The much-anticipated final release of Firefox 1.5 was released on Tuesday. Linux, Mac and Windows users of the popular open source browser can download it via the Mozilla website (http://www.mozilla.com).

Key improvements (http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/releases/1.5.html#download) with the browser include automatic updates (which means users no longer need to download a complete new version of the browser to upgrade), faster browser navigation, drag and drop reordering for browser tabs (previously only available as a third-party plug-in, improvements to pop-up blocking and better support for Mac OS X. There's also a number of bug fixes and security enhancements as explained in greater detail here (http://www.squarefree.com/burningedge/releases/1.5-comprehensive.html).

The Mozilla Foundation are planning to use the SpreadFirefox website to showcase user-submitted videos of Firefox fans gushing about the product as part of a marketing blitz due to raise the profile of the already popular browser. Recent figures from web analytics firm OneStat.com suggest Mozilla-based browsers have a total global usage share of 11.51 per cent in a market still dominated by Microsoft's ubiquitous IE browser software. ®

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