's also often out of date. See extensionroom.mozdev.org for a better catalog of extensions.
If you don't already have Java installed, you can download the Java "plug-in". Get the JRE, not the SDK (unless you write java programs).
If you upgrade mozilla, re-enabling Flash and RealPlayer plugins may require putting the correct dll files in the "Program Files\Mozilla\plugins" folder. (npswf32.dll for Flash, nppl3260.dll for Real)
I don't usually find themes worth advocating, but miniFox is a compact version of the normal skin (especially with toolbar/customize: 'use small icons' turned on)

Thunderbird information:

Image Zoom is the only extension I use in Thunderbird (so far).
I haven't tried enigmail myself yet (for encrypted email, a bit complicated to set up), but it seems good.

Thunderbird tip (on windows): The control-mouseWheel function in (to enlarge & reduce the text size) is disabled by default. To enable it, you have to edit your preferences, by doing this:

• CLOSE Thunderbird, make sure it's NOT running!
• (edit your prefs.js:) Go to Start / Run... / and enter %APPDATA%
This should open the folder for your application data. (It can be lower case too. It might not work on Win98)
• Browse to Thunderbird\Profiles\r4nd1r7.default (or whatever the random profile folder is).
• This should have a file "prefs.js". Edit this file as a text file (NOT with MS Word, it might save out as a document. Notepad would be good).
• At the end of the file, add the line:

user_pref("mousewheel.withcontrolkey.action", 3);

• Save and close the file, then you can run Thunderbird and it should work.

• I posted some pictures from the mozilla party. [06-Apr-2000]

Some other sites besides mozilla.org:
• mozillaZine
• mozDev
• spreadFirefox
• MozillaNews
• ufaq.org

• Before reporting a bug, check the most frequent bugs

• The mozilla development roadmap gets a rewrite every year or two.

• More details on history of mozilla releases