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Web Browser News and Market Share Reports Archive 2005

What happened in the WWW browsing world and browser war in the past? This page features important milestones on Internet browser news and releases as well as market share reports from 2005.

The following browser and market report headlines document the history of the Web Browser Versions and Download Links news ticker and are listed chronologically by month.

• Browser News
• Market Share Reports

See the history column on the right side for older news stories and market headlines long ago.

Browser News 2005

December

SeaMonkey 1.0b first look: SeaMonkey beta improves on Mozilla legacy [31.12]

Camino 1.0b2 is here: Second Camino 1.0 beta adds SVG support [30.12]

Latest Web server survey: Apache runs on almost 70% of the Internet's Web servers, Dec 2005 [27.12]

Happy birthday browser: Fifteen years ago, the Web browser was invented on Christmas day [25.12]

Microsoft to buy Opera?: Opera denies Microsoft takeover rumours [24.12]

Multi OS browser test: Test Web browsers for compliance with current Web standards [23.12]

Speed comparisons: Fastest browser test: Mac, Windows or Linux? [22.12]

Third public iCab 3 beta: iCab 3.0b382 with simple RSS reader [22.12]

Mac MISE alternatives: Classic browsers for Mac OS 9 instead of IE5 [22.12]

Firefox stability problems?: Is Firefox 1.5 not ready for prime time? [21.12]

Shiira 1.2 released: Shiira 1.2 now includes RSS support [20.12]

Mozilla successor as beta: Web suite SeaMonkey 1.0 reaches beta status [20.12]

MS pulls plug on Mac IE 5: Microsoft officially ending Internet Explorer support on 31 Dec 2005 [18.12]

Serious IE flaws patched: Microsoft has provided a fix for a critical security flaw in Windows [16.12]

Microsoft IE 7 preview: PCStats looks at Internet Explorer 7 features [15.12]

CNET on Web browsers: Latest browser headlines and news stories [14.12]

Sturdier browser padlocks: Browsers to get reinforced security padlock next year [13.12]

OmniWeb 5.1.3 beta 2: OmniWeb 5.1.3b2 adds Dutch localization [12.12]

The future of HTML by IBM: The WHATWG's approach to improving HTML [12.12]

Public beta of IE7 is close: Microsoft delays next IE release to early next year [8.12]

New Firefox feature poll: Vote for the most useful feature in Firefox 1.5 [6.12]

November

Mozilla Firefox 1.5 is here: Better software update, faster navigation and redesigned prefs [29.11]

Konqueror and KDE 3.5: Konqueror 3.5 passes as second Acid2 test [29.11]

PC World browser face-off: IE7 receives an overhaul to match its rivals [28.11]

Final Firefox 1.5 expected: Firefox 1.5 to launch this week with marketing blitz [27.11]

Focus security standards: Browser makers agree on security features [24.11]

Firefox 1.5 PCMag review: This release is almost certain to drive adoption rates even higher [23.11]

Opera 8.51 released: Latest Opera closes two critical security holes [22.11]

Web browser security: Special report on today's browser security [20.11]

Mozilla Firefox 1.5 rc3: Third Firefox 1.5 release candidate arrives [17.11]

OmniWeb 5.1.3 beta 1: OmniWeb 5.1.3b1 adds Japanese localization and fixes crash [16.11]

Mozilla Firefox 1.5 rc2: Fast Firefox 1.5 release candidate 2 out [10.11]

Web standards support: MSIE really worse, Opera and Firefox better but far from being perfect for HTML 4.01 and CSS 2.1 [10.11]

Happy birthday Firefox!: Mozilla's innovative browser celebrates its one-year anniversary [9.11]

First Camino 1.0 beta: Camino 1.0b1 fixes bugs with stable release [7.11]

Mac browser overview: Macintosh Web browsers present and past [6.11]

Mozilla Firefox 1.5 rc1: Firefox 1.5 release candidate 1 has faster browser navigation [2.11]

October

Safari 2.0 passes Acid2: Safari 2.0.2 on Mac OS X 10.4.3 is the first browser to pass Acid2 test [31.10]

OmniWeb 5.1.2 release: Minor OmniWeb update adds localizations [26.10]

Flock developer preview: New Flock is built around social networking [24.10]

The secrets of Safari: How to make the most of Safari 2.0 plus tips [21.10]

Opera 9.0 preview 1: The latest test release is Opera 9 preview 1 [20.10]

Netscape 8.0.4 at last: AOL closes Netscape 8.0 security holes [20.10]

OmniWeb 5.1.2 beta 3: Public OmniWeb 5.1.2b3 has minor fixes [19.10]

100 mio. Firefoxes: Firefox surpasses 100 million downloads [19.10]

Build your own browser: Tutorial: Using the Apple's WebKit SDK to make a Mac Web browser [17.10]

Macworld Firefox guide: The power user's guide to free Mozilla Firefox [14.10]

Firefox 1.5 rc is coming: Mozilla Firefox 1.5 release candidate 1 set for 28th October [14.10]

Konqueror 3.4.3 released: KDE 3.4.3 maintenance release available [13.10]

Netscape gains on Firefox: Browser wars: Netscape gaining, others falling. Will Google drop da bomb? [12.10]

Firefox growing pains: Mozilla suffers growing pains with popularity [9.10]

Macworld: Opera 8.5: Review: Web browser gets more attractive and now comes free [7.10]

Firefox 1.5 beta 2 release: Mozilla Firefox 1.5b2 with automated update [7.10]

Advances in browsers: eWEEK special report on browser technology [6.10]

Firefox 1.5 beta 2 rc ready: Test Mozilla Firefox 1.5b2 release candidates [5.10]

Netscape lands browser distribution deal with HP: HP and Compaq PCs to include Netscape 8 early next year [4.10]

September

Opera to overtake Firefox: Opera wants to be no. 2 desktop browser [30.9]

Netscape patch missing: Netscape still vulnerable to known Firefox bugs [27.9]

What Is Firefox: Mozilla Firefox is a free open source Web browser [26.9]

Mozilla 1.7.12 available: Security and stability update of Mozilla suite [22.9]

Can Firefox flourish?: Firefox faces challenges as it matures [21.9]

XML overview in Firefox 1.5: Discover XML features for popular browser [21.9]

Public IE7 beta this year: XP version of MSIE 7 with Windows Vista beta 2 [20.9]

Mozilla Firefox 1.0.7: New Firefox release fixes critical security bugs [21.9]

Free Opera 8.5 download: Opera offers its unique browser ad free [20.9]

Firefox honeymoon over?: Firefox has more security vulnerabilities and exploits per month than IE [17.9]

SeaMonkey 1.0 alpha: SeaMonkey 1.0a builds on Mozilla application suite [15.9]

Camino 1.0 alpha 1: Native Mac OS X browser Camino 1.0a1 released [14.9]

OmniWeb 5.1.2 beta 1: OmniWeb 5.1.2b1 fixes various problems [14.9]

Firefox 1.0.7 and Mozilla 1.7.12 rc: Newest Mozilla release candidates focus on security bugs [14.9]

Second beta of iCab 3: iCab 3.0b352 fixes check update problem [11.9]

Mozilla security solution: Fix for IDN buffer overflow security vulnerability [9.9]

Firefox 1.5 beta 1 is out: Mozilla Firefox 1.5b1 with better OS X support [9.9]

Camino 1.0 in autumn: Mike Pinkerton plans autumn release [7.9]

Test Firefox 1.5 beta 1 rc: Firefox 1.5 beta 1 release candidates available [7.9]

Firefox to drop SSL 2.0: Mozilla Firefox to remove support for SSL 2.0 [2.9]

August

Firefox 1.5 beta on 8 Sep: Mozilla Firefox 1.5 beta 1 set for 8 September [30.8]

Free Opera for download: Opera celebrates 10-year anniversary party [30.8]

Safari 2.0.1, 1.3.1 update: Apple updates Safari for Tiger and Panther [29.8]

Firefox 1.5 beta plans: Plans for Mozilla Firefox 1.5 release posted [29.8]

Opera BitTorrent preview 2: Opera 8.10 with BitTorrent available for testing [20.8]

RSS re-branded by IE7?: Microsoft to call RSS by the term web feeds [18.8]

A first look at IE 7 on Vista: New features in Internet Explorer 7 beta 1 [9.8]

Netscape 8.0.3.3 posted: Netscape Browser quietly replaces older 8.0.2 [8.8]

Safari to boost JavaScript: Safari engineer reveals upcoming enhancements [1.8]

Mozilla 1.7.11 finally: Mozilla suite includes mail component changes [1.8]

MSIE to Mozilla migration: Migrating Web applications from IE to Mozilla [1.8]

July

MS vs. Mozilla on security: More security flaws in Firefox than IE this year [30.7]

iCab 3.0 beta revisited: Alternative, lean browser has many features [30.7]

Netscape 8.0.3.1 pulled: AOL offers Netscape 8.0.2 instead of 8.0.3.1 [29.7]

Konqueror 3.4.2 for Unix: The KDE project releases KDE 3.4.2 & apps [28.7]

Microsoft IE 7.0 beta 1: Internet Explorer 7 betas for Win XP & Vista [28.7]

Opera upgrades to 8.02: Opera 8.02, security and smaller bug fixes [28.7]

Mozilla 1.7.11 test builds: Mozilla Suite 1.7.11 builds fix two major bugs [27.7]

Netscape 8.0.3.1 update: Netscape 8 fixes critical security issues [27.7]

New Camino roadmap: Camino roadmap sets 1.0 for Autumn release [26.7]

75'000'000 downloads: Firefox downloaded 75 million times today [26.7]

Firefox 1.5 replaces v1.1: Mozilla Firefox 1.1 delayed, renamed to 1.5 [21.7]

Mozilla 1.7.10 available: Udated Mozilla Suite improves security [21.7]

OmniWeb 5.1.1 for Tiger: OmniWeb update offers security & bug fixes [20.7]

Firefox 1.0.6 released: Mozilla Firefox 1.0.6 fixes extension problem [19.7]

IE7 will boost Firefox 1.1: Win 2000 users could migrate to Firefox [19.7]

Camino alpha version: Camino 0.9 alpha 2 for OS X 10.2 and above [18.7]

Beta of MSIE 7 close: MS urges developers to prepare for IE 7 [16.7]

Firefox 1.0.6 planned: Mozilla Firefox 1.0.6 to fix extension problem [16.7]

Shiira 1.1 for Panther: Shiira uses WebKit and requires 10.3.9 [14.7]

IE 7 to be more secure: MSIE 7 being developed to resist spyware [13.7]

Mozilla 1.7.9 coming: Test Mozilla Suite 1.7.9 release candidates [13.7]

Firefox 1.0.5 released: Mozilla Firefox 1.0.5 sports security fixes [12.7]

Deer Park alpha released: Test Deer Park alpha 2 of next Firefox version [12.7]

Opera supports BitTorrent: Opera 8.02 BitTorrent technology preview [7.7]

Firefox 1.0.5 test builds: Mozilla Firefox 1.0.5 test builds available [7.7]

Mozilla drops Puma: Firefox discontinues OS X 10.1 (Puma) support [5.7]

Firefox runs on Intel Macs: Firefox ported to Intel based Mac OS X [4.7]

The SeaMonkey project: Mozilla all-in-one Internet suite gets new life [2.7]

June

First IE7 screenshots: Real screens show RSS abilities like Safari [25.6]

Netscape 8.0.2 update: Netscape Browser 8.0 fixes XML flaw [20.6]

Opera 8 for Mac ships: Opera 8 boasts speed and security [16.6]

Tabbed browsing in IE 6: The MSN Search Toolbar adds tabs to IE 6.0 [14.6]

iCab 3.0 beta released: First public beta version of iCab 3 for Mac users [5.6]

May

Netscape 8.0.1 update: Netscape Browser 8.0 with better security [20.5]

IBM embraces Firefox: Microsoft loses ground in browser market [13.5]

Mozilla family updated: Firefox 1.0.4 and Mozilla Suite 1.7.8 [11.5]

April

Microsoft on IE 7 plans: IE 7 to support PNG, CSS & improve security [25.4]

Mozilla family updated: Firefox 1.0.3 and Mozilla Suite 1.7.7 [15.4]

February

MSIE 7.0 beta to come: Internet Explorer 7.0 beta due this summer [15.2]

Market Share Reports 2005

December

Mac OS usage tops 4%: The number of people using Mac OS online topped 4 percent by the end of November [25.12]

Safari wins share to 2.8%: Safari gained market share in November, Internet Explorer lost [2.12]

November

October browser activity: Firefox blazes and Safari gains in October [7.11]

Firefox fanbase reaches new high: UK browser shares and good growth for Firefox and Safari [4.11]

Safari, Firefox on the rise: Safari world's third-most popular browser while Mozilla base continues to gain market share [3.11]

Firefox share over 10%: Firefox passes 10 percent usage share [2.11]

October

Browser market share: A reality check: Are Opera and Netscape 8 users really counted by the stats? [11.10]

Safari increases share: Firefox stumbles again, Netscape and Safari continue growth [10.10]

September

Firefox loses momentum: Firefox growth stalls, only 1 percent since April [29.9]

Firefox spreads slowly: Firefox at 15.15% market share in Europe [18.9]

Netscape on the rise: Firefox, Netscape and Safari gain users on IE in August 2005 [14.9]

August

MSIE up, Firefox down: Firefox usage slips, Explorer and Safari make gains in July [12.8]

July

Firefox gains on IE in June: Alternate Web browser grows to 8.71% [15.7]

June

Firefox country Finland: Firefox's market share up to 20% in Europe [27.6]

May

Firefox claims 22.58% share in Germany: Firefox's market share nears 7% in U.S. [10.5]

April

Firefox breaks 50 million: Mozilla Firefox downloaded 50 million times [29.4]

Mozilla's share at 8.69%: Mozilla browsers grab 8.69% of global market share [26.4]

Mozilla at 10% in Europe: Mozilla/Firefox have 10% of the market share in Europe [21.4]

March

Firefox gaining market share at slower pace: Market share for IE has dipped below 90% [1.3]

February

Mozilla's share at 8.45%: Mozilla's browsers global usage share rising [28.2]