Note: Sometimes bleeding-edge is fun, but it's not for everyone. I mention that so you'll know that this blog post is not for average computer users. But for those that like to try the latest, greatest things the second they become available and don't mind installing pre-release software...

**UPDATE 7/10/2006: Since this post was originally authored the ****RC2 binaries for FF2B1 have been released **earlier today in the nightly builds area. I've removed the old links.

You know Firefox is a great browser, and if you're one of the hard-core, gotta-have-it types (like I am), you'll be glad to know binaries for Firefox v2 Beta 1 are available on the Mozilla.org FTP server. It won't be formally released they say 'til Tuesday, and the files could certainly change between now and then (this looks like it's labeled RC1 of Beta 1), but as you can see from the image at right the 2.0b1 English binaries are there. You can grab it now:

Download binaries for:

You know you want it. There's some nifty and subtle updates in the release, like close buttons on browser tabs and friendly, clean feed display in the browser window.

And by the way... Really, you should know how this stuff works, it's not magic, you know. People are organized and work hard to give you something you can download for free and which makes your life better. Have you said thank you yet?

So, why don't go and get to know the project a little bit? Find out what goes into the software you use. It *is *a community thing, after all. Here, I will help you with starter links and a few facts:

The codebase was frozen on July 5th in preparation for release this week. The latest status meeting notes are viewable here. The code name for the release up 'til now has been "Bon Echo." From the Firefox 2 section of the MozillaWiki (where you can get lots of geeky details for yourself, by the way - so go learn and amaze your friends) here's a touch of high-level Firefox 2 trivia:

*Theme of Firefox 2 *

*Firefox 2 will aim to build on the success of Firefox by addressing issues related to the problem of managing the vast amounts of **use a pre-release code name taken from a public park. *Bon Echo Provincial Park is located in Ontario, Canada. The name literally translates to "good echo", and reflects how it is our goal echoes that of Firefox information available on the Internet. Our goal is to provide a browser that helps users manage and organize their online information channels.

About Bon Echo

*Continuing the tradition, Firefox 2 will *x 1, once again focusing on improving the browsing experience for our users, making it simple, effective, fast and useful.

While the release notes are not yet up as of this writing, and while the binaries you see on the FTP site certainly may change before they're formally released, you might also be interested in taking a look at the changes that were made up through the latest Alpha release (Alpha 3).