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Mozilla: Browser Ballot Glitch Cost Us 9m Firefox Downloads

Posted by timothy on from the prisoner-failed-to-provide-enough-rope dept.

nk497 writes with this selection from PC Pro magazine: "Microsoft's failure to include the EU browser ballot in Windows 7 SP1 cost Mozilla as many as 9 million Firefox downloads, the organisation's head of business affairs revealed. Harvey Anderson said daily downloads of Firefox fell by 63% to a low of 20,000 before the ballot was reinstated, and after the fix, downloads jumped by 150% to 50,000 a day. Over the 18 months the ballot was missing, that adds up to six to nine million downloads — although it's tough to tell if the difference has more to do with Chrome's success or the lack of advertising on Windows systems. The EU is currently investigating the 'glitch,' and Microsoft faces a massive fine for failing to include the screen, which offers download details for different browsers to European Windows users, as part of measures ordered by the EU to balance IE's dominance." Reader Dupple points to coverage at ZDnet, too.

66 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Holy shit! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's three days ago!

    1. Re:Holy shit! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Not only that, it's yesterday as well!

    2. Re:Holy shit! by an00bis · · Score: 3, Funny

      yo, dawg, I herd you like old news, so I put old news in your old news so you can reminisce while you deja vu

  2. Super Duper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/10/31/178256/windows-browser-ballot-glitch-cost-firefox-6-9-million-downloads

    1. Re:Super Duper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Slashdot: Editor glitch causes excessive reposting!

      (News at 11)

    2. Re:Super Duper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I suspect within a week we will see the news singularity, at which point the same story will be the only article on Slashdot, reposted for ever.

      Or better editorial control.

    3. Re:Super Duper by msauve · · Score: 4, Funny

      You have to give timothy a break. It's obvious that he can't read, and has simply been trained to click a button for food.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    4. Re:Super Duper by StripedCow · · Score: 1

      Come on, we discussed RIAA accounting way before that post.

      --
      If Pandora's box is destined to be opened, *I* want to be the one to open it.
    5. Re:Super Duper by crazyjj · · Score: 3, Funny

      Tomorrow's headline: "Mozilla Claims Slashdot Dupe Cost Them 2 Billion Downloads."

      --
      What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
    6. Re:Super Duper by Desler · · Score: 1

      So he's nothing but a Mechanical Turk?

    7. Re:Super Duper by houghi · · Score: 1

      Stopping dupe posts costs /. 2 brazilian hits.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    8. Re:Super Duper by msauve · · Score: 1

      Please don't insult the Turks.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  3. Repeat from Yesterday by realsilly · · Score: 1

    Goodness, we just saw an almost exact same post yesterday. Are we that in need of news articles?

    --
    Life takes interesting turns, but the most interest is when you're off the beaten path.
    1. Re:Repeat from Yesterday by Desler · · Score: 2

      Actually this is the SAME submission that was posted yesterday.

    2. Re:Repeat from Yesterday by masternerdguy · · Score: 2

      holy shit it's Groundhog Day I guess

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      To offset political mods, replace Flamebait with Insightful.
  4. Dupe Dupeington by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yes, we know. Soulskill already posted this story.

    Christ timothy, are you really that incompetent?

    1. Re:Dupe Dupeington by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yes, we know. Soulskill already posted this story.

      Christ timothy, are you really that incompetent?

      At the risk of stating the BLINDINGLY OBVIOUS...

      Umm, yeah, he is.

  5. Sounds familiar by Bogtha · · Score: 5, Funny

    Reader Bogtha points to coverage at Slashdot, too.

    --
    Bogtha Bogtha Bogtha
  6. More things change, more they stay the same by bittmann · · Score: 3, Informative
    timothy is in fine form

    Same submitter, even!

  7. Even so, this only hits the news now? by Shrike+Valeo · · Score: 1

    More than anything, I'm surprised this has taken so long to be brought up.

    It's a massive irony I installed W7 last week and noticed this. I thought to myself "that's not right....where's my browser choice? Y'know...like M$ were ordered to display..." and it hits the news like the world only just discovered it with me.

  8. Nice Dupe by ZeroSerenity · · Score: 1

    Only took you 16 hours to post the same submission twice. http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/10/31/178256/windows-browser-ballot-glitch-cost-firefox-6-9-million-downloads

    --
    For those who seek perfection there can be no rest on this side of the grave.
    1. Re:Nice Dupe by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      Only took you 16 hours to post the same submission twice.

      You must be new here.

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    2. Re:Nice Dupe by Desler · · Score: 1

      They usually dupe by posting someone else's submission. This is one of the few times that another editor has reposted the same submission.

  9. timothy has a glitch as well by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 2

    Apparently timothy has a glitch as well affecting his selection of articles.

    --
    Time to offend someone
    1. Re:timothy has a glitch as well by Hillgiant · · Score: 1

      It's not a bug, it's a feature!

      --
      -
  10. Im sure it was Chrome by who_stole_my_kidneys · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Not necessarily Microsoft that had people switching. Fire Firefox's ever growing memory footprint, and frequent update cycle that broke extensions are main reasons people stopped downloading FF.

    1. Re:Im sure it was Chrome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Try doing some reading: ff's memory footprint has been steadily decreasing over the past few years.

      So has my weight, but I don't call myself skinny.

    2. Re:Im sure it was Chrome by Desler · · Score: 1

      Sure if you use no addons and have 1 tab open. But how realistic is that usage pattern?

    3. Re:Im sure it was Chrome by Desler · · Score: 1

      So people are just "Using the browser wrong", eh?

  11. If it wasn't for wallstreet... by Shados · · Score: 2

    If it wasn't for wallstreet and the constant need for "growth" quarter after quarter, I wonder how long it would be before Microsoft considers the cost of doing business in the EU to be too high to be worth it.

    They were convicted of abusing a monopoly and have to pay for it, but the market is completely different today than it was back then. And as much as it would make some people here happy, is a market with just Apple, Linux and Google best for customers? In world that's quickly becoming a phone/tablet world, Microsoft won't have a majority marketshare for very long, and the barrier for entry is incredibly high for another player to replace them...

    1. Re:If it wasn't for wallstreet... by tuppe666 · · Score: 2

      If it wasn't for wallstreet and the constant need for "growth" quarter after quarter, I wonder how long it would be before Microsoft considers the cost of doing business in the EU to be too high to be worth it.

      They were convicted of abusing a monopoly and have to pay for it, but the market is completely different today than it was back then. And as much as it would make some people here happy, is a market with just Apple, Linux and Google best for customers? In world that's quickly becoming a phone/tablet world, Microsoft won't have a majority marketshare for very long, and the barrier for entry is incredibly high for another player to replace them...

      I think you must be a little confused about the importance of the EU, considering the US has only 500 Million compared to EU's 750 million. Its simply a larger market for Microsoft than the US. How arrogant are you?

      Microsoft is still the same abusive monopoly it always was. Just because its a massive failure in mobile [apart from the using the elf same abusive practice that got it slapped with the ballot in the first place], and a massive failure on the internet [despite using the self same practices that got it slapped with the ballot in the first place]

      Lets be honest Microsoft has not changed; Companies like Apple and Google simply had better products in markets where Microsoft wasn't, and now are rich enough not to be pushed around by Microsoft.

      Personally I would love to see Microsoft withdraw from the EU too. It would create competition that has sadly still lacking on the desktop.

    2. Re:If it wasn't for wallstreet... by HarrySquatter · · Score: 1

      FYI: The US only has 300 million people and the EU population is 500 million. Might want to double check your facts next time.

  12. Re:Before you complain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Phony math is okay as long as it supports what I believe!

  13. Deja Vu by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 1

    Agents must have changed som...

    NO CARRIER

  14. Timothy must be sad by captain_dope_pants · · Score: 3, Funny

    Dupe submissions could easily be avoided if Timothy was happy - causing his brain to produce a level of gamma waves - specifically those linked to consciousness, attention, learning and memory.

    --
    while (true != false) process_more_stupid_code();
  15. have you ever had deja deja deja deja vu? by tresstatus · · Score: 1

    http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/10/31/178256/windows-browser-ballot-glitch-cost-firefox-6-9-million-downloads

    --
    stephen
  16. I for one... by BradyB · · Score: 1

    ... welcome our dupe posting overlord timothy.

    --

    Good is never enough, when you dream of being great!
  17. Is it just me or... by cjjjer · · Score: 1

    does anyone else think this is sad that Moz is bringing up how many downloads it lost to this "glitch". It's like saying we totally depend on Microsoft to make our browser popular. Otherwise we have no chance against IE or Chrome.

    Oh wait...

    1. Re:Is it just me or... by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

      Well IE's installed by default and every time I use google there's a link for chrome which is probably why its the most popular at the moment

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    2. Re:Is it just me or... by tuppe666 · · Score: 2

      does anyone else think this is sad that Moz is bringing up how many downloads it lost to this "glitch". It's like saying we totally depend on Microsoft to make our browser popular. Otherwise we have no chance against IE or Chrome.

      Oh wait...

      Not waiting. The idea behind the ballot is simple, create an even footing for the browsers to compete. With all things being even Firefox does better. Lets face it nobody uses IE because its good. Personally I wonder if Microsoft was made to install Firefox as default it would have many downloads of IE ;)

      Personally I love competition, and would hate to go back to the dark days of IE 10.

    3. Re:Is it just me or... by rwise2112 · · Score: 1

      does anyone else think this is sad that Moz is bringing up how many downloads it lost to this "glitch". It's like saying we totally depend on Microsoft to make our browser popular. Otherwise we have no chance against IE or Chrome. Oh wait...

      I posted this last time as well, but down in TFA there is a quote saying that in Europe IE downloads also decreased during that time, but Chrome downloads increased. So to me it seems that people are just prefering Chrome these days, and the ballot really makes no difference.

      --

      "For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert"
  18. Not sure the need to spread lies by tuppe666 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not necessarily Microsoft that had people switching. Fire Firefox's ever growing memory footprint, and frequent update cycle that broke extensions are main reasons people stopped downloading FF.

    Wow. What a load of nonsense, Firefox has a tiny footprint stop spreading this lie. As for the frequent update cycle, that may be an enterprise issue, but why would it be for a home user. I stopped looking at extensions breaking a long time ago. I think you would have a hard lime listing one popular addon that is not working under firefox 16.

    Again http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-7-chrome-20-firefox-13-opera-12,3228.html Chrome does win these tests, but not on lies, but by being a great browser.

    1. Re:Not sure the need to spread lies by Bengie · · Score: 1

      People have been saying for the past year that FF doesn't gobble memory, but I periodically check FF every month or two and last time I checked, it was gobbling memory and running slowly compared to Chrome. btw, I use no addons except Java.

      Must be something about 20-30 tabs and running for 7+ days at a time. Chrome has no issues with this.

      My anecdotal experience.

    2. Re:Not sure the need to spread lies by tuppe666 · · Score: 2

      Must be something about 20-30 tabs and running for 7+ days at a time. Chrome has no issues with this.
      My anecdotal experience.

      As opposed to benchmarked or at least backed up with an about:memory. Your abnormal usage even if it were true is ridiculous considering how wonderful quit/restart works. Although in my equally useless anecdotal experience firefox runs great with more than that...want me to post a video :)

      Seriously Chrome is great browser, but so is Firefox.

    3. Re:Not sure the need to spread lies by Desler · · Score: 1

      Sounds like he's a great fit as a Mozilla developer or evangelist.

    4. Re:Not sure the need to spread lies by Bengie · · Score: 1

      Why should I have to restart my browser? Isn't that like saying "Win95 is fine, just reboot it every few hours"?

      Now that I've talked about FF, I'll have to test it out again in a few days. I like having alternatives and I know FF is getting better. And don't think I'm saying Chrome is better, I'm just saying for how I use my browser, Chrome works best for me right now. FF is a great product.

    5. Re:Not sure the need to spread lies by GNious · · Score: 1

      From FF15 to current FF18, I've not seen any but a few esoteric plugins and extensions break.

      WebEx, Sharepoint, that kind of half-arsed plugins can break, most others work nicely (Flash is usually crapping out, nothing new there)
      Cooliris and Grafxbot are only extensions not working on current FF18, and only one of these even make sense running.

      As for memory, then I can observe that after 2 days of having FF open, my mac is slow-as-frozen-shit. Stopping and starting FF resolves that. Might be one of the extensions (Adblock? NoScript? SuspendBackgroundTabs? Perhaps FlagFox..), but it IS an issue.

    6. Re:Not sure the need to spread lies by HarrySquatter · · Score: 1

      Totally. Which is why you provided the link to where they said this.

  19. Re:Before you complain by tuppe666 · · Score: 1

    The bottom line is IE is simply not as good as the competition, not even close. Pick your own reasons for its uptick. Personally I think IE should be stripped completely from Windows, and no Apple/Linux bundling a browser is not defence. Personally I would be happy to have browsers removed from them too. The internet is too precious a resource.

  20. Yeah by bravecanadian · · Score: 1

    Sure it did.

    Because the users who actually have a clue what Firefox even is can't go get it themselves.

  21. And? by Jintsui · · Score: 1

    What exactly is Mozilla's point here? Not like they lost any money as their browser is free.

    1. Re:And? by tuppe666 · · Score: 2

      What exactly is Mozilla's point here? Not like they lost any money as their browser is free.

      They have exactly lost money on this. They earn money from selling "search engine default to the highest bidder". The less users they have the less negotiating power they have, and that is not all they have lost, in addition mindshare, and brand power. This is especially harmful considering Mozilla is planning new markets.

    2. Re:And? by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      The RIAA has definitely lost money on piracy. They earn money from "selling CD licenses". The more people that are pirating the less CDs are being bought, and that's not all they have lost, in addition mindshare and brand power. This is especially harmful considering threatening new independent revenue models popping up.

      Hmm. Suddenly, the argument with a mere few words replaced is the sort of thing that gets you a troll mod on this site. How is it that when the RIAA claims that "lost sales" due to piracy costs them money everyone attacks with a righteous fury but when Mozilla "loses money" due to "lost downloads" due to browser ballot glitches, suddenly it's a valid argument?

      Double standard much?

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  22. Embrace and extend. by hoboroadie · · Score: 1

    Compliance forthcoming.

    --
    They feared that it could be used to suppress protest or support unpopular rule.
  23. Re:Who cares? by hoboroadie · · Score: 1

    None of my hardware wants Windows 8. YMMV

    --
    They feared that it could be used to suppress protest or support unpopular rule.
  24. Re:Before you complain by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

    Agreed! No OS should come with a browser installed. I'll just download whichever brows... oh wait.

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  25. Re:sCOend Psot by hoboroadie · · Score: 1

    Some posts are worth repeating. Perhaps not this one.

    --
    They feared that it could be used to suppress protest or support unpopular rule.
  26. Re:Before you complain by RobertLTux · · Score: 1

    here you go
    http://ninite.com/chrome-firefox-flash-flashie-java-opera-safari/

    yah i included Flash and java for you

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  27. Wow, guys... by mcgrew · · Score: 1

    I'd hate to be Timothy, you guys are really savaging him. You've never fucked up at work before?

    OTOH, like my old man always said, "one 'oh, shit' wipes out a whole bunch of 'attaboys'"

    --
    Free Martian Whores!
    1. Re:Wow, guys... by Desler · · Score: 1

      Sure, if timothy and the other "editors" didn't dupe shit all the time. If it was purely an isolated incident you'd have a point, not you don't.

  28. Re:Before you complain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Not all of us browse the web with wget, RMS.

  29. Re:Before you complain by tuppe666 · · Score: 1

    Not all of us browse the web with wget, RMS.

    ...or use the Apple Store; Windows Store; Linux Repositories; Google store. which is the modern way of getting all software.

    Although you don't need the skills of RMS; whose contributions Like GCC are wonderful. a VB6 programmer could probably put something serviceable together in a few minutes.

  30. Re:Before you complain by mwvdlee · · Score: 2

    Since I like Chrome, I'll use the Google Store.
    Now, how to get to the Google store without a browser...

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  31. Re:Before you complain by Desler · · Score: 1

    There's a Windows store in XP, Vista or 7? Since when? Also, how do I get to the Google Store without a browser on a non-Android device? Also, how is having to go to a vendor app store better than just giving a browser by default? Answer: it's not.

  32. Re:Before you complain by Desler · · Score: 1

    Yes, let me just go to that URL without a browser...

  33. Re:Before you complain by RobertLTux · · Score: 1

    the trick is you go to that url with another system get your download and then run the file on your target computer.

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