Mozilla is set to extend its new plugin check feature, which debuted in Firefox 3.5.3 and would check on first run if Adobe Flash player was up to date.

The feature which was so successful, is expected to be expanded in Firefox 3.6, covering other plugins such as Adobe Shockwave Player, Adobe Acrobat Reader, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player and Java.

While not fool-proof, it’s certainly a forward step for browser security. More information on the plugin check feature can be found on the Mozilla blog.

Mozilla has posted a new roadmap, outlining the future for Firefox in the next 12 months. At this stage, Firefox 4.0 is due to hit somewhere between September and November 2010 according to the roadmap.

New features for Firefox 4 are said to include platform enhancements, including running tabs in separate processes, interface enhancements, and speed and responsiveness improvements.

Also on the roadmap are Firefox 3.6 and Firefox 3.7, due October or November 2009 and February or March 2010 respectively.

Firefox 3.6 is aiming to include Windows 7 enhancements, including Jump Lists and Aero Peak. The browser is also expected to include light weight themes (persona’s) and big improvements to the Tracemonkey JavaScript engine.

Firefox 3.7 is biggest draw card is each add-on will be placed in its own process, making the overall browser experience more stable (especially with poorly written add-on’s). This release should also see some form of bookmark syncronisation.

The next 12 months are looking bright for Firefox, with some great new features expected.

After releasing some news of Firefox 3.6 just a few days ago, Mozilla has opened its doors on Firefox 3.6 Alpha 1, codenamed Namoroka.

Firefox 3.6 is not going to include many new changes like Firefox 3.5 did, but rather is aimed at improving speed and reliability. Windows 7 support (jump lists and Aero peak) do not appear to be on their way for this release.

Mozilla Links has posted a full review of the new browser. Firefox 3.6 Beta  1 is expected some time in September, with the final version on track for November of this year.

Downloads and more information are available from the Mozilla Developer Center.

Third time’s a charm, with tab previews now expected to be included in Firefox 3.6, after the feature was dropped from Firefox 3 and Firefox 3.5

Tab preview provides a visual preview when switching between tabs in Firefox (Ctrl + Tab), much like Alt + Tab when switching between programs in Windows Vista and above.

Tab preview is available in the latest Firefox 3.6 nightly releases but is turned off by default. To enable tab preview, set browser.ctrlTab.previews to true via about:config.

Firefox 3.6 is expected to be released sometime in 2010.

MozillaLinks has posted an article exploring some of the potential features for Firefox 3.6 (code named Namoroka).

Included in the list are performance enhancements, support for Windows 7 jump lists, better theme and add-on management plus a long list of other items.

The article suggests that Mozilla is working around a 10 month cycle at the moment, so we can expect to see Firefox 3.6 possibly in May 2010.