Community Feedback posted this today. FIREFOX 6
Firefox 6 will include critical updates, as well as improvements to the current Firefox. The release is scheduled for Tuesday, August 16. On that day, please update only by using your "Help" drop-down menu under "About Firefox." Do not be fooled by an email suggesting you update via an embedded link in the email.
To repeat: Always update via your "Help" drop-down menu under "About Firefox."
Reminder about the "Firefox Rapid Release Program":
It may appear that Firefox is releasing updates too quickly. But in reality, they've just changed their numbering system. Firefox used to update in increments, for instance numbers like 3.5.19, for bug patches and security fixes. Those were released about every six weeks. A major release, with a complete number change like Firefox 4, came out every six to twelve months. With those full number updates they'd include new features, improvements, and enhancements all at once.
Because there is so much to test and refine it could take up to 18 months to get changes ready for that one big release. Plus, they'd get bogged down because they still had to go back and make security fixes for incremental releases. It would take valuable time away from working on the major, whole number releases.
So, Mozilla has switched to this 18 week release plan instead. These releases include bug patches and security fixes that would normally be in an incremental update, but they also include a couple of minor new features each time. This allows Mozilla to get full, updated versions of Firefox out when promised. If something isn't quite ready or hasn't been tested enough, it will be released in the next 18 week release issue. This approach is better because new features are revealed a few at a time, improving comprehension by users and causing fewer stability issues. And for troubleshooting help, it will make things much easier to pin down.
Just to be clear, we will still occasionally see the increments being released, for instance 4.0.1, but it will be rare and only for small patches that can't wait. They are also hoping this new numbering system will eliminate confusion among users who were never quite sure which version they were using or if they were up to date. People often thought they were running say 3.5 when they are actually running 3.6, or the other way around. We saw that happen here at CF more than once.
