nsane.forums Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 Following in the footsteps of Google Chrome, Mozilla is planning to make updates for Firefox 4 behind-the-scenes. The feature is “on track” for the latest version of the browser. Two betas have been released for Firefox 4 in the last 4 weeks with a 3rd update due next week. The ‘silent’ updates will only be available for Windows, said Mozilla. Most of the updates will be downloaded and installed automatically without prompting for user confirmation. This was confirmed by Alex Faaborg, a principle designer on Firefox 4. "We'll only be using the major update dialog box for changes like [version] 4 to 4.5 or 5," Faaborg said in a late July message on the "mozilla.dev.apps.firefox" forum. "Unfortunately users will still see the updating progress bar on load, but this is an implementation issue as opposed to a [user interface] one; ideally the update could be applied in the background." The final decision is still up to the user, you can decide whether you want to accept the auto-updates, or stay with the current setup. This is unlike Google Chrome that gives you no option for the auto updates. Chrome is the big player when it comes to auto-updates, it kicked off in September 2008, and still relies on the then controversial update method. A May 2009 paper, co-authored by a Google engineer, argued that "any software vendor [should] seriously consider deploying silent updates, as this benefits both the vendor and the user, especially for widely used attack-exposed applications like Web browsers and browser plug-ins." According to "Why Silent Updates Boost Security" (PDF), 97% of Chrome users were running the latest version of the browser within 21 days of the last update's release. In comparison, 85% of Firefox users were up-to-date in the same time frame, and 53% of Safari users. Robert Strong the Mozilla engineer who has been writing the behind-the-scenes update service, defended the move toward a Chrome-like service. "There are people that don't like being notified of updates," Strong said, "There is 'no one size fits all' behavior for this that will please everyone." Adobe is also jumping on the silent update train for it’s Reader and Acrobat software. The company has stated that it will not go fully-automated, saying it will incorporate some kind of user permission service. View: Original Article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Lite Posted August 8, 2010 Administrator Share Posted August 8, 2010 Good idea this. I wish more software included auto-updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oZ. Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 I wish Mozilla auto update major versions too... so people won't think Firefox is slow when comparing with other versions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizarre™ Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 I can think of one problem: some plugins might break; rendered useless / incompatible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobrPatty Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 I can think of one problem: some plugins might break; rendered useless / incompatible You can always do the workaround.BTW when is ff4 beta3 going to be released? Tomorrow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator DKT27 Posted August 9, 2010 Administrator Share Posted August 9, 2010 BTW when is ff4 beta3 going to be released? Tomorrow?Today (as per here). That is, 9th August. ^_^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizarre™ Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 @RobrPatty:Well, that's true. However, what I'm talking about are the internal code changes that would be introduced to Firefox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobrPatty Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 ba@RobrPatty:Well, that's true. However, what I'm talking about are the internal code changes that would be introduced to Firefox.Oh, got you...that could be a big problem. They need to go back to users choice instead of auto updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oZ. Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 ba@RobrPatty:Well, that's true. However, what I'm talking about are the internal code changes that would be introduced to Firefox.Oh, got you...that could be a big problem. They need to go back to users choice instead of auto updates.yup that's probably why Mozilla should check for addon's compatibility before it forces updates.at least 80% of the addons are compatibility before it updates to the major new version Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donizme Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Auto-update is a good idea, it's quite rare for addons to stop working from a 0.x update. Plus, Firefox users will be much safer from critical vulnerabilities which means the web in general will be safer. Only downside is for hackers, who probably are hating Mozilla when auto is implemented! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizarre™ Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 @donizme:Regardless of the benefit, Mozilla should consider the disadvantage.I mean, if not for the plugins I'd rather use Google Chrome or Opera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator DKT27 Posted August 9, 2010 Administrator Share Posted August 9, 2010 Well, you can always disable the auto update if you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shought Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 I'll certainly disable this if this becomes a feature... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizarre™ Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 @DKT27:That would be one thing, but it's better if they leave the update like the way it is (notify if there's an update).Normally if there's an update, you know how fast we are in grabbing and frontpaging them :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator DKT27 Posted August 9, 2010 Administrator Share Posted August 9, 2010 I have my ways to make the addons work(MR Tech changes the code of the addon or something to make them work). But lets see how this idea goes. Users normally don't care to update.Yeah, right now my one tab is open waiting for a firefox beta update on their ftp. :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marik Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 but they already released it like 2 days ago, and even tho it's not "officially announced", candidate build 3 is the actual beta 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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