Mozilla releases Thunderbird 3 email client

Following several betas and two release candidates, Mozilla has announced the availability of version 3 of its popular open source Thunderbird email and news client for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. The long-awaited major release is based on the Gecko 1.9.1.5 platform and includes several changes and new features.

Thunderbird 3 features a number of improvements to IMAP folder synchronisation and to the email client's user interface, including tabbed email messages and a redesigned mail tool bar. The addition of a Smart Folders mode in the folder pane lets users combine special mailboxes, such as the Inbox, from multiple accounts. Additionally, the latest release includes an improved address book, activity manager and, like Firefox, has a new Add-ons Manager that lets users find and install various Thunderbird Add-ons, such as Extensions, Themes and Plug-ins.

Other changes include include a Global Search field with auto-complete, advanced filtering tools and a new Mail Account Set-up Wizard that provides the email settings for a range of popular mail providers, such as GMail. Windows Vista users will find that Thunderbird 3 is now integrated with Vista's search results. On the Mac, Thunderbird 3 can now import from Mail.app, access a user's address book, use Growl for alerts and is also integrated with Spotlight. The developers note that Thunderbird 3 no longer supports Windows 95, 98, ME, NT and Mac OS X versions prior to 10.4.

More details about the release, including a list of known issues, can be found in the release notes and on the Thunderbird 3 Features page. Thunderbird 3 is available to download for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

See also:

• Mozilla to speed up Thunderbird development, a report from The H.

(crve)