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Germany Warns Against Using Firefox
jayme0227 writes "Due to the recent exploit in Firefox, Germany has warned against its use. This comes a couple months after Germany advised against using IE. Perhaps we should start taking odds as to which browser will be next." Note: the warning (from the Federal Office for Information Security) is provisional, and should be rendered moot by the release later this month of 3.6.2.
According to Moore's Law, semiconductor-based hardware is on a never ending treadmill of improvement. The process can't be stopped or slowed down--it's relentless. Meanwhile, the software that sits atop this hardware doesn't keep up. I'm not sure why, but it gets on my nerves.
The treadmill is horrible. Every computer company is forced to either upgrade constantly or lower prices (or both). Compare what you could get for $3,500 in 1985 with what you can get today for $1,000, even factoring in inflation, R&D, and the rest. The processing power of an Intel 286 was between one and three MIPS. Today's Core i7s do 7,500 to 75,000 MIPS (or more), depending on who is measuring. Of course this chip isn't in a $1,000 box yet, but it will be soon.
The fact of the matter is that the treadmill process has ironically ruined the business. Computing power has gone from something of value to a commodity. From 1975 to 1990, computers were valued transformative tools. They hit a brick wall when Windows 95 arrived, turning everyone into touchie-feelie mouse-oriented users. The GUI was a boon to sales since it simplified computer use, but it also began the commoditization process. After Windows 95 hit the streets, there was nothing much more to do beyond tweaking what you already had.
Here is the test: Get a hold of an old machine that still runs, say, Windows 3.0. See if you can run a program. The whole thing is clunky and, frankly, weird. Now see if you can operate a Windows 95 machine. Simple, right? It's not that different from Windows Vista or Windows 7. The GUI I/O is pretty much the same, save for the pretty pictures and 3D icons. The same holds true for Apple. An OS X user should find it very easy to operate the 1984-era Macintosh. This is not because it is inherently intuitive--it's not. (For further proof, watch Star Trek IV.) You can run it easy because things haven't changed that much.
The touchscreen tablets we'll be seeing in the coming months may deliver a new paradigm--but I doubt it. Right now it looks like we'll be stuck with "poke-and-slide." But like everything else in the consumer electronics space, the underlying technologies can't just be old ideas that have merely been tweaked, so we end up with a desktop computing scene that is essentially old software and ideas sitting on some of the most powerful gear imaginable.
It's as though auto racing had these modern drive trains and chassis for Formula One Racing, but no one could do much more with the body beyond tweaking a 1969 VW Beetle. And if asked to come up with a new design, no one could think of anything beyond the old model. This is where desktop computers sit right now, and I get the sense that it's not changing any time soon.
My biggest disappointment is with the Linux community. It could do much more than producing copycat GUIs for desktops. Perhaps there is a fantastic and unique GUI that is buried in the noise and cannot get any attention. But how hard is it to draw attention to yourself when you have something unique and new? Sure that "cube" interface was interesting--to a point. When it comes down to doing any actual work on the thing, it still boils down to the desktop. And that, ultimately, is the problem: the desktop. It's the original Xerox paradigm that was lifted by Apple and then Microsoft.
Years ago, I wrote a column complaining about this model, suggesting other workplace paradigms such as the "farm" or "airplane cockpit." They weren't much better. Someone needs to get creative.
There is no actual real world equivalent for the poke-and-slide GUI used by the best smartphones. I don't know about you, but after the novelty wears off, it's just not that exciting. Who can come up with something better? I'm betting nobody.
So here we are, sitting on a Ferrari chasis controlled by the desktop and poke-and-slide models. With a billion computer users, no one can dream up anything new? I am stunned by this creative rut.
In the mean time, poke, poke, poke, slide, slide, slide.
Skin heads are stupid, stupid people. Just like republicans.
...a group of Haskell programmers perhaps? Or a bunch of Eiffel enthusiasts? Ada experts? Or anyone who uses any of the other 1000+ halfway safe languages out there?
See subject-line above, & this report from SECUNIA:
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Vulnerability Report: Opera 10.x:
http://secunia.com/advisories/product/26745/
Unpatched 0% (0 of 5 Secunia advisories)
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Download Opera 10.51 FINAL RELEASE, here:
http://my.opera.com/desktopteam/blog/
APK
P.S.=> Nicest part about Opera is that it originates a LOT of what folks consider cool, as far as browser features, & first (e,g, - tabbed browsing anyone), & it contains features you cannot get in FireFox & IE natively (i.e - without addons (such as site by site choices of whether to run javascript on a website, or not (javascript IS what gets you people all "hit" by these online attacks, & sites like SECUNIA.COM or SECURITYFOCUS.COM can show anybody that much, easily)))... apk
http://news.slashdot.org/story/10/03/20/1436251/Mozilla-Plans-Fix-For-Critical-Firefox-Vulnerability-In-Next-Release
News: Mozilla Plans Fix For Critical Firefox Vulnerability In Next Release:
http://news.slashdot.org/story/10/03/20/1436251/Mozilla-Plans-Fix-For-Critical-Firefox-Vulnerability-In-Next-Release
LMAO!
"Yes, because Opera has never had this sort of vulnerability!" - by clone53421 (1310749) on Tuesday March 23, @09:27AM (#31582488)
Oh, THAT's SO "clever" of you, posting an OLD Opera bug (the one I put up above, it's a "wee bit more current", wouldn't you say? LOL!)...
?
(See, I can "play those games too", & POST OLD NEWS, just like you (mine's a BIT MORE CURRENT THOUGH, eh??))
Still, based on your "reply", I must ask you a question - Are you, like, into "day old bakery goods" too?
(Apparently you are, posting "OLD NEWS"... lol!)
Still, perhaps that is NOT YOUR FAULT, you posting OLD news that is outta date (again - since FF is PROVABLY slower than Opera, proof below):
OPERA ALSO SURPASSES FIREFOX IN BROWSING SPEED, at BOTH the javascript processing & HTML processing/parsing speeds levels as well, consistently & for years, no less!
Per latest:
1.) SunSpider tests done here recently -> http://www.pcpro.co.uk/gallery/features/356350/on-test-the-hidden-seven-browsers-in-the-windows-ballot/145087 [pcpro.co.uk] [pcpro.co.uk]
2.) AND IT HAS BEEN "BLOWING AWAY" FIREFOX IN HTML PARSING/PROCESSING SPEEDS AS WELL, & FOR YEARS NOW, per this test years ago -> http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html#win and this one too last year also -> http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49302491,00.htm
("Beat that with a stick", as the saying goes!)
APK
P.S.=> LOL, this posting & others I did made me just laugh though - nearly every post I did was "modded down", & the funniest part is, all I did was inform people about Opera, with verifiable concrete facts (this only makes me realize I am surrounded by a pack of Mozilla/Firefox fanboys - however, the FUNNY part is, is this: I actually LIKE & USE Mozilla FireFox too... it's just that I see Opera CONSISTENTLY beat FF in both speed, and overall security too, typically & for years now (though FF has done a great job lately on keeping up vs. security vulnerabilities, admittedly, especially vs. their track-record in years past))... apk
OPERA ALSO SURPASSES FIREFOX IN BROWSING SPEED, at BOTH the javascript processing & HTML processing/parsing speeds levels as well, consistently & for years, no less!
Per latest:
1.) SunSpider tests done here recently -> http://www.pcpro.co.uk/gallery/features/356350/on-test-the-hidden-seven-browsers-in-the-windows-ballot/145087 [pcpro.co.uk]
2.) AND IT HAS BEEN "BLOWING AWAY" FIREFOX IN HTML PARSING/PROCESSING SPEEDS AS WELL, & FOR YEARS NOW, per this test years ago -> http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html#win [howtocreate.co.uk] and this one too last year also -> http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49302491,00.htm [cnet.co.uk]
("Beat that with a stick" - as the saying goes!)
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"And stop copy-pasting reams of completely offtopic pro-Opera propaganda into your comment. Offtopic because they have nothing to do with the comment, they are simply there to advertise your fanatical devotion to Opera." - by clone53421 (1310749) on Tuesday March 23, @09:53AM (#31582892)
Uhm, in a word? NO... make me: Newsflash - you can't... awww, too bad!
AND?
I am only posting VERIFIABLE FACTS (that's NOT propoganda)!
Now - you show me more current tests that show FF's lead in speed vs. Opera (especially on the MOST USED OS PLATFORM THERE IS BAR NONE, in Windows)? I'll eat my words... lol, thing is though? YOU CAN'T!
(And you know it).
APK
P.S.=> Nicest part about Opera is that it originates a LOT of what folks consider cool, as far as browser features, & first (e,g, - tabbed browsing anyone), & it contains features you cannot get in FireFox & IE natively (i.e - without addons (such as site by site choices of whether to run javascript on a website, or not (javascript IS what gets you people all "hit" by these online attacks, 9/10 times (literally, it's the "main delivery mechanism" of MOST online attacks, & sites like SECUNIA.COM or SECURITYFOCUS.COM can show anybody that much, easily))))... apk
OPERA ALSO SURPASSES FIREFOX IN BROWSING SPEED, at BOTH the javascript processing & HTML processing/parsing speeds levels as well, consistently & for years, no less!
"Offtopic. I didn't even read it." - by clone53421 (1310749) on Tuesday March 23, @10:20AM (#31583284)
Oh, "somehow", lol, I think you did... & per my subject-line above? YOU ARE CAUGHT FLAT FOOTED with no data to the contrary vs. my own easily verfied tests below!
EVIDENCES THEREOF:
1.) SunSpider tests done here recently -> http://www.pcpro.co.uk/gallery/features/356350/on-test-the-hidden-seven-browsers-in-the-windows-ballot/145087
2.) AND IT HAS BEEN "BLOWING AWAY" FIREFOX IN HTML PARSING/PROCESSING SPEEDS AS WELL, & FOR YEARS NOW, per this test years ago -> http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html#win and this one too last year also -> http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49302491,00.htm
("Beat that with a stick" - as the saying goes!)
So, like I stated in the other posting where YOU are attempting to troll me (with your STALE FACTS, doubtless due to FF's "Superior online speed" (lol, not))? Show me more current tests where FF's speed online is better than FF's, & I'll eat my words.
Good luck... you can't come up with that data, AND YOU KNOW IT (lol).
APK
P.S.=> Nicest part about Opera is that it originates a LOT of what folks consider cool, as far as browser features, & first (e,g, - tabbed browsing anyone), & it contains features you cannot get in FireFox & IE natively (i.e - without addons (such as site by site choices of whether to run javascript on a website, or not (javascript IS what gets you people all "hit" by these online attacks, 9/10 times (literally, it's the "main delivery mechanism" of MOST online attacks, & sites like SECUNIA.COM or SECURITYFOCUS.COM can show anybody that much, easily))))... apk
See subject-line above clone... & "better luck next time" I suppose!
You also seem to omit the fact I actually LIKE FF (& I repeatedly said that too) - heck, I even helped the Mozilla team out of a jam/bug over @ NTCompatible.com years ago (forums owner built his own forums engine, pretty impressive actually (well, his own "front" to building it @ least)).
I just think you did not like being caught "flat footed" on speed is all... fair enough though - NOBODY likes that, not even I. Still, look @ it as learning more is all!
MY information, currently, just prevails, for now, is all (HOWEVER? I shouldn't do this, but... for a SMALL BIT there this year? FF did pass OPERA, for once, in speed (javascript processing ONLY though)... Just so you know that, & that I am FAIR about what I write is all).
APK
P.S.=> My speed information just happens to be more current is all... & yes, TYPICAL for Opera on speed too, over the years (per the numerous benchmarks I put out, & I could put up a LOT MORE TOO, but enough was enough, on all accounts, on my part... as far as evidences over time) - still, I do LOVE how you FF "fanboys" go nuts whenever I post up things that show Opera's superiority in both SPEED and SECURITY online... lol! apk