Microsoft offers up MSN-flavored Firefox downloads just in time for the holidays

[anuseems]

What’s that under the Christmas tree? Why, it’s a software gift from the folks at Microsoft! Only… it’s not a Microsoft app, it’s Firefox. Yes, it’s that time of year again — when Microsoft makes web surfers do a double take by setting up a site from which it offers up a customized version of a competitor’s browser (with Microsoft custom defaults).

Firefox with MSN ships with Bing as the default search engine, and the usual suspects (Yahoo!, Google, Wikipedia, Amazon) are available via the dropdown menu. MSN.com takes over homepage duties, and MSN Now (Microsoft’s revamped social news site) pins itself as an app tab.

Existing Firefox users that want to see what life is like on the MSN side of the tracks can simply install an add-on that quickly customizes their browser. You could make all these tweaks yourself with pretty minimal effort if you really like this trio of Microsoft services, but you’d still be missing out on the custom theme. That said, the custom theme is really just a big glob of cerulean on the right half of the toolbar.

Let year, Microsoft handed out Firefox with Bing. Why? Because if someone’s going to use a browser other than Internet Explorer anyway, you might as well at least get them checking out MSN Now and searching with Bing. Internet Explorer is still losing ground in the worldwide race for browser supremacy, and it’s not Mozilla who’s stealing users at this point. It’s Google.

Firefox with MSN is just one more cog in Microsoft’s not-so-secret Anything But Google machine, which also extends over to Outlook.com — where they’re trumpeting a commissioned study that says 4 out of 5 Gmail users who tried Microsoft’s totally overhauled webmail experience would be willing to switch. Microsoft has also dropped an Outlook.com app into Google Play, where it can go head-to-head against Gmail on Android devices.

@ https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2012/11/27/offering-a-firefox-with-msn-custom-experience/

[sanjoa]

MSN? Wasn't it dead or nearby? :P

[anuseems]

It also comes with a smart MSN theme and provides quick access to various MSN channels like news, entertainment, sports, etc.

You can download Firefox with MSN here. @ http://www.firefoxwithmsn.com/

via http://www.thewindowsclub.com/download-firefox-with-msn

[a2ms]

I think it is good if more people try Bing, since it has some nice things over Google, although I don't think it is ready to replace it as a search engine.

Aside from that... MSN? ok.... err... on the bright side probably Mozilla is getting good founding to continue Firefox development.

[calguyhunk]

Umm... I'm confused. So what does this thing do actually? Just sets your home page to MSN and Bing as your default search? Seriously? :o

Why on earth would I need a download for that? It takes me precisely 10 seconds (maybe less) to do that on my existing FF installation! :wtf:

No seriously boys, maybe I'm missing something. Please enlighten me :(

[DKT27]

Umm... I'm confused. So what does this thing do actually? Just sets your home page to MSN and Bing as your default search? Seriously? :o

Why on earth would I need a download for that? It takes me precisely 10 seconds (maybe less) to do that on my existing FF installation! :wtf:

No seriously boys, maybe I'm missing something. Please enlighten me :(

That alone, gives Microsoft (and Mozilla?) lots of search and ads money.

[calguyhunk]

That alone, gives Microsoft (and Mozilla?) lots of search and ads money.

LOL! Of course, I get that, but from my side, I'm wondering if I'm gonna get anything extra at all. I the answer will be a 'NO' :P

BTW, doesn't Mozilla antagonize Google this way when they're reportedly being payed $70 Mil or thereabout for Google to be set as the default search on FF? :think:

[DKT27]

That alone, gives Microsoft (and Mozilla?) lots of search and ads money.

LOL! Of course, I get that, but from my side, I'm wondering if I'm gonna get anything extra at all. I the answer will be a 'NO' :P

BTW, doesn't Mozilla antagonize Google this way when they're reportedly being payed $70 Mil or thereabout for Google to be set as the default search on FF? :think:

A side note, last time I checked, Bing's safe search was fully turned on for Indian users. Not moderate, not off, only full on. And there was no way to use US site or disable it. Later I heard that Indian govt. had requested it to be so. :huh: Since then, I haven't had a single look at Bing again. (OK, just checked) It seems to be changeable now, it wasn't so at that time.

From some time now, both Mozilla and Google is fearing that Google will cut the deal with Google (the feeling was high when the contract was going to expire, but then Google seemed fine with extending it). From that time, Mozilla is testing the browser with Bing, so they have an emergency backup, in case they want it. Never heard Google's feelings on it.