Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Mozilla Ditches Firefox's New-Tab Monetization Plans

Posted by Soulskill on from the benefits-of-asking-for-feedback dept.

hypnosec writes "Mozilla has ditched Firefox's new-tab monetization plans because they 'didn't go over well' with the community. Johnathan Nightingale, Mozilla's VP of Firefox, said much of Firefox's community was worried Mozilla would 'turn Firefox into a mess of logos sold to the highest bidder' and that users wouldn't have control over this or see any actual benefit. 'That's not going to happen. That's not who we are at Mozilla.'"

4 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. Re:That's not who we are at Mozilla by QuasiSteve · · Score: 4, Interesting

    We need a new Firefox, someone "pure" again.

    Wouldn't a 'pure' Firefox also do away with the default search provider - which is effectively whoever bids highest for the position anyway?

    I do think the 'new tab promotion' bit would have been bad, but mostly from a "what's next?" perspective. Otherwise, it would still be a page you can customize - including just deleting the promotional bits - that essentially has the promoted bits replaced as you browse, and if you really wanted to, never have to see more than once after installation as it is; and if you do, at least there will be some content there instead of vast emptiness. If it means Mozilla gets a bit more money, or at least money from a more diverse pool, I would have been fine with it.

  2. Re:That's not who we are at Mozilla by Hsien-Ko · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Seamonkey exists, has always been the last designbycommittee-bullshit-free Gecko-based browser for over a decade, but it always feels so unloved.

  3. Re:That's not who we are at Mozilla by QuietLagoon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    We need a new Firefox, someone "pure" again.

    Indeed! Australis (FF29 in general) has very nearly pinched my last nerve with Firefox. What the fuck is going on at Mozilla? The last two versions have run like complete and utter shit on my systems, from freezing windows to outright random crashes. What happened to my lightweight and reliable browser? >

    Pale Moon

  4. Re:Quit telling us what we want, 'kay? by JMJimmy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If Google drops the ball, Microsoft will pick it up for the default search revenue. Mozilla also doesn't need the 300m/y for a public interest browser - they've got more products and experiments than you can shake a stick at and they're expanding into the mobile OS market which will likely result in tablet/pc market as well. They could pull back or eliminate duplication.

    Why they need 11 offices globally is beyond me as well. Close down/consolidate the Vancouver, Portland, Auckland, Taipei, London, and Paris offices then open one in India and Brazil.