1 Million Firefoxes in 4 Days

Link to get it by bobbis.u · 2004-09-19 01:59 · Score: 5, Informative

How about adding a few more downloads?! Get it here.

Re:Link to get it by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 02:04 · Score: 4, Funny

I use Linux, you insensitive clod!
Re:Link to get it by Directrix1 · 2004-09-19 02:25 · Score: 2, Insightful

So when will the mozilla foundation take launch.yahoo.com into actually supporting firefox? I really miss being able to watch decent music videos online.

--
Occam's razor is the blind faith in the natural selection of least resistance and in universal oversimplification. -- EF
Re:Link to get it by LGagnon · 2004-09-19 02:28 · Score: 3, Informative

You'll want this link then. And if you have a Mac, this link should help. Still, keep in mind that Firefox was originally meant to be a Windows program (but it doesn't hurt to be available on multiple platforms though, which I'm definitely in support of).
Re:Link to get it by AKnightCowboy · 2004-09-19 02:37 · Score: 2, Informative

I added to the download counter, installed it, found it didn't work at all for me, and then promptly downgraded back to Firefird 0.9.2. 1.0PR brought up some error about the Java plug-in being incompatible with Internet Explorer and then just hung taking up 100% of the CPU until it was manually killed with the task manager. 0.9.2 doesn't have that problem on my system so I'll stick with that until they fix the bug.
Re:Link to get it by ultrabot · 2004-09-19 02:58 · Score: 4, Interesting

Still, keep in mind that Firefox was originally meant to be a Windows program (but it doesn't hurt to be available on multiple platforms though, which I'm definitely in support of).

Do you have a reference to this intention? One would think that Firefox had the intention of being a cross-platform browser like Mozilla before it.

Linux on desktop was a much less credible beast at the time of first phoenix release, though...

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Save your wrists today - switch to Dvorak
Re:Link to get it by bheerssen · 2004-09-19 03:01 · Score: 2, Informative

Thanks for the links, but Firefox is intended to be primarily a cross-platform browser and the Firefox team is deeply committed to that goal. Saying that it is primarily intended for MS Windows is just wrong and doesn't help matters. This site has a larger than normal percentage of Mac and *nix users and we don't need FUD like that.

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(Score: -1, Stupid)
Re:Link to get it by aurelian · 2004-09-19 03:30 · Score: 5, Insightful

Get a grip, that wasn't FUD. He may have been mistaken, but there was nothing malicious about it.
Re:Link to get it by bhtooefr · 2004-09-19 03:50 · Score: 4, Informative

Actually, Firefox IS meant to be cross-platform. It's Moz that cross-platform was a side-effect on. Windows first, Mac second, *nix later. This is because it's the OSS Netscape.
Re:Link to get it by Schreckgestalt · 2004-09-19 03:59 · Score: 5, Insightful

I had to download 3 extensions to make FF work like IE and to get the tabbed browsing working "as advertised", plus hit about:config once.
Why don't you just tell us what these three extensions were for? I mean hell, how do you think the thing is going to improve if all you say is "it sucks". I really think this version of Firefox is somewhat complete and far superior than IE in its default state.
And what about the tabbed browsing? Everything works like expected to me.
then build a "consumer" download
What a brilliant idea. There should also be a Google for the intelligent and one for the stupid masses. And there should also be a 2.6.x kernel for people who know what thei're doing and one for those who don't. No, this is really a bad idea. There should always be one product, which needs to be compatible with every type of user. Firefox is doing this in a great way!
Re:Link to get it by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 04:13 · Score: 3, Insightful

> get the tabbed browsing working "as advertised"

Your average AOLer doesn't give a crap about Tabbed Browsing, and if they do, the built-in behavior is fine.

Stop projecting your nerdy predilections on "normal users".
Re:Link to get it by aurb · 2004-09-19 04:16 · Score: 5, Funny

You can run it with wine.
Re:Link to get it by Finuvir · 2004-09-19 04:18 · Score: 4, Informative

The original intention for Phoenix, according to Blake Ross, was to make the best browser on Windows. It has always been cross-platform and the developers are compltely committed to that now, but it was conceived for Windows.

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Why is anything anything?
Re:Link to get it by PeterPumpkin · 2004-09-19 04:18 · Score: 2, Informative

Thats up to Yahoo! actually, not Mozilla Foundation. Displaying an error vs letting the site display. I'm sure Firefox could handle whatever they have perfectly fine.
Re:Link to get it by Directrix1 · 2004-09-19 04:32 · Score: 2, Interesting

Yes I meant to say when will the Mozilla Foundation talk launch.yahoo.com ... etc. etc. Having no good way of getting a hold of them, you need bigger entities to make the persuasive argument. I know that firefox would be able to handle it. Unless they went the activeX route.

--
Occam's razor is the blind faith in the natural selection of least resistance and in universal oversimplification. -- EF
Re:Link to get it by hermi · 2004-09-19 04:44 · Score: 2, Interesting

That's what I think, too. The extension management should be built closer in the installation. So if you install, you can select all the extensions you want and the setup downloads them for you, and installs them.
I imagine a DAU (duemmster anzunehmender user[ger], stupidest imaginable user) downloading mozilla and not even knowing there _are_ extensions (except they read what's on the page at start). There is an improvement, altought, in the interface (see here), but you have to browse there manually and you gotta know what you're looking for on the firefox page (its small on the right side).
Still, you have to configure it anyhow, like IE if you want it to work like you want, you cant go around this.

besides, it imports settings etc from the IE, so you don't have to set up that much. (I havent tried that, I'm not using IE at all)
Re:Link to get it by geordie_loz · 2004-09-19 04:53 · Score: 3, Interesting

I've got to say, that although I'm generally opposed to being given someone elses defaults, I think the "consumer" idea has some merit. Maybe some functionality/extentions by default would be a good thing. The geeks don't have to have it, they could get the others. Obviously the list would vary, but your usual windows IE guy tends to use the defaults so picking a few common (i.e. google bar, gestures) and going with them as "Flagship" extensions, maybe some themes, that way they can try a few before having to hunt through the extention libray (not for newbies necesarily)

Obviously an overhead to manage the package, but nothing major. I don't think that the guy was totaly out of line.

He was however silly to not post his issues, so people could comment and the Moz release team could have some constructive critique.
Re:Link to get it by Myen · 2004-09-19 05:08 · Score: 5, Informative

See bug 121832 on bugzilla.mozilla.org
They did talk to them; Yahoo replied that they want to be able to script Windows Media Player (plugin). Not sure what's happenning now.

It would probably help if you complained to Yahoo as well (hopefully more complaints would help motivate them to fix things).
Re:Link to get it by dwhitman · 2004-09-19 05:10 · Score: 5, Informative

Grandparent: Still, keep in mind that Firefox was originally meant to be a Windows program (but it doesn't hurt to be available on multiple platforms though, which I'm definitely in support of).
Parent: Do you have a reference to this intention?
The opening paragraph of the Firefox Development Charter says:
Firefox grew out of the desire to make the best browser for Microsoft Windows. Eventually we began to build on Linux as well, and also Macintosh. Most of our development work is done on Windows, and so that platform naturally tends to lead although we express a desire to work as well as is feasible on every system we can.
Re:Link to get it by gartogg · 2004-09-19 05:24 · Score: 2, Insightful

It's funny, because I had never used "tabbed browsing" before firefox, and I actually only downloaded it because my web site was getting hits with it and I wanted to check out if the css looked ok... Tabbed browsing is quite possible the most useful thing about a web browser I have seen since the creation of plugins...

I really can't Im,agine that anyone who uses firefox can really say no-one will care about tabbed browsing.

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I'm a concientious .sig objector.
Re:Link to get it by wuice · 2004-09-19 06:45 · Score: 4, Insightful

News flash: Firefox is not IE.

Most people (novice or otherwise) that I've ever introduced Firefox to are very thankful for that fact; I'm sorry your daddy wasn't. If you want something that works just like IE, my advice is stick with IE.
Re:Link to get it by Curtman · 2004-09-19 07:38 · Score: 2, Interesting

Microsoft must be feeling the heat. Just tried to log into Hotmail to check if there was anything but spam there, since they don't allow relaying to GMail, only to find:

Web Browser Software Limitations Your Current Software Will Limit Your Ability to Use Hotmail You are using a web browser that Hotmail does not support. If you continue to use your current browser software we cannot guarantee that Hotmail will work correctly for you. We recommend that you upgrade your web browsing software and invite you to download Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.

I recommend Bill mind his own business. :(
Re:Link to get it by danheretic · 2004-09-19 16:05 · Score: 2, Funny

I had to download 3 extensions to make FF work like IE and to get the tabbed browsing working "as advertised", plus hit about:config once.

That's cool. I had to download about 13 "updates" from MS to make IE work without getting malware and to get it working "as advertised", plus go to Tools > Options and change several settings.

Do you really want to start keeping score like that?
Re:Link to get it by r_j_prahad · 2004-09-19 19:18 · Score: 2, Funny

Why don't you just tell us what these three extensions [to make FF work like IE] were for?

That would be the "Execute Malicious Code without Asking" extension, the "Expose Sensitive Personal Data" extension, and lastly the "Randomly Turn Blue and Go Comatose" extension.

Most of that is probably from previous users by techmuse · 2004-09-19 01:59 · Score: 2, Insightful

Most of the people who suddenly downloaded the update were probably already using a prior version of Firefox. I would seriously doubt that this represents anything like 1 million new users.

Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 02:00 · Score: 5, Insightful

I would seriously doubt that this represents anything like 1 million new users.

Has anyone suggested or in any way implied that they were new users?
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by gl4ss · 2004-09-19 02:01 · Score: 5, Interesting

yes, but so what?

it's still more than with the previous releases, meaning that it has gotten quite a few new users since that.

(ok, the release having magical 1.0 number in it might have something to do with it too)

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world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by AgntOrnge · 2004-09-19 02:01 · Score: 5, Insightful

Or people who downloaded it to multiple locations such as work and home. The release was also within a day or so of a secuirty announcement so everyone was going to rush to upgrade all of their installs.
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by bobbis.u · 2004-09-19 02:02 · Score: 5, Insightful

Yes, but it does potentially represent that it has been installed on 1 million computers, which is no mean feat in 4 days.
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by danormsby · 2004-09-19 02:02 · Score: 3, Informative

> I would seriously doubt that this represents anything like 1 million new users.
Who said it did?
Just think about the numbers though. It must be already 10x the number of people the whole development team will meet in their entire lives.

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Omnis amans amens
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by tfreport · 2004-09-19 02:12 · Score: 4, Insightful

Of course a lot of the downloads are upgrades. But you are missing the point of why this was so important - MARKETING.

The release of 1.0 PR garnered a lot of media attention. It appeared on news.google.com's front page. On most tech sites there was a mention. The Wall Street Journal mentioned it twice last week. And then it was going to fall from everyone's attention until 1.0 was released...

Except the MARKETING arm of Mozilla/Firefox decided to have a legitimate goal of 1 million downloads in ten days. This would be the most downloads of the browser ever but it was certainly do able. And then when users pushed it over 1 million much sooner - new press release and new stories. Mind share increased. And all of a sudden, it appears Firefox has huge momentum. And 1.0 is not even out yet. So, does this mean a ton of new users, not necessarily right away. But long term it shows that Mozilla has decided how important MARKETING is and they are ready to use its power to take the program to a whole new level.
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by ZorinLynx · 2004-09-19 02:19 · Score: 2, Interesting

Yeah, I noticed that before, when Mozilla was still under the arm of AOL, they hardly had any marketing at all. They barely pushed their Mozilla suite back then, instead focusing all the marketing effort on the (then crippled) Netscape 6/7 releases.

I think this hurt Mozilla's adoption greatly; if they had marketed with the furor they're marketing with now, they would have a LOT more users, as AOL could have placed links to their stuff on pages visited by TENS of millions of people daily.

Kudos to the Mozilla team and all the people pushing Firefox to the masses. It's about freakin' time. }:)

-Z
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by asa · 2004-09-19 02:41 · Score: 5, Interesting

Most of the people who suddenly downloaded the update were probably already using a prior version of Firefox. I would seriously doubt that this represents anything like 1 million new users.

Based on my reading of the referrer stats, a significant portion of those downloading Firefox 1.0 PR were using IE to perform that download.

--Asa
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by fymidos · 2004-09-19 03:10 · Score: 4, Insightful

This is a pre-release version! Not even a release candidate. This can qualify for a record for *any* computer program -- i don't think even IE can achieve this for a pre-release version dispite the 10 times bigger installed base.
I mean, 1 million downloads in 4 days is really something for any *regular* program.
Here we have a million people willing to download a pre-release version, and track down bugs !!
i would predict that this version will get downloaded by 3 million people.

Can you imagine how many bugs will be reported?
If they manage to deal with them, Firefox v1.0 will be the most stable browser ever made.

Many more millions of "new users" are expected to follow after that.

--
Washington bullets will simply be known as the "Bulle
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by ricotest · 2004-09-19 03:45 · Score: 2, Interesting

a significant portion

For me, that could be anywhere between 30% and 80% ... and I'm really quite interested in the number of IE converts vs. number of raw downloads. I don't want to sound rude, but can you be more specific?
Re:Most of that is probably from previous users by Spoing · 2004-09-19 04:51 · Score: 2, Insightful
1. Most of the people who suddenly downloaded the update were probably already using a prior version of Firefox. I would seriously doubt that this represents anything like 1 million new users.
I have a t-shirt announcing, proudly, 5 million copies of a company's flagship product shipping -- over the span of 4 years. We had a party and press releases, and a few folks recieved nice bonuses.
I think 1 million in 4 days even from current users is impressive.
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A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.

How many of these are repeats though? by andywebz · 2004-09-19 02:00 · Score: 5, Interesting

True 1 million is 1 million, but I for one downloaded it at home, and twice at work. Once for the windows box, and once for the linux box.

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Saying "I'll probably get modded down for this", is a magnet for my -1 mod token. I hate to disappoint.

Re:How many of these are repeats though? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 02:01 · Score: 5, Funny

That's only two installs. What did you do with the third download? HOARDING are we?
Re:How many of these are repeats though? by andywebz · 2004-09-19 02:04 · Score: 5, Funny

I described my 2 work installs. I posted on slashdot, so I OBVIOUSLY have a linux box at home.

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Saying "I'll probably get modded down for this", is a magnet for my -1 mod token. I hate to disappoint.
Re:How many of these are repeats though? by AmigaAvenger · 2004-09-19 02:07 · Score: 5, Insightful

but for everyone one of you there is probably one like me. 2 downloads, 1 went to work network server and 8 installs at work. the other went to my home file sharing server, and on to 4 machines.
Re:How many of these are repeats though? by bfields · 2004-09-19 03:04 · Score: 2, Interesting

2 downloads, 1 went to work network server and 8 installs at work. the other went to my home file sharing server, and on to 4 machines.

And that's nothing. Think if you were the Debian maintainer....
--Bruce Fields
Re:How many of these are repeats though? by Lispy · 2004-09-19 04:36 · Score: 2, Interesting

Yup. I donwloaded it once at work, and put it in our default HD-image. We roll about 10 desktops aweek. So I guess I have installed it at least at about 100 machines since 0.9.3 was released. And our users actually seem to like their new alternative... ;-)
Re:How many of these are repeats though? by asa · 2004-09-19 07:40 · Score: 2, Informative

I would think they build from source (don't know if they count that too). But still disribution downloads are not in the 1 million.

We don't count that well but it's likely pretty insignificant. We offer anonymous CVS access and maybe we could count the full checkouts from that tag. We do count source tarball downloads at our primary mirrors and those account about 4,000 of the nearly 1.2 million downloads so far.

--Asa
Re:How many of these are repeats though? by asa · 2004-09-19 08:03 · Score: 3, Interesting

I'm interested in hearing about how this deployment is going, if there were bumps in the road, and what we could do to make it easier next time. Please email me. Thanks.

--Asa
Re:How many of these are repeats though? by Billly+Gates · 2004-09-19 08:29 · Score: 4, Funny

What a minute?

You mean you browse slashdot.... at home??

Shit what do you do all day at work then?

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http://saveie6.com/

behold! by Mr.+Foogle · 2004-09-19 02:00 · Score: 5, Funny

behold the power of wget and a script. Lets you really rack up the ol' hit counter.

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Display some adaptability.

Re:behold! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 02:22 · Score: 2, Funny

behold the power of wget and a script. Lets you really rack up the ol' hit counter.

Real geeks just submit the link to /.

awesome by digifuzz · 2004-09-19 02:03 · Score: 2, Funny

sweet. firefox has got to be by far the coolest, most "right on" web browser i've ever used. I tried using IE the other day at work. *cringe* i missed my firefox. it's not surprise that so many people in the downloading public obviously agree.

way to go firefox team.

ps: speaking of firefoxes.. i got some booty last nite :) thought i'd share. ;)

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http://www.digifuzz.net

Re:awesome by sharkey · 2004-09-19 03:39 · Score: 5, Funny

i got some booty last nite :)
You were a day early, matey. Today be Talk Like a Pirate Day, arrr.

--

--
"Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
Re:awesome by ToLu+the+Happy+Furby · 2004-09-19 04:02 · Score: 2, Informative

If they're going to produce a 'component-ized' Mozilla, why don't they also put out a stand-alone version of Composer??

They do. Sort of. Nvu is a standalone web authoring system based on a fork of Mozilla Composer. The project head is Daniel Glazman, who was lead developer for Composer. I have not used Nvu, but it seems to have added a number of significant (and IMO much needed) features to Composer's base (e.g. CSS editing and site managment).

The development is sponsored by Linspire, not the Mozilla Foundation, so the project arguably loses out in terms of branding, marketing, integration with Mozilla's bugzilla, etc. to an official Foundation project like Sunbird (the standalone calendar component). On the other hand, planet.mozilla.org (and thus the mozilla.org frontpage) syndicates Glazman's blog posts.
Re:awesome by ThousandStars · 2004-09-19 04:56 · Score: 4, Funny

ps: speaking of firefoxes.. i got some booty last nite :) thought i'd share. ;)
You forgot this part:
and then i woke up.

Firefox vs. Windows update by IgD · 2004-09-19 02:03 · Score: 4, Insightful

I installed Firefox for the first time yesterday. It worked pretty well! I wish I could uninstall Internet Explorer using a program like XP Lite. My concern is that I would not be able to use Windows Update. If Firefox could run Windows Update I would remove IE permanently.

Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by Nerftoe · 2004-09-19 02:08 · Score: 4, Informative

Behold.. Windows Update Extension for Firefox.

Enjoy!
Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by Mekabyte · 2004-09-19 02:13 · Score: 3, Informative

Umm, all that does is open Windows Update in IE. However, there is an ActiveX plug-in for Mozilla, but I don't know if it works with Windows Update.
Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by Jugalator · 2004-09-19 02:13 · Score: 5, Interesting

Behold.. Windows Update Extension for Firefox.

If I understand the comments correctly, IE is still required to be fully installed. All it does is to add a menu item for "Windows Update" that runs IE? :-P

What would be nice is a special program that grabs stuff from WU. I know the WU client does, but only the critical security updates.

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Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by the_denman · 2004-09-19 02:20 · Score: 2, Insightful

but you can't actualy uninstall it is a part of windows, every time you open up "explorer" to visit a file on your computer you are using IE.
Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by FePe · 2004-09-19 02:24 · Score: 4, Insightful

I also installed Firefox for the first time yesterday. I have moved from Internet Explorer to Netscape Navigator to Opera version 5, 6 and 7. I thought Opera was the best browser on the planet, but then I realized it was Firefox!

Firefox launches really quickly, and the websites loads very fast too (actaully a bit faster than Opera as far as I have experienced). The Firefox extensions are really a neat thing; you can validate a page (HTML, CSS, link check etc.) from a menu on a toolbar instead of typing the URL everytime. The other features of the developer extension makes developing a standard website easy outlining deprecated elements for example, or resizing the window.

Overall, my view on Mozilla and Firefox has changed rapidly within a few minutes.

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"Until you do what you believe in, how do you know whether you believe in it or not?" -- Leo Tolstoy
Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by drinkypoo · 2004-09-19 02:35 · Score: 2, Interesting

Windows update depends on activex. Without it you cannot scan for packages. It's best to just go ahead and use ie for windows update. The odds of WU getting hacked are pretty slim as surely Microsoft concentrates all its security efforts there, and if your DNS isn't pointing to someplace bad then it ought to be fairly safe in general.

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"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by eofpi · 2004-09-19 02:47 · Score: 4, Insightful

Opera and Firefox are both leaps and bounds ahead of IE. Like the parent, I came to Firefox from Opera, and the only thing I miss about Opera is the usefulness of some of its keyboard shortcuts. There's probably an extension to give me that functionality back (such as G to disable graphics, F12 for quick options, and number keys for page scaling), but it hasn't been so troubling that I've gone out looking for one.

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Y'know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water.
Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by ChairmanMeow · 2004-09-19 04:02 · Score: 2, Informative

Then use Program Manager for your shell, and find some other program for viewing files ;). And yes, Program Manager does still exist in WinXP.

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Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by Shazow · 2004-09-19 06:03 · Score: 2, Funny

Shit, I just had a strong urge to install this extension and visit the Windows Update site because I haven't visited in a long time. Just think of the outdatedness of my computer!

Then I realized... Wait, do I even have IE anymore? Then I realized... I switched to Linux last month.

(Not being sarcastic... I really did have an urge.)
>.;

- shazow
Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by matria · 2004-09-19 06:04 · Score: 2, Interesting

I put in the developer's extension, and since I'm learning to work with the DOM and DHTML, I can't imagine working without it! I am a Mac girl, by the way.
Re:Firefox vs. Windows update by hkmwbz · 2004-09-19 10:15 · Score: 2, Informative

Why did you stop using Opera anyway? Opera's a lot faster than Firefox here, but I guess that depends on one's system.
If you like these extensions, Opera has loads of useful features. The validation thing was in Opera first, for example: Press Ctrl+Alt+V to validate (or access from the right click context menu).

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Clever signature text goes here.

coolness by Mr._Hole · 2004-09-19 02:06 · Score: 3, Informative

I like the new find bar on the bottom of the window... way better than it poping up.

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Ambient [Servlet Based Webapp Engine]

Re:coolness by hsoft · 2004-09-19 04:09 · Score: 2, Informative

"Esc" works... I personally have trouble getting used to that kind of bar. In every other program, CTRL+F pops a window in the middle of the screen. I sometimes think that the CTRL+F is broken... until I look down. And I don't really like the fact that the search is incremental. Well. I guess I will be used to it in a couple of days...

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perception is reality
Re:coolness by mc_barron · 2004-09-19 05:19 · Score: 2, Interesting

I tried that and the ESC doesn't close the find bar. Nor does the incremental search work correctly (I press "/" then type, it find the word fine, but I can't CTRL-G to the next match). Personally, they broke more things then they fixed. I can't figure out how to open the Download Manager (CTRL-E and CTRL-Y do NOT work). It just seems more broken when it should be just the opposite.
Just my experience.
Re:coolness by joshuaobrien · 2004-09-19 07:35 · Score: 2, Insightful

In that vein, tab-specific errors (e.g., host not found) should be displayed only on their tab rather than as a dialog box that interrupts other tabs.
Re:coolness by owlstead · 2004-09-19 11:02 · Score: 2, Interesting

ANY popups requiring user input are interuptive. Please create another way to handle errors or notifications (user choices are a different matter I suppose). A specialized event side-bar or a non-disruptive popup would really enhance my experience of mozilla or firefox. This is especially true for things like "chinese language support", script errors and the like.

Also, the notification that sending information over the unsecure internet should go away. Put it on the welcome page or something, for most users this is obvious. Or put it on some notification area, just like entering secure sites etc., and show some certifice information on that as well.

Most of these things seem to be copies from Netscape and IE. Lets make this browser better than those two.

It's great by tsa · 2004-09-19 02:06 · Score: 4, Interesting

Well I think they deserve the attention. About a week ago I wined about things I thought Firefox and Thunderbird could not do, but I switched and I must say it's far better than I expected. This is a great browser. I especially like the way almost everything is configurable. I think I'll stick to this for a long time to come.

--

-- Cheers!

Supported browsers by Tomasset · 2004-09-19 02:07 · Score: 5, Interesting

I just hope this leads web-developers to eventually test and validate their pages with something else than IE.

I am always so annoyed with the "Your browser is not supported" mesage...

Re:Supported browsers by bizpile · 2004-09-19 02:18 · Score: 2, Informative

I just hope this leads web-developers to eventually test and validate their pages with something else than IE.

I have just the opposite problem: I usually have to remember to go back and check my site in IE after I update it. I've had to make a lot of minor changes because something looked muffed up in IE. For example, IE doesn't like when you put spaces inside of the quotes around HEX colors. (e.g.: bgcolor=" #333333 "). That color appears green in IE.
Re:Supported browsers by HermanAB · 2004-09-19 05:31 · Score: 2, Insightful

Heh, FF users are probably a more select and savvy group than the unwashed masses using IE. So, why any business would turn away 5 to 10% of its best possible clients, I fail to understand.
We have a dress code sir, 'no ties allowed'...

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Oh well, what the hell...

Reporter to Bill$ Gate$ by zero_config · 2004-09-19 02:07 · Score: 4, Funny

Reporter: "Mr. Gate$, what do you think of Firefox?"
Gate$: "I think its a myth. There are foxes and then there are foxes. There is no such thing as a Fire fox. And now if you'd excuse me, there is a Long Horn up my ass, I have to go see someone abt it."

More downloads... by dutt · 2004-09-19 02:08 · Score: 5, Informative

If the amount is over one million at the download counter on their site, then it doesn't meen that it's only one million downloads.

Copies are spread through many other sources so the actual amount of downloads is probably much more than the download counter indicates!

Congrats Firefox!

How many did you contribute? by GillBates0 · 2004-09-19 02:08 · Score: 4, Informative

I got 2 Windows users to download and install it. I would've liked to do more, but something's better than nothing. I followed up ofcourse, with a short demo of the "essential" features and setting up the homepage, importing bookmarks, etc.

Things that impressed them the most over their first ~5 mins.

1. Tabbed Browsing
2. Ability to set multiple pages as home pages.
3. Sleek look.
4. Small download size.

I guess the popup blocker didn't make as much of an impact because of 3rd party blockers/etc that they had installed and functional.

Go Firefox!

--
An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam

Re:How many did you contribute? by Eriky · 2004-09-19 02:16 · Score: 2, Interesting

Most of the people I tell about firefox either don't see the benefits of tabbed browsing because they only view one page at a time, or they don't want to use it because they like to have multiple windows open instead. tabbed browsing was THE feature that made me switch to mozilla and now firefox months ago.
Re:How many did you contribute? by LiquidCoooled · 2004-09-19 02:23 · Score: 5, Funny

Best feature for me has to be the highlighted text search (ctrl f).

Its like bringing the search results up from google cache.

My gf has fallen in love with the "Nuke anything" extension, she thinks its cool to make geek stuff go away bit by bit (she sits and wipes out bits of /.). There was a slight pause as I told her it was being deleted it from the entire internet ;)

--
liqbase :: faster than paper
Re:How many did you contribute? by bob+beta · 2004-09-19 03:31 · Score: 3, Interesting

You can semi-permanently wipe away the irrelevant distracting bits of Slashdot easily by checking the 'light' menu box in user config, and then right clicking to block graphics from images.slashdot.org. That, and blocking images from a few ad servers, and Slashdot returns to being content-rich and eyespam free.

--
"What's the frequency Kenneth?"

Re:no prize? by Xshare · 2004-09-19 02:12 · Score: 5, Funny

There was, but when the winner saw the "You're the 1 Millionth downloader!!", he closed it thinking it's just an ad. That or firefox blocked it like all the other ones. :)

3 million in four months by Sediyama · 2004-09-19 02:12 · Score: 3, Insightful

Firefox 0.8 had only 3 million downloads in 4 months and with only 100 hours more than a million downloads of 1.0PR!

The community must spread this kind of initiative to other projects.

My four downloads... by Ford+Prefect · 2004-09-19 02:12 · Score: 4, Interesting

Okay, I probably downloaded it more times than was really necessary, but they were all for different computers. Two for Win98, one for Win95, and one for MacOS X.

Something I don't think has been promoted enough is that Firefox works brilliantly on older computers. I've got an old Win95 machine that I use for when I need to use Microsoft Office (OpenOffice.org is great, but sometimes I need the real MS thing), and was trying to update the IE 4 that it's currently stuck with. Is it possible? I've no idea. I was bounced around various Microsoft download pages, unable to find something that suited Windows 95 - all the system requirements for newer versions of IE given were at least Win98...

Contrast this with Firefox. Visit the Mozilla site, and it guesses which version of Firefox you should need from the User-Agent string of your existing browser. Big link on front page, click on it to download, and minutes later you're in a new browser.

There are many, many older computers around, and before not it was too easy to get stuck with an out-of-date browser. There were alternatives, but Firefox has become the easiest of the lot - it's incredibly simple to upgrade to something secure and modern. It's brilliant!

--
Tedious Bloggy Stuff - hooray?

Re:My four downloads... by Ford+Prefect · 2004-09-19 02:39 · Score: 2, Informative

Firefox on a Win95 era (i.e. a Pentium) computer? That sounds like madness. I can't even get it to run acceptably on my PII-350.

In this case, the Win95 machine's a 333MHz K6-2. Firefox is a little slow on startup (ten seconds or so?) but a big improvement on Mozilla. In use, it's absolutely fine.

One of the Win98 machines is a 166MHz Pentium. Firefox is completely usable there, too - screen updates are slightly slower than on a modern machine, but it's really nothing to complain about. It's all completely 'interactive' - no stupid pauses not responding to mouse clicks, or anything like that.

What sort of things do people do to make Firefox run so slowly? I'm always puzzled as to how people are using web browsers to make them behave like that; I've never noticed any real slow-downs on the pages I visit...

--
Tedious Bloggy Stuff - hooray?

Now how about fixing slashdot? by feldhaus · 2004-09-19 02:13 · Score: 5, Insightful

That's 1,000,000 potential people annoyed with Slashdot's dodgy rendering in Firefox.

Surely somebody here could fix it?

Re:Now how about fixing slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 02:40 · Score: 5, Informative

You should take a look at slashdot through the W3C markup validator.

Of course, the Slashdot Moderators(tm) don't want you to look at the site through the w3c. That's why you get the 403 forbidden error. However, if you save a page from this site and upload just that html file to w3c, you'll get over a hundred html errors. Try it with this story and you'll see what I'm talking about.

And people wonder why this site doesn't render right on different browsers, sheesh.

Shaggy

p.s. Yes, I know it's easier to bitch and moan than to actually do something about it. But damnit Jim, I'm a bicycle mechanic, not a programmer!
Re:Now how about fixing slashdot? by themoodykid · 2004-09-19 02:41 · Score: 2, Informative

Nope, it's still screwy for me. Seems 25% of the
time, it renders Slashdot incorrectly. Reloading
often does nothing.
Re:Now how about fixing slashdot? by Soul-Burn666 · 2004-09-19 03:04 · Score: 5, Informative

Yes. This bug still apears in 1.0PR.
It comes from the ability to view the site while not all of the data was already downloaded. In case images don't have their size properties, it assumes a default value and forgets to update it when the data appears.

To fix, simply ctrl- and ctrl+ to change font size and it'll fix the layout.

--
^_^

So now they are a worthy target for black hats by bockman · 2004-09-19 02:19 · Score: 2, Insightful

Well, it is not like IE, but one million installation is something serious. And if you target gecko, you can add Mozilla and Galeon users. Therefore, it is better to double the attention on the security issues. Something has been done but we all know this is a never ending story.

And since the good guys cannot always win (unless you live in an hollywood movie), it is time to prepare a nice chroot jail in which to run our beloved browser (and maybe the mail client as well).

--
Ciao

----

FB

i downloaded it 112021 times by floydman · 2004-09-19 02:19 · Score: 2, Funny

what about you guys

--
The lunatic is in my head

Raises hand by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 02:19 · Score: 4, Funny

Okay, I admit it. I downloaded 999,942 of those copies. I was stress testing the download mirrors they've passed. They can survive a good slashdotting.

I've already stress tested the websites of Mono, OpenOffice, Debian, Gentoo, Mandrake, Fedora, SuSE, and other open source apps. They all pass too.

You don't honestly think that open source is that popular, do you?

(Okay, sacrasm aside, yes, there are multiple downloads. In your case, you had three downloads for two computers, but I think this is the exception. One download can serve more than one computer and in an office or "sneaker net" setting, that's the most likely outcome)

Re:Well then, it's a good thing... by bwd234 · 2004-09-19 02:20 · Score: 2, Informative

Hmm, that's funny, cause I'm running two copies of it and it hasn't crashed on me yet. One on my machine and one on my girlfriend's.

Yes, a /. user that actually has a g/f!

Bugs by hendridm · 2004-09-19 02:20 · Score: 2, Insightful

Is it just me, or does this release seem buggier than 0.9.3? I've have it crash a few times in the last few days, and I've noticed a few popups getting through. 0.9.3 worked flawlessly for me. Anyone else noticing problems? I do like the RSS integration, although the new Find dialog I'm still getting used to. Also, they got rid of my alternate stylesheet icon for sites that only have two choices ("No Style" and the default one), so now I have to go to View -> Page Style to get it). :(

Re:Bugs by jiipee · 2004-09-19 03:03 · Score: 2, Informative

I also had some problems with 1.0PR. Most disturbing was that it didn't start at all. I went back to 0.93. Will give it another try when it reaches 1.0.

--
-- life is such and it gets sucher and sucher --

Firefox.com by Artega+VH · 2004-09-19 02:22 · Score: 4, Informative

I can't believe noone mentioned Kevin Karpenske who kindly donated the firefox.com domain to the mozilla guys.

Kudos to Kevin for demonstrating a great deal of kindness in supporting our favourite browser..

--
groklaw, wired and slashdot. The holy trinity of work based time wasting.

hahaha by hobo2k · 2004-09-19 02:24 · Score: 2, Insightful

Adds a Windows Update menuitem under the Firefox (0.9+) tools menu (Opens IE to windowsupdate site)

That's got to be the most useless extension ever!

Average Joe is starting to catch on by Infonaut · 2004-09-19 02:25 · Score: 3, Insightful

There have been several posts about how these are redundant downloads, only existing Mozilla/FF users are downloading, etc. But regular IE-using people are starting to switch. I know a half-dozen Windows/IE folks who have switched. A Windows enterprise tech support friend of mine has been switching all of his customers over to Firefox. The German government has been telling people to switch. CERT has told people to watch out for IE.

The important thing is that people are now realizing that they actually have a choice. That's the first step.

--
Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ

Re:Average Joe is starting to catch on by octaene · 2004-09-19 02:28 · Score: 2, Interesting

I took the advice I read from another article (can't remember source) that stated a good idea was/is to load up a USB keychain mini-drive with Mozilla and FOSS software so that when somebody bugs you with a problem, you can quickly load up Firefox. I've had several occasions to use it, and I'm glad I did so! Go, Firefox, go!

Still needs IE by pikine · 2004-09-19 02:32 · Score: 2, Funny

From the author's page:

Windows Update - Adds a Windows Update menuitem under the Firefox (0.9+) tools menu (Opens IE to windowsupdate site)

--
I once had a signature.

Thats nothing compared to the future by mnmn · 2004-09-19 02:33 · Score: 4, Informative

I've been looking at ways to automatically deploy it using MSI files, and switch the default browser to it across the company network.

Even though I limit peoples permissions they still get spyware. When things get bad especially for people who need admin access to their machines for legacy apps, I have to reinstall Windows2k. Not fun.

Wait till we get version 1.2 or something, and people can confidently install it in the corporate.

Then start counting.

--
"Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you." -Nim Chimpsky

Re:Thats nothing compared to the future by asa · 2004-09-19 07:46 · Score: 3, Informative

We don't bundle the Flash installer, but our plugin service allows you to add flash support when you first encounter sites that offer flash content. The service all happens with a couple of clicks in the browser, and doesn't even require a browserrestart.

--Asa

Is my emerge counted by Apreche · 2004-09-19 02:36 · Score: 3, Insightful

I really wonder what their counting method is. I imagine they just look in the web server logs and see how many people downloaded the different binary packages and add them together. But what about people like me who emerge -u firefox? Do we get counted?

1 million is great, and like every poster here has said. The count isn't close to accurate. So let us now aim for 2 million!

--
The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!

Re:Is my emerge counted by asa · 2004-09-19 03:08 · Score: 5, Interesting

But what about people like me who emerge -u firefox? Do we get counted?

Unfortunately not. We miss a lot of downloads. Right now we're just looking at our primary FTP mirrors. We're not taking into account all of the not Mozilla FTP mirror download locations or mechanisms.

If you have suggestions about how to get a more inclusive count, please let me know.

The good news is that this is probably a conservative estimate and our real number of 1.0PR downloads are probably higher than what we're reporting.

1 million is great, and like every poster here has said. The count isn't close to accurate. So let us now aim for 2 million!

See SpreadFirefox.com where we're already looking for that second million :-)

--Asa

This is interesting by cioxx · 2004-09-19 02:37 · Score: 4, Funny

The blog closely resembles Howard Dean's campaign blog circa Democratic Primaries, with similar rhetoric, complete with donation solicitations, volunteer kits, etc. The parallels are eerie. I think it's great!

Dean: "Take back your country"

Firefox: "Take back the web"

"Not only are we going to get downloaded in New Hampshire ... but also in South Carolina and Oklahoma and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico! We're going to make users uninstall IE in California and Texas and New York. And we're going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan and then we're going to Redmond, to take back the web! Yeeeeeeah!"

Re:It's a conspiracy... ok not really, but sort of by asa · 2004-09-19 02:55 · Score: 5, Informative

With almost every release of Mozilla based products, we fix security bugs. We announce those security bugs when we release, that's our standard operating procedure. See http://www.mozilla.org/security/ and http://www.mozilla.org/projects/security/known-vul nerabilities.html.

We're very proud of our new Security Bug Bounty program which went into effect well before the Firefox PR shipped. That program helped us identify and fix several more security bugs than might have otherwise been fixed in this release.

The PR was actually release a couple of weeks behind schedule, in part due to our being busy working on fixing a couple of security and privacy issues. We certainly didn't "throw together a preview for the sake of not having to announce it as a fix for major exploits." What actually happened was that we announced the security fixes to the public and to security research firms like Secunia when we shipped PR. They found out about the problem because we shipped and we disclosed the bugs -- our normal process.

You seem to have the misconception that the security issues were about to be disclosed so we rushed a release out. That's just not the case. It was the Mozilla Foundation that made the security disclosures. We do that each time we ship a new release that has security related bug fixes.

--Asa

One new user here by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 02:56 · Score: 5, Interesting

I'm probably way behind the Slashdot curve here, but I finally switched over to Mozilla a few months ago after IE started to routinely crash, even after updates and a new firewall/anti-virus. I didn't like Mozilla all that much (it felt a bit clunky), but it worked and was reasonably fast so I stuck with it.

I just got the new release of Firefox a few days ago after a friend recommended it, and I think I have just found my new favorite browser. It has the same streamlined look that I had customized on my old IE setup, but without the MS junk and frequent crashes. Its very fast too, and tabs seem like a great feature (I used to just open everything in a new window before Mozilla.)

I'm basically stuck with a crappy operating system because of gaming and office fonts, but its nice to know that I'm not stuck with IE if I want a fast streamlined browser.

Re:One new user here by Tore+S+B · 2004-09-19 04:57 · Score: 2, Informative

Well, welcome into the warmth.

Regarding what keeps you in Windowsland, all the standard Microsoft fonts can be gotten by typing

apt-get install msttcorefonts
assuming, of course, you have a Debian/Semidebian. And for the games, well, it's slowly improving. :)

Good luck ahead, and don't be afraid to ask in #debian or #linux on irc.freenode.net. (I'm toresbe)

--
toresbe

Would be much higher ... by hemabe · 2004-09-19 02:57 · Score: 5, Interesting

The 1 million downloads are only from english-speaking people. The german version for example is not translated yet. I guess that a few 100,000 users alone in germany, austria and swiss would download the final version.

So the counter would be much higher, if other languages were finished.

Re:New Firefox Users by asa · 2004-09-19 03:02 · Score: 4, Insightful

1,000,000? Why stop there? I'll bet they'll have another million in a week or two. We're not going to fight IE if we keep setting our sights in the one million range. Let's try to get 10,000,000 new ones in the next year.

We're not stopping at all. I think we'll make 2 million by the end of our original 10 day campaign.

And 10M isn't nearly ambitious enough for the next year :) To make a real dent, we need 10M downloads a month the next year :) We're gonna take back the web. This is only the beginning :)

Mac OS X Users check this out: by Sophrosyne · 2004-09-19 03:03 · Score: 4, Interesting

Kevin Gerich (who, along with Stephen Horlander created the default theme for Firefox) has done some really nice Firefox replacement widgets at his weblog- check them out and install them, they are very nice.

I downloaded it once for 20,000 users by cquark · 2004-09-19 03:13 · Score: 5, Interesting

I downloaded it once and installed it on replicated NFS servers for a Fortune 100 company with over 20,000 UNIX/Linux users. The Fedora, SUSE, and Debian maintainers download it once each for a total of millions of users. It takes a lot of multiple-downloaders like you to equal a few people like me and them, so I wouldn't assume that there's fewer than one million users. There might be quite a few more than a million from those million downloads.

Re:I downloaded it once for 20,000 users by asa · 2004-09-19 03:39 · Score: 2, Interesting

cquark, I'm interested in hearing how this deployment worked out for you. please email me.
Re:I downloaded it once for 20,000 users by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 06:25 · Score: 3, Insightful

How about posting about it here too, either as a comment or a full story feature, if you're not too busy? In particular, strategy uesd for migrating any Javascript-heavy web apps etc, and how your helpdesk coped? Case studies (the larger the better) are vital for pitching Firefox (and OSS more generally) to PHBs.
Re:I downloaded it once for 20,000 users by Billly+Gates · 2004-09-19 08:31 · Score: 2, Interesting

Installed a pre-release on a fortune 100 company with 20,000 users???

So where do I send my resume?

--
http://saveie6.com/

Early Hype a mistake by orangeguru · 2004-09-19 03:15 · Score: 5, Insightful

IMHO it's a big mistake to make create such a hype on the web for the prerelease version:

* there are still some nasty bugs in there (like some HTML rendering), so they should have waited for a proper 1.0

* many cool plugins and themes haven't been updated for 1.0PR - which would demonstrate the full power of FF

* I can see many avarage Joes downloading 1.0PR and never updating it - jeust because of the buzz

* maybe they should have started the hype, when FF and Thunderbird were ready for 1.0 - so they could offer both in a bundle?

* I still think many major features are either to hidden or need a plugin: mouse gestures should be in by default and 'search in page' is way toooo geeky

* there should be better mechanisms in the software / first startup to make users download their 'usual' plugins (they already have in IE) like Flash, QuickTime and RealPlayer - so that FF will work properly with their usual sites

Re:Early Hype a mistake by Pecisk · 2004-09-19 04:22 · Score: 4, Interesting

I partly agree with you, but don't be so harsh, I have several comments on your arguments:

* First, it simply works [tm] for most users and most sites, so, yes there are still bugs on HTML rendering and it haunting them down will be long story, but as I said - it works for most users.

* I guess lot of those users won't chase cool plugins as long as after month or two of casual browsing - or maybe won't look after plugins at all. So this stuff is for advanced users who already know that they should wait. :)

* This (t.i. third) point is the most I would agree with - but hey, it's a common problem and it is not only with Firefox.

* Hmmm, smart thought, but I think marketing should start when it should start - it must be slightly before the release of original product. See, Microsoft hypes about Longhorng veeeeeery eaaaarly :)

* Of coarse lot of things could be improved, but hey, let's leave it to the next versions :)

* I really LOVE the new way of handling Flash plugins - just click on the embeded object with text 'Download the plugin', opens the wizard, several 'Next' and vola - I got working Flash. It is really MUCH better than previous way of handling things.

So, it is not so bad - it is marketing and I really happy to see that it works - even for open source.

--
user@ubuntubox:~$ stfu This server is going down for shutdown NOW!
Re:Early Hype a mistake by Woy · 2004-09-19 04:29 · Score: 5, Insightful

* many cool plugins and themes haven't been updated for 1.0PR - which would demonstrate the full power of FF

I find that the most glaring error in firefox. The plugins that need updating EVERY SINGLE VERSION of it. I mean, how hard can it be to make the plugins work across versions? Is the interface changing EVERY version? Is the change worth it? Is it getting THAT much better for plugin programmers? What they'll acomplish with this is that they'll burn trought the good will of the plugin programmers before releasing 1.0 final.

--
"If God created us in his own image we have more than reciprocated." - Voltaire
Re:Early Hype a mistake by ESqVIP · 2004-09-19 06:26 · Score: 2, Informative

* I can see many avarage Joes downloading 1.0PR and never updating it - jeust because of the buzz
Don't worry, Firefox 1.0PR does include software update and checks for new versions every 3 days :)

Re:What's so "cool" about FireFox? by asa · 2004-09-19 03:19 · Score: 5, Informative

Actually, given the increasing number of broadband users in the USA, the difference in download times for FireFox and Mozilla 1.7.3 is no longer significant.

The difference between 4.5 MB and 11MB is dramatic for the 60 million (49%) US internet users who still don't have broadband.

I'm not sure how a figure like "half" isn't significant. Half of the US still isn't on broadband and for them, Firefox downloading much easier than Mozilla. Firefox is about the size of an MP3. People can relate to downloading something that size.

But Mozilla has a few things that FireFox lacks right now: 1) better page-rendering accuracy and 2) a very good mail and newsgroup reader.

Mozilla and Firefox share the same Gecko rendering engine so I'm not sure where you get the "better page-rendering accuracy" from. Firefox has a powerful companion e-mail application called Thunderbird for anyone who needs a great (not "good") email and newsgroup reader. Thunderbird is to Mozilla email what Firefox is to Mozilla browser.

--Asa

Re:Firefox 1.0PR sucks!! by Deathanatos · 2004-09-19 03:25 · Score: 4, Informative

1) Switching tabs does not update the window title. WTF?! I don't want my window to have the wrong title! It isn't the first tab or anything like that. Just whichever one it likes.

Hmm... works fine for me.

2) I don't want a fucking top bar every time a popup is blocked. What was wrong with the icon at the bottom? Oh yeah, SP2 added their "Information Bar" crap, so Firefox has to have it! What if the popup comes up after a few seconds? Does all the page content move down to allow for their Information Bar thing? (I don't know, somebody tell)

It is a pretty nice looking bar, but I agree it's annoying. Try click on the bar, and hit 'Don't show info message when popup are blocked.' (The little icon will still appear in the lower right corner.)

5) I stay focused in this text box, switch tabs, and I can keep typing into this box. Obviously I should be find-as-you-type-ing into the new tab.

I also can't reproduce this... and find-as-you-type was disabled on my installation. But you can re-enable it through Tools-->Options, Advanced, Accessability. (Or you can use Ctrl+F to bring it up.)

Re:All Right! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 03:40 · Score: 3, Informative

Yeah, and MyIE2 supports Super Drag-and-Drop, too! We should go download it and stay with our huge security hole as our main browser! Or not... Firefox isn't just about the Tabbed Browsing. Tabbed Browsing is extremely useful, but what makes Firefox great is that in conjunction with such other features as Find-As-You-Type, the cleaned up interface they offer with 1.0PR (with the Find dialog eliminated and appearing as a strip at the bottom of the window), the extra security (just from not bein IE), the standards compliance, and the plethora of excellent extensions available for it.

One thing - this 'Super Drag and Drop' crap that MyIE2 can do - yeah, Firefox does that, too...

Re:New Firefox Users by Garion+Maki · 2004-09-19 03:43 · Score: 2, Funny

"We're gonna take back the web. This is only the beginning"
* plays some matrix music *

--
All indicators show that the human race is selectively breeding itself for stupidity.

Re:More DL --Junk toolbars no longer exclusive for by jpmkm · 2004-09-19 03:44 · Score: 2, Interesting

I just went to that site(to test it) with 1.0PR and I got a bar at the top of the page that says, "To protect your computer, Firefox prevented the site (xxxtoolbar.com) from installing software on your computer." People can still allow sites to install software, but that requires conscious effort to put the site in the preferences.

Re:Firefox vs Moz question by Antony.S · 2004-09-19 03:55 · Score: 2, Informative

I don't know specifically anything, but anything you might lose you can probably make up for with plugins.

There is such a program by PoitNarf · 2004-09-19 04:07 · Score: 2, Informative

It does not interact with WU, but it does have an up-to-date install for all XP updates pre-SP2. They are currently working on it for Windows 2000 and 2003 as well. Check it out: www.autopatcher.com

--

"0101100101? It's just jibberish. *looks in mirror, gasps* 1010011010@!? AHHHHHH!!"

Re:What's so "cool" about FireFox? by Scrameustache · 2004-09-19 04:39 · Score: 4, Interesting

I am kind of puzzled by why Mozilla FireFox is hip. As a user of Mozilla

Firefox doesn't look and feel like Netscape, circa 1997.

There's a reason why I stopped using Netscape, I don't want to go back...
I think that sums it up.

--

You can't take the sky from me...

Re:All Right! by frodo+from+middle+ea · 2004-09-19 05:31 · Score: 3, Informative

Don't forget the one and only undispencible Nuke Anything extension.

Saves so much inks when printing directions.

--
for the last time people, I am "frodo from middle eaRTH", not "middle eaST".

Re:Quick Launch by Myen · 2004-09-19 06:02 · Score: 2, Interesting

Firefox doesn't have Quick Launch. (You can add a shortcut to start Firefox into the Windows Quick Launch toolbar the is by default next to the Start button; however, it does not have the Quick Launch feature as in Mozilla suite where the app is loaded on Windows startup and hidden in the systray).

I'm working on MinimizeToTray which can fake the feature (install extension and add "-turbo" to the end of the shortcut that launches Firefox), but it is currently buggy and interacts badly with single window extensions such as Tabbrowser Extensions.

How? by Code+Dark · 2004-09-19 06:04 · Score: 2, Insightful

First off, I'd like to say congrats to the Mozilla Foundation, cause damn- great browser, and a lot of downloads for 100 hours...
What I want to know is how SpreadFirefox.com measures the downloads. Is it just run by the Mozilla Foundation and counts the download link? That's most likely, but it does approximate... I hope this isn't just propoganda.
Lastly, I wonder how many of these downloads are people that download it, install it, and then delete it and switch back to IE? Although that seems ludacris to me (I love Firefox), I'm sure that the IE addiction remains. I hope that this counter represents growing popularity, and not just geeks with 0.9.3 upgrading to 1.0...

--
- Code Dark

Firefox/Mozilla Usage Up to 5.2% by CritterNYC · 2004-09-19 06:18 · Score: 2, Interesting

Silicon.com is carrying the news that Mozilla/Firefox usage is up to 5.2% of visitors to ecommerce and corporate sites, up from 3.5% in June. Internet Explorer usage over the same timeframe fell from 95.5% to 93.7%. This makes sense as many web developers have been adopting Firefox very quickly (w3schools Gecko usage is at 17.7%) as well as techies and alpha-geeks (Engadget Gecko usage is at 23% and News.com Gecko usage is up to 18%). Usage among non-geeks is expected to grow as more positive mainstream press reports recommend ditching IE for Firefox.

--
Portable versions of Firefox, GIMP, LibreOffice, etc

Firefox.com by 16K+Ram+Pack · 2004-09-19 06:22 · Score: 3, Informative

BTW Kevin Karpenske has kindly donated firefox.com to the project.

Nice one Kevin.

Help boast the counter... by shoemakc · 2004-09-19 06:29 · Score: 2, Funny

Comon guys, we can do better then that....

#!/bin/bash #Boost the Firefox Hit counter DATE=date +%m%Y until [ "$DATE" = "092050" ] do wget -P /tmp/ http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/rel eases/0.10/Firefox%20Setup%201.0PR.exe rm -f /tmp/Firefox%20Setup%201.0PR.exe done

--
--an unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys--

Anyone read CERT? by plik · 2004-09-19 06:30 · Score: 2, Insightful

I'm really surprised I haven't seen many comments relating to this.

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA04-261A. ht ml

Two days ago, CERT accounced that there were multiple vulnerabilities in Mozilla products. The only unaffected version of Firefox is PR1.0. It is doubtless that this caused a number of downloads of existing installs who would have chosen to not run the Preview Release.

Them hitting their 1mil marker isn't neccesarily a good thing.

Re:Anyone read CERT? by I_redwolf · 2004-09-19 09:14 · Score: 2, Insightful

I don't understand the rationality behind this. The vulnerabilities have been fixed, if people who were affected are upgrading why isn't this a good thing?

Free software, free security patches, plus the added fact that people are upgrading to currently non-affected versions?

Where's the "isn't necessarily a good thing" part?

Linux vs. Windows FF by schmiddy · 2004-09-19 06:33 · Score: 3, Informative

About FF supposedly being aimed towards Windows, I'm not going to believe that unless you have a credible source to cite.

However, one thing that irks me about the Moz team is how Firefox's default behavior is quite different in Linux and in Windows. In Windows, if you middle-click on the tab bar at the top, the tab closes. In Linux, the middle click by default wants to open a new page with a link from the clipboard which, more often than not, is not a valid URL and generates an annoying error message. To fix this, you just have to go into the about:config, and change the middleclick.openURL (I think..) to 'false'.

Another thing.. In Windows, if you middle click in a page, you can scroll up and down. In Linux, again, you have to enable this in the about:config.

Since FF is supposed to be a multi-platform browser, I really wish they would make the default behavior consistent between platforms. I don't want to have to twiddle in the config to get it working like it's supposed to.

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Re:Linux vs. Windows FF by Curtman · 2004-09-19 07:15 · Score: 2, Interesting

In Windows, if you middle click in a page, you can scroll up and down. In Linux, again, you have to enable this in the about:config

What? Middle click opens a new tab on either platform unless you have a mouse manager like Logitech's running which remaps all your buttons except left & right.

But while we're on the subject, I find it a bit annoying that in the the Firefox Help thing, it shows you the keyboard shortcuts for Windows, not Linux. For the most part they are the same, but there are subtle differences, like ctrl+k in Linux takes you to the google search bar, and in Windows (according to the documentation anyway) its "Remove End of Line". Not sure what that even means, maybe its a reference to Tron.
Re:Linux vs. Windows FF by multipartmixed · 2004-09-19 07:46 · Score: 2, Informative

> "Remove End of Line". Not sure what that even means

If it's "Remove text until End of Line", it would be equivalent to emacs' yank function; also control-k.

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Word is getting out there by MicroBerto · 2004-09-19 06:51 · Score: 2, Interesting

I worked as an engineer this summer at a plant, and talk to the workers on the floor all the time (think your average manufacturing workers, lots of hillbillies, lots of country boys, most smarter than you'd think)

some of them are starting to ask me about this Mozilla thing! You know it's catching fire when the gun-toting hunting types want to know about it.

How'd they hear about it? Some anti-adware programs and stuff recommend installing it.

So 2 points - it's getting out there (obviously), and word of mouth is still the best tool - and with an app as slick as Firefox, you're going to get plenty of that

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Berto

Re:Minimo by asa · 2004-09-19 07:59 · Score: 4, Informative

Interesting project, although I think building a lean browser from the ground up is the better approach compared to trying to strip the bloat off Mozilla.

I think that anyone who has ever built a rendering engine capable of displaying even 95% of today's websites would beg to differ with you. Mozilla's Gecko rendering engine is the most capable standards supporting code available. Minimo is an attempt to get that rendering engine leaned down some and running on small devices.

I've spent some time testing Minimo on an iPaq and it rocks. It can handle just about any web page you throw at it, like Mozilla and Firefox, and it fits in your pocket :-)

--Asa

More installs.... by Netbrian · 2004-09-19 08:31 · Score: 2, Insightful

I've actually worked to increase the number of users even more, though unfortunately it isn't going to show up here. I work at a technical support help desk on campus, and we often have users that come in with computers infested with spyware. After we remove the spyware, we've been installing Firefox on every machine, and instructing them about how one of the ways to avoid getting it in the first place (among other things) is to use an alternate browser. Unfortunately for this download statistic, we install from a CD for speed purposes (and so they don't need to have internet access when installing). Hopefully more widescale adoption should combat the tide of spyware!

No wonder by PhaxMohdem · 2004-09-19 08:50 · Score: 2, Interesting

If you haven't tried Firefox DO IT! I have always been an IE user. I tried Mozilla a couple times, but its interface and Netscapeish functionality prompted me to revert immediatly. (I despise Netscape on a personal level) My first download of Firefox was ver 0.something but I was blown away. Now after upgrading to 1.0PR They havge taken care of nearly all my complaints and problems I've found. The only thing left is CSS suppot? Don't know if it is possible or in the works or not but t'would be nice.

P.S. The plugin manager kicks A$$! Microshaft beware!

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it's not about the downloads by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-19 10:40 · Score: 2, Insightful

it's not about the downloads, it's about the usage
that will get lazy IE-centered webdevelopers off their b*tts
our goal should be that every webpage should work with Firefox!!!

Re:it's not about the downloads by BladeMelbourne · 2004-09-19 12:13 · Score: 2, Interesting

our goal should be that every webpage should work with Firefox!!!
As a web developer, my goal is to make every page 100% W3C compliant. It is up to the end-users to pick the most secure and standards compliant browser, and the browser developers to make their browser secure and standards compliant.
At home and work, I use Mozilla instead of FireFox. Having Mozilla Mail and Mozilla Navigator open simultaneously all day just makes sense, plus there are more preferences at my fingertips without resorting to about:config. I dont see any benefit to switching to FireFox and Thunderbird. But on a box where I dont want mail and dont use it all the time, FireFox is my browser of choice.
that will get lazy IE-centered webdevelopers off their b*tts
Many web developers in corporate environments are instructed what browser(s) to support, and/or the technologies they are instructed to use are clearly defined by project managers or the lead developer. Unfortunately deadlines can also be strict, meaning time is only available to test on MSIE.
My point (finally)... some IE-centered developers are not lazy. Some are very talented, but their hands are tied. For example, at my new(ish) job, most pages use JavaScript and MSXML to fetch and render content. There are presumably hundreds of thousands of lines of code - the cost and time required to rewrite would be astronomical. I dislike this situation, and am pushing for Mozilla/Safari support and portable server code (Mono, PHP, MySQL/PostgreSQL, etc). I am being listed to, and it looks like new projects will be browser independent. My next goal is server independence ;-)

Corporate caches mean even more downloads really by Aliks · 2004-09-19 10:50 · Score: 2, Insightful

I downloaded the prerelease version at work and was amazed at the download speed. Basically I clicked the button and it was there.

Then I realised that I must have been getting the file from some local cache.

I don't think this counts against the download counter, so add a couple of dozen (at least) for every big corporate.

multiple installation of one download by snig64 · 2004-09-19 13:40 · Score: 2, Informative

I'm wondering how many IT pro's have downloaded this new firefox and installed it by deployable logins? I am aware of a company that downloaded it one time and installed it on twelve computers via domain login script.

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Re:Firefox vs. Real Mozilla? by asa · 2004-09-19 16:57 · Score: 4, Informative

Do the Mozilla folks have any good recommendations on when to use Firefox vs. Mozilla?

http://www.mozilla.org/products/choosing-product s. html

--Asa

Learn from history... by SuperKendall · 2004-09-19 17:11 · Score: 2, Informative

Great news - for the next steps, I would advise in the strongest terms that you NOT say you'll reach 100 million downloads in a year and plan to get there via a Pepsi bottlecap promotion!!

Just a thought.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley

Particularly on semi-tech sites... by Kjella · 2004-09-19 19:41 · Score: 2, Informative

...I've seen some very misleading information. Stuff like "Firefox 1.0 released" only to find somewhere down in the body text that this is a PR release, often with a semi-understandable explaination of what a PR release is. I suspect a great many slightly less geeky people believe that this IS 1.0 final.

Kjella

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