<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
</head>
<body>
<p> </p>
<p>Thunderbird 78.0 will be available soon. <br>
</p>
<p>Even though we are feature complete**, rough edges can be
smoothed and it always helps to have fresh eyes to find issues.
To help, you can either wait for the 78 announcement, or install
beta which is also where fixes will appear first (fixes to release
78 come a few weeks later). Details below on how you can help us
get the product in better shape.<br>
<br>
** Two exceptions: 1) <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:OpenPGP">new built-in
encryption</a>, replacing Enigmail which does not run in 78 - if
you are an enigmail user do NOT install 78 or beta, and 2) new
preferences search<br>
</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>The Release Team<br>
</p>
<p><u>BETA DETAILS</u></p>
<ul>
<li>The current state of beta is 78.0b4, which is what will ship
as 78.0.</li>
<li>Do not use 78 beta if you rely on add-ons. Add-on authors are
still working.</li>
<li>78 has many changes and fixes since a year ago starting with
beta 69. Please check the
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tFcchd9EZcnEcB898YMuR3mju5c0dLIxFLdkqG4KAc4/edit?usp=sharing">text
version of release notes (draft)</a>. <br>
</li>
<li>You have two choices of how to run beta:</li>
<ul>
<li>Use your existing data profile so that you don't have to
recreate your configuration. However, after starting 78 on
this profile you will NOT be able to use it with version 68
because 78 migrates some data structures. Install and start
the beta, then restart with your version 68 profile using Help
> Troubleshooting > <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext">about:profiles</a>
and pick your v68 profile, most likely named "default".
Remember, after doing that you will NOT be able to use this
profile with version 68.</li>
<li>Use beta with a new profile, so you can still use v68 with
your old profile. Beta will install into it's own directory
leaving the v68 program intact. Starting the beta creates a
new profile because by default a <a
href="https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/dedicated-profile-thunderbird-installation">dedicated
profile is used per Thunderbird installation</a>.
Thereafter, when starting beta or v68 you will want to use the
<a
href="https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles">profile
manager</a> so that the install uses the proper profile. <br>
</li>
</ul>
<li>Regardless of which choice you make, you will first want to <a
href="https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile">back
up your profiles</a> for peace of mind.</li>
<li>If you have difficulty or questions use the forum at <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://discourse.mozilla.org/c/thunderbird/beta/https://discourse.mozilla.org/c/thunderbird/beta/">https://discourse.mozilla.org/c/thunderbird/beta/</a>
More beta info at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-betahttps://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-beta">https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-beta</a><br>
</li>
<li>To follow along as bugs are reported during the 78 testing, CC
yourself to <a
href="https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1644037">Bug
1644037 - Bugs found during testing and release of TB78</a>.
<br>
</li>
<li><a
href="https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=Thunderbird&version=78&bug_type=defect&status_whiteboard=beta&keywords=regression%2cregressionwindow-wanted&cc=vseerror@lehigh.edu&blocked=1644037">Report
bug found during testing</a> <i><font size="-1"> </font><strike>
</strike>* </i>IF your report is an enhancement request or is
<u>not</u> a regression, remove blocking bug #1644037 and
regression keyword strings before clicking submit.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thunderbird.net#channel">Download beta</a><i>
</i><i> </i><i><font size="-1"> </font></i></li>
</ul>
</body>
</html>