Mozilla Ditches Firefox's New-Tab Monetization Plans 195
hypnosec writes "Mozilla has ditched Firefox's new-tab monetization plans because they 'didn't go over well' with the community. Johnathan Nightingale, Mozilla's VP of Firefox, said much of Firefox's community was worried Mozilla would 'turn Firefox into a mess of logos sold to the highest bidder' and that users wouldn't have control over this or see any actual benefit. 'That's not going to happen. That's not who we are at Mozilla.'"
Re:That's not who we are at Mozilla (Score:5, Interesting)
Wouldn't a 'pure' Firefox also do away with the default search provider - which is effectively whoever bids highest for the position anyway?
I do think the 'new tab promotion' bit would have been bad, but mostly from a "what's next?" perspective. Otherwise, it would still be a page you can customize - including just deleting the promotional bits - that essentially has the promoted bits replaced as you browse, and if you really wanted to, never have to see more than once after installation as it is; and if you do, at least there will be some content there instead of vast emptiness. If it means Mozilla gets a bit more money, or at least money from a more diverse pool, I would have been fine with it.
Re:That's not who we are at Mozilla (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Maybe Australis Next? (Score:2, Interesting)
I hate what they did with Australis, I nearly changed to Seamonkey, but classic-theme-restorer has put Firefox back the way I like it, I just hope it doesn't stop working.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-... [mozilla.org]
Is it just me or is Firefox going much slower with Version 29.0? (no-script + ghostery installed)
Options (Score:2, Interesting)
This amazes me how companies can become so distorted in their thinking that it would make sense for them to think that this would fly. While I like and use Firefox they must understand that my intrinsic loyalty is nearly pure habit. I have switched browsers maybe 5 times and anticipate that I will switch again. I am willing to bet that in 10 years that whatever browser I am using then doesn't even exist right now. Or in 10 years something may completely supplant the browser.
I have no major investment into a browser and it would take me minutes to switch. This is not like a car, if a better car comes out tomorrow I won't just dump my existing car and buy the better one. I suspect there is an economics/business term for when people are capable of switching products and brands in a heartbeat.
Re:That's not who we are at Mozilla (Score:5, Interesting)
Indeed! Australis (FF29 in general) has very nearly pinched my last nerve with Firefox. What the fuck is going on at Mozilla? The last two versions have run like complete and utter shit on my systems, from freezing windows to outright random crashes. What happened to my lightweight and reliable browser? >
Pale Moon [palemoon.org]
Re:Quit telling us what we want, 'kay? (Score:4, Interesting)
If Google drops the ball, Microsoft will pick it up for the default search revenue. Mozilla also doesn't need the 300m/y for a public interest browser - they've got more products and experiments than you can shake a stick at and they're expanding into the mobile OS market which will likely result in tablet/pc market as well. They could pull back or eliminate duplication.
Why they need 11 offices globally is beyond me as well. Close down/consolidate the Vancouver, Portland, Auckland, Taipei, London, and Paris offices then open one in India and Brazil.