Mozilla — the company that brought us the browser that plays second fiddle to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer — today released Firefox 3 and is foolishly attempting to break a world record for downloading a single application. (Such a record exists to begin with?!)

The release was supposed to be official at 10:00 a.m. PDT (1:00 p.m. D.C. time), but alas, Mozilla’s site has been up and down for most of the last few hours. Yes, it looks like they’ve created their own denial of service attack… sort of.

Not only that, but going to GetFirefox.com — in those sparse instances one is able to load it, anyway — still brazenly advertises the benefits of Firefox 2.0.0.14.

Those of you itching to get your hands on the new browser can use these direct links to download:

• Mac
• Windows
• Linux

From the “Oh, What a Surprise” Department: an Epic Edits poll finds nearly 2/3 of their readers polled use a pirated copy of Photoshop. Considering the cost of buying Photoshop — as a standalone product or as part of a Creative Suite bundle from Adobe — I would hardly call this news.

Granted, Adobe offers a more consumer-friendly version (Photoshop Elements) for less than $100, and I’d be all for it if it wasn’t so underpowered for my needs. There are also non-Photoshop alternatives at friendlier price points like Pixelmator and the GIMP.

(I should note that I do have a copy of Elements installed on my new notebook, as it came free with a graphic tablet I recently purchased. As a result, I’m also apparently eligible for an offer to purchase the current full version of Photoshop for a significant discount, and I intend to take that up — when I can afford to.)

(link via Photography Voter)

• Apple
• Third Party Applications on the iPhone: Steve Jobs wants third party apps on the iPhone (and iPod touch) after all, and promises a software development kit (SDK) by February. [more at Apple Hot News]
• Jobs confirms iTunes Plus price drop across the board: Not a full day after our initial report that Apple planned to drop the price of all its iTunes Plus tracks (as well as add a number of indie labels to the mix), many users started seeing the changes slowly trickle down from iTunes’ servers. [more at ars technica]
• It’s official: Leopard to go on sale October 26: After much speculation, Apple has confirmed that the next version of its Mac OS X operating system, “Leopard,” will hit stores on Friday, October 26, at 6 p.m. [more at CNET]
• Fenty to Order Switch to Meters for District Taxis: D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) said today he will sign a mayoral order mandating that taxis switch from a zone system to time-and-distance meters. [more at Washington Post]
• Immigration Crackdown Unanimously Approved: The Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously early Wednesday morning to deny 14 county services to illegal immigrants, following a 12-hour public hearing that drew 400 speakers and 1,200 demonstrators. Supervisors did not vote until after 2:30 a.m. [more at WJLA]
• Oh, he’s walking the plank in his undies again..: An Australian man, clad only in underwear, fell nine stories while trying to build a makeshift plank bridge into a neighbor’s flat, but lived to tell the tale. [more at Reuters]

And if you got this far down, what exactly does it mean to toss a sheep? The question just came up at the office… seriously!

AppleHound lists 68 perceived bugs in Apple’s iPhone, a few of which I’ve experienced myself. Some aren’t really bugs per se, but either documented features or user interface requests. (via Machinist)

Bonus link: There’s a bug in iPhone’s calculator

With the pricey Adobe Creative Suite 3 shipping soon, CNET points out free CS3 alternatives.

AOL decides to download an update without letting you know ahead of time. What if you’re signing off to make a phone call that can’t wait? You get stuck with whatever’s downloading until it’s finished.

Umm, hello? AOL, if you’re reading this, PLEASE, on behalf of your 23 million subscribers worldwide, give us a fair warning about an update download WHEN WE SIGN ON, not as you’re about to begin the download when we try to sign off.

Thank you.