If you’re already using Firefox (as about 35% of my users do already), Firefox 1.5 is a compelling upgrade. If you’re still on IE or Safari, 1.5 just might tip you over to the edge in terms of switching. Basic browsing is dramatically faster (especially the back button), and there are host of interesting new features for users and developers.

Two such features are Canvas for scriptable bitmap graphics and SVG, a standards based alternative to Flash for vector graphics and animation.

I’ve put together a directory of links and screenshots for some of the best Firefox 1.5 SVG and Canvas Applications and Demos that show off some of their potential.

Especially worth checking out are foXpose, a tiny 6k extension that provides functionality like Apple’s Expose for tabs, and Canvascape, a first person shooter built entirely in Javascript + Canvas.

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