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Mozilla says version number removal is a long term goal
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Mozilla has told The INQUIRER that removing version numbers from the Firefox About display is a long-term goal.
Asa Dotzler, director of the Firefox product at Mozilla was the chap who started the thread on Bugzilla that mentioned removal of Firefox version numbers from the About screen. That post generated heated debate, with suggestions that it is simply change for change's sake and it could confuse users trying to look up version numbers in order to troubleshoot problems.
Dotzler told The INQUIRER, "There's been some discussion around removing version numbers from the Firefox 'About' window. Our goal is to avoid confusion and make sure users always have the most current version of Firefox. While that's the long term goal, this change isn't happening overnight. Right now, the version number is available in the Help-Troubleshooting menu."
Yesterday Mozilla released Firefox 6, which displays its version number in both the About box and the Troubleshooting menu. As Dotzler said, it's likely that Mozilla will make the change slowly, though with its rapid release scheme that could be just six weeks until it hits a production release.
There has been concern that Mozilla's rapid release schedule for Firefox could deter enterprise adoption. Asked what Mozilla was doing about this, a spokesperson pointed us towards the Enterprise Working Group that the outfit set up, adding, "The Enterprise Working Group is a step to continue the dialogue with enterprise IT departments, Firefox developers and other stakeholders for solutions that will work best for all parties. With the Enterprise Working Group we are looking to help enterprise organizations adapt to the quickly evolving Web. Mozilla's mission is to make the Web better for all users, including enterprise users and their customers."
While people generally look unfavourably upon change, the fact is that Mozilla's rapid release schedule gets Firefox in the press far more often, and as long as it doesn't drop a clanger of a release, it should do just fine. And as for moving the location of the version number, it's likely that most Firefox users simply won't notice or care. µ
Tags: Software
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You guys make a good point, the addons now all get incompatible or the addon makers just boost the compatibility number to some insane value, and then when it doesn't work in the future because there was a significant change in the browser with an update it's mozilla to blame really when the addon says it's compatible when it turned out it isn't really.
seems like change for change sake.
it might keep tb ff in the news, but they're about to lose me to chrome, since my add-ons, etc., are being made obsolete with every new update.....
Now that the new releases have totally trashed the value and usefulness of version numbers they will have an excuse to make it disappear ... Argh!
Another month another major version number. They have lost all common sense at keeping it organised and simple. They have stopped looking after add-on developers who are left out in the cold. Mozilla are making it harder to keep compatibility and forcing you to the new UI to get the improvements to security and the back end render. It's a bucking bronco out of control ready to smash all opposition in it's path. It seems they are trying a marketing strategy to gain attention and better reviews. Benchmark results are only part of the value proposition. It seems we will loose important features, addons and increase maintenance overhead in their quest for prestige.
..is pretty retarded, and will make people unable to tell if they are compatible with things.
But it does fit the poor choice of mozilla to try to emulate freaking chrome, including the catering to the most ignorant of the public, specifically by removing information and choice, ugh.
Not sure about Mozilla's view of the world, but surely most enterprises run by diligent and careful sys admins will update a browser only if and when there is a pressing need. Extra bling isn't often a pressing need. That's why a lot of the corporate world is still quite happy on XP.