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Firefox 2 users to be offered 3.0.1
Author: Gareth HalfacreePublished: 21st August 2008
If you're still running Firefox 2.0.0.16, expect to get nagged to upgrade to 3.0.1 from next week onwards.
According to ComputerWorld, the Mozilla Foundation is planning to offer the latest Firefox build – version 3.0.1 – to users currently running version 2.0.0.16 or older. This marks the first time that Firefox users have been presented with an automated message about a completely new build, rather than a 'point upgrade' from their existing version.
The update mechanism is due real soon now, but will be held back for a short while: Mike Beltzner, the director of the Firefox project at Mozilla, wants to “make the offer in the native language of the build that you're running, and we're having text localised and translated now” which is obviously going to hold things up a little bit – especially as Firefox 2.0.0.16 is currently available in forty-five languages as a fully-localised build, and a further five as downloadable language packs.
Despite this short delay, it's likely that the update prompt will grace a screen near you in the next week or so. When prompted, you'll have the option to upgrade – obviously – or to delay the prompt for twenty-four hours if you're in the middle of something. The option will also be there to decline the offer outright, but that might not be the end of it: Beltzner claims that Mozilla will “reserve the right to make the offer again” but promises that if the message is repeated it won't be for several weeks.
If you do decline the update, you should probably be aware that Mozilla will be officially canning support for the 2.0.0.x series of Firefox in December 2008.
Do you think that offering the latest and greatest to stalwart 2.0.0.x users is a good idea, or is it only likely to alienate those who have good reason not to upgrade? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
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Comments (15)Stats: 0.030 seconds
does this mean mozilla can remotely issue commands to firefox 2.x?
am I the only one finding this a bit unsettling, sounds like an attack vector waiting to be exploited
im being paranoid of course. What worries me more is the possibility of being reminded every couple of weeks to upgrade - i can imagine some systems would not want that (for various reasons) and that could be annoying.
I don't really see why anyone wouldn't upgrade to FF3, it doesn't take very long and the majority of plugins work with it. There are a few dead plugins that haven't been updated but that's about it.
On the topic of Firefox 3:
...the "Miracle Bar" is a real pain in the ****, especially as there's no official way to turn it off*..also note the absense of the old "Delete all" Button in Firefox. (well now there is one, except it doesn't delete miracle bar entries.)
For those of you that haven't seen it: It's the normal Adress-Bar, but it remembers everything you've ever typed in and auto-finishes the word you are just typing. Appearently also tying in a search for websites with this name.
Apart from hating datagathering in the first place, my computer is shared...so this is a nono.
*yes I know, you can turn it off by using about:config.
But that's not the point, it should be normally configurable in settings or preferences or so.
Still, even when turned off in about:config...it just doesn't show you the results, but still gathers (now useless) data.
I like it, anyway. I've only recently shifted over to FF, with a later version of 2.something. Version 3 works just as well and still doesn't crash like ie7.
Tools > Options (Edit > Preferences if you're on Linux) > Privacy > Always clear my private data when I close Firefox. Turn on. If the pop-up annoys you, turn off "Ask me" BUT this disables asking when you do a Ctrl+Shift+Delete too, which *is* annoying.
Then, click settings. Turn on "Browsing History" and any other things you want gone.
Badabing! Ctrl+Shift+Del or just close firefox and your history is history. The bar still knows your bookmarks though, so don't be surprised if after clearing the history typing in "bit-tech" still shows a result - it's because you have it bookmarked. You err... you do have it bookmarked don't you?
As it's a shared computer why not give everyone their own user account? Or use firefox profiles?
Talking of firefox updates Ubuntu seem to have reinstalled their annoying update-disabler extension again somehow - irritating because I did my own independent install :|
had to do that recently after an all too long awkward silence when my sister saw YouPorn at the top of my list when typing in her college website.
naturally i explained how a mate "fooled" me into going to that website.
she believed me. it was the truth... honest
Even if your system was unstable enough to get attacked in that way (by really stupid crackers) the only thing they could do is change the message to "Yu gt PwNeD INIT MEH!".
ROFL + O_0 + LULZ WTF! + RANDOMNESS! = ... you.
Computer: Laptop w/ Vista 64-bit
Experience:
1) Load Firefox 3 (32 bit): Load failed and trashed configuration. Removal of broken v3 and Reload of v2 with plugins burned 6 hours.
2) I only use a few plugins, but they are essential to my day. I don't blame plugin authors for not rolling updates when Mozilla does, but until they do, I can't upgrade.
3) Proxy providers cannot use Firefox v3. Laptops use wireless connections. Proxy providers offer improved security (fulltime SSL), but some proxy providers can not yet work within Firefox v3 and even blame Mozilla for the incompatibility (e.g., Anonymizer.com).
So, Mozilla can remind me all it wants because I am not budging until I can keep what I have working.
(and I actually WANT to move forward . . . maybe even to a 64-bit version--hint, hint)
there are 64bit builds of firefox, the main problem with them is theres no 64bit flash plugin
works great if you dont mind being flashless
ps, not sure how it took you 6 hours to reinstall ff2 but you should probably backup your profile once in a while ;)
Haha classic : ) I think we've all done that... (right?)
There's a lot to be said for a separate installation for 'that kind of thing' filled with addons like noscript, ABP, trackmenot, etc.... I mean errm.. Who? What? When? <_<
Yeah I used to do that... 2 Reasons I stopped it:
1. Many Programs are still not programmed to install for multiple users. So I install it, and it doesn't work for another user. *sigh*
2. Wiping your Disk now and again is a good thing in windows, but it's a pain to get everything instralled again, especially becuase many programs save stuff in their own folder, somewhere under Users-All users and somewhere in the Users-"insertusername". I'm busy for a day setting up for one login, let alone three!
That's also the reason I moved to 100% web based mail...