Firefox 3 is now in the release candidate stage, with RC1 now available to download. The release notes can be found over at Mozilla, but the biggest new feature over FF2 (aside from the new default UI theme) is the address bar. It’s no longer simply an “address bar,” but has be re-christened the location bar. It searches URLs (including page titles) and bookmarks and “remembers” your most visited sites. So whenever I type “e” Wikipedia is the first site to pop up (for en.wikipedia.org). It absolutely will take getting used to, and I’ve read here and there that people hate it to no end, but I’ve grown to tolerate it.
If no other significant bugs are found, RC1 will become the final version, which is scheduled for a June release.
Is there a way to shut off the “helpful” location bar? I am a hater, and won’t install it until that goes away.
Yep, if you want to completely turn it off, simply type: about:config in to the address bar and hit enter. In this new settings page set:
browser.urlbar.maxRichResults
to 0 and you’re done.