Firefox 3.5 has been released several weeks ago, but some Ubuntu 9.04 users out there may still be using the older 3.0 version. They should not expect that they will get an automatic update since this latest Firefox release will not be officially included in Ubuntu until 9.10 "Karmic Koala". But no worries because it is very much possible to install Firefox 3.5 on Ubuntu 9.04, and in fact I'm using it right now.I will be showing you the two different and very easy ways on how to do this. However, you may ask: what will I get from upgrading to 3.5? Well, aside from the features that were highlighted on this post, I've noticed improvements in speed, user experience, and page rendering. Is the upgrade worth it? I refrained from writing this tutorial immediately after I've installed Firefox 3.5 because I wanted to know first if it will work well on Ubuntu 9.04. And since it has no major issues what so ever and it's running really great right now, I highly recommend that you should also upgrade.
I know you can't wait already, so let's get down to business...
Installing Firefox 3.5 on Ubuntu 9.04 using Ubuntuzilla:
Ubuntuzilla is a Python script that will let you easily install and update Mozilla applications that are not yet available on the Ubuntu repository.
1. Download your appropriate .deb package of Ubuntuzilla from HERE. Install it.
2. Close Firefox.
3. Open your Linux terminal and run this command:
ubuntuzilla.py -a install -p firefox
Ubuntuzilla will guide you through the installation process, and you should be able to install Firefox successfully.
4. You can now run Firefox 3.5 via "firefox" command, or simply click on Firefox from the “Applications Menu”.
Installing Firefox 3.5 on Ubuntu 9.04 with one command:
1. Back-up your Firefox 3.0.11 profile via Linux terminal with this command:
cp -r ~/.mozilla/firefox/ ~/firefox_backup
The “firefox_backup” file will be found inside your "/home" directory.
2. Proceed by installing Firefox 3.5 with this command:
wget -O - http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/3.5/linux-i686/en-US/firefox-3.5.tar.bz2 | tar xj -C ~
3. Firefox 3.5 is now saved in your "Home" folder. Before running Firefox 3.5, be sure to close the older version. You can start the latest version with this command:
~/firefox/firefox
You can also add Firefox 3.5 to your “Applications Menu” by navigating to:
System-->Preferences-->Main Menu
From the list of menus, select "Internet". You can now add a new item or simply replace the older version of Firefox. The command field should be:
/home/your_username/firefox/firefox
The first time you run Firefox 3.5, it will start updating your Extensions and will check for compatibility among other things. By now, a lot of popular extensions are updated to support version 3.5.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Or you could do it the right way and go to System / Administration / Software Sources. Then check 'universe', click close. Open up a terminal and type:
ReplyDeletesudo aptitude install firefox-3.5
Doh!
Hmm, why don't you use the standard ubuntu package fo: firefox-3.5:
ReplyDeleteapt-get install firefox-3.5
cd /usr/bin
rm firefox
ln -s firefox-3.5 firefox
You can also install it via
ReplyDeletesudo apt-get install firefox-3.5
The only thing is that it will appear as shiretoko, and firefox 3.0 will still be installed.
Unfortunately, this is not exactly an upgrade, rather a new install onto your ~/ folder. I was not successful with the ubuntuzilla installation; perhaps this one is an upgrade? I don't really like to have several installations of the same product hanging around stale in my system.
ReplyDeletePS: the 3.5.1 takes care security issue found in 3.5.
Cheers,
fandi - LinuxD1
Use - jaunty-proposed
ReplyDelete=====================
It you set your sources in Ubuntu to allow Proposed Updates then FF3.5 is available :)
Was:
Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.9.1b4pre) Gecko/20090401 Ubuntu/9.04 (jaunty) Shiretoko/3.5b4pre - Build ID:20090401172919
Now:
Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.9.1.1) Gecko/20090716 Ubuntu/9.04 (jaunty) Shiretoko/3.5.1 - Build ID: 20090716174136
Remember to then turn proposed off :)
Or, install the Firefox 3.5 final already available on the Ubuntu repositories:
ReplyDeletesudo aptitude install firefox-3.5
and start it by the name firefox-3.5
simple as that.
Uhm, how about sudo apt-get install firefox-3.5?
ReplyDeleteAfter all, 3.5 final is in the universe repositories.
sudo apt-get install firefox-3.5
ReplyDeleteIt's in the universe repos.
OKay, apart from using ubuntutzilla,
ReplyDeletehow do you make FF3.5 your default browser and have links in kmail, TB, etc open FF 3.5?
I tried the Ubuntuzilla way or the first mentioned and I still have Firefox 3.0.11, not 3.5 ot 3.5.1. (on my desktop)
ReplyDeleteso what is wrong? I was able to install 3.5 on my laptop a few days after 3.5 was released.
Thanks so much for this. I was able to successfully install FF 3.5 via the second method.
ReplyDeleteHey .. how about using Swiftfox?It is actualy a derivate of Firefox optimised for only specific procesor architecture. Meaning it has different versions of install packages for different processors . I think it's better that normal Firefox just because the normal version is compiled to work on most architectures and has a lot of extra weight. curious and don't trust me ? look it up on google or something .. it's only for linux and realy stable. I get a lot of crashes with normal Firefox but not with Swiftfox. Also it;s updated as soon as new Versions Emerge latest one is 3.5.1 and has it's own repository
ReplyDelete