First Thunderbird 3 Alpha
The Mozilla project has just announced the availability of the initial alpha version of Thunderbird 3, codenamed "Shredder".
As you might guess from the codename, this is a very early developer version of the next generation mail client that is not intended for production use.
Shredder Alpha 1 builds on the Gecko 1.9 platform which also provides the underpinnings for Firefox 3. The primary goal of the recently released alpha version is to discover to what extent the platform will cooperate gracefully with Thunderbird.
Besides a completely new basis, minor changes have been made to the interface. For example, Thunderbird 3 now includes an add-on manager for easy installation of extensions. Additionally, the address book now imports data from the Mac OS X system address book, although this feature is disabled by default. Besides an enhanced crash reporter and an optimized search function, the Javascript code is also said to be much quicker.
Thunderbird 3 Alpha 1 is available for downloading from the Mozilla Messaging homepage.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.