Editor’s note: Today, the GNOME Foundation announced a $10,000 grant from Mozilla to advance accessibility. See the full press release for full details. Included below is an excerpt from the release:

The GNOME Foundation and Mozilla are committed to open source, open standards, and open formats. Both organizations and their contributors contribute to numerous projects to ensure an open Web and open desktop platform for all users. Part of that effort is working hard to ensure users with physical disabilities are able to make use of a free desktop and Web browser.

“The GNOME Foundation’s commitment to accessibility improves the desktop and Internet experience for millions of people, and Mozilla is proud to support this work,” said Mitchell Baker, Chair of the Mozilla Foundation.

Mozilla, a public-benefit organization dedicated to promoting choice and innovation on the Web, today released Firefox® 3.6, an update to its popular, free and open source Web browser. The latest version of Firefox introduces cutting-edge features, support for a wide variety of Web standards, and access to more than 6,000 free add-ons that allow users to customize their browser to their liking.

Firefox 3.6 is more than 20 percent faster than Firefox 3.5 and includes extensive under the hood work to improve performance for everyday Web tasks such as email, uploading photos, social networking, and more. It also delivers new features like customizable browser themes called Personas, a ground-breaking Plugin updater, improved JavaScript performance, and enhancements to familiar favorites like the Awesome Bar for a better, more personal Web experience.

Firefox 3.6 was built by Mozilla’s global community of passionate contributors, including thousands of experienced developers, security experts, localization and support communities, and hundreds of thousands of active testers. More than 350 million users worldwide enjoy Firefox’s fast, secure browsing experience and unparalleled customization.

What’s new in Firefox 3.6:

Below are some of the coolest features of Firefox 3.6:

• Personas: Personalize the look of your Firefox by selecting new themes called Personas in a single click and without a restart
• Plugin Updater: To keep you safe from potential security vulnerabilities, Firefox will now detect out of date plugins
• Stability improvements: Firefox 3.6 significantly decreased crashes caused by third party software – all without sacrificing our extensibility in any way
• Form Complete: When filling out an online form, Firefox suggests information for fields based on your common answers in similar field
• Performance: Improved JavaScript performance, overall browser responsiveness, and startup time
• Open Video and Audio: With the world’s best implementation of HTML 5 audio and video support, now video can be displayed full screen and supports poster frames

What’s New Under the Hood for Developers

• Support for the latest HTML5 specification, including the File API for local file handling
• Font Support: In addition to OpenType and TrueType fonts, 3.6 now supports the new Web Open Font Format (WOFF)
• CSS gradients: Supports linear and radial CSS gradients which allow for a smoother transition between colors
• Device orientation: Firefox 3.6 exposes the orientation of the laptop or device to Web pages

How to get Mozilla Firefox 3.6:

Firefox 3.6 is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux in more than 70 languages – more platforms and languages than any other browser! You can download Firefox 3.6 at www.firefox.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

For screenshots and logos, visit http://www.mozilla.com/press/images.html.

For a video tour of Firefox 3.6, visit http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/video/?video=whatnew-3.6.

Further details on Firefox 3.6 features can be found in the Reviewer’s Guide.

For more information about Mozilla Firefox 3.6 and how it provides a better and faster online experience, visit www.firefox.com.

Web developers are encouraged to check out the Firefox 3.6 for developers page and the full release notes.

Innovative yet easy-to-use browser addition by Mozilla Labs makes changing the look of Firefox a snap

Builds global community of independent designers, and gathers designs from Interscope Geffen A&M including the All American Rejects, Lady Gaga and No Doubt, BCBGMAXAZRIA, the Common Ground Foundation, Cynthia Rowley, Greenpeace, and LIVESTRONG

Mountain View, Calif. – March 31, 2009 – Mozilla, a public-benefit organization dedicated to promoting choice and innovation on the Internet, today announced the immediate availability of new designs for the Mozilla Firefox web browser by leading fashion, cause, sports and music brands. Personas are free, easy-to-install “skins” for Firefox that make changing the look of the browser as easy as changing a shirt.

Mozilla is expanding the Personas gallery with new cause, sports, fashion and music categories, seeded with new designs from leading brands and gifted designers.

“We wanted to give people an opportunity to reflect their interests, passions, and personality when dressing their browser,” said Chris Beard, chief innovation officer for Mozilla. “Personas also turn Firefox into a canvas for both independent and established designers to showcase their art for a worldwide audience.”

First introduced in late 2007, the Mozilla Labs Personas project has attracted hundreds of designs from a growing community of artists and designers. Anyone can create and submit a design online in a few simple steps, and designs can then be shared with friends and the broader community. The goal of the project from its inception has been to enable people to easily make their browsing experience more fun and personal.

Today, Mozilla is releasing personas from the following brands, organizations and artists at GetPersonas.com:

• Interscope Geffen A&M artists:
  • All American Rejects
  • Lady Gaga
  • No Doubt
• BCBGMAXAZRIA, a fashion powerhouse that has evolved into one of the hottest names in the fashion industry today.
• The Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment and development of urban youth, created by Grammy award winning hiphop artist, actor and children’s author Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known as “Common”.
• Cynthia Rowley, the namesake company of the award-winning designer, whose collection of clothing, accessories, books and more is sold in her own stores and others all over the world.
• Greenpeace, the leading independent campaigning organization that “bears witness” to environmental destruction in a peaceful manner.
• LIVESTRONG, an organization that is empowering cancer survivors and advocates in the global fight against cancer and raising awareness about the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign.

Aaron Foreman, head of digital solutions for Interscope Geffen A&M says, “It’s great for fans to be able to keep their favorite bands in their Firefox browser, no matter what web site they visit. No Doubt, Lady Gaga and All American Rejects fans are very dedicated and loyal. They’ll love it.”

“Giving people the ability to show their passion for Greenpeace through Firefox is an innovative approach to blending technology and people’s desire to protect the planet,” says Daniel Kessler, press officer at Greenpeace. “We’re proud to partner with Mozilla in this effort.”

All of these Personas and many more are immediately available for free download at: www.getpersonas.com

Press Contact:
press at mozilla dot com