If you are a Firefox user, you may have noticed that yesterday Mozilla released an updated version of the browser. This new update includes a number of security updates and graphics optimizations, but in addition OS X users are now able to monitor downloads directly in the Dock.

When you download a file in Safari or prior versions of Firefox, the download process can be followed by going to a special Downloads window, where you can monitor overall and individual download progress; however, this requires you to keep such a window open. Even though Safari's downloads toolbar menu will show an overall progress bar, this still requires the menu to be visible on screen.

The Firefox Dock icon will now show a small progress bar when you have active downloads.

With Firefox 22, Mozilla has added a download progress bar to the Application's Dock icon, which will give you a quick overview of your active downloads without needing a Firefox downloads or browser window open in front of you. The progress bar does not represent individual downloads, but instead shows a the cumulative progress of all downloads collectively. Thus, if one is stalls, the progress bar will advance while the others continue, but then will halt when the one that's stalled is the ... [Read more]

Founded in 2004, award-winning tech blog Engadget has brought a lot of shiny and new aspirational gadgets and software into the light through the years. Tim Stevens--named "the nicest guy in tech" by "Fortune" magazine--has acted as the blog's editor-in-chief since 2011. Tim was gracious enough to share some of his latest and greatest software finds--for work and play--with Download.com readers.

Engadget Editor in Chief, Tim Stevens

What are your top five apps and why? 1. Gmail: I'd be lost without this app. There are some mail apps that are a little better, but none integrate with labels, filters, and multiple accounts like the default. 2. FlightTrack Pro: This app (and its widget) keep me up to date on everywhere I'm going. It often knows about flight delays and cancellations before the people at the airport do. Thanks to it, I've been able to call and get rescheduled on another flight before anyone else even knew they were going to miss their connection. Well worth the Pro upgrade for TripIt integration. Which brings me to... 3. TripIt: It's so great to have everything in one spot, to know that when I get to the airport I have my car rental ... [Read more]

New Google Now card offers info for TV shows that you're currently watching.

If your mobile device is running Android 4.1 or higher, consider yourself lucky, as you today get access to the latest version of the Google Search app.

With the updated version, you can now play music -- either songs saved on your device or from Google Play -- by issuing a voice command. In addition, if you have a hard time remembering what voice commands are supported, the app now offers voice action tips to remind you.

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Lastly, the Search app also comes with new Google Now Cards that show Google Offers and information about TV shows. Conveniently, Google Offers cards will pop up when you're near a store, which should increase the likelihood that you'll redeem t... [Read more]

On Wednesday, Microsoft released their highly-anticipated preview build of Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 promises numerous improvements to search, the Windows app store, cloud storage, and enhanced personalization features. In particular, Windows 8.1 also promises a potential "revival" of the oft-missed Start button.

Microsoft has also released an in-depth preview guide for users to showcase some of their major changes to the flagship OS.

We'll be taking 8.1 for a preview spin, but the preview update is free to download. Just remember to back up any sensitive files in case you need to revert back to Windows 8.0.

On Wednesday, Symantec released a new version update to Norton Mobile Security. The main focus of this release highlights Symantec's goal to prevent apps from leaking private data.

With this version comes the debut of Norton Mobile Insights, the byproduct of a massive endeavor to analyze over 4 million popular apps across various app stores to determine whether an app puts users' personal data at risk. "The issue of privacy is a complex and evolving one, for both consumers and developers," said Con Mallon, Symantec's Senior Director and product manager. Mallon believes that users are starting to become aware that despite the prevalence of "free" apps, there really is "no such thing as a free lunch."

So which types of apps are more likely to leak private data? Games? Social Networks? In most cases, Symantec has found that it's usually not determined by genre, but rather boils down to the intentions of the developers, and in particular, how they monetize.

Symantec's release is just one sign of what's to come on the mobile horizon: Before mobile "threats" consisted of malware and viral attacks from unidentified parties or sources, but today they involve gray attempts to gather personal information.

Releases like NMS have demonstrated a shift toward not just idle protection, but also a more communication-focused approach to rai... [Read more]

Today, Bitdefender released the 2014 version of its flagship Bitdefender Total Security product, replete with an interface redesign, adaptive technology, and noticeably absent version-number attribution.

With this year's release of Total Security comes the debut of Bitdefender Photon, an adaptive technology that aims to optimize the speed and performance of your PC as it adjusts to your computer.

Photon was actually introduced earlier in Bitdefender 2013, but since then the company has made major improvements while minimally impacting performance. Now, Photon officially becomes its own product component.

Bitdefender Total Security also introduces an online credential aid called Wallet. Not to be confused with Google's shopping and payment service, Bitdefender Wallet works more like Keypass; it encrypts and secures sensitive credentials for online banking activities and other password-sensitive services. Bitdefender Wallet is also accompanied by Photon and a redesigned reporting tool.

Other changes include enhanced anti-spam features--with operations now fully carried out over the cloud--as well as an improved Parental Control module.

Bitdefender has claimed that these improvements have all led to higher scores on security benchmarks like AV-test. Until the final version comes, we'll have to see how the latest version fares, especiall... [Read more]

The Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School is working with Mozilla on a project called the Cookie Clearinghouse to try to improve Internet privacy controls.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau, a group that represents hundreds of Internet advertisers, has attacked Mozilla's involvement in a Stanford Law School privacy project to judge whether individual Web sites can be trusted to set behavior-tracking browser cookies.

The IAB doesn't like the Cookie Clearninghouse, which Stanford's Center for Internet and Society and Mozilla announced on June 19. The project aims to rate individual to bring privacy ratings for browser cookies -- the small text files that Web site operators can store on people's computers. Cookies can be useful for remembering that you're logged into a site or for not showing you the same ad over and over, but they can also track behavior across the Web so advertisers see what Web sites you've been visiting.

"The Cookie Clearinghouse will develop and maintain an 'allow list' and 'block list' to help Internet users make privacy choices as they move through the Internet. The Clearinghouse will identify instances where tracking is being conducted without the user's consent, such as by third parties that the user never visited," the project organizers said. ... [Read more]