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Yahoo! Releases Firefox version of Toolbar

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the serious-sites-demand-toolbars dept.

kidlinux writes "Yahoo started offering a beta version of its toolbar for the open source browser Firefox on Microsoft Windows on Wednesday, with versions for Linux and MacOS X following 'shortly.' I think it's safe to say most people use Google in their Firefox toolbar search field. Yahoo probably wants to get their foot in the door before it's too late. It would be interesting if this was a result of user demand. And apparently this follows Amazon's Firefox toolbar, which actually is a result of user demand."

14 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. SBC Yahoo. by John+Pliskin · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'd much rather see them take the effort to redo the SBC Yahoo! browser that's shipped with their DSL. My mother for example, prefers it over just a regular service because of it's interface.

    $

  2. Not needed. by irokitt · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Firefox already blocks pop-ups. And it takes only two mouse clicks to change from google search on the default configuration to a yahoo search. And it is worth noting to myself that I have *never* been tempted to do so. So I'm not going to download it. Probably rings true for most geeks out there, at least.

    --
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    1. Re:Not needed. by MerlinTheWizard · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I don't care about "rewarding" anyone for supporting or even using Firefox. I use it because it's open, maintained by a bunch of clever guys, it lets me do everything I want to do and more... That's the only reward it needs. And the last thing it needs is certainly those commercial, binary-only, and prone to spyware toolbars and other applets. You can find anything you need amongst the non-commercial extensions. At any rate, I would maybe use a "Yahoo thing" if and only if they open the source code. If not, they can choke with it.

  3. How hard is it to KEEP from getting? by drsmack1 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When cleaning up customer's computers, the Yahoo toolbar is on my list of things to uninstall. I find that most times users have no idea how it got there. I replace it with the google toolbar.

    It seems to me that the google toolbar is there to help the user find information whereas the yahoo toolbar is there to promote yahoo and it's many services.

    --

    Humor from a Genetically Molested Mind

  4. Nice idea....I guess by WordODD · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Like previous posters have said it really adds no functionality to Firefox, but I guess it adds another endorsement to Firefox's already long list of supporters. If nothing else then all the diehard Yahoo fans will now be even more exposed to Firefox and may perhaps make the switch. But what I really wonder is, what's in it for Yahoo? Is this a last attempt to be revitalize their popularity?

    --
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  5. Ads? by LaserLyte · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In the past, the main reason I have avoided Yahoo is simply because of all the ads. They slowed down the search to a crawl, and I could barely find any content amongst the ads.

    The toolbar 'screenshot' convieniently cuts off the end of the bar... is this to hide ads and other crap? Or are we spared? :)

    Either way, I think I'd prefer to just add Yahoo to FireFox's in-built search engine bar. Not that I would use it... since I have Google!

    But seriously, Yahoo seems to be going in the right direction. The engine seems to have increased in speed lately. In fact, search results are as quick to load as on Google. What's more, the number of ads on the results page has decreased; just a few textual ads remain.

    In fact... Yahoo is looking a lot like Google.

    Now I wish Netcraft would write a version of their toolbar for FireFox.

  6. Launch? by Lehk228 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    overall it seems pointless but at the same time it does add to the momentum of Firefox being a real contender. I would rather yahoo do something useful like fix Launch so it works with Firefox.

    --
    Snowden and Manning are heroes.
  7. Bookmarks by samtihen · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've been using the unofficial version (http://companion.mozdev.org/) for some time now, and it actually works almost exactly the same. The official Yahoo one seems to work just about perfectly as far as I can tell.

    What would really like to see is the ability to have your Firefox bookmarks synchronize with your Yahoo bookmarks automatically, so that you could have them wherever you go.

    Additionally, I wish it would highlight the search terms like the Google toolbar.

  8. Now I feel Ignorant by syntap · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think it's safe to say most people use Google in their Firefox toolbar search field.

    Geez, I didn't even realize Yahoo was in there... I just click it down for eBay or Dictionary.com when I don't use Google... I guess my mind kind of filtered out Yahoo... scary.

  9. Yeah, well by lifebouy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Call me when Yahoo Launch! works on firefox. Till then, I'm pretty much not interested in Yahoo.

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  10. NOT useless by friendofafriend · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The yahoo toolbar it not simply another search bar, and I have had the unofficial version along side the google bar for a while now

    I use it for the bookmarks, which are then common on any firefox or IE computer with the toolbar, but it also has shortcuts to useful Yahoo! tools like briefcase, calendar etc.

  11. BOOKMARKS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    One of the best features of the yahoo toolbar is the bookmarks. When you add a bookmark on the toolbar it is saved to bookmarks.yahoo.com and avail. on all computers you have the toolbar installed on. This is a great way to keep your bookmarks synchronized between multiple computers, say your work and home one. I find this feature invaluable and welcome the feature in Firefox.

  12. The Amazon toolbar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Has anyone else checked out the A9 toolbar terms of use and privacy policy? Talk about scary.....

  13. Speak for yourself, not me. by Malc · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "I think it's safe to say most people use Google in their Firefox toolbar search field."

    No it's not. I actually hate it. Somebody obviously thought it would be a good idea, but couldn't think of a good place to put it. It's too small. It's stuck up there on the right when most people's focus (esp. left-to-right readers) starts at the top left. This is an even bigger issue on larger higher resolution screens. Let's be honest, it's just crap.

    I install Mozdev.org's Googlebar. It works much better, although I tend to hide all the annoying icons.