19 May 10 19:07 by Jared Newman in category
Software
The double-digit market share that Mozilla Firefox currently enjoys will be a distant memory in three to five years, according to one of the people who created the browser.
Blake Ross, who developed Firefox with Dave Hyatt when he was 19 years old, now says the browser is not being aggressive enough. “I think the Mozilla Organization has gradually reverted back to its old ways of being too timid, passive and consensus-driven to release breakthrough products quickly,” Ross said.
According to TechCrunch, Ross made the comments on Quora, a question-and-answer service that tends to attract prominent thinkers and professionals. When someone asked whether Firefox, which now holds roughly a quarter of the Web browser market, will still have double-digit share in three to five years, Ross said, “I’m pretty skeptical.”
Outbound Mozilla chief executive John Lilly disagreed, citing new features with the upcoming Firefox 4.0 and the mobile version of the browser, Fennec, coming to Android phones.
Firefox’s market share has remained stagnant at just under 25 percent for several months now, according to statistics from NetApplications. The leader, Internet Explorer, loses users on a monthly basis, but mostly at the expense of Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari. It’s been said that Firefox may never reach the 25 percent mark.
Why? Probably because in a way, Firefox has become Internet Explorer. It’s a powerful browser with a great library of add-ons, but it’s slow to start, resource-hungry and burdened with a bulky interface. I can get a bigger window to the Internet in Chrome without sacrificing access to my most-used features. If there are any breakthroughs Firefox needs, it’s a new interface and better resource management.
The funny thing is, when I look at analytics for the tech and gaming sites I write for, Firefox goes toe-to-toe with, or even exceeds, Internet Explorer, and Chrome is quickly gaining. The tech-savvy have traditionally favored Firefox, but now they’re moving elsewhere.
41 Comments on Firefox is in trouble, says the browser’s co-founder
Reminds me of that great movie, The Wizard of Google. Here are some memorable quotes...
"Pay no attention to that huge corporation behind the curtain."
"Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful Google. I said come back tomorrow."
"Just try and stay out of my way. Just try! I'll get you, my pretty, and your little iPhone, too!"
"Pay no attention to that huge corporation behind the curtain."
"Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful Google. I said come back tomorrow."
"Just try and stay out of my way. Just try! I'll get you, my pretty, and your little iPhone, too!"
Firefox has become to slow, sluggish and bloated. I hear of many users switching to Chrome due to the speed and performance increases.
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Originally Posted by Blu-rayFreak
Firefox has become to slow, sluggish and bloated. I hear of many users switching to Chrome due to the speed and performance increases.
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Originally Posted by coolcolors
So where did you get that info? Sounds more like rhetoric and no facts to base or support the claim? Since you fail to mention even the version and rather then test it yourself you base your report on others whom don't have much to offer for independent review as well. Ironic how they still use IE when they say FF isn't any good.
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my main reason for firefox is the ad-block plus plugin. Chrome nor IE have anything near as good.
If Chrome ever had an adblock that worked that well, I'd give it a try.
I'd also like a 64 bit firefox
which would be pointless until we got a 64 bit flash.
I also hate how if your doing a clean windows install and you backup your bookmarks in IE, it doesn't keep the order.. its damned annoying. Another win for firefox (and probably chrome).
If Chrome ever had an adblock that worked that well, I'd give it a try.
I'd also like a 64 bit firefox
which would be pointless until we got a 64 bit flash.I also hate how if your doing a clean windows install and you backup your bookmarks in IE, it doesn't keep the order.. its damned annoying. Another win for firefox (and probably chrome).
Chrome is fast, but the recent builds have some issues. I am using a netbook so any app hogging is immediately obvious and Chrome was much slower than firefox. It would eat 100% of the CPU whenever it loads a page. Apparently it is a common problem judging by the complains on google's forums.
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Originally Posted by Blu-rayFreak
Personal experience. Firefox was making my system lag big time. I switched to Chrome and I'm browsing fast again!
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Well my experience is it loads better and plus I use a host edit file list so to prevent any pops in either FF or IE from loading. That how I improve my browsing experience without using extra plugins. And one would be surprised on how fast they can browse the net and have a better experience without ads or pops loading. I have 3.6 in x86 and x64 version and don't have any kinda slow down as you mention. Chrome still lags in usage and from reading CPU power user still holds a smaller pie then FF and IE....
I always root for the little guy. Firefox is up against Microsoft and Google. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. They must feel like Dolly Parton's bra. They could come apart at the seams any day now.
I feel FF loads a little slow on first start, but after that - it loads faster the next time once my processor has processed all the startup apps - which I do not have alot of. I also don't install too many add-ons in FF, just to not slow the browser down. Only download the most important add-ons.
I notice that no one has mentioned Firefox problems with Win7. I have had to return to IE after years of using Firefox due to constant hanging. I was amazed how difficult it was to uninstall Firefox.
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Originally Posted by TexByrnes
I notice that no one has mentioned Firefox problems with Win7. I have had to return to IE after years of using Firefox due to constant hanging. I was amazed how difficult it was to uninstall Firefox.
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I've tried Chrome and I do not like it, I find it too quirky. There are alot of important features and add-ons on FF that I don't want to live without either: AdBlock Plus, Redirect Remover, FEBE, Reminder Fox, and Unplug. I love how I can go into Tools and click on Downloads and see all my recent downloads and pics. FF is quick and stable enough for me on my XP and unlike Opera (which had been touted as the fastest browser) loads everything on the page.
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Originally Posted by TexByrnes
I notice that no one has mentioned Firefox problems with Win7. I have had to return to IE after years of using Firefox due to constant hanging. I was amazed how difficult it was to uninstall Firefox.
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I used Chrome for about a week, after seeing it in action on a friend's P4 laptop. So I switched. After a week of having to use both Chrome and IE8 to load pages (when chrome didn't load a page, I'd have to open that one page in IE8, which loaded it fine)... then I switched to FF and haven't had IE8 opened since. I've since put FF on every computer I own (5 or 6 of them).
Google & Chrome IS Big Brother. I don't like the holes in their "privacy policies"
not to mention that I AM guilty of thought crime
p.s. IE8 is a system hog even with 4G of ram. Firefox is my choice.
not to mention that I AM guilty of thought crime
p.s. IE8 is a system hog even with 4G of ram. Firefox is my choice.
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Originally Posted by Castle_Rock
I don't have Win 7 so I wouldn't know the issues, but I don't plan to upgrade neither.
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Originally Posted by TexByrnes
I notice that no one has mentioned Firefox problems with Win7. I have had to return to IE after years of using Firefox due to constant hanging. I was amazed how difficult it was to uninstall Firefox.
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How hard is it to uninstall Firefox? Uninstall from Programs and Features, followed by deleting your profile directory (if you do not want to keep it anymore).
I found that Chrome did appear to display the web pages faster than Firefox. Unfortunately, Chrome did not permit me to display the recent history like Firefox or IE8 does. I have since removed Chrome and have gone back to Firefox. If Chrome changes the UI to permit me to autotype and select the site then I may try it again. Until then I will stick with Firefox.
No problems? Have a look at:
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/forum/1/429871
By the way, I DO know how to unistall programmes!
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/forum/1/429871
By the way, I DO know how to unistall programmes!
Being a long time user of IE recently switched to FF latest version would never think of going back to my old bad habits now eg: IE8.
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Originally Posted by TexByrnes
No problems? Have a look at:
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/forum/1/429871 By the way, I DO know how to unistall programmes! |
As for your links, it seems to be related mostly to add-ons or plugins which are causing the issues. It is like bashing Microsoft for Windows being unstale when the poorly written driver from a vendor is causing the problem.
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Originally Posted by Zod
my main reason for firefox is the ad-block plus plugin. Chrome nor IE have anything near as good.
If Chrome ever had an adblock that worked that well, I'd give it a try. I'd also like a 64 bit firefox which would be pointless until we got a 64 bit flash.I also hate how if your doing a clean windows install and you backup your bookmarks in IE, it doesn't keep the order.. its damned annoying. Another win for firefox (and probably chrome). |
I agree, getting rid of those adverts on facebook and hotmail is worth everything!
To Trekker99, sorry for no reply, typed one out hit reply and lost it. Just had a look in my control panel, FF is still there, hitting 'uninstall' has no effect, also a large firefox icon is sitting at the bottom of the page, with various 'HELP!' links which do not work. Once I have formatted the HDD and re-installed Win7 I shall reluctantly stay well away from FF, which I've enjoyed using for years. Regards, Tex Byrnes and horse.
That is strange.... It is probably nothing to do with a typical firefox installation though. But I can't say what might have caused it though (corrupted unstaller? uninstaller incompatible with some software and quit without any sign of error?).
I have switched to Firefox Portable (from Portable Apps) on some of my PCs for easier migration. That way you have no worries on not being unable to uninstall.
I have switched to Firefox Portable (from Portable Apps) on some of my PCs for easier migration. That way you have no worries on not being unable to uninstall.
Have FF on everything from Win 95 to Win 7 and find it 100 times better than IE
Have had no issues with any of my installs.
Have had no issues with any of my installs.
Thanks for the conjectures, just had another look and it is still there, doesn't load though, so probably just some stray bits hanging around. Annoying though!
Once upon a time, Firefox was THE alternative to Internet Explorer.
Opera? - At one time, it wasn't free, now it is.
Chrome? - Powerfully promoted, but its Google appetite for data is scary.
SrWare Iron is Chrome with the google knocked out of it, and quite likely where I may go for my next browser.
So, Firefox is no longer the automatic choice for IE refugees, and indeed, FF may lose users to the razzmatazz of Google Chrome - of course, FF is the best served by plugins, though others are catching up.
Opera? - At one time, it wasn't free, now it is.
Chrome? - Powerfully promoted, but its Google appetite for data is scary.
SrWare Iron is Chrome with the google knocked out of it, and quite likely where I may go for my next browser.
So, Firefox is no longer the automatic choice for IE refugees, and indeed, FF may lose users to the razzmatazz of Google Chrome - of course, FF is the best served by plugins, though others are catching up.
After deleting [!] [?] FF and using IE8 as a browser following hang-up problems with Win 7, I see no reason to go elsewhere.....after all it's only a way to access the internet and works well with Win7, so as an ordinary user I really see no reason for all the hissy fits from the geeks, do they merely hate Microsoft? 
No hissy fit here, I just like things to work good and the way I want them to is all.
I like Microsoft, I have 10 computers all running some type of Microsoft Windows
I like Microsoft, I have 10 computers all running some type of Microsoft Windows
Nothing wrong with IE 8. It is so much better than IE6 or 7. Nevertheless I like firefox extensions too much to switch away.
Sorry, hit reply twice!
Don't know about previous versions of IE, I've been using FF for a long time, and if it works for you like it used to do for me, that's great, glad to hear that I'm using an approved version! I still use FF on a laptop with XP Pro which I keep for the LDS church 1881 census as that won't run on Win7. The LDS church don't answer queries about new drivers which I reckon is a bit unchristian. 
Just a thought... did you try to run the firefox installer again? And it that completes successfully, try uninstalling it? You might be able to properly uninstall firefox that way.
Also once the next firefox comes out, you could try it and see if your experience is any better.
Also once the next firefox comes out, you could try it and see if your experience is any better.
Good thinking batman, never thought of that 
Will try it thanks.
Will try it thanks.
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Originally Posted by Zod
I also hate how if your doing a clean windows install and you backup your bookmarks in IE, it doesn't keep the order.. its damned annoying. Another win for firefox (and probably chrome). |
http://backsettings.com/
I still prefer FF though, and use it 95% of the time. I only use IE for those few sites that won't work in FF. Chrome is okay, but it lacks some of the plug-ins I require like Athena. If they ever get something like Athena for Chrome that could become my go to browser.
If you install the IE-TAB addon into firefox then you won't ever go back to IE. You just click on the IE Tab icon on your toolbar and watch the page reload just fine.
IE-Tab is fine for some sites, but not all of them. Some simply will NOT work with anything but IE. There aren't a lot of them, but there are some mostly due to Active-X. There is NO way to use these sites with anything but IE (and occasionally Maxthon). I've tried every possible work around and even talked with the developers of these sites. They designed the sites specifically for IE and anyone using their site just has to deal with those limitations.
I didn't realize that IE-Tab wouldn't work on all sites. I guess I haven't hit one of the ones that will not work yet. Thanks for the information.
papasmurf69
That is an interesting handle. You wouldn't live in the Houston, Texas area would you?
That is an interesting handle. You wouldn't live in the Houston, Texas area would you?
Nope. IL by way of WI
Firefox certainly is a very good/fast browser compared to IE8 which is slow, with an awfully irked security mechanism, and limited backward compatibility.
Firefox is close to being perfect
Firefox is close to being perfect
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