Firefox 7.1?!?!?

[Jools]

What? I just fixed a few things with the old one. Seems like only yesterday I was using FF3? Are others moving away from firefox onto other browsers?

Jools

[mummymonkey]

I've got 7.01.
Am I missing out

[MatsP]

I think they have certainly had some inflation in version numbering. I'm on FF 6.0.2, which seems to be good, in my view.

--
Mats

[Jools]

I've got 7.01.

Probably, as the current release is 7.0.1. My bad, but even so, not even my "break/fix RAD more agile than a khuli loach" approach to software development is that bad!

Jools

[Jools]

It may have also broken the quick find?

Jools

[TwoTankAmin]

I am still using 3.6. I dislike tabs so refused to get ver 4 or anything thereafter.

[mummymonkey]

The add on developers certainly have difficulty keeping up. About half of the ones I use(d) are bust.

[TP]

You can despair a bit more, mine updated itself to FF 8.0 this morning. I think I might be getting beta versions somehow but they seem to be coming thick and fast!

[dbosman]

To answer the initial question, Google Chrome is currently third in popularity among PC users, and appears to be set to over take Firefox as #2 soon.

[sidguppy]

FF 3.6 here; the newer versions are buggy as hell and until they fix that I won't touch em with a 10 foot pole

[sidguppy]

I must say that Flash and Firefox lately are a disaster.

it crashes every single time I watch imbedded flash movies and yes, I do have flash updated.

every single bloody time...

[RickE]

To answer the initial question, Google Chrome is currently third in popularity among PC users, and appears to be set to over take Firefox as #2 soon.

Must say I'm a Chrome fan. Much prefer it to Firefox and IE, but haven't really tried much else. Still get some pages (but not on PC) that will only work with the IE plug-in though.

[excuzzzeme]

I am using 7.01 (never noticed). Don't plan on changing browser as I subscribe to the fallible theory that "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

I am not saying that FF is superior (though I think it is), I just can't handle a lot of changes. Been using FF for what seems like forever. I don't think there is such a thing as the perfect browser, but as long as I can go where I want then all is well in my world.

[Jools]

Just looked up browser usage on the site for the last month:

1. Internet Explorer 42.98%
2. Firefox 34.76%
3. Chrome 12.72%
4. Safari 5.35%
5. Opera 1.75%
6. Android Browser 1.01%
7. Opera Mini 0.93%
8. Mozilla Compatible Agent 0.16%
9. RockMelt 0.08%
10. BlackBerry8310 0.04%

Interesting.

Jools

[sidguppy]

the top 5 of that list doesn't surprise me at all, save that Chrome is getting quite popular for such a new browser.

many people browse at work and work stations usually have IE, due to Microsoft licenses of companies or government institutions; so IE being more used that Firefox makes sense if you take licensing in consideration.

for example, the Dutch government has licensed all schools (noth junior/primary, high/secondary and university) to Microsoft.
we have to use IE at work here.......in effect the department of education in the Netherlands is now controlled by Bill.
as far as I know almost if not all other government services are similar licensed to Microsoft; hospitals, public transport, government offices etc

creepy, eh?


the Safari users are almost all Mac/Apple users; and it's a fair comparison, I think about the same percentage is the number of Mac users compared to PC (as in personal computer, not planetcatfish) users

I don't know if Chrome will ever surpass IE or FF ;)

[Jools]

creepy, eh?

On the face of it, yes. But, and not to disagree, but there's a lot broader use of technology in the Netherlands as is everywhere else. The entire Dutch emergency response control rooms for example run on Oracle. There is also virtually no Microsoft on mobile phones and that is a massively increasing usage (of computing). Microsoft is quite a visible thing as it's on desktops at work, home and school - but underneath it there's a lot going on.

Back in the day, it was Microsoft that looked to invade everything and that ended up in the US Department of Justice's antitrust issues. Anywhere there was computing, there was Microsoft. But now, it's Apple that has conquered music, revolutionized mobile phones and might make tablet computing mainstream. Not Microsoft. And Google/Android/Chrome isn't quite there yet.

Then we have Google, in 10 years it's grown into the shoes Microsoft has left. Where would we be now without all their stuff? What next for them?

So, when I look at the list I posted I am at least happy there isn't one giant leader. But maybe there will be again and it might not be Microsoft! Although it was easier when there was only one to test on and one to "blame".

One wonders however why Firefox stands out that far in second place. I thought Safari would be a lot closer in 4th.


Jools

[RickE]

One wonders however why Firefox stands out that far in second place.
Jools

I think that is because for a long time after the demise of Netscape Navigator (remember that?) FF was the only well known and serious alternative to IE . Lots of people are 'anti-Microsoft' and very quick to use alternative browser given the chance. It's a simple switch too and does not involve much computer knowledge.

Personally, I think the future may well be Android shaped if the growth in the use of smart phones and tablets is anything to go by.

As a footnote to this , can I just say what a shame it was to lose Steve Jobs who has undoubtedly changed the world we and our children will live in.