Administrator DKT27 Posted February 15, 2012 Administrator Share Posted February 15, 2012 It doesn’t look good for Firefox: Almost every month for the last three years, Firefox has lost ground to Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Safari. For most of 2009 the trend was fairly straight as it fended off Chrome and nibbled away at IE, but between 2010 and today Firefox has lost a third of its market share, from a worldwide peak of around 30% down to 20%.You can look at this two ways. First, the total number of people on the internet is growing, so while Firefox’s share has decreased, the total number of people using Firefox is increasing. The other point of view is that Firefox, whether you like it or not, is declining in popularity.I love the Fox as much as the next bearded geek, but the numbers just don’t lie: Chrome is breathlessly decimating Firefox’s userbase at a breakneck rate. It took Firefox more than four years to prise 20% of the market from Internet Explorer; Chrome did it in almost half that, and is fast approaching 30% in just over three years. Internet Explorer’s graph is a little harder to interpret, but it looks like it might have finally turned the corner and stopped hemorrhaging market share.Compounding Firefox’s losses is the stark reality that it’s unlikely to make any gains. Google has obviously spent a lot of money advertising Chrome, but there’s no way that ads brought it nearly 30% of the web’s two billion surfers. People are migrating to Chrome because of word of mouth: Geeks and power users picked it up first, and they’ve been installing it on the computers of friends and family ever since. Microsoft, too, is using a dollar bill tourniquet, and when Windows 8 tablets roll around with IE10 as the default browser, you can be sure that its market share will climb. Mozilla is adding some exciting new features to Firefox, and Firefox for Android is an interesting enterprise, but I don’t foresee anything that will turn the tide.But is that really a problem? The entire reason that Firefox was such a success is that it appealed to the geeks and power users who weren’t happy with Internet Explorer 6′s 95% share of the market. Microsoft effectively put the dampers on web innovation for five years. Firefox was conceived with one purpose in mind: To revitalize the web.In that regard, it has succeeded. The web, with three browsers vying for supremacy, has never been more exciting. Within a few short years of launching, Firefox had shown the world what CSS and a gutsy JavaScript engine were capable of. Firefox triggered the HTML5 revolution. It is because of Firefox that Metro-style Windows 8 apps can be written in JavaScript. And ironically enough, it is because of Firefox that Chrome was created.If you used Chrome in 2008 and 9, you will remember that almost all of its early adopters were disaffected Firefox users who had grown tired of an ever-increasing memory footprint and sluggish interface. Chrome had almost zero features when it first arrived, but it didn’t matter: When the only two choices were a slow Internet Explorer or a bloated Firefox, Chrome was exactly what the people (and the internet!) needed. Mozilla has spent the last year trying to trim the fat, but it hasn’t caused an upswell of users to return to the motherland. Much in the same way that Firefox cannibalized Internet Explorer, Chrome capitalized on just a single feature — speed — and has been riding the wave ever since.Despite its ridiculous rate of growth, though, Chrome will eventually reach a zenith. The Big Three all have enough gravitas to ensure that no one browser has the power to monopolizingly choke the web. Even if a browser does get a little too big for its britches, Mozilla will always be there to knock some sense into the community — and, if need be, do the grassroots thing all over again.What will happen now, assuming Microsoft and Google continue to barrage each other with their full arsenal of cannon, is that Firefox will gradually fade into a position of feared, revered veterancy — kind of like an aging grandfather who sits on a rocking chair in the middle of the World Wide Web with a loaded shotgun. It might even get to the stage where Firefox has to occasionally loose some crazy feature onto the web, just to remind everyone that it’s still alive. Eventually, if Microsoft really is serious about open web technologies and Google does no evil, Firefox might even die.But, having completed everything you set out to do in life, is death really that awful? :view: View: Original Article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0veR Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 That site is stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowx Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Sad news :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csmdew Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Firefox makes too many updates and add-ons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambrocious Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Firefox makes too many updates and add-onsAnd this is a bad thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaindc Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Firefox makes too many updates and add-onsadd-ons is what make me use Firefox, and updates, unless faulty, are always a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrean Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I'm here to stay, Waterfox. -_- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SacredCultivator Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Firefox might die in regard to its competitors, but I'm sure it'll stay alive to its dedicated users. As i have no reason to switch over to Chrome anytime soon.As for the too many updates, take that as a good thing because if anything Chrome does the same as well. Add-on's, you definitely want there to be updates for those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambrocious Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Part of the reason lots of people are switching to Chrome is because about 30 percent of most freeware has Chrome amongst the installer package and lots of people simply don't know that they can uncheck that as an option. Firefox needs to start bundling their software into other freeware. That will bring it's stats up in about a years time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veboy Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Loosing market share doesn't mean Firefox is DEATH ! it's just some rough time for Mozilla team to stand back. Yes. they've lost a lot, but they are coming back, they've stopped losing market share in the past few months and had a small boost. And also, it's not fair to say that Chrome did all of that because it was good, No one will ever forget Google's ads for the browser on its homepage, which is from world's most visited pages. "So Google says its the best browser, Google said it so it must be true. I love Google and stuff like that and don't care about other browsers. "But anyway, its growing fast and it has its own cool features. But i'd like to stick with Firefox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sands Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I like Opera better. I've used IE9(and earlier versions), Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Waterfox, Pale Moon, Maxthon, Comodo Dragon, SRWare Iron, and Opera. I've probably missed a few but I've still used my share of browsers. I wanted to see what I like best. I have been using Opera the longest and have no regrets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YMatrix Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I gotta say I used to be a long time FF user (since version 2).But sadly I started to get upset with it being slow and sluggish.I recently moved to Chrome (Tried it before when it was still in diapers, but hated it), now I love it!All my FF addons are available in Chrome.The browser is running in tip top speed, no more stuttering youtube videos and so on....I do love FF but in the battle with speed and system performance FF is loosing....Though since version 4 FF has made some significant improvements, but they are still behind Chrome.Maybe in the future I will return to my lost love, but for now I am sticking with Chrome.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ganxxta Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 As long as not all my addons are available for Chrome I'll stay with Firefox, I have no Memory issues and no speed issues so far... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs18 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I'm here to stay, Waterfox. -_-Right, absolutely - until the real Firefox v12 (x64-bit) is released (which can happen even, tonight.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PreddyME Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I'm happy with my Firefoxy Nightly x64 (v13.0a1+ 2012-02-15) with some extensions in it..It's consumes about 400MB amount of ram muhaha! Fatfoxy bad foxy.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sasha007 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Firefox sucks .Its so slow & resource hog . :mellow: Chrome is d best :showoff: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellohello Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I like the speed of chrome but I love firefox extention like abduction, flashgot to name a few.I don't find those in chrome. Else I might switch to chrome as well because firefox indeed is a memory hog at least on my old computer. Sometimes it is over 100MB when I only have few tabs, sometimes it goes over 300MB, it is just strange as it is not like I have tons of tabs.Anyway, this is sad news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs18 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 That article at ExtremeTech is nothing but a feeble attempt at sensationalism (with unequivocal breast beating by empassioned readers.) The death of Firefox, my foot. Where's the funeral. I can bet my last cents that article was typed in Firefox with most of the readers there & even here reading the same using (yes you guessed right, Firefox.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangkungan Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 re-he-he-hehll-ly.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator DKT27 Posted February 16, 2012 Author Administrator Share Posted February 16, 2012 I myself found the article kinda funny. :PThose feeling Firefox being sluggish, there's a huge difference in speed between Firefox 7 and Firefox 10. As for memory hog, RAM is getting cheaper and cheaper everyday. On 2GB RAM, I had to restart Firefox now and then, but on 4GB, I'm like why the hell it's not taking more RAM, so much free RAM is left? :D And yea, seeing no slowdowns whatsoever.From yesterday, I don't know what the heck did it, maybe that .Net update from Windows or me excluding Firefox profiles from being scanned in ESET, the browser is going super fast.Sure, it's loosing marketshare really fast, but I've never been the one complaining, am always satisfied by what I've got.. :)Right, absolutely - until the real Firefox v12 (x64-bit) is released (which can happen even, tonight.)Firefox released a 2012 roadmap two days ago and it mentions nothing about official 64-bit builds. The thing is moving slowly on bugzilla, but it's not dead. So unless they really make it their priority, we won't see it soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nclr11111 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Staying as far away as possible from anything produced or connected to Google!The reason for this: - All the information they try to gather about you and your habits!Using FF for ages and will continue to do so! Ixquick as searchengine and a secure mail! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kunjar Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 There are still many sites which do not correctly display using chrome and firefox. Its rather embarrassing given that they arent exactly the new kids on the block. IE suits my needs perfectly. I do not need xyz add-ons. It makes the browsers performance slow, not to mention a delay in launch times. I suppose for some they are helpful, but the pop-up blocker in IE9 is great. Only links that i click on with the middle scroll wheel open :-) as for the tracking list, havent bothered to use it yet.I believe that the main reason microsoft are losing ground is due to releasing whole version updates only which, can take 6+ months, as opposed to incremental cycles. This presents a huge window of opportunity for competitors to attract potential users and increases the probability that a user will "discover" such a browser while microsoft are preparing their new release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs18 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Right, absolutely - until the real Firefox v12 (x64-bit) is released (which can happen even, tonight.)Firefox released a 2012 roadmap two days ago and it mentions nothing about official 64-bit builds. The thing is moving slowly on bugzilla, but it's not dead. So unless they really make it their priority, we won't see it soon.I've got both the 32-bit and the 64-bit installed on the same system and use them concurrently. The 11.b.1 for pleasure (surfing) and the 13.a.1 for business (speed.)As for any roadmap from Mozilla, it's nothing but a tunnel with 2 blind men (Firefox & Chrome) groping each other. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosticles Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 In my opinion nothing can beat google chrome :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SacredCultivator Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 ^I'm sure if there were a faster browser you wouldn't say that =P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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